Softbank Akira Nakamura's retirement match marks the end of his 19-year professional career

After playing his last game as an active player, he had a smile on his face. Softbank's Akira Nakamura played the entire game as No. 6 and first baseman. "You only get to play a match like this once in your life. I enjoyed every minute of it." The sight of the home stadium filled with fans was etched in my heart.

He showed the courage of a hit maker. In the first at-bat of the first inning, with Kondo taking the lead with two runs, he hit a double, his 1,522nd hit in total. At the moment when the game was set, Kawase, who fielded a grounder, threw the ball and received a big round of applause. His batting line-up also added 12 points to add color to his retirement game.

Even after announcing his retirement in July of this year, he continued to ask himself this question. "I think I can still do it. Do I still have the strength to compete as a regular player?" The answer remained the same. "I didn't have the confidence to say yes. No matter how many times I asked, that's the decision I made." I finished it with no regrets.

At his retirement ceremony, he reflected on his 19 years of professional life and was filled with emotion. ``I was able to survive in the professional world because I spent my days with a strong feeling that I would definitely play an active role in the strong Hawks.'' He was hoisted into the air by his teammates with the number 7, the same as his jersey number.