Nippon Job》Why did Hideki Matsui choose No. 90? Hidden in the master-disciple relationship of Shigeo Nagashima and the ingenuity of "55+35"

Matsui Hideki officially took over the Giant Talisman today. (Reuters)

[Reporter Ni Wanjun/Comprehensive Report] Matsui Hideki officially took over the Giants today and put on the No. 90 jersey at the inauguration press conference. It was not the classic No. 55 as a player. He said that this nickname not only represents a new beginning, but also carries the memory and inheritance of his mentor Nagashima Shigeo.

Shigeo Nagashima wore jersey No. 90 when he first served as Giants supervisor in 1975. At that time, the Giants were in a period of transformation without the "player Nagashima." Although he did not win the first place in Japan during the six-year coaching period until 1980, Matsui believed that his mentor must have endured a lot of hardship during that period and cultivated young players with great enthusiasm. "What I hope most is to continue his feelings."

Nagashima passed away last year at the age of 89. He would have celebrated his 90th birthday this year, which made the number "90" more meaningful to Matsui. He said that this was one of the important reasons why he decided to choose the number 90. Matsui was selected first among four teams in the 1992 Nippon Professional Draft, and Shigeo Nagashima finally won the negotiation rights, and officially started his career the following year. This was Nagashima's second time in charge of the Giants, and the two formed a master-apprentice relationship that lasted for more than 30 years.

Matsui always wore No. 55 as a Giants player, but he admitted that if he used No. 55 again in his supervisory career, both himself and the Giants fans who watched him grow up would easily fall into nostalgia for the past playing days, so he hopes to start a new chapter with a different number.

Coincidentally, Matsui also wore No. 35 at the end of his career in the United States. 55 plus 35 equals 90. He laughed and said that after considering the multiple meanings of Nagashima's No. 90, his mentor who would have turned 90 this year, and the addition of two numbers in his career, he believed that No. 90 was the most suitable number to welcome a new start in his supervisory career.