(From left) Hirosuke Tanaka and Ryosuke Kikuchi.

(File photo of this newspaper)


[Reporter Gong Naiyu/Comprehensive Report] The Unified Lions recruited Tomotaka Tamaki, the defensive coach during Hiroshima's 3-game winning streak. The second group "Tianju Connection" was raised on the stage.

"Nikkan Sports" reported that Tomotaka Tamaki had never been to Taiwan. At the beginning, he took off his Hiroshima jersey, which he had taught for 12 years, and never thought about going abroad. However, people around him kept encouraging him to make a decision within 2 weeks after receiving the invitation from the Unified Lions. Conclusion, "I'm grateful to see my name on the Lions coaching list."

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After Tamaki retired in 2011, he served as the defensive running coach of the Hiroshima Second Army. In 2015, he was promoted to the first army to take on the same position. The players he trained in the second army include Kikuchi Ryosuke, who has won 10 consecutive championships in gold gloves, and Hirosuke Tanaka. The second tour contributed to Hiroshima's 3-game winning streak.

Tamaki Tomotaka pointed out, "Everyone may be most impressed by the 3-game winning streak, but I was very happy to see Kikuchi and Tanaka, who I cultivated in the Second Army, become a team force and active in the field in 2016. .”

Japanese media revealed that Tomotaka Tamaki may be in the Second Army first when he comes to the Unified Lions. He hopes to make use of his experience in the Hiroshima team.

Tamaki Tomotaka said, "I hope that the players can perform well in the first ranks. This is the happiest thing for the coach."

In fact, Keiichi Hirano, the Japanese coach of CITIC Brothers, was a teammate of Tomotaka Tamaki when he was in Orix. He revealed that Keiichi Hirano called him after seeing the contract was confirmed, "He shared with me about Taiwan's climate and so on. Let me Take it easy."

The 47-year-old Tamaki Tomotaka pointed out that after receiving the invitation from the Lions, his fighting spirit was also ignited. "I realized that I can help others abroad. This has nothing to do with my age. I held the mentality of "Come on!" face the challenge."

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