[JO1] Hochi Kokoyakyu 210617

JO1 baseball club SPECIAL TALK

For the 3rd appearance of this magazine’s main character, Kawanishi Takumi (21), there is a special talk with Mamehara Issei (19) who is also a member of the global boy’s group JO1 and a former high school baseball player. From match meals to their favourite fight songs. “MameTaku” do a playback of their passionate youth.

The back number of the two relates to their groups member number “11”.

ISSEI MAMEHARA
Born 2002.05.30 in the prefecture Okayama. During his first year of elementary school he started with Japanese style baseball at the Japan Junior Sports Clubs Association. Center fielder. A catcher and power hitter who was a key man. Until middle school he also appeared in competitions for swimming, track-and-field and sumo. At Highschool he did both the Japanese style baseball club and dancing. He chased after the white ball until 9pm and danced until 11pm. After taking the audition during his 2nd year of Highschool, he placed 1st and became JO1’s youngest member. His favourite baseball team and player are Hiroshima and Eldred (formerly Hiroshima). 173cm. Catches right and bats left. Member colour is red.
TN: Japan Junior Sports Clubs Association or short JJSA aims to bring “ joys of sport to every possible child” and connect people through it. Baseball is among their key sports. They have ca. 864.000 members in about 31.000 clubs nationwide.
The difference between “Japanese style” baseball 軟式(野球) and “western” baseball 野球 is that the japanese style is played with a hard rubber ball. Since the original interview distinguishes those two terms, I decided to do the same here.
Eldred = Brad Eldred who played first in the USA before joining Hiroshima Toyo Carp

TAKUMI KAWANISHI
Born on 23rd June 1999 in Hyogo prefecture. Started to play baseball at the Japanese style baseball club during his first year of elementary school as a pitcher, shortstop and catcher. Belonged to the Japanese style baseball club in middle school and since fall of his first year of Highschool he was on the bench as center fielder. During Highschool he had 8 home runs all together. In 2019 he was chosen as a member of JO1 in an audition program and made his major debut last year. His favourite team is Giants. Players he admires are Abe Shinnosuke, Nioka Tomohiro (both formerly Giants) and Sakamoto Hayato (Giants). 170cm tall. Throws with the right hand and bats left. His member colour is pink.
TN: Giants = Yomiuri Giants or formerly known as Yomiuri Kyojingun. A baseball team from Tokyo whose stadium is the Tokyo Dome.

Rice seasoning for sure

When speaking of baseball club members, there is the image that they eat a lot.
Takumi: After eating my bento, I ended up buying and eating ice cream at school every day. The biscuit of Choco monaka is vanilla, right?
Issei: I was a big eater, so my mother made a lot. Bento and Onigiri. In the morning after the 3rd period ended, I ate. Also during lunch break I ate.
Takumi: I often went to school with only white rice in my lunch box. The rice seasoning was always in my bag. (My standard seasoning) was eggs.
Issei: For me it was eggs as well. If I didn’t have it, I got it from a friend (from the baseball club).
Takumi: Someone always had it.
What was your pre-match meal?
Takumi: Chicken Nanban. My mother cooked it for me. I really like it and it’s delicious.
Issei: I like refreshing food, so I had a big lunch box with soumen. The soy sauce was in a tube and the spring onions were extra. Also fried rice was my power up. I ate plenty and took part in the match.
TN: Choco Monaka is a popular waffle ice cream.
Chicken Nanban = a fried chicken dish
Soumen = long thin noodles that are usually eaten cold with spring onions & after being dipped in soy sauce.

My fight song

I think you also listened to music to raise your mood and played. Takumi: What I remember is that on the day before my first match in the summer of my 3rd Highschool year, I listened to RADWIMPS “Super cool”. When I thought ah it’s the last time, I lost.
Issei: I listened to “Right Stand” (by BERRY GOODMAN) every day. The lyrics are really good. It was also the song that was used my parents collected photos and made a video from those to celebrate my graduation from middle school.
Was the fight song of the batter’s box by request?
Takumi: The last one was the chance theme song of the Nippon Ham‘s. I liked that the male and female voices were separated. My motivation was raised.
Issei: My one was the battle theme of Dragon Quest III. Even in the match it cheered me up.
In the near future, JO1’s songs might become fight songs or popular among baseball kids.
Takumi: This is also my dream.
TN: Nippon Ham = Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, a Japanese baseball team whose Homestadium is the Sapporo Dome

A cheer for the hometown

Mamehara-san graduated from a Highschool in Tokyo this spring after being transferred from a prefectural High School in Okayama. Due to the corona pandemic the final Koshien tournament of your school year was cancelled last year.
Issei: A friend from middle school plays baseball (at my former school) and when he had an independent tournament last year, he contacted me saying “I will do it with my all”. I looked at the news and it really cheered me up.
This year, it is going to be the summer championships for two years.
Takumi: From the audience's side, I’m really looking forward to it. I hope that the schools from Hyogo will give their best. After all, it’s my home. I will also cheer for the school’s from Osaka.
Issei: I went to watch both the Koshien and the Okayama tournament. I saw on TV the victory pose of Soushi Gakuen’s (Okayama) pitcher Nishi Junya (Hanshin). I hope that a school from Okayama will win the Koshien once.
TN: Koshien is the Japanese High School Baseball Championship, taking place in summer and the largest scale amateur sport event in Japan, it takes place in Nishinomiya, Hyogo. Koshien is also the name of the district of Nishinomiya where the stadium (Hanshin Koshien Stadium) is located.
Soushi Gakuen = one of the Highschools who are famous for their baseball team. Located in Okayama City. Participated in the Koshien 3 times in the last 10 years.

Own customs
Takumi: When the captain said “wareware wa” (we are), everyone said “we are going to win for sure!”. Before the practise, we made a ring and shouted.
Issei: the shouts during running. “One, two, three, four, nii, wasshoi!” It changed during our time and it seems like my juniors are still doing it.
TN: Apparently Mame’s words are similar to the shouts of people caring a portable shrines during festivals.

A hard practise menu
Takumi: Unlimited (American) knock. Running 10km at the river side, tire pushing
Issei: Running in the last interval of practise. From the third base line to the fence on the right side. Extra if you didn’t make it in the set time.
TN: the American knock is a defensive move which uses the entire outfield.

Particulars
Takumi: My own gear was from MIZUNO. My father who used to play baseball likes it and my older brother (by two school years), too. I didn’t wear protection gloves. For the sensation.
Issei: I went faster than anyone else for the batting and fielding exchange. As the Center I was the farest from both benches, but I competed with the team and said “I’m number one!”