Yakult Manager Ikeayama Extols Former Teammate Yoshii as New Rakuten Manager

Yakult Swallows manager Takahiro Ikeayama has sent a warm message of support to Ryoji Yoshii, newly appointed manager of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. Speaking during a workout at Jingu Stadium on Thursday, the 60-year-old Ikeayama said, “I look forward to watching their comeback from here on out.”

Ikeayama and Yoshii, both born in 1965, were teammates on the Yakult Swallows from 1995 to 1997 after Yoshii transferred from the Kintetsu Buffaloes. Reminiscing about Yoshii’s playing days, Ikeayama recalled that he had a fierce temperament. “He was intense. I remember him being hit at Tokyo Dome and then smashing a sports drink tank,” Ikeayama said with a nostalgic smile.

Since the interleague games have already concluded, the two teams will not face each other during the regular season. However, should they meet again in the future, Ikeayama believes the matchup will draw significant attention. The new Rakuten manager, who is now 61, was officially named to the post on Wednesday.