Nagano Prefecture, Japan — On October 22, Hanshin Tigers outfielder Nanato Sakakibara received a first-round selection in the Nippon Professional Baseball draft, altering a baseball career that began after he watched an anime character's printed glove in childhood.

Waiting Out the First Round in Nagano

Shoji Sakakibara sat in front of the television holding his first grandchild, too restless to remain still while the draft unfolded. Naomi Sakakibara and their eldest son's family had taken the day off work to watch alongside him. Media reports had circulated widely in the days leading up to the draft suggesting the Hanshin Tigers intended to target a catcher with their opening selection, leading the family to believe a first-round pick was unlikely. Naomi noted that she could not bear to watch the screen directly during the decisive sequence, while Shoji described a wave of surprise at landing with a local Kansai club boasting passionate supporters.

From Lego Blocks to the Major League Inspiration

Until about age five, he rarely touched a ball, preferring quiet indoor play with Lego blocks and long arrangements of toy train tracks. His older brother, Takumu, began playing baseball around second grade, eventually drawing Nanato into the sport as he retrieved foul balls and tossed them back. Concerned by his initial indifference, Shoji bought him a glove featuring a print of Gorō Shigeno from the baseball anime series Major, a purchase that finally sparked the boy's interest.

Overcoming Setbacks for the University National Team

The journey to professional baseball included significant hurdles, notably when Nanato was cut from a training camp for the collegiate national team ahead of his third year. Facing what he perceived as a closed door to professional opportunities without national team experience, he remarked that he might need to pursue a career in corporate leagues instead. Naomi recalled stepping in during that difficult phone call to provide encouragement, reminding him that the family had not sent him to Tokyo just to settle for corporate baseball. Stedfast in his ambition, he told his parents he would secure a first-round draft spot. He subsequently earned selection to the collegiate national team for both Taiwan and domestic camps in Hokkaido and Niigata during his third and fourth years.

Family Support and Daily Discipline Behind the Draft Pick

Behind the draft selection lay rigorous, often unseen preparation. Shoji built a batting cage at home where father and son worked on tee-batting drills, with Naomi stepping in to pitch tees when Shoji was unavailable. At Hyogo Prefecture's Hotoku Gakuen High School, where the baseball roster numbered roughly 150 players across three grades, earning consistent playing time demanded relentless effort. Naomi managed meals centered heavily on rice and chicken tenderloin, though both father and son initially disliked fish—a preference Nanato later overcame at his university dormitory.