「ミスタープロ野球やきゅう」長嶋ながしま茂雄しげおさん 告別こくべつ式しき

The funeral of Mr. Pro Baseball, Shigeo Nagashima, who passed away on the 3rd of this month, was held in Tokyo on the 8th. Former teammates and protégés mourned his passing.

Mr. Nagashima, who achieved great success with the Yomiuri Giants in professional baseball and was affectionately known as Mr. Pro Baseball, passed away from pneumonia on the 3rd of this month at the age of 89.

On the 8th, a funeral was held at a funeral hall in Tokyo, attended by 96 people including former teammates who achieved the V9 with the Giants such as Sadaharu Oh, and protégés from his time as manager such as Hideki Matsui, who also played in Major League Baseball.

Around the altar, a photo of Mr. Nagashima smiling was surrounded by his permanently retired number 3 uniform, the Giants’ team colors, and orange flowers.

At the ceremony, Mr. Oh, who with Mr. Nagashima formed the legendary ON duo and defined an era, read the eulogy, saying, I never imagined the day would come so soon when I would be reading a eulogy for you.

Your very existence was a source of pride for the Japanese people.

On the field, every single move captivated the hearts of fans all across Japan.

It was shining like the sun.

Please go back to Shigeo Nagashima and rest in peace.

Furthermore, Mr. Matsui, who received enthusiastic guidance from Mr. Nagashima, became the Giants cleanup hitter and grew into a powerful slugger who will go down in baseball history. In his eulogy, he said, Manager, there’s no extra batting practice today, right?

When I look into those eyes, it feels like theyre saying, Bring the bat, were about to start, and it makes my heart skip a beat.

But right now, I want to hear that voice.

Today, I won’t say “thank you” or “goodbye.”

I look forward to your continued support.

Please continue to shine a bright light on the Giants and the future of Japanese baseball, he said, expressing his feelings toward his mentor.

And finally, Mina, the second daughter who served as the chief mourner, gave a speech.

According to Mina, even after Mr. Nagashima’s pulse and blood pressure readings showed zero just before his death, his electrocardiogram still showed movement. She said, “I believe he lived a life true to Shigeo Nagashima until the very end.”

Even if I lose consciousness, I won’t give up, and until the very end, I will live. I haven’t given up, I’m not giving up.

I thought that was what my fathers heartbeat was telling me.

He showed us, right to the very end, what it means to never give up—just like a father should.

I’m sure my father will continue his daily walks and training even in heaven, so on sunny days, I hope you will sometimes look up at the sky and remember him.

And then, people like Mr. Wang and Mr. Matsui carried out the coffin and said their final goodbyes.

Mr. Sadaharu Oh: Its a loss for Japan. At the funeral, Mr. Sadaharu Oh, who delivered the eulogy, said, Mr. Nagashima was a special person, someone indispensable not only to the world of baseball but also to Japan.

I never wanted a day like this to come.

It’s a sad day for Japan.

I think Mr. Nagashima must have had his share of struggles, but he never showed it and was always positive. His movements were just so graceful, and the way he played made us feel like we could never match him.

Kiyoshi Nakahata said, I want to do my best to repay even a little of what I owe. In his eulogy at the funeral, Nakahata said, Only happy memories keep coming to mind, and once again I felt that he was like the sun.

There has never been anyone else who brought so many smiles to the people around them.

Its tough, but I can still keep going.

I felt as if the portrait of the deceased was telling me, Dont keep looking down forever.

I want to do my best in my life so that I can give back, even just a little, they said.

Hideki Matsui: “There are still so many things I want to ask.” At the farewell ceremony, Hideki Matsui, who gave a eulogy, said, “Since I’m the manager, I was only thinking about wanting to send him off with a smile.”

My connection with the Giants, and all the days I spent with the Giants, were a path I walked together with the manager, he said.

Ms. Mina, the second daughter who served as the chief mourner, shared a story in her speech at the wake about the managers empty promises to retire. Reflecting on this, she said, Mina and I would sometimes talk about what would be good to keep the manager healthy and energetic for as long as possible, and I think thats how various episodes like this came about.

And finally, You gave me so much and shared so much time with me.

I still have many questions I want to ask the coach, so I feel like saying, I look forward to your continued guidance.

I want to listen in my heart to what the coach wants and come up with answers, and I think the coach will guide me in our future conversations, he said, occasionally smiling.

Mr. Sadaharu Ohs Eulogy [Full Text] This is the eulogy delivered by Mr. Sadaharu Oh, who, together with Mr. Nagashima, built an era as O-N and achieved nine consecutive championships, at his farewell ceremony.

Shigeo Nagashima

I never imagined the day I would read a eulogy for you would come so soon.

You were a healthy child in Japan.

Your very existence was the pride of the Japanese people.

On the field, every single move captivated the hearts of fans all across Japan.

All of Japan chased after you.

I think it must have been tough, but you never showed any sign of displeasure and were always cheerful.

It was shining like the sun.

He was truly someone special.

I was always causing you trouble.

In 1959, the year I joined the team, I was assigned to share a room with Mr. Nagashima at the Miyazaki training camp. Being inexperienced with the ways of the world, I couldnt even tidy up the room or put away the futon, and to make matters worse, I had bad sleeping habits and snored, causing him a lot of trouble. After a week, I was made to change rooms, but during that time, Mr. Nagashima never once complained.

When I went camping in Vero Beach, Florida, I stayed one night in Los Angeles before flying to Florida. On the morning of my departure, I overslept, but Mr. Nagashima came into my room through the skylight, woke me up, and helped me pack my things, so I didn’t miss my flight.

To me, Mr. Nagashima was just an ordinary person.

Mr. Nagashima treated me like an ordinary person.

I couldnt stand up to Mr. Nagashima.

He was someone I could never repay.

I simply cannot accept saying goodbye like this to Mr. Nagashima, who has done so much for me.

I think its the same for everyone.

However, even so, Im brought back to reality.

All thats left is to quietly, quietly see them off.

Mr. Nagashima, thank you very much.

The more than sixty years I spent with you were unforgettable and precious to me.

I can only be grateful.

Thank you so much for all your hard work over the past 89 years.

He worked hard for the Japanese people.

Thank you very much.

I can only hope that you rest in peace.

Please return to Shigeo Nagashima and rest in peace.

Goodbye

June 8, 2025

Sadaharu Oh

Eulogy by Kiyoshi Nakahata [Full Text]: This is the eulogy delivered at the funeral of Kiyoshi Nakahata, who played as a player during Manager Nagashimas era and took over as manager in place of Mr. Nagashima, who fell ill, at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Director, Dad, and Mister

Thank you for everything over a long time.

You are everything to me.

I have a ton of memories.

The unforgettable thing is the Ito camp.

The personal fielding practice I had with the coach, just the two of us, is something Ill never forget.

Youre a genius at knocking.

Even if you dive for it, no matter how many times you dive, you can never reach it—that’s the kind of genius he is at placing his shots.

Cant catch it

Toward that, You suck, you suck.

I snapped back at the knocker, saying, You suck, you suck.

Occasionally served practice balls

I was happy.

He caught it with joy and threw it back toward the coach.

I can never forget the showdown with the coach who danced wildly around the ball, shouting Hyo, hyo!

This is the best memory of my baseball life.

It was like a dream.

And then, on the last day of the Ito camp, the running at Babadai that tormented us.

Baba-daira is a place where steep slopes continue.

And then you turn around and run back up a gentle slope, making it a looped running course.

Its tough.

It was tough.

I thought this was my last chance, so I said to Shinozuka, Shino, somehow get the manager to run.

It was me who urged, Let him run once.

And then Shino, in a way that’s not like her usual self, went all the way up to the coach and said, “Don’t just stand there looking all high and mighty with your arms crossed!”

Try running by yourself once.

Right away.

In response, you smiled and took the bait, didn’t you?

He spat on both hands with a peh peh, said Alright! and started climbing that hill all at once.

They suddenly started climbing and disappeared from sight, and after a while, I wondered if they would come back, but they just didn’t return.

When I finally saw you, you were already out of breath.

He comes back totally worn out, like a kid who’s pooped his pants and split his butt.

Seeing him like that, we players started chanting Nagashima!

Nagashima, Nagashima, Nagashima

When I reached the finish line, for the first time I said, Dad, thank you for your hard work.

And I felt as if Director Shigeo Nagashima, who had been up above the clouds, had come down to where we are.

And I feel like that was the moment when everyone became part of the Nagashima family.

Thank you very much.

And one more thing, Mr.

I truly admired these words.

I wanted to call him Mister to his face, just once.

I had the chance to play golf together with the manager at a golf course in Chiba Prefecture after I retired and my playing career was over.

Today is my chance, I thought, but it takes courage to say it to someone face-to-face.

When I called out “Mister” from behind, he turned around with a big smile and said, “Oh, what’s up, Kiyoshi?”

At that moment, I remember feeling like a child—so moved and happy that it felt like my heart might stop.

Since then, I have called you Mister, Mister.

Mr.s greatness comes in many forms.

Among all that, what I can never forget is that Mister always responded to everyone, to anybody, with a gentle and kind smile and spoke to them.

I feel like that figure taught me to live humbly—the bigger you become, the more humble you should be.

I will use that as a model and do my best from now on.

Thank you so much.

I think Ive done my best for these 89 years.

Take a break here.

Please take a good rest.

And once again, please let us dream of seeing you appear before the people with that beaming smile.

Rest in peace.

Thank you so much for everything over such a long time.

Hideki Matsuis Eulogy [Full Text]: This is the eulogy delivered by Hideki Matsui, who built a deep mentor-mentee relationship with Mr. Nagashima and was active in the Giants and Major League Baseball, at his farewell ceremony.

Coach, we dont have any practice swings today, right?

Looking into those eyes makes me want to say, Bring me a bat.

I feel startled, like someone might say, Lets do this now!

But right now, I want to hear that voice.

You selected me in the draft and gave me a big thumbs up with a beaming smile.

I was a Tigers fan, so I was a bit taken aback in my heart.

However, soon after, he called me and said, Matsui-kun, Im waiting for you, and my worries disappeared in an instant.

Once the manager put on his uniform and stepped onto the field, he radiated an intense aura, and when it was just the two of us practicing swings, he became Batman, Shigeo Nagashima.

That was my everyday life.

I was born in the year the coach retired, so no matter how much I want to, I can’t truly share the same feelings as those who spent time with the coach during his active years.

I didnt live in that era.

On the contrary, precisely because I havent experienced that baseball god, Shigeo Nagashima, firsthand, I was able to interact with him just as my ordinary self.

I think that was extremely fortunate for me.

On the day I stepped down as manager, I thought it would be my last practice swing, and as I was swinging, I couldnt stop my tears.

I thought this would be my last practice swing.

What are you crying for?

Wipe your tears with a towel, come on, wave it!

They kindly spoke to me like that.

I thought that was the last time, but we did it again the next day.

And I did it again the next year, and the year after that.

I cant escape from Shigeo Nagashima.

Its going to be that way from now on, too.

That is my happiness.

Coach, do you remember that I asked you for a favor only once during my playing days?

I was playing center field, but I asked the coach, If its all the same, could you let me play third base instead?

Then, Youre not the third baseman.

I knew it, you really are the center.

He said, I want to make you into Joe DiMaggio.

I had no idea at all.

One day, when I visited the managers house for some practice swings, I noticed there was a Joe DiMaggio bat and a large photo of Joe DiMaggio there.

I didnt miss it.

I thought, The coach really likes Joe DiMaggio, and I truly felt happy at that moment when he told me to become like that player.

And then I happily came to love the center.

At that time, I dont think the manager ever dreamed that I would wear the same uniform as Joe DiMaggio and play on the same field as him.

Of course, I didnt think so either.

When I retired and went to greet the manager, I said, I went to the Yankees because you mentioned Joe DiMaggio, and he gave me this smile.

At that moment, for the first time, I had to leave the Giants whom I loved so much, but I felt that this was for the best.

And even now, Im still far away in a distant place.

Every time I come back to Japan and go to greet the director, he seems like he wants to say something, but he doesn’t actually say it.

But I always received those feelings.

Why did the director choose me, and why did they give me so much? I still wonder about that.

I keep asking myself, in my heart, the meaning of that, the answer to that, and keep questioning the director.

This time, I wont let the director get away.

So today, I will not say thank you or goodbye.

I look forward to your continued support.

And with that brilliant light, please continue to shine on the future of the Giants and the future of Japanese baseball.

Mina Nagashimas Address as Chief Mourner [Full Text]: This is the address given by Mina, the second daughter of Mr. Nagashima, who served as the chief mourner.

Thank you very much for taking the time out of your busy schedule and traveling a long distance to attend the funeral of my father, Shigeo Nagashima, today.

Since suffering a stroke in 2004, I have been fighting with myself for 21 years.

Even just watching, I could feel my chest tighten from all the painful treatments you went through.

There were many days when I couldnt eat or talk at all.

But my father faced his illness head-on with the same strength he showed in baseball, and he never gave up.

On June 3rd, a little after 6 a.m., I was in the hospital room, and the pulse and blood pressure readings dropped to zero. But if you looked closely, the waveform—the beeping, wavy line—kept going the whole time.

I asked the nurse, What does this mean? and she said, I think its the vibration from the doctor trying to get your heart to start moving, to keep it moving.

Ive never seen anything like this.

Nurses and the attending doctors were surprised until the very end.

I think he lived a life true to Shigeo Nagashima until the very end.

Even if I lose consciousness, I won’t give up, and until the very end, I will live. I haven’t given up, I’m not giving up.

I thought that was what my fathers heartbeat was telling me.

He showed us, right to the very end, what it means to never give up—just like a father should.

I’m sure my father will continue his daily walks and training in heaven, just as he always did. So on sunny days, I hope you’ll look up at the sky from time to time and remember him.

And since my father has very good hearing, Mr. Matsui, if you dont mind, if you do some practice swings from New York, I think my father will be able to hear them clearly.

Please continue to have these conversations and practice swings with just my father and Mr. Matsui from now on.

Also, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Toshikazu Yamaguchi, President and CEO of The Yomiuri Shimbun Holdings, who served as the funeral committee chairman. On the day before my fathers passing, he visited him in the hospital room, and on the following morning, he rushed to our side again. He offered many kind words, not only to our family but also to the staff, asking, Are you taking care of yourselves? His support truly meant a lot to us.

Its hard to express my gratitude with just the two characters for thanks, but on behalf of my entire family and relatives, I would like to extend my heartfelt, heartfelt thanks to President Yamaguchi, all the employees of the Yomiuri Shimbun Group Headquarters, and all the staff of the Yomiuri Giants.

Prior to the departure of the coffin, I would like to express my gratitude and offer this as my greeting.

Thank you very much for today.