If you've been keeping up with Japanese pro baseball, you'll know that yesterday (September 7th), the Hanshin Tigers clinched the Central League championship, setting a new record for the fastest title win in history! This year, the Tigers were simply unstoppable, making history and bringing countless fans together in Osaka's Dotonbori for an all-night celebration.
This morning, the Sports Nippon newspaper featured a special hand-drawn illustration and congratulatory message from manga artist Masanori Morita, famous for works like "ROOKIES" and "Rokudenashi BLUES," celebrating the Central League victory after a two-year wait.
Manga artist Masanori Morita is, in fact, a famously passionate Hanshin Tigers superfan. So much so that the surnames of the main characters from Futakotamagawa Gakuen High School in "ROOKIES" are all taken from former Hanshin players!
The team has collaborated with him several times in the past. Back in 2014, he even drew a special illustration of Shintaro Fujinami pitching when he was still with the Tigers. Fujinami himself was reportedly amazed and deeply moved by how vividly Morita-sensei captured his pitching form.
For this year's Central League championship, the Hanshin Tigers' first in two years, Masanori Morita once again created a special illustration featuring the team's manager and players, which appeared in Sports Nippon, showcasing his fervent fan blessings and adoration for the Tigers.
Masanori Morita himself excitedly declared: "They're too strong! Seriously, ridiculously strong! As a fan who lived through the dark ages of the '90s, seeing the Tigers this powerful now, I honestly wonder if this is even allowed?! Anyway, I'm just so incredibly grateful! I don't even know who to thank, but I just want to say thank you! Sorry! And thank you again!"
In the illustration, he captures the dominant championship run with dynamic brushstrokes, depicting key players like Teruaki Sato, Shota Morishita, Koji Chikamoto, Takumi Saiki, Shoki Murakami, and Masashi Ishii. This marks his second time creating a special championship illustration; the last was in 2021, but that year the Tigers narrowly missed out, finishing second by "zero margin." This time, the joy is undoubtedly doubled.
Many fans are also incredibly grateful for Morita-sensei's artwork. Even at 58, and after a long hiatus from new works, he still showcases his powerful artistic skill. Fans are deeply moved by his passion for the Hanshin Tigers, reminiscing about classic manga scenes and even the unforgettable live-action drama adaptations.