Terry Ito Column Vol.54 Thank you, Mister.

Mr. Professional Baseball, Shigeo Nagashima, passed away at 6:39 AM on June 3, 2025, at a hospital in Tokyo due to pneumonia. He was 89 years old. Japan is in mourning. Though he remained a superstar for many years, different generations have different impressions of him. Younger generations who didn't see him play often found him to be known for his unique comments. Perhaps his managerial days were associated with the development of Tatsunori Hara and Hideki Matsui. For my generation, Mr. Nagashima was an overwhelming presence as a baseball player. When he joined the Yomiuri Giants in 33, Japan was still poor, and the entire country was a monochrome world. Streets, people, and cars were all monochromatic. Looking around the stands at Korakuen Stadium, men wore white open-collar shirts or dark gray suits after work, and young people were wearing school uniforms. However, Shigeo Nagashima was the only one in color. He shone dazzlingly. Of course, professional baseball at the time also had stars like Kawakami, Kaneda, and Bessho, but the world was still monochrome. Mr. alone shone with a brilliance on a different level.

Before Nagashima joined the Giants from Rikkyo University, the six-university baseball league was more popular than professional baseball. Due to this background, professional baseball lacked any flashy players. Then, like a comet, Mr. Nagashima appeared. In the opening game, he struck out four times in four at-bats against Kokutetsu Swallows pitcher Kaneda. He hit a home run, but was called out without touching base, and even made a bold attempt to steal home. Then, in his first game watched by the Emperor, he hit a walk-off home run to secure victory. Mr. Nagashima's every move astonished the Japanese people. Even as a child at the time, I felt, "There's only one major leaguer playing in Japanese professional baseball," "He's shown us the true joy of baseball that Japanese people hadn't known," and "A new era has arrived." I wasn't the only one. He instantly changed the entire Japanese perception of baseball, making people realize that playing baseball can be this fun. Just as Elvis Presley and the Beatles revolutionized the music scene, one man, Shigeo Nagashima, transformed the world of baseball. This is why he is called Mr. Professional Baseball.

At the time, there was a field in Tsukiji where I lived where we could play amateur baseball. It was a daily routine to play baseball there after school, and after playing we would all go to the local public bath. As we approached the bath, my friends, who had been laughing and chatting up until then, would suddenly start sprinting. We would compete to see who could get the number 3 shoe locker ticket the fastest. I was a slow runner, so I never managed to get it. That public bath no longer exists, but my feelings for my beloved Mister will never fade.

Rather than expressing my feelings of loneliness and sadness, I would like to say "Thank you" to Mr., who has given me so many memories, courage, and taught me about life.

Terry Ito (director)

Born in Tsukiji, Tokyo in 1949. After attending Waseda Jitsugyo Junior and Senior High School, he graduated from Nihon University's School of Economics.
In March 2023, he completed the Master's program at the Graduate School of Media and Governance at Keio University.
He joined the television production company IVS Television, where he worked on variety shows such as "Tensai Takeshi's Genki ga Deru TV" and "Neruton Benikujidan."
He then went independent and worked on planning and directing a number of television programs, including TV Tokyo's "Asakusabashi Young Clothing Store."
His book "Comedy North Korea" became a bestseller, and he subsequently made numerous media appearances under the name Terry Ito.
In addition to his work as a director, he is also active in a variety of fields as a producer, entertainer, and commentator.
YouTube channelTerry Ito's Comedy Backdrop'
Currently writing a column in LALALA USA
https://lalalausa.com/archives/category/column/terry