Interestingly, the Hanshin Tigers won the league championship a couple of times when I was at a turning point. They did it twice when I was at a turning point. The first time was in 1985 when they won the league title for the first time in 21 years. I got engaged to my wife that autumn and we got married in February the following year. They won the title by beating Yakult Swallows in the Jingu Stadium. At that time, I was working in Shinbashi, so I was really tempted to go to the stadium to see the Tigers beat the Swallows, but I couldn't. I had to go to a farewell party for my superior. While at the party, I listened to the radio to see what was going on in the stadium. And the moment the Tigers beat the Swallows, I was deeply moved. As soon as the party was over, I rushed to the tube station at full speed to get home. While I was rushing to the station, I met some strangers with a Tigers Happi Coat and a megaphone. I suddenly ran up to them and asked them if they were on their way back from Jingu Stadium. They said ‘Yes’. At that moment, I hugged them and shouted loudly ‘Hanshin Tigers, Banzai’, and they followed me. The strangers and I gave rousing cheers many times on the subway in Shinbashi. It was when I was 25 years old that the Tigers won the title.
38 years on, the Tigers won the title again and I was at another turning point. I became a grandfather. The Tigers have sometimes given me a new life. I look forward to seeing the new life they will give me in the future.

　面白いことに、ボクが人生の転機にいる時に、阪神は何度かリーグ優勝するのです。すでに、２回もありました。1985年の21年ぶりの優勝です。この年に、今の妻と婚約し、翌年の2月に都内で結婚しました。この時のタイガースは、神宮球場でヤクルトスワローズを破って優勝しました。当時、ボクは新橋で働いていたので、球場にいってヤクルトを破る瞬間を見たかったのですが、いけませんでした。上司の送別会があったのです。送別会中も、ラジオで戦況を聞き、タイガースが勝った瞬間は感極まりました。送別会が終わると家に帰るため、地下鉄の駅に一目散で向かいました。その時に、タイガースの法被を着てメガホンをもっている見知らぬ人に出会いました。思わず、彼らに駆け寄り、、思わず「神宮からの帰りでか？」と声をかけました。そして、「そうです」と聞いた途端、抱きつき、大きな声で「バンザイ」と叫びました。そしたら、見知らぬ人も叫びだし、一緒になって新橋の地下道で「バンザイ」と何度も叫びました。
あれから38年の時をへて、阪神がまた優勝してくれました。そして、ボクも新たな転機を迎え、おじいちゃんになりました。タイガースは、時々ボクの新しい人生を切り開いてくれます。これから先、ボクにどんな人生をくれるのか楽しみです。