The brand concept that the Rakuten Group upholds, "On a Mission: Empowerment," "Behave Ethically: Integrity," "Prepare to Succeed: Professionalism," "Complete Commitment: Get Things Done," and "Solidarity: Succeed as a Team."What if we applied these five to the players of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles?Strangely, or rather inevitably, I found a lineup that fits perfectly."Prepare to Succeed: Professionalism" is for Yuki Matsui.The role of a relief pitcher requires preparation every day, regardless of whether they get a turn or not, and once they step on the mound, failure is never tolerated.The closer, who has been diligently preparing for the team's victory, has a simple and precise mental and physical preparation.

To achieve the best performance, the best preparation is necessary.Yuki Matsui, who reached a total of 200 saves in professional baseball as the youngest and ninth person in history, has continued to produce results in the position of closer, where mistakes are not tolerated.It’s uncertain when my turn will come, but I face my body with care every day, exploring what I can do to perform at my best and making sure to prepare thoroughly.Without “Prepare to Succeed: Professionalism”, it is impossible to manage.

“It’s disrespectful to the entire team to step onto the mound unprepared,” he says with a strong sense of responsibility, bearing the heavy responsibility of being the only closer on the team.

“Creating a good physical condition is the most important preparation for me.Of course, since it’s different every day, there is no correct answer.Even so, I face myself from the condition that I’m based on, and choose and adjust what I should do each day.For instance, if you feel tension in your muscles, you can loosen them up, or if you’ve been throwing repeatedly, you should focus more on conditioning your shoulder.If the day before the game was a night game, I also take some time to sleep.The way you prepare changes depending on various factors such as your own physical condition, schedule, and climate.It’s important to properly prepare yourself before heading to the bullpen, and create a state within yourself where you feel like you can “go for it”.

I believe that I have gained a certain level of control over mental preparation through accumulating experience.There were times in the beginning when I would carry my feelings over to the next day.There were many times when I forced myself to act cheerful so as not to make those around me worry. However, gradually, my heart caught up and I was able to switch my mood.As expected, if you have negative emotions, your performance won’t improve.

There are good and bad points in every pitching performance.That’s precisely why, ensure that your feelings are not swayed there.Even when things weren’t going well, I would focus intently on the reason and reflect on it, only thinking about where to concentrate my practice and how to give a good performance.Ever since I started to think that way, I stopped feeling depressed.Moreover, if you go to sleep feeling down, your condition the next day won’t be good.I feel heavy.You cannot control the outcome, but you can ensure to be at your best preparation and climb the mound every day.I believe that being well-prepared is essential for delivering your best performance.The only feelings to take to the mound are “I want to suppress,” “I want to produce results,” and “I want to properly fulfill my duty.”Past results have no bearing on the next mound, so I’ll leave behind any feelings other than this.

Over the past 10 years since my debut, I’ve realized something amidst the numerous times I’ve pitched.That is to say, it’s our own brain that’s controlling the movement of our bodies.I believe that the mindset you maintain is also a part of conditioning that controls the body.”That’s exactly why it’s important to maintain a positive mindset, always embracing the feeling of ‘enjoyment’.”

INTERVIEW & TEXT: Chiharu Abe