#19 Ore-tachi no Koko Yakyu-shi

Two contrasting figures: jersey number 1 and jersey number 20.

While Inoue-san was an ace player who laughs about having "no good memories" from that time, Kimura-san established his own unique role as a third-base coach while wearing jersey number 20 in every tournament. Despite both being on the same baseball team, the interplay between these two, who held completely different positions, is exquisite. They also reveal the hardships unique to large-scale organizations, which had nearly 50 members across two grades and reached a scale of 70 members when all three grades were included.

Exploring the unique culture of high school baseball.

They also touch on the trends in high school baseball that are changing with the times, such as the move away from traditional buzumaru (shaven heads) following the recent victory of Keio High School. Nevertheless, the episode is packed with the realistic atmosphere that only former players can convey, including discussions on the overwhelming presence of Koshien and thoughts on why it is held in both spring and summer. You will surely find yourself empathizing with their warm perspective on the young ballplayers they see in town.

Finding one's place within a strict organization.

They dive into the world of strict club activities—a realm that could even be described as "militaristic," which rarely exists in the adult world. They discuss how they found their own value while facing the cruelty of not being able to play in games. Kimura-san's dedication to "a certain position" may contain profound insights that are applicable even to modern organizational society. Please enjoy the full episode to hear the rest.