Nagashima and Matsui

Yesterday was May 5th.


The date, 5/5, has the same numbers as Hideki Matsui's uniform when he played for the Yomiuri Giants, and New York Yankees and other MLB teams.



After an elaborate retirement ceremony, Matsui and his former manager Shigeo Nagashima received Peopl's Honor Award and golden bats from Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo Dome.

Former baseball players and People's Honor Award recipients, Sadaharu Oh and Sachio Kinugasa,  gave flowers to Nagashima and Matsui.

Matsui tossed the first pitch of the game that followed the ceremony.


Nagashima in a Giant's uniform with his old number 3 swung his bat in the box.


The Prime Minister acted as the referee.

Congratulations!!(^^)