[J:COM] 'Pro Baseball Love Declaration!' Yakult's Kota Shoji talks about his resolve in his second pro year and the reasons for the team's strong performance
Kota Shoji, the Tokyo Yakult Swallows' pitcher and last year's Rookie of the Year, appears in the 16th installment of J:COM's 'Pro Baseball Love Declaration!' series. His interview, in which he discusses his goals for this season and the factors behind the team's good performance, is available on the web magazine 'J:magazine!'.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 20, 2026 at 21:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 20, 2026 at 12:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 20, 2026 at 12:32 (0 min after Collected)
JCOM Co., Ltd. is serializing 'Pro Baseball Love Declaration!', where active players, former players, and celebrities talk about their 'love' for baseball, as part of its initiative for thorough broadcasting and live streaming of professional baseball official games. The 16th installment features Kota Shoji of the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.
'Pro Baseball Love Declaration!' is being serialized in the program guide magazine 'J:COM Magazine' for J:COM subscribers and 'J:magazine!', a web magazine for enjoying entertainment more. In the 16th installment, you can enjoy the 'love for baseball' from Kota Shoji, who won the Rookie of the Year award last year and states, 'I want to pitch in 60 games and keep my ERA under 2.00.'
—Did you watch professional baseball since you were a child? Who was your favorite player back then?
Shoji: Since I'm from Hachioji, I supported the Tokyo team. As for players, I liked (Alex) Ramirez. I was a pitcher even back then, but I was fascinated by home-run hitters.
—The team has been in good form from the opening of this season. Could you tell us the reason for that?
Shoji: Under new manager Ikeyama, the team is united and the entire bench has a very bright atmosphere. There are many young players on the team, and I think there's an energy that doesn't stop once we get on a roll. I think the whole team is meshing well, with the batting lineup helping out when the pitchers are struggling, and conversely, the pitchers holding their ground when the batting lineup is in a slump.
—What is your goal for this season?
Shoji: Pitching in 60 games is my biggest goal. Also, I want to keep my ERA under 2.00. I want to leave better numbers than last year, even if it's just a little bit.
[J:magazine!] website: https://jmagazine.myjcom.jp/
With the key message 'Keep getting hot with baseball!', J:COM broadcasts various content related to professional baseball throughout the season. Going forward, J:COM will continue to propose new ways to enjoy professional baseball to customers, including live streaming that can be viewed on TVs, PCs, smartphones, and tablets.
'Pro Baseball Love Declaration!' is being serialized in the program guide magazine 'J:COM Magazine' for J:COM subscribers and 'J:magazine!', a web magazine for enjoying entertainment more. In the 16th installment, you can enjoy the 'love for baseball' from Kota Shoji, who won the Rookie of the Year award last year and states, 'I want to pitch in 60 games and keep my ERA under 2.00.'
—Did you watch professional baseball since you were a child? Who was your favorite player back then?
Shoji: Since I'm from Hachioji, I supported the Tokyo team. As for players, I liked (Alex) Ramirez. I was a pitcher even back then, but I was fascinated by home-run hitters.
—The team has been in good form from the opening of this season. Could you tell us the reason for that?
Shoji: Under new manager Ikeyama, the team is united and the entire bench has a very bright atmosphere. There are many young players on the team, and I think there's an energy that doesn't stop once we get on a roll. I think the whole team is meshing well, with the batting lineup helping out when the pitchers are struggling, and conversely, the pitchers holding their ground when the batting lineup is in a slump.
—What is your goal for this season?
Shoji: Pitching in 60 games is my biggest goal. Also, I want to keep my ERA under 2.00. I want to leave better numbers than last year, even if it's just a little bit.
[J:magazine!] website: https://jmagazine.myjcom.jp/
With the key message 'Keep getting hot with baseball!', J:COM broadcasts various content related to professional baseball throughout the season. Going forward, J:COM will continue to propose new ways to enjoy professional baseball to customers, including live streaming that can be viewed on TVs, PCs, smartphones, and tablets.
FAQ
Where can I read Kota Shoji's interview?
You can read it on J:magazine!, a web magazine operated by J:COM.
What is Kota Shoji's goal for this season?
He aims to pitch in 60 games and keep his ERA under 2.00.
How can I enjoy professional baseball on J:COM?
By subscribing to J:COM TV and using J:COM LINK, you can enjoy live streaming and other content.