「もう一度プロの選手に」西武ライオンズ投手からボートレーサーに転身　養成所での苦しい１年耐え　涙の再スタート

Shogo Noda was a pitcher for the Seibu Lions professional baseball team. Two years ago, he was cut from the team, and then decided to become a boat racer. After overcoming rigorous training and graduating from the training center, Noda is finally starting his second life with the support of his family. ◆A Fresh Start at the Boat Racer Training Center Located in Yanagawa City, Fukuoka Prefecture, the only boat racer training center in Japan. On September 22nd, 25 men and women who overcame a year of rigorous training successfully graduated. Among them was Shogo Noda, a former professional baseball player from Itoshima City, Fukuoka Prefecture. A relief pitcher for the Seibu Lions, Noda was selected as a member of Samurai Japan in 2017. However, due to injuries and other factors, he was cut from the team in 2020. Noda Shogo: "I vow to value courtesy and good manners and work hard every day to become a great boat racer!" About a year ago, at the age of 28, Noda restarted his life. Wanting to make another splash as a professional athlete, Noda decided to take on a career he'd always been interested in: boat racing. ◆Lossed 23 kg To meet the required weight, he cut down on his food intake to the bare minimum, shedding 23 kg from his original weight of 75 kg in six months (he's 167 cm tall). Hawks pitcher Senga also sent his support to Noda on his new challenge. Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks pitcher Senga Kodai: "I sent him a message saying, 'I know boat racer training is tough, but do your best,' and 'I'll buy it for you if you become a racer!'" At the training school, he lives apart from his wife and children in a six-person room. Q. When you played professional baseball, your uniforms were dry cleaned, right? Did you fold them yourself? Noda: I don't do it much (laughs). ◆Boat racing: a life-threatening experience Public address: "Wake up, wake up." My day begins at 6 a.m., before dawn. My life has changed dramatically since my days as a professional baseball player. Because boat racing is a life-threatening sport, I can't afford to let my guard down, even during training. The boat's top speed is 80 km/h. I practiced countless turns to turn the hull. Instructor: "Know your turning radius. Got it?" The number of trainees at the training school, which was over 50, has dropped to less than half in the past year. "I know it's not exactly repaying the instructors who taught me over the past year, but I want to show them the results I've achieved." ◆Tears of gratitude after the graduation race: "I aim to become a top athlete." And then, September 21st arrived. "Let's all create the best race possible with absolutely no accidents, let's go!" Prior to the graduation ceremony, the training school held its final graduation race. Noda, in boat No. 1 (white), got into a good position to start, but... made a wide first turn and was overtaken by boat No. 3. He made the next turn well and somehow managed to hang on... but was unable to pass, finishing in second place. With the support of his family, Noda overcame a year of rigorous training and will begin his second life as a boat racer. Noda Shogo: "It was probably the longest year of my life... it was tough, but my family really supported me. Now that I've been able to become a professional athlete again, I want to aim to become a top-class athlete and become an athlete loved by fans."