"I never call a player 'Hey, you.'" The secret behind the Japanese interim manager's stellar performance lies in his use of honorifics! This is true leadership.

*This content was translated by AI.

Hideki Hashigami (60), the new interim manager of the Yomiuri Giants, has sent a fresh shockwave through Japanese baseball with his unconventional approach. Despite the setback of an abrupt change in leadership, the secret to quickly stabilizing the team is said to be his "honorific leadership" toward the players.

In an interview with Japanese media Sports Hochi published on the 18th, Manager Hashigami shared his reflections on leading the team since the exchange games following the resignation of former manager Shinnosuke Abe.

In the 18th games played since assuming the role of interim manager, he has recorded 10 wins, 6 losses, and 2 draws. In terms of win-loss margin, that is +4. As of the 19th, the team stands at 34 wins, 28 losses, and 2 draws (winning percentage 0.548), leading the Central League. While stabilizing the team, he firmly pointed to "defensive baseball" centered on pitching strength, emphasizing the importance of defense.

However, the true secret behind his stellar performance that has drawn attention from both the media and fans is said to be his meticulous "communication style" both on and off the field.

The most striking aspect is his use of "honorifics" when addressing players. According to the report, Manager Hashigami always appends the title "player" (senshu) after players' names during official post-game interviews and other occasions. There is no coercive calling like "Hey, you." Regarding this, he explained, "Considering the current era, even such small details are important."

Having learned baseball under the late Katsuya Nomura, former manager of the Rakuten Golden Eagles, he described his approach as the exact opposite of his mentor's. Manager Hashigami stated, "In the past, Manager Nomura taught us never to use honorifics and to call players by their names alone to maintain a certain distance from them." However, he added, "But I took that as a kind of cautionary tale. I believe that using honorifics is more appropriate for today's era."

The background to this horizontal and meticulous leadership lies in his unique career path. After retiring from the Hanshin Tigers at the end of the 2000 season, he directly operated a golf equipment store near the Koshien stadium for about four years before returning to the field as a coach for the Rakuten Eagles in 2005.

He was not merely a figurehead owner. He personally stood at the store counter to greet customers and sometimes endured incomprehensible malicious complaints with his own body. He experienced social life in a thorough "subordinate" position, stepping outside the baseball world's boundaries.

Manager Hashigami recalled, "The experience from that time has become a tremendous living asset in my current role as a coach." He added, "I learned a great deal about how to deal with customers and how to communicate with people around me. I learned how to think from the other person's perspective precisely by dealing with those customers."

Japanese professional baseball is a rigid hierarchical society with strong conservative tendencies. Among them, the "respect and communication" wave that Manager Hashigami is bringing to the Yomiuri Giants, considered the most authoritarian, is seen as refreshing. With his rich experience in the baseball field combined with sophisticated communication skills honed in "real society," Manager Hashigami is earning praise as "this is true leadership." It is highly anticipated how far he can elevate the giant army in crisis.

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*This content was translated by AI.