"You won't find an interpreter like this anywhere in the world" — The Sincere Words of Ace Okada Akita, a Former Japanese National Team Player, for 42-Year-Old Newcomer Interpreter Lee Gi-beom: A Special Year with Four Japanese Players on the Ulsan Whales [Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

"Even if you searched the entire world, it is rare to find someone who handles interpretation for three or four players alone. I am truly grateful."

Okada Akita (33, Ulsan Whales), a former Japanese national team player, had a particular person he wanted to express his gratitude to after the season ended. It was Lee Gi-beom (42), the Ulsan interpreter who took on the challenge of interpreting for a baseball team for the first time this year and was responsible for four Japanese players.

Interpreter Lee Gi-beom met with StarNews at Ulsan Munsu Baseball Stadium on the 31st of last month and reflected on his first season, saying, "I had really wanted to be an interpreter for a baseball team. I went to interviews with several teams, but most did not work out."

It was not entirely unfamiliar territory. His younger brother, Lee Gi-hoon (35), had served as the interpreter for training coach Naito Shigeto at the Samsung Lions from 2023 to 2024. Lee prepared for the job by listening to his brother's stories about life in a baseball team, but it took time before he finally got his first opportunity.

The team that reached out to him was Ulsan, which had been founded this year. A unique condition was that he would have to be responsible for three Japanese players from the start. It is common for a baseball team interpreter to handle one or two players. Nevertheless, Interpreter Lee Gi-beom smiled and said, "I applied thinking that I could perhaps gain three years' worth of experience at once. I was grateful that they gave me the chance."

It was not easy. Interpreter Lee Gi-beom said, "If you miss one player, you might miss all three, so I could never let my guard down." He added, "There were many fun aspects that I had not expected, as well as difficult parts. But looking back on the entire season, it was a truly satisfying and grateful year."

The players he worked with from the beginning were Okada, Naga Taisei (27), and Kobayashi Jui (25). Later, in July, Sono Yuto (26) joined, bringing the number of players under his care to four. Although they shared the same nationality, their paths in Japan had been quite different. Okada is a veteran who recorded 12 wins for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in 2017 and even represented the Japanese national team. Kobayashi came from the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, while Naga joined Ulsan after being a winning-pitch leader in Japan's independent leagues. Yuto also played as a closer for the Gunma Diamond Pegasus in Japan's independent leagues before coming to Korea mid-season.

The four players took on important roles on the Ulsan pitcher's mound during the team's inaugural year. Okada recorded 6 wins, 4 losses, 1 save, and 1 hold with an ERA of 2.40 in 17 Futures League games this year. Kobayashi posted a record of 9 wins and 5 losses with an ERA of 2.94 in 23 games. Naga went 8-3 with an ERA of 3.57 in 22 games, striking out 100 batters to become the first player to reach that milestone in the team's history. Yuto, who joined in July, also bolstered the bullpen with a record of 1 win and 1 loss, 1 save, and 2 holds, along with an ERA of 1.23 in 12 games.

Interpreter Lee Gi-beom said that the time spent with the four players, who had different personalities, was particularly enjoyable. He explained, "Okada was truly gentlemanly, perhaps because of his long professional career. He clearly communicated how much help he wanted." He added, "Kobayashi was like a baseball boy. He expressed his emotions honestly, getting angry when he should and showing joy when he was happy."

He continued, "Naga had a prince-like style. Yuto joined later, but since the other players were already accustomed to life in Ulsan, he could adapt comfortably." He smiled and said, "The four players all had different personalities, which made it truly fun."

Their reactions to life in Korea were also varied. Unexpectedly, food was the hardest thing to adjust to. Interpreter Lee Gi-beom noted, "The Japanese players struggled with red and spicy food. Since there is a lot of such food in the Gyeongsang region, they had a hard time." However, he added, "Otherwise, most of them were satisfied. Ulsan is a large city and close to Busan, and the team also helped them settle in well."

At the stadium, Korea's unique cheering culture became a special experience. Interpreter Lee Gi-beom explained, "The Japanese players had experienced independent baseball and other things before coming to Ulsan. Many fans come to Munsu Baseball Stadium, and there are cheerleaders and a fan club leader. The players were very satisfied as they experienced the cheering style unique to Korean baseball."

That cheering also extended to the interpreter. Interpreter Lee Gi-beom said, "There were fans who came every time, and some cheered in special ways. There were even fans who called out my name, even though I am not a player." He revealed, "Since they come to cheer for the players, I tried my best to help them with any requests they had."

Okada, the eldest among the Japanese players, also did not forget the interpreter's support as he looked back on his season in Ulsan. Okada said, "He has been with us from before the opening of the season until now. Even when I was playing professionally in Japan, I had never experienced a situation where one person handled interpretation for three or four players." He added, "He helped not only with interpretation but also with various matters inside and outside the stadium. I received tremendous help and am truly grateful."

Ulsan finished first in the Futures League Southern Division in its inaugural year and placed second in both the championship series and the Ulsan-KBO Pol League. For the Japanese players and Interpreter Lee Gi-beom, their first season in Ulsan, a new experience for all of them, came to a close.

Interpreter Lee Gi-beom said he wants to continue his connection with baseball in the future. He stated, "The four Japanese players told me that if they play baseball elsewhere later, they would like to work together again." He added, "I do not know where or in what form I will work next, but I am someone who truly loves baseball. If given another opportunity, I want to continue working in baseball-related fields anywhere."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original