Hideki Matsui bows after delivering a eulogy at a memorial service for Shigeo Nagashima at Tokyo Dome on Nov. 21, 2025. (Kyodo)
TOKYO (Kyodo) — Fans, former teammates and prominent figures paid their respects to Japanese baseball great Shigeo Nagashima during a memorial service at Tokyo Dome on Friday.
Nagashima, who died of pneumonia at 89 in June, was a hugely popular figure in Japan for his on-field exploits as a member of the Yomiuri Giants during the country’s period of rapid economic growth in the 1960s and 1970s.
After his storied 17-year playing career, Nagashima managed the Tokyo-based club.
A morning service was attended by people associated with Nagashima, including all-time Nippon Professional Baseball home run leader Sadaharu Oh, with whom he led the Giants to nine consecutive Central League and Japan Series titles from 1965 to 1973.
A later session at the Giants’ home stadium was open to the public.
“He was truly a special person,” Oh said. “Shigeo Nagashima will be with us forever.”
Former Yomiuri and New York Yankees slugger Hideki Matsui, who played for the Giants while Nagashima was manager, also spoke at the ceremony.
“I can proudly say that Shigeo Nagashima was my mentor,” Matsui said.
Condolence video messages from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki were played at the memorial.