Creation of a new team, competition for top positions, outstanding performances of members of national teams. We interviewed players of four Yokohama-based professional sports teams, which this year drew more attention than ever, asking them to look back on what 2012 was like for them.

Yokohama DeNA BayStars

TEL. 045-681-0811 (pilot number)
http://www.baystars.co.jp/bay/

In 2012, the team was reborn as the Yokohama DeNA BayStars. They played their first season under the slogan of “Tradition and Change” with the focus on two things: keeping the tradition of BayStars, a Yokohama-based baseball club with a history of more than 30 years, and making breakthroughs as a new organization. The team ended the 2012 pennant race with a disappointing result, finishing in last place for five consecutive years. But, under the leadership of Kiyoshi Nakahata, the first manager to lead the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, team building efforts for achieving better results are under way, with veteran players including Daisuke Miura and Alex Ramirez working together with younger teammates like Sho Aranami and Yoshitomo Tsutsugo. They are all determined to learn from their bitter experiences over the season this year and strive to play in the Climax Series next season.

• Message from Manager Kiyoshi Nakahata

This has been my first year as manager, and I would like to thank all of you, who are Yokohama fans, for your passionate support. Although we lost many games this year, I was really encouraged by the cheers that you continued to give us until the last game. I promise that we will bring the best out of ourselves next season so that, at the end of the season, we will be able to share the pleasure of victory with you all. We look forward to your continued support in the season next year.

Yokohama F-Marinos

TEL. 045-277-2307 (Tricolor Members Secretariat, open from 10:00 to 17:00; no scheduled holidays)
http://www.f-marinos.com/

• Big Leap from Yokohama to the World Stage

Yuzo Kurihara, the defender wearing uniform number 4 [2014 FIFA World Cup Asian preliminary competition]

In the World Cup Asian preliminary competition, we cannot afford to lose a match. So I was thrilled that my team scored two goals, including the one that I scored, in a match last June. Being a defender, I play every match thinking that keeping the opponent team scoreless is what I should do to help my team win. So it was surprising that I scored a goal as a defender. We need to win some more matches to earn a berth in the final competition, and now I am more motivated than ever to work hard to get a chance to stand on the pitch. To do that, I’ll try to achieve good results with F-Marinos.

Manabu Saito, the forward wearing uniform number 11 [London Olympics]

I was very happy that I was selected to go to the London Olympics, and I felt the immense pressure and responsibility of being on a national team. I was nervous being in the Olympic Games but, more than that, I was excited about playing against soccer superpowers of the world. In the quarterfinals, my team was leading when I took to the pitch, so I focused on my role as a defender. All of us got really excited when we finally won the match. But what we wanted was a medal, so we immediately switched our attention to the next match. As it turned out, we fell short of a medal. Despite the loss, though, I remember every member of the team saying to each other, “Let’s go home with pride.” I think I should build on the Olympic experience to do even better with F-Marinos. I’ll keep on playing to help my team win.

Yokohama FC

TEL. 045-372-5212 (pilot number)
http://www.yokohamafc.com/

Yokohama FC started the 2012 season with all the necessary preparations made under the leadership of Yasuyuki Kishino in his third year as manager toward the goal of being promoted to the J1 League. But things did not turn around for the team (we were ranked last in the league for a while). To remedy the situation, we took a drastic step of putting Motohiro Yamaguchi, a former player of the club, in the manager position, making a new start at the end of March. From April through August, the team played ten away games and remained undefeated (nine wins and one draw), earning point after point for the season. Winning the match against Oita Trinita played as part of the 37th Game finally made us eligible to compete in the promotional playoffs, a position where we were supposed to be (as of November 9).
This season has been an exciting one for our fans not just because of the great result achieved by the team but also because of the remarkable performances of individual players, such as Kazuyoshi Miura playing for the national futsal team and Kosuke Onose selected as a member of Japan’s team for the U-19 World Cup.

As part of our efforts to contribute to the local community, we also organized a program called “Meet You in Your Dreams.” In this program, members of the club gave lessons at city-run Kunugidai elementary school in Hodogaya Ward. We will continue to fulfill this mission of giving children with a future some messages that only professional soccer players can offer.

Yokohama B-Corsairs

TEL. 045-287-1541 (pilot number)
http://b-corsairs.com/

• Looking Back at Last Season

Yokohama B-Corsairs participated in the bj League for the first time in the 2011-2012 season, so everything was new to us last season. As we played more games, the number of our boosters increased. The resounding cheers from the stands definitely encouraged the players. It helped us achieve excellent results as a newcomer, finishing second in Eastern Conference, competing in the playoffs and taking third place in the league. But the last season was also a bit disappointing for us because we had the championship in sight but failed to clinch it. So, entering the second season, we intend to do everything we can to win the championship!

• Start of the Second Season

We spent much of the off season on hard training sessions and practice matches abroad. We won two season-opening away matches in Saitama on October 13 and 14. After that, we lost two matches in a row against the team of Niigata and then won two consecutive matches against the team of Gunma, a newcomer of this season. We played six away matches with a 4-2 record (as of November 9), so I think we have gotten off to a good start.

• Go and Watch Home Matches of Yokohama B-Corsairs

After a series of away matches since the opening of the season, a home match that both players and boosters had waited for took place in Zama City on November 10. And we will play a number of home matches from December through February. A total of 14 matches are scheduled to be held at Yokohama International Swimming Pool, Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium, Hiratsuka Gymnasium and Ebina City Gymnasium. We are going to have a lot of home matches in the middle of the season, so I want everyone to come and root for us!

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