By Saruwatari Tsuyoshi, Kyoto Shimbun News

October 21, 2017: Kyoto — 400 home runs. 42 years. 3 League Championships together. One last chance to see them both together at home in the October Orange uniforms of the Edo Battousai. The Wonder Twins of the LRS, Morihiro and Kenko Nakamura will be appearing at the club’s final 2017 homestand at Koshien Stadium. This season closes with an empty feeling, no packed bags will be found in the clubhouse. After 6 years of playoff baseball in Edo the players will have to watch their playoff baseball from home.

It’s been a great run but the laws of finance are irrefutable and the club must put its books back in order. These old warhorses must be out out to pasture. The piper has come for his payment.

Morihiro, ‘Nakamura the younger’ will be present for the fans to say their farewells. A fractured foot has taken him from the lineup, robbing the fans of seeing him at the plate one last time. His spirits are high and there was no way he was going to simply fade away. “I feel a deep connection to these very special fans. I owe it to them to be there. I’d love to finish my career in Edo but it’s obviously not possible given the state of the club’s finances.” 

‘Nakamura the elder’, Kenko, the oldest active player in the LRS will be featured in the final week. The club has put future catcher Koryusai Kakuta on the pine so that Kenko will get to play his final games in Koshien before the fans. “I appreciate the gesture, I’ll miss the fans and the club, after all we’ve accomplished…” he pauses briefly, “I’m looking forward to next season. I’ve still got something left in the tank.”

The fans have been fairly vocal about the pair and desperately want them to stay. Children have been sending money to the club in hope that their meager offerings will allow the club to re-sign them (the funds have all been returned with letters of thanks signed by the two Nakamuras and the owner of the club whose name we do not mention here)

The owner has famously stated “We’ll have this club profitable again in 4 years!” Perhaps, but one must wonder will there be any fans left when that day arrives?