In 2012, the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles held their fall training camp at Kurashiki’s Muscat Stadium, and I went to watch. I remember Manager Hoshino Senichi standing in front of the first-base dugout, intently watching the players practice.
The following year, the Rakuten Eagles won the league title, then faced the Yomiuri Giants, champions of the Central League, and claimed the Japan Series title in the deciding Game 7. It was the first time Hoshino had won a Japan Series title, including during his playing career.
I heard that items connected to Hoshino Senichi were going on display, so I went to see them.
From the glove he treasured in fourth grade to photos of championship celebrations and uniforms, more than 100 items were on display. I was able to learn about the long journey Hoshino had taken. Here is my report on an exhibition filled with his passionate spirit.
The information presented was current when this article was published in May 2025. Please note that it may differ from current information.
Overview of The Fighting General’s Path: Hoshino Senichi ‘Path of Dreams’ Exhibition
The exhibition was held in the entrance hall of Kurashiki City Art Museum from Saturday, March 1, 2025, to Sunday, March 30, 2025.
Around 100 highly valuable items that convey Hoshino Senichi’s passionate spirit were on display, including the glove he used as a child, photos and newspaper articles from his time at Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Commercial High School, and uniforms worn when he won championships as a player and manager.
These items were donated to Kurashiki City by the Hoshino Senichi Memorial Museum, which closed in 2021.
Reflecting on Hoshino Senichi’s life through the items on display
When I first entered the exhibition space, the first thing I saw was a photo of Manager Hoshino being tossed in celebration after his team clinched the championship. The uniforms and shoes from that time were also on display, and I could see them from very close up.
Even a manager who achieved the remarkable feat of leading three professional baseball teams to championships had a time when he steadily built his career in Kurashiki, and items connected to those years were also on display.
The exhibition was held during spring break, so some people came with their families. Many visitors took their time looking at the exhibits, and it seemed that each was remembering Hoshino in their own way.
The glove his mother first bought him when he was in fourth grade
One exhibit that made a strong impression was “The glove his mother bought him for the first time.”
According to the exhibit label, this was the glove Hoshino Senichi’s mother first bought him when he was in fourth grade. It cost 1,000 yen at the time.
After his father died, his mother raised Hoshino and his two older sisters on her own. Her monthly salary was said to be 7,000 to 8,000 yen, so it is clear that the glove was quite expensive.
I imagined how happy young Hoshino must have been when he received it, and what it must have felt like the first time he put his hand inside the glove.
It is a small glove, with much of its color worn away, but it seemed to be in very good condition.
As it turns out, Hoshino had given this glove to the son of a friend of his older sister. The son kept it for many years and returned it when the Hoshino Senichi Memorial Museum was established.
The glove told the story of the beginning of Hoshino’s career as a baseball player.
Hoshino during his years in Kurashiki at elementary, middle, and high school
An episode titled “Hoshino and Sadakane,” mentioned in an old book on display, offered a glimpse into Hoshino’s elementary school years.
Hoshino’s classmate Sadakane had a condition called muscular atrophy and could not walk. Hoshino would carry him on his back and take 30 minutes to get him to school. One can picture Hoshino’s kind-hearted nature.
The photo above is of the baseball team at Kurashiki Municipal Mizushima Junior High School. Hoshino is in the middle of the back row. The photo below is a class photo from Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Commercial High School. Hoshino is at the far right of the back row, as viewed in the photo.
This is a group photo of the Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Commercial High School baseball team. Hoshino is the fourth person from the left in the back row, as viewed in the photo. There were also newspaper articles from that time. They lost narrowly, and ultimately did not make it to Koshien.
His name appears prominently in the newspaper, showing that he was a highly regarded player. I knew Hoshino was from Kurashiki, but I did not know what his elementary, middle, and high school years were like. Once again, I felt the presence of Hoshino devoting himself to baseball in Kurashiki.
Photos of Hoshino Senichi, the Fighting General, being tossed in celebration that evoke his “Path of Dreams”
After attending Meiji University, he joined the Chunichi Dragons as the first overall draft pick. In 1974, he won the league championship. This is a photo from when the team clinched the title.
That year, he received the Sawamura Award, given to the most outstanding pitcher. The joy of that moment comes through.
His passionate play earned him the nickname “the Fiery Man.”
The exhibits that really moved me were the three league championships and the scenes of him being tossed into the air as manager.
This is a photo of the team tossing him into the air after the Chunichi Dragons won the league championship in 1988.
In 2003, he achieved a league championship as manager of the Hanshin Tigers.
Then, in 2013, he led the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles to a league championship and the Japan Series title. Hoshino was 66 years old at the time.
Looking at photos of Hoshino soaring through the air as he was tossed by his team warms my heart. I deeply appreciated the Fighting General’s journey to becoming Japan’s champions, a path that took many years. The look of pure joy on Hoshino’s face as he was tossed into the air, and the way he soared, were different each time his team won, which made the photos especially moving.
From the Writer
Seeing the precious items connected to Hoshino, I felt a deep respect for his baseball spirit. It was an exhibition that let me trace the journey of a young man born and raised in Kurashiki, who devoted himself to baseball and lived his baseball life with unwavering dedication.
Hoshino passed away in 2018 at the age of 70. I found myself wishing I could have heard more of his thoughts on baseball.
I also saw the glove Hoshino’s mother had first bought him, and it gave me a good opportunity to think about the things my own mother bought me when I was little, and whether I am giving my son anything with the same thought and care.
Professional baseball games are held every year at Kurashiki Muscat Stadium. I think watching baseball will become even more enjoyable from now on.
Articles about Kurashiki City Art Museum
The Fighting General’s Path: Hoshino Senichi ‘Path of Dreams’ Exhibition data
| Name | The Fighting General’s Path: Hoshino Senichi ‘Path of Dreams’ Exhibition |
|---|---|
| Dates | March 1–30, 2025 |
| Location | 2-6-1 Chuo, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Admission (tax included) | Free |
| Website | The Fighting General’s Path: Hoshino Senichi ‘Path of Dreams’ Exhibition |
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