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Kei Tamura, pitcher for Japanese Keio High School and grandson of legendary Korean-Japanese pro-wrestler Rikidozan. /Courtesy of Mainichi Shimbun
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The grandson of legendary Korean-Japanese pro-wrestler Rikidozan played an instrumental role in his team¡¯s first win in Japan¡¯s National High School Baseball Championship for 46 years.
As starting pitcher, Kei Tamura dropped only two points from seven innings in a game between his school, Keio, and Matsusho Gakuin in the first round of the tournament at Koshien Stadium, Hyogo Prefecture on Tuesday, leading his team to 6-4 victory. The 186cm tall left-handed pitcher conquered Matsusho batters with fastballs, sliders and other curveballs, earning his school its long-waited win -- the first since 1962 -- in time for its 60th anniversary celebrations.
Tamura fulfilled the promise he made before the game. He said earlier, ¡°I am proud to be Rikidozan¡¯s grandson, but I want to give all I have at Koshien so that I can rightfully earn the spotlight, not as Rikidozan¡¯s grandson but as Keio¡¯s pitcher.¡±
Tamura¡¯s mother is Rikidozan¡¯s youngest daughter, Hiromi Tamura, who was born shortly after Rikidozan was stabbed to death in 1963.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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