Kazuhiko Ushijima

2.1. Pre-Professional Career

Ushijima began his baseball journey at Daito City Shijo Junior High School, where he participated in the prefectural tournament. During this time, he first encountered catcher Shinnosuke Kagawa, known as "Dokaben," when his team played against Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences High School, a top contender. Although initially planning to attend Tenri High School, Ushijima was earnestly recruited by Naniwa High School (now Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences High School) with the promise of building a strong team in three years. He decided to enroll there, forming a formidable battery with Kagawa, who was advancing from the affiliated junior high, and together they revitalized the struggling baseball club. Ushijima later recalled in a discussion with Dave Ohkubo that his relatives, who included a coach at a strong high school in Nara Prefecture, opposed his enrollment at Tenri High, and that Shigeru Takada, a Naniwa High School alumnus, also invited him to the school during a meal.

Ushijima made three appearances at Hanshin Koshien Stadium during his high school career: in the spring National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament during his second year, and in both the spring Invitational Tournament and the summer National High School Baseball Championship during his third year. In the 50th National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament in his second year, Naniwa High lost 0-3 to Takamatsu Commercial High School from Kagawa Prefecture in their first game. In the 51st National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament in his third year, they advanced to the final, where they were defeated 7-8 by Minoshima High School from Wakayama Prefecture in an all-Kinki region matchup, finishing as runner-up. In the summer of his third year, Naniwa High secured their spot in the Koshien tournament by defeating PL Gakuen High School, the defending champion from the previous summer and a team aiming for its fourth consecutive Koshien appearance, led by slugger Takehiko Kobayakawa, in the Osaka Prefectural Qualifiers final. In the 61st National High School Baseball Championship, Ushijima even hit a home run off Toru Nimura of Ageo High School (Saitama Prefecture), who would later become his teammate at Chunichi. However, Naniwa High was defeated 0-2 by Ikeda High School from Tokushima Prefecture in the semifinals, preventing them from reaching consecutive spring and summer finals.

In the 1979 Nippon Professional Baseball draft, while attention was heavily focused on his contemporaries Akinobu Okada and Isamu Kida, Ushijima was the sole first-round pick by the Chunichi Dragons. His scout was Hidenori Homoto. He signed for a contract bonus of 3.30 M JPY and an annual salary of 2.80 M JPY. Ushijima had initially intended to pursue a professional career from the outset and received offers from most professional teams. Notably, Nankai Hawks offered to acquire all three Naniwa players: Ushijima, Kagawa, and Akiyoshi Yamamoto. However, at the time, professional baseball broadcasts on television were predominantly focused on Yomiuri Giants games, with little coverage of the Pacific League. Ushijima's grandfather, who was hard of hearing, requested that he play in the Central League where the Giants were, so he could watch him on television rather than listen on the radio. Consequently, Ushijima declined all six Pacific League teams beforehand. This decision led to criticism, with media reports labeling it as a "high schooler refusing entry" or "reverse nomination." The Giants, who had also contacted Ushijima the day before the draft, were a potential destination, but then-Giants manager Shigeo Nagashima ultimately opted for a left-handed pitcher, changing their pick to Isamu Kida. Thus, Ushijima was a sole pick by Chunichi. Despite this, Ushijima maintained contact with Nagashima even after his retirement, receiving direct phone calls from him. In July 1980, during the Fresh All-Star Game held at Seibu Dome, Ushijima played for the All-Western team and reunited with Kagawa, who had joined the Nankai Hawks, forming a battery. However, in that game, Ushijima gave up a timely hit to Hiromitsu Ochiai, the main slugger for the All-Eastern team.

2.2. Chunichi Dragons (1980-1986)

Upon joining the Chunichi Dragons in 1979, Ushijima was given a choice of jersey numbers: "17," "21," or "24." Due to his slender physique, he opted for "17," believing a number with a slim font would suit his appearance. He made his first-team debut in 1980, securing two wins. In 1981, he earned a spot on the opening day roster and established himself as a regular reliever.

The 1982 season marked a turning point for Ushijima, as he became the team's relief ace, following in the footsteps of Takamasa Suzuki and Tatsuo Komatsu. He recorded 17 saves, significantly contributing to the team's league championship. In the 1982 Japan Series against the Seibu Lions, he appeared in four games. In Game 3, he relieved Takamasa Suzuki in the eighth inning, earning his first Series win. In Game 4, he relieved Tatsuo Komatsu in the ninth inning, securing his first Series save by holding the Lions scoreless.

In 1983, Ushijima struggled with consistency as a reliever due to an elbow injury that had bothered him since early August of the previous year. To change his fortunes, he transitioned to a starting role, achieving his first double-digit win season with 10 victories, though his overall stability throughout the season was lacking. He returned to the closer role in 1984, recording a career-high 29 saves and leading the league in saves. In 1985, he converted back to a starter mid-season, finishing with 6 wins, 8 saves, and 6 complete games.

In the 1986 off-season, Ushijima was involved in a major 1-for-4 trade with the Lotte Orions, which sent him, along with Seiji Kamikawa, Sadao Hiranuma, and Shigeru Kuwata, to Lotte in exchange for the Orions' slugger, Hiromitsu Ochiai. This trade came as a shock to Ushijima, who had just purchased a home near Nagoya Dome and intended to finish his career with Chunichi, especially with Senichi Hoshino having just been appointed manager. He initially resisted the trade, but Hoshino personally visited Ushijima's home to persuade him, promising to bring him back to Chunichi as a coach in the future. However, this verbal promise was never fulfilled, though Hiranuma and Kamikawa later returned to Chunichi as coaches after their playing careers. Ushijima's jersey number "17" remained vacant after his departure but was subsequently worn by Kazuo Murai the following year and then by promising high school rookie Akira Uehara the year after that.

2.3. Lotte Orions (1987-1993)

Upon his transfer to the Lotte Orions, Ushijima was assigned jersey number "27," inheriting the number from his former Chunichi senior, Masakatsu Tsuchiya, who had retired the previous year. In his first year with Lotte in 1987, he recorded 2 wins and 24 saves, earning the Best Relief Pitcher title. He effectively showcased his improved slider and curveball, which he had been developing since his Chunichi days, contributing significantly to his title win. In 1988, he recorded 25 saves, again leading the league in saves, though Masato Yoshii of Kintetsu ultimately secured the Best Relief Pitcher title based on save points.

In 1989, Ushijima transitioned to a starting role, achieving a career-high 12 wins and completing the innings pitched qualification for the first time in his professional career. He was particularly dominant against Daiei, recording 7 wins and only 1 loss against them. However, after his 10th win, he began experiencing right shoulder pain, and despite taking painkillers to secure his 12th win, he was eventually removed from the roster for about a month until the season's end. To address his shoulder pain, he focused on strengthening his inner muscles, starting with simple movements like wiping a table and gradually increasing the intensity with resistance bands.

The 1990 season was challenging for Ushijima as he suffered from a circulatory disorder. Just as he felt he had overcome his previous right shoulder pain and was ready to pitch again, the circulatory issues began, causing severe neck and shoulder pain and numbness. He even asked his doctor to help him live a normal life, even if he couldn't play baseball. The persistent discomfort and anxiety led him to consult his doctor, who advised him that understanding the condition's mechanism would alleviate his fear. He spent almost the entire season in rehabilitation, resulting in no wins in both 1990 and 1991.

On April 7, 1992, in a game against Fukuoka Daiei, Ushijima secured his first victory in three years (924 days) with a complete game. Finding a hospital for his treatment had been difficult, and it was only at the third hospital that he received a hopeful prognosis. He committed to a structured rehabilitation program, taking the necessary time, which he later stated was crucial for his recovery. This game also marked the Chiba Lotte Marines' first victory after their relocation to Chiba. Although originally scheduled to pitch in the second game of the season in Kobe, a rain delay moved his start to the home opener. He hadn't planned to pitch a complete game, but as the innings progressed smoothly, he continued to the end. For Ushijima, this complete game victory was more significant than simply a comeback win, as it restored his self-confidence. He finished the year with three wins.

In 1993, Ushijima retired from professional baseball at the age of 32, after 14 years in the league. He had to withdraw from spring training late in camp due to an unexplained neck pain, and although he recovered and made some first-team appearances, he continued to be plagued by elbow pain, ultimately leading to his decision to retire.

3.1. Yokohama BayStars (2005-2006)

In 1994, following his retirement as a player, Ushijima became a baseball commentator for TBS (TBS Television and TBS Radio) and CBC (CBC Television and CBC Radio). He served in this capacity for 11 years, gaining popularity for his sharp appearance, analytical approach, and clear speaking style. He also worked concurrently as a baseball critic for Sports Nippon.

Ushijima had previously declined several coaching offers. In the 1997 off-season, he was asked by Hiroshi Gondo, the newly appointed manager of the Yokohama BayStars (now Yokohama DeNA BayStars), to become the first-team pitching coach. After careful consideration, he declined, citing family and financial reasons, including his children's schooling and a remaining house loan. In the 1999 off-season, his former Chunichi teammate Yasunori Oshima became the manager of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and offered Ushijima a pitching coach position, but the terms offered by the team were not agreeable, so the appointment did not materialize. He also received coaching offers from other teams, including those managed by Shigeo Nagashima and Tatsunori Hara. Ushijima consistently refused these offers, believing that a pitching coach must advocate for pitchers, which would inevitably lead to conflict with the manager. While he did not have this specific concern with Oshima, he felt he could not accept Oshima's offer after having declined numerous others.

In 2005, Ushijima was appointed manager of the Yokohama BayStars. Although he had no prior direct connection to the Yokohama team during his playing career, his role as a baseball commentator for TBS, the team's parent company at the time, led to his selection. He brought in Atsushi Yoshida as pitching coach and Yoichi Fukuzawa as battery coach, both of whom were his juniors during his time with Lotte. In his first year as manager, he remarkably led the team, which had finished in last place for three consecutive seasons, to an A-class finish (3rd place).

However, in 2006, due to the team's struggles, Ushijima took responsibility and resigned at the end of the season. He had decided to step down in early August and formally submitted his resignation to President Sasaki on August 10. In a press conference on September 3, he stated, "I strongly feel apologetic to the fans who have passionately supported us, and that is why I made this decision. The players truly gave their best, but failing to achieve results in the second year of a two-year contract is my responsibility, and I conveyed that to the company." Although he had expressed optimism during the All-Star break, noting improved performance after interleague play, returning injured players, and increased competition within the team, they were unable to climb in the standings. There were also rumors, reported by various sports newspapers on August 30, 2006, that his resignation was merely a public reason for "poor performance," and the actual cause was a conflict with the team's management over their passive stance on team strengthening.

4.1. Baseball Commentator and Critic

Following his resignation as the Yokohama BayStars manager, Ushijima returned to his role as a baseball commentator for TBS and CBC television and radio networks, and as a baseball critic for Sports Nippon. His commentary career has been extensive, covering various programs. He appeared on TBS Radio's TBS Radio Excite Baseball (1994-2004, 2007-2017), and on TBS Television's S☆1 BASEBALL (1994-2004, 2007-2009 for self-produced broadcasts, and later for CBC Television productions). He also contributed to CBC Television's local broadcasts under the title Moe yo Dragons! (1994-2004, 2007-), and made an appearance on RCC Television's RCC Carp Nighter/Carp Day Game Live (April 12, 2007, for a Hiroshima vs. Chunichi game, simultaneously broadcast on J SPORTS). His commentary also extended to BS-TBS (2007-) and TBS News Bird (later TBS Channel) (2008-), including CBC Television productions. On radio, he was a regular on CBC Radio's CBC Dragons Nighter (1994-2004, 2007-), including broadcasts provided by TBS Radio or Nippon Cultural Broadcasting. He also appeared on RKB Radio's RKB Excite Hawks (until 2017 for simultaneous broadcasts and feeds from TBS Radio/CBC Radio, and in 2018 for feeds from Nippon Cultural Broadcasting). He also featured on J SPORTS STADIUM (once in 2007 for the RCC Television broadcast, and from 2017 for CBC Television productions). Beyond live game commentary, Ushijima was a regular on CBC Television's Sunday Dragons (1994-2004, 2007-), serving as the main host from October 2001 to March 2003. He was also a guest on TBS Television's MLB Shugi (2004), NHK General Television's Deep People (February 11, 2011), where he discussed "Forkball" with Chōji Murata and Kazuhiro Sasaki, TBS Television's Sunday Morning (May 6, 2012) as a guest commentator for the "Weekly Opinion Corner," and NHK BS1's Sports Bar Katari-tei (April 26, 2013) for a "Professional Baseball Magic Pitch Talk" segment.

4.2. Coaching and Educational Activities

In addition to his commentary work, Ushijima has dedicated himself to baseball instruction. He co-founded "Senseup+ Sports Academy" with Mitsukuni Yamaguchi, who was his physical trainer during his time as the Yokohama BayStars manager. At the academy, he generously shares his extensive experience with children, teaching not only technical skills but also proper body mechanics and mental approaches to the game. Since 2011, he has served as a special pitching coach (part-time) for the Sega Sammy Baseball Club and continues to provide pitching instruction to various amateur and university baseball teams.

5.1. Personality and Anecdotes

During his time at Naniwa High School, despite suffering from a back injury due to over-pitching and focusing on treatment rather than practice, Ushijima once threw a no-hitter in an invitational game in Miyazaki. He famously told a player who came to the mound to relay a message, "I'm pitching, just watch." He also boasted to his coach, "If I pitch, the team will definitely win." With his sharp eyes, handsome face, and unique character, he gained significant popularity among high school girls, known as "Koshien Gals." His toughness was evident even in high school; in the 1979 spring Senbatsu, he threw 221 pitches over 13 innings in the quarterfinals and followed it up with a complete game victory in the semifinals the very next day.

Ushijima often warned his high school battery partner, Shinnosuke Kagawa, about his increasing weight throughout his professional career. Ushijima later expressed regret, stating that he believed Kagawa was destined to become a representative player in the baseball world, but his rapid weight gain unfortunately shortened his career. On September 26, 2014, Kagawa passed away at the age of 52 due to myocardial infarction. Upon hearing the news, Ushijima was deeply shocked, exclaiming, "Why... it's too early. I heard he wasn't well, but I thought he had strong luck and would overcome it. I can't believe he's gone so soon." He also expressed sadness, lamenting, "We haven't had many chances to talk recently; the last time was a few years ago when our alma mater (now Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences High School) went to Koshien. He won't be able to catch my ball anymore..." On August 8, 2018, Ushijima participated in the "Legend Pitching Ceremony" for the 100th National High School Baseball Championship. He threw a one-bounce pitch and smiled wryly, commenting that he had wondered if Kagawa would have been the catcher if he were still alive. Kagawa's wife and daughters were in the stands, holding his photo, watching his appearance.

Upon joining Chunichi, Ushijima's hair was styled in a regent cut. However, he later clarified in a YouTube discussion with Dave Ohkubo that it was actually a grown-out punch perm. He explained that after cutting his hair short during his high school Japan team days, he strongly desired a perm before turning professional. He grew his hair out, got a punch perm, and then cut it before joining the pros, which made it appear like a regent style. Ushijima also denied the popular anecdote that Senichi Hoshino strictly reprimanded him about his hair on the first day of rookie camp. It was said that before the draft, despite his talent, Ushijima's poor behavior led many teams to withdraw their interest, and Chunichi initially planned to pass on him. However, then-manager Tsutomu Naka's strong desire and Hoshino's declaration of "I'll whip him into shape" ultimately led to Chunichi's decision to draft him. Ushijima himself has shared anecdotes about breaking curfew at the players' dormitory, such as leaving a note to deduct fines from his salary or pre-pasting fines on his door before going out at night. He even once handed a sealed envelope of prize money (separate from his salary) to the dorm manager after a championship win, telling him, "Please use this to cover my fines for a while."

During his Chunichi days, Ushijima, along with Tatsuo Komatsu, appeared in a commercial for Kowa Shin'yaku's Mikaron (a dandruff shampoo), maintaining his popular "sweet face" image from high school. After retirement, he served as the image character for "Megane no Wako," an eyeglass store headquartered in Nagoya.

One day, during a meeting under manager Tsutomu Naka, pitching coach Kazuhisa Inao asked all pitchers, "What pitch would you throw in the 9th inning, 2 outs, bases loaded, with a 2-3 count?" Most pitchers answered with their signature pitch, but rookie Ushijima was the only one who replied, "I don't know." To a puzzled Inao, Ushijima explained his reasoning: "The pitch I throw would change depending on the situation that led to the 2-3 count. Without knowing the context, I can't decide the final pitch. The pitch would also change depending on the score difference, so it's not something that can be decided generally." This philosophy, coincidentally, perfectly aligned with Inao's own pitching approach during his playing career. Inao immediately praised Ushijima, saying, "That's exactly right," and later stated he "instinctively knew he could become a top-tier pitcher in the pros." Ushijima, reflecting on the moment, commented that if it had been a more "stiff-headed" coach than Inao, he would likely have been disliked and targeted. Inao later managed Lotte, but his departure in the 1986 off-season is said to have been a factor in Ochiai's trade.

Ushijima admired Senichi Hoshino throughout his career, and Hoshino was fond of him. However, immediately after becoming Chunichi manager in the fall of 1986, Hoshino traded Ushijima to Lotte to acquire Ochiai. After the trade was finalized, Hoshino saw Ushijima off at Nagoya Station on the Tokaido Shinkansen platform as Ushijima headed to Tokyo for his transfer press conference, still struggling to come to terms with the move. Ushijima openly wept, though he also jokingly asked Hoshino, "Did you come to pick up Mr. Ochiai?" In later interviews, Hoshino stated that he traded Ushijima "to let him study baseball on another team," intending to bring him back to Chunichi eventually, but this never materialized before Ushijima's retirement.

His relationship with Yasunori Oshima was initially not very close during their time at Chunichi, as Oshima was more popular and accomplished in Nagoya. They only went out for a meal together once. However, after both moved to Tokyo following their respective transfers, they became very close, even living in the same apartment building at one point, and their families became intertwined. In their matchups, Ushijima had the upper hand in 1988, holding Oshima to 1 hit in 7 at-bats, but Oshima hit well against him in 1989, with 5 hits in 6 at-bats. Oshima, who was adept at discerning the habits of his Chunichi teammates' pitchers and had even shared insights with them, was wary of Ushijima's curveball. Yet, due to their close friendship and Ushijima's good control, Oshima assumed Ushijima wouldn't pitch inside. Oshima, in turn, tried to outsmart Ushijima with his own pitch selection.

Immediately after his trade to Lotte was decided, Ushijima commented that Kawasaki Stadium, Lotte's home field, was the only one of the 12 NPB franchise stadiums where he had never pitched, not even in All-Star Games or exhibition matches. This was because he had not been selected for the All-Star Games held there in 1980 and 1985 after joining Chunichi.

On October 19, 1988, during the Lotte vs. Kintetsu double-header, famously known as "10.19," in the first game, Ushijima relieved starting pitcher Hiroshi Ogawa in the top of the ninth inning with two outs and a runner on second base. He gave up a timely single to pinch-hitter Masataka Nashida, allowing Takahisa Suzuki to score the go-ahead run. In later interviews with media outlets like TV Asahi's News Station, when asked why he decided to pitch to Nashida instead of intentionally walking him, Ushijima firmly stated, "I briefly thought about walking him with first base open. But at that moment, all the Kintetsu players were overflowing with intensity. They were attacking with sheer determination, so whether I walked Nashida and faced the next batter, or the one after that, the result would surely be the same. It wouldn't have mattered who I faced." In another interview years later, he added, "Nashida-san had decided to retire that year, and it might have been his last at-bat. It was a crucial situation, but I thought, 'It would be rude to Nashida-san if his last at-bat was an intentional walk,' so I decided to pitch to him."

During his time with Lotte, despite being hampered by elbow injuries that prevented him from performing at the same level as when he first joined, Ushijima generously shared his accumulated experience and knowledge with the younger pitchers, earning their deep trust. He became an absolute technical and mental pillar of support, particularly for pitchers like Satoru Komiyama and Hideki Irabu. This foundation later underpinned his reputation as a highly analytical commentator on television and radio. Atsushi Yoshida, who admired Ushijima since joining Lotte in 1992, consistently cited his own right shoulder injury in 1993 and "Mr. Ushijima's retirement" as his most memorable moments in baseball in his Weekly Baseball player profile. After retiring in 2004, Yoshida accepted Ushijima's invitation to join the Yokohama coaching staff, serving as the bullpen pitching coach during Ushijima's tenure. Ikuno Kawamoto, a closer who played with Ushijima in his later career, inherited his jersey number 27 after Ushijima's retirement. Komiyama also wore number 27 during his time with Yokohama.

Satoshi Kobayashi spent 1991 as a practice player for Lotte while still a fourth-year student at the University of Tokyo. During this time, he received guidance from Ushijima, who was then in the minor leagues due to injury. Kobayashi later expressed great gratitude to Ushijima, stating, "He was always friendly and spoke to me readily, even though I was just a practice player in an awkward, non-professional position."

Ushijima's signature pitch was the forkball, despite his hands being of normal size. On a Fuji Television program, Professional Baseball News, when asked about his forkball grip, Ushijima smiled faintly and showed a very shallow grip. The announcer was puzzled, asking, "It drops that much with this?" Junzo Sekine, a commentator on the show, interjected, "I know, but I won't say." After a commercial break, Ushijima revealed his secret: his forkball grip was unique. He would first spread his index and middle fingers, then gradually press the ball between them. Suddenly, the joints between those two fingers would dislocate, allowing them to open wide enough that the tendons of his fingers would almost touch. This revelation stunned everyone in the studio. Ushijima explained that by repeatedly gripping the ball with the intention of widening his finger spread, he eventually gained the ability to freely dislocate and relocate the joints. He also demonstrated this joint dislocation on NHK General's Deep People in an episode on the "forkball," recalling that Marc Kroon was surprised by it.

Ushijima has an intense fear of flying. During his time with Lotte, which involved many away games, he often struggled with travel, especially for games at Sapporo Maruyama Baseball Stadium. As a commentator, he repeatedly declined invitations to observe Major League Baseball in the United States due to the long flights. In 2005, when he became the Yokohama manager, he boarded a plane to Ginowan for spring training with a tense expression. Upon arrival at Naha Airport, when asked by reporters about his first flight in a long time, he responded with a wry smile, "It was bumpy when we landed." During the season, when a game against Hiroshima was held at Nagasaki Big N Stadium, he opted to leave the team, which flew the day before, and instead traveled from Shin-Yokohama Station on the earliest Tokaido Shinkansen (Nozomi 1) and then connected to the local limited express Kamome to reach Nagasaki. Furthermore, during interleague play, when the next game after a match against Rakuten at Fullcast Stadium Miyagi was against Nippon Ham at Sapporo Dome with no travel day in between, he welcomed a rainout for the third game against Rakuten. The next morning, he left the team, which was flying, and traveled alone on the overnight sleeper train Hokutosei, demonstrating his absolute aversion to flying. When questioned by reporters about these choices, he consistently replied with comments like "It was a good change of pace, being able to look at the sea from the train window."

6.1. Coaching Style and Player Development

In his managerial strategy regarding pitcher usage, Ushijima focused on establishing a strong relief corps, such as the "Quattro K" bullpen. However, he also had a strong tendency to demand complete games from his ace-caliber starting pitchers. In 2005, his team recorded 20 complete games, with 10 of those credited to Daisuke Miura. Furthermore, even if a starting pitcher did not complete the game, Ushijima typically allowed them to continue pitching regardless of their performance until they reached around 100 pitches or approximately seven innings. Ushijima explained this approach by stating his belief that "ace pitchers should be nurtured, even if it takes some time."

One of Ushijima's distinctive theories, observed during his first year as Yokohama manager, was his instruction to catchers in the bullpen: "Do not make loud catching sounds during pitching practice." According to Ushijima, a loud catching sound indicates a pitch that is easily hittable for opposing batters. He also noted that in modern indoor bullpens, where sounds tend to echo, pitchers who are not performing well might mistakenly believe they are throwing effectively due to the exaggerated sound. This theory stands in contrast to the philosophy of managers like Tsutomu Itoh, who believe that catchers should make loud mitt sounds to encourage pitchers. Ushijima's original experience for this theory came during his playing days at a local stadium. While practicing in the bullpen beneath the stands, his fastball, which he felt he threw well, only produced a dull "thud" from the catcher's mitt. Upon investigation, he discovered that the bullpen walls were soundproofed, preventing sound from echoing. Realizing he could not rely on the catching sound to gauge his performance, Ushijima changed his routine and warmed up with catch-play on the field instead. This experience seemingly led to his theory that pitchers should not be misled by catching sounds.

Ushijima was highly skilled at correcting pitchers' habits. When the team considered acquiring Marc Kroon, the front office was hesitant due to Kroon's high velocity but poor control. However, after reviewing video, Manager Ushijima determined that Kroon's habits could be corrected. He decided to acquire Kroon, and under Ushijima's guidance, Kroon's control issues were resolved, allowing him to perform so effectively that he took over the closer role from Kazuhiro Sasaki. Kroon himself stated that he owed his success in Japan to Manager Ushijima. Similarly, Ken Kadokura, who had been struggling since his trade to Yokohama, received advice from Ushijima to "lift his leg 10 centimeters higher." This adjustment helped Kadokura improve his timing, leading to his first season in seven years where he cleared the innings pitched qualification, achieving a career-high 11 wins. With Ushijima's support, including having him pitch on two days' rest in the final game, Kadokura tied teammate Daisuke Miura for the league lead in strikeouts with 177, earning the Most Strikeouts title.

7.1. Player Statistics and Records

• Bold indicates league leader.

Titles

• Best Relief Pitcher: 1 time (1987)

Awards

• Monthly MVP: 1 time (Pitcher: June 1989)
• Fireman Award: 1 time (1987)

Records
; Firsts

• First appearance: August 24, 1980, against Yomiuri Giants (Game 20) at Nagoya Stadium, as the third relief pitcher in the 9th inning, completed the game, 1 inning pitched, 0 runs allowed.
• First strikeout: August 24, 1980, against Koji Yamamoto.
• First win: August 30, 1980, against Hanshin Tigers (Game 19) at Nagoya Stadium, as the second relief pitcher in the 8th inning, completed the game, 2 innings pitched, 0 runs allowed.
• First start and first win as a starter: September 6, 1980, against Tokyo Yakult Swallows (Game 12) at Nagoya Stadium, 6 innings pitched, 1 run allowed.
• First save: April 11, 1982, against Yomiuri Giants (Game 2) at Nagoya Stadium, as the second relief pitcher with one out in the 9th inning, completed the game, 2/3 innings pitched, 0 runs allowed.
• First complete game: August 7, 1985, against Hiroshima Toyo Carp (Game 16) at Nagoya Stadium, 10 innings pitched, 0 runs allowed.
• First complete game win and first shutout: August 13, 1985, against Yokohama Taiyo Whales (Game 14) at Nagoya Stadium.

; Milestones

• 100 saves: October 9, 1987, against Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (Game 24) at Korakuen Stadium, as the second relief pitcher with no outs in the 9th inning, completed the game, 1 inning pitched, 0 runs allowed.

; Other Records

• Season with 11 ties: 1982 (tied for Central League record with Yutaka Enatsu and Kyuji Fujikawa)
• All-Star Game appearances: 5 times (1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989)

Jersey Numbers

• 17 (1980-1986)
• 27 (1987-1993)
• 72 (2005-2006)

7.2. Managerial Records

8.1. Influence on the Baseball World

As a player, Ushijima was renowned for his toughness and composure on the mound, particularly as a dominant relief ace for the Chunichi Dragons and Lotte Orions. His ability to perform under pressure and his unique forkball grip, which involved dislocating his finger joints, set him apart. He was also instrumental in mentoring younger pitchers during his playing days, sharing his extensive knowledge and experience, which earned him deep respect and laid the groundwork for his future analytical commentary.

As a manager, Ushijima made an immediate impact by transforming the Yokohama BayStars from a last-place team into an A-class contender in his first season. His managerial philosophy, emphasizing the development of ace pitchers through demanding complete games and allowing them to pitch deep into games, aimed to cultivate long-term talent. His innovative coaching techniques, such as his "no loud catching sound" theory and his skill in correcting pitchers' mechanical habits, were pivotal in the success of players like Marc Kroon and Ken Kadokura, who credited him for their improved performance and career resurgence.

Beyond the field, Ushijima's long career as a baseball commentator and critic has established him as a respected voice in the media. His analytical insights and clear communication style have made him a popular figure, contributing to public understanding and discussion of the sport. Through his Senseup+ Sports Academy and his coaching roles with amateur and university teams, he continues to directly influence the next generation of baseball players, imparting not only technical skills but also mental fortitude and proper physical conditioning. His comprehensive contributions across playing, managing, and media roles have cemented his lasting influence on Japanese baseball.