Ritsumeikan Baseball: 10K Streak & Jingu Tournament Return

• #2026 college baseball draft candidates

• #Ritsumeikan University

In the first round of the Meiji-Jingu Tournament last November, Ritsumeikan University’s Yoshihisa Arima (3rd year, Aiko Daimyoden) took the mound as the second batter from the sixth inning, striking out 10 players in a row from the first. This tournament record breaks the previous record of eight consecutive contestants set by Kansai University’s Takashi Yamaguchi in 1972. This is how he looks back on his great accomplishment, which was the first time in 53 years. “I wasn’t feeling well during the fall league games, so I wanted to get back on track. I was nervous, but I was able to bring out my best.”

Yumeto Kanamaru’s appearance following nature

On the mound, Arima calmly waved his arms without losing his cool expression. During his high school days, he participated in Koshien in the summer of his third year and advanced to the top eight. He started all four games up to the quarterfinals. At Ritsumeikan University, he gained experience by pitching in the Kansai Student League from the spring of his first year, but it was in the fall of his second year that he won his first victory. “I’ve been pitching with the intention of gaining experience rather than winning. I think being able to experience the level of college baseball early on has been a plus for me.”

When he entered university, there was a left-handed player in the same Kansai Student League who was far ahead of his time. Kansai University’s Yumeto Kanamaru (currently of the Chunichi Dragons) is two grades above him. Kanemaru suddenly hit the 151 kg mark in the fall of his first year, and since his second year, he has been making the Kansai college baseball world a hit as an absolute ace.

In the spring of 2023, when Arima entered the world of college baseball, Kanemaru, who was in his third year at the time, was already attracting attention as if he were a draft candidate for that year. Even Arima, who was a rookie, naturally followed Kanemaru.

“Kanamaru-san was like a professional baseball player mixed in with a college student.Every game he watched was amazing.I thought there was no way I could match him.”

Even college students can reach that level. Arima thought so every time he saw Kanemaru pitch well. The power of his fastballs and the accuracy of his breaking balls were all overwhelming. “Kanamaru-san’s pitching served as an indicator (for me to become a pro), but at the time I had no idea if I could reach that level,” Arima recalls.

Good progress after falling into a slump of unknown cause

Arima has been on the mound constantly since the spring of his first year, and in the spring of his third year, he pitched 55 and one-third innings in eight games and had 67 strikeouts. He won four games with an ERA of 1.79 and was selected as the best pitcher. He marked the fastest time of 151km at the Japan University National Team selection camp held in June last year. Since then, he has been steadily gaining experience, including being selected for the national team and participating in the Japan-America Collegiate Baseball Championship.

At last fall’s Meiji-Jingu Tournament, he pitched well in the first round against Tokyo University of Agriculture, Hokkaido and Okhotsk, and also in the second round against Meiji University, raising his stock. The opponent’s batting line-up was lined up with good hitters, including Taiga Kojima (4th year, Tokai University Sagami), who was the No. 1 pick by the Saitama Seibu Lions, and Nanato Sakakibara (3rd year, Hotoku Gakuen), who is considered to be a top candidate in the next draft. In the midst of all this, Arima focused on delivering his best performance without worrying about the batter, saying, “I pitched while thinking only about performing to the best of my ability.”

Although they lost to Aoyama Gakuin University 0-4 in the final, they finished runner-up, which was the university’s best result. Last fall, he fell into a slump for which the cause was unknown, and in the first half of the league he had a series of matches in which he was forced to leave the team, but this was a good start. This winter, Arima is focusing on strengthening his stamina and carefully checking his pitching form, saying, “I want to be able to give my maximum effort even if I pitch consecutive games,” and reviewing his body balance in preparation for the spring league games.

“If you want to be drafted first and go pro like Mr. Kanemaru, you can’t just look like you’re being beaten in league games.The first thing is to win the games you’re given.From there, I want to be selected for the Japan national team and make a mark.”

Training camp for national team candidates that strengthens horizontal connections

In early December of last year, he was invited to a training camp for Japan national team candidates in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture. It was a special time when so many players from the same grade gathered together.

“There was some actual pitching, but I wanted to communicate with various players rather than trying to control them. In fact, I talked to almost all of the players.” During the two-night, three-day training camp, Arima spent time strengthening his horizontal connections.

“I became best friends with Bukkyo University pitcher Ryosuke Nomura (3rd year, Ayaba) at the training camp. (They are also pitchers from Kansai) and we are close (lol). Also, I am a high school classmate of (Ritsumeikan University classmate) Wakatabe (Tatsuo, 3rd year, Fukuoka University Ohori), and Japanese Taipei. Baba (Takumi) from Iku University was amazing. When I first spoke to him, he seemed calm and kind. When I saw how he threw, I thought he was a technical person, but I was shocked by how powerful he was in the straight line.”

I realized that there are many high-level pitchers in my generation. That’s why I felt so strongly that I didn’t want to lose.

Manager Masayuki Katayama says of Arima, “First, let’s see what kind of pitching he can pitch in the spring league games.Even if he is said to be a “No. 1 candidate,” there is a possibility that he will be rated around No. 2, and that could change further.” The left-handed player hopes to live up to those expectations with results.

“Although we won the league game last fall, I felt frustrated because my condition didn’t improve.Winning the league game this spring is a major prerequisite.I want to build up my body and prepare for spring.” A movement comparable to that of Kanamaru, which was once something you could only follow with your eyes. The attention on Arima, who is in his final year, will likely increase as he pitches from now on.