For the next couple of weeks, the prevailing narrative of most Hanshin Tigers games will be the impending retirement of star outfielder Tomoaki Kanemoto.

Fans will fawn, opponents will reflect and the media will pay tribute to a career more than worthy of high praise.

In a way, it's Kanemoto's final big hit for Hanshin. Because while 'Aniki' will be missed, the star outfielder's decision makes the rest of Hanshin's year a farewell tour, instead of the slow, desolate march to nowhere it was.