Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks manager Kimiyasu Kudo admitted to feeling a little bit nostalgic on the eve of this year's Japan Series matchup against the Yomiuri Giants.
Kudo was a pitcher for Yomiuri the last time these two clubs vied for the crown. That was in 2000 during the famed O-N Showdown, which featured a managerial matchup between legendary former Yomiuri teammates Sadaharu Oh, who led the Hawks, and Shigeo Nagashima.
The Giants won that series in six games. It's a fond memory for Kudo, but he's hoping for a different result this time around.