Goto Nozomi is expected to shine as Japan’s ace at the Los Angeles Olympics three years from now. To become an absolute presence, she pursued a new challenge in a different environment.
During lunch one day, the 24-year-old discreetly passes onions she dislikes to her teammates.
“I could eat them if I wanted to, but…” (Goto)
Despite this, she is the athlete expected to serve as Japan’s ace at the Los Angeles Olympics three years from now.
Nozomi Goto, a member of the Japanese women’s softball team from Nagoya City.
“My ultimate goal is to become a pitcher who can compete globally, a pitcher who can stand at the top level in the world.” (Goto)
At the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Japan achieved back-to-back victories in softball, which returned after a 13-year absence since Beijing.
At just 20 years old, the youngest on the team at the time, Goto contributed to winning the gold medal alongside legendary pitcher Yukiko Ueno.
“This is what it means to be number one in the world, but it still feels like a dream and hasn’t really sunk in yet.” (Goto)
Although softball was excluded from last year’s Paris Olympics, it has been confirmed to return for the Los Angeles Games three years from now.
To shine as Japan’s ace this time, she made a major decision.
“When I thought about how to achieve personal growth and what goals to pursue, I really wanted to take on various challenges, which led me to decide to transfer teams this time.” (Goto)
She decided to leave the Toyota Red Terriers, based in Toyota City, where she had been for six years since graduating high school.
Leaving the Western Division, she moved to the Eastern Division this year, which has more powerful hitters and includes pitcher Ueno. She now competes as a member of the Toda Chuo Medix Saitama.
“There are really high-level teams here, so coming to the Eastern Division and being able to pitch against teams with strong batting lineups is a very valuable experience for me.” (Goto)
In her first year after transferring, Goto performed exceptionally well. Out of the team’s 25 season wins, she achieved an impressive 13 wins, the most in the division, leading the club to its first-ever division championship.
After leaving her hometown of Aichi, where she lived for 23 years, she is now based in Toda City, Saitama, adjacent to Tokyo.
“Actually, since coming to the city, I’ve been able to live with a fresh feeling I’ve never experienced before, which is good. But I really love the comfort and atmosphere of Nagoya, so I feel quite lonely about that.” (Goto)
Last year, encouraged by local friends, she tried golf, but in Saitama, where she knows few people…
“Lately, I’ve been spending a lot of time alone in my room, so I started a 1,000-piece puzzle, thinking that if I work hard on this, it might lead to something. Right now, puzzles are quite popular with me.” (Goto)
On November 15th, in the Diamond Series, the championship tournament for top-performing teams in the league. In the semifinals, their opponent is Bic Camera Takasaki, against whom they won all three matches during the season.
Goto was entrusted with the starting role in this crucial elimination game. Facing her was the 43-year-old legend, pitcher Ueno.
In the first inning, she struck out the lead batter with a swinging strikeout, then struck out three consecutive batters for a promising start.
In the bottom of the inning, 43-year-old Yukiko Ueno took the mound. Not to be outdone by the 24-year-old, she responded by striking out three consecutive batters.
“I thought this might ignite the team, but then they did the same to us in the bottom of the inning…” (Goto)
“At the start, she (Goto
