Name: Manaya Nishikawa Date of Birth: June 10, 1999 Place of Birth: Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture (Speaks with a regional drawl) Alma Mater: Hanasaki Tokuharu High School (Saitama Prefecture) Height: 181cm Weight: 90kg Affiliated Team: Saitama Seibu Lions (Home stadium: Belluna Dome) Jersey Number: 51 Background: During his final high school tournament in 2017, he suffered a major injury—a ruptured pectoral muscle—but still managed to win the Koshien championship. He was drafted in the second round that same year. In 2020, he recorded his first professional hit (an RBI single), but after that, the hits dried up, and he spent years bouncing between the first and second teams. While he performed well in the minors, he struggled to produce results in the majors, eventually setting a dishonorable NPB record for position players: 62 consecutive at-bats without a hit. He finally broke out of that long slump on April 30, 2023. Now, he holds the record for the most hits in the Pacific League. He had a massive breakout year in 2025, seizing the starting spot as the number one hitter and center fielder. He finished the season with a .264 batting average, 10 home runs, and 25 stolen bases across 124 games. Furthermore, his elite defensive range and strong arm were recognized, earning him his first Mitsui Golden Glove Award. He has become an outfielder representing the Pacific League in both name and reality. Within the Team: Among the Seibu Lions, he is known as the "lovable goofball who is incredibly friendly and adored by both seniors and juniors." Contrary to his cool, handsome appearance, his true self is quite the "playful and airheaded class clown." There is always laughter wherever he is. He has a "brotherly" relationship with his junior, Natsuo Takizawa. Takizawa is four years younger, and they are almost always together; Manaya dotes on him like a younger brother. They often go out to eat or shop together in their private lives. Even when meeting up with peers from other teams (such as pitcher Tatsuya Shimizu of the Chunichi Dragons), he somehow ends up bringing Takizawa along. Fans often talk about how "preciously close" they are, having spotted them sharing the same water bottle during practice. He is the type of character who is liked by everyone, regardless of seniority. He is a die-hard fan of the popular volleyball manga "Haikyu!!," though he feels a bit lonely in his obsession within the team. He often wants to talk passionately about moving scenes, but when he asks teammates, "Wasn't that part great?", he usually gets lukewarm responses like, "Was it?" Because he talks about it with such intense heat, he mentions with a wry smile that "the other members seem a bit scared of me." Manaya is a huge cat lover, and the breed he wants most right now is a Ragdoll. He often mentions in interviews, "I really, really want to get a cat right now." While he finds Minuets and Raggamuffins cute too, Ragdolls are his favorite. He loves their "beautiful blue eyes." Since he hasn't been able to get one yet, he spends his time healing by looking at cute cat videos and photos on Instagram, effectively living as a "digital cat uncle." He is famous in the pro baseball world as a "hardcore skincare enthusiast." While people might imagine athletes don't care about sunburn or sweat, Manaya is the opposite. He has spoken passionately about his high beauty standards in women's magazine interviews, and fans always notice how clear his skin is. His morning and night routines are professional-grade, putting beauty geeks to shame. He uses pre-serums, toners, serums, emulsions, and creams, choosing them based on his skin's condition that day. Sun protection is non-negotiable. Since many games and practices are outdoors, his ironclad rule is "never skip sunscreen" to prevent spots and skin irritation. His commitment to beauty extends beyond his face. He forces himself to apply body cream to his entire body within three minutes of getting out of the bath to prevent dryness. He also worries about hair damage and uses a high-end, high-performance hair dryer that adds shine without damaging the hair. As the team's "Beauty Boss," his high standards are influencing his teammates. His frequent companion, Natsuo Takizawa, has started getting interested in skincare under Manaya's influence. The circle of beauty is expanding within the team, with players saying, "Manaya-san recommended this to me." Embroidered on Manaya's glove is the phrase "We don't need memories," which is the banner slogan for Inarizaki High School in his favorite manga, "Haikyu!!."