神宮球場で村上宗隆に惜別の念を送る、Munetaka Murakami at Jingu Stadium, 0km, 20250909

自分とスワローズの予定を突き合わせると、観戦の機会は今夜だけかもしれない。ということで15時ごろにチケットを取り、仕事をある程度のところで切り上げて、急いで神宮球場に向かった。青木さん（青木宣親）の引退試合以来だから約1年ぶりの現地入りである。

アメリカに渡る前のムネ（村上宗隆）と、再開発を控える神宮球場を目と写真に焼き付けるのが目的だった。

サード・ベースを見下ろす席から、カメラ2台と双眼鏡でムネを執拗に追いかけた。3打数無安打で、ホームランを見られなかったのは残念だが、彼に惜別の念を充分に送ったから満足だ。ぼくはアメリカにもきっと観に行くだろう。移籍先はヤンキースかメッツがいいな。

以下の写真、試合中は3塁側45段45番より撮影。

神宮球場を感傷的に見学しながら、まったくもって東京は、仮囲いと注意書きの街なのだと思った。絵の完成を知らないヘボ画家の仕事だ。理性が欠けているからこうなる。
As I wandered through Jingu Stadium, feeling a bit sentimental, it struck me—Tokyo is a city of temporary fences and warning signs.
It’s like the work of an incompetent painter who never knows when a picture is finished.
This is what happens when reason is lacking.

大正15年（西暦1926年）の竣功から増改築を繰り返しもうすぐ100歳。壁がよい。
Built in 1926, this building is almost 100 years old. I love its walls.
It has undergone many renovations over the years—

明治神宮野球場正面
Front Entrance of Meiji Jingu Stadium

内野スタンドの内側
Interior of the Infield Stands

放送席と二階席の屋根
The roof over the press box and upper stands

銀杏並木と、青山通り沿いに並ぶビル群。画面奥が皇居方面。
Ginkgo trees and the skyline along Aoyama-dori, looking toward the Imperial Palace.

試合開始。サードを守る村上宗隆と神宮球場のグラウンド全景。投手は奥川恭伸。
Game begins. Munetaka Murakami at third base, with a full view of the Jingu Stadium field. The pitcher is Yasunobu Okugawa.

2回裏。打席に立つ村上宗隆と神宮球場のグラウンド全景。投手は松木平優太。
Bottom of the 2nd inning. Munetaka Murakami at bat, with a full view of the Jingu Stadium field. The pitcher is Yuta Matsukihira.

試合のあと。解説の仕事を終えたらしい大矢さん（大矢明彦）が放送スタッフに見送られて帰るところに出会した。かっこよかった。
After the game. I happened to see Akihiko Oya, just off commentary duty, being seen off by the broadcast staff. Cool.

「ちょいと球場へ行ってきます」
To the ballpark. Just for a bit.

走らず。

After checking my schedule against the Swallows’ home games, I figured that tonight might be my only chance to catch a game this season.

So around 3 p.m., I booked a ticket and wrapped up as soon as I could work at a reasonable point before hurrying over to Jingu Stadium.

It was my first time attending a game in person in about a year—the last time was for Aoki Norichika’s retirement game.

This evening, my main purpose was to photograph Murakami Munetaka before he heads to the U.S., and to take in the current Jingu Stadium one last time before its scheduled redevelopment.

From a seat overlooking third base, I followed Murakami relentlessly through my camera lenses and binoculars.

He went 0-for-3, and I didn’t get to see a home run—but I gave him a heartfelt farewell all the same, and I’m satisfied.

I’m pretty sure I’ll find myself watching him again in the States.

I hope he ends up with the Yankees or the Mets.

Photos were taken from seat 45 in row 45 on the third-base side during the game.
I didn’t run.