Fumiya Hojoh, the seasoned player of the Hanshin Tigers in the Nippon Professional Baseball league, has announced his retirement, striking an emotional chord at his press conference. Having devoted his career to baseball, Hojoh tearfully expressed gratitude to his team and fans. The announcement took place recently, although a specific date for his retirement is not yet confirmed.

Retirement announcements of celebrated athletes like Hojoh are a significant event in Japan as much public attention is paid to sports and its players. Hojoh's heartfelt gesture sheds light on the deep emotional connection athletes in Japan have with their game and fans. This reflects a key Japanese value, "Giri" (duty or obligation), showing the dedication sports people feel to their teams and supporters.

In the US or EU, the retirement of high-profile sports figures is also met with much media attention and fanfare. However, it is less common to have deeply emotional press conferences in western sports culture. Instead, such events tend to be more celebratory, focusing on career achievements.