Morimichi Takagi signed up for a second stint as manager of the Chunichi Dragons on Friday determined to bring the club the kind of success it enjoyed under his predecessor Hiromitsu Ochiai.
"My only talent is baseball. I want to pour in all my strength and try to do the job the best way I can," Takagi told a news conference. "Manager Ochiai delivered amazing results. I want to try and aim with the support of the fans at winning the championship."
"It is not an easy task taking over a strong Dragons team but I have just got to do what I can. The club has won back-to-back pennants and the players that achieved that are still here. It is still a strong team without me doing anything."
The 70-year-old Takagi, who previously managed Chunichi from 1992-95 and spent his entire 21-year playing career with the Nagoya club, took a signing bonus of ¥50 million on a two-year deal that carries an annual salary of ¥100 million.
"Ochiai-san had his own style and I want Takagi-san to do things in his own way," said Chunichi owner Bungo Shirai. "Winning the pennant race and winning the Japan Series is the theme for next season."