Talk Event Announcement: Former Yomiuri Giants and MLB Pitcher Hisanori Takahashi to Host Book Launch Talk for His Debut Book 'The Control of 'Heart'' at Shozen Grand

Event registration here

Hisanori Takahashi, former pitcher for the Yomiuri Giants and Major League Baseball, will release his debut book 'The Control of 'Heart'' on Monday, July 27, 2026. To commemorate the release, a talk event will be held on Thursday, July 23, at Shozen Grand, a bookstore located in Jimbocho, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo.

Joining Takahashi will be sports writer Kyozo Hibi, who was involved in editing the book. Together, they will share exclusive stories about the writing process, Takahashi's high school years, behind-the-scenes anecdotes with managers and players from his time with the Giants and in Major League Baseball, and how he cultivated mental focus throughout his career—insights you won’t hear anywhere else.

Don’t miss this special evening event, a must-attend for fans!

Event Overview

Event Name: 'The Control of 'Heart'' Book Release Commemorative Talk Event

Date: Thursday, July 23, 2026

Start Time: 18:30

Venue: 7F Event Space, Shozen Grand 1-3-2 Kanda Jimbocho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo

Admission Fee: 5,500 JPY (tax included)

Capacity: 45 attendees (estimated)

Featured Guests: Hisanori Takahashi, Kyozo Hibi (sports writer)

Sales Organizer: Shozen Co., Ltd.

Event Content: Talk show, signed book handover (without personalized inscriptions), photo session

- The event will proceed in the following order: talk show → signed book handover & photo session. - A rock-paper-scissors tournament (with prizes) will be held during the talk show. - The signed book handover will involve pre-signed copies handed directly from Mr. Takahashi. Personalized inscriptions are not available. - The photo session will be a two-person photo with Mr. Takahashi. Staff will take photos using your personal camera, smartphone, or mobile device. - Still photography only. Video recording is not permitted.

Book Details

Book press release here:

https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000001869.000012109.html

Title: 'The Control of 'Heart'

Author: Hisanori Takahashi

Format: B6 size, 244 pages

Price: 1,760 JPY (tax included)

Release Date: Monday, July 27, 2026

ISBN: 978-4-416-52609-5

Purchase the book here

Author Profile

Hisanori Takahashi (born April 2, 1975, in Sumida Ward, Tokyo) attended Shudoku High School and Komazawa University before joining Toshiba’s corporate baseball team in 1998. As ace pitcher, he contributed to winning the 1999 Urban Corporate Baseball Championship. That same year, he was drafted first overall by the Yomiuri Giants, immediately winning 9 games in his rookie season and helping the team secure the league title and Japan Series championship. He developed into a key left-handed pitcher, winning the Best ERA award in 2007. In 2010, he signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets and was promoted to the majors just before opening day, recording 10 wins and 8 saves in his debut MLB season. He later played under the Los Angeles Angels, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, and Colorado Rockies organizations before returning to Nippon Professional Baseball in 2014, joining the Yokohama DeNA BayStars. He retired at the end of the 2015 season. Currently based in Los Angeles, he works as a commentator for MLB and NPB games and shares the appeal of baseball through YouTube and other platforms.