Tetsuharu Kawakami managed the Yomiuri Giants after an illustrious 18-year playing career as a left-handed first baseman, where his .313 lifetime batting average and exceptional offensive prowess earned him the nickname "God of Hitting." He became the first player in Japanese professional baseball to reach 2,000 hits and won three MVP awards.

As Giants manager from 1961 to 1974, Kawakami led the team to 11 Japan Series championships, achieving an unprecedented nine consecutive titles between 1965 and 1973. His disciplined yet innovative managerial approach incorporated strategies learned from collaborations with Major League Baseball teams, notably the Los Angeles Dodgers. He pioneered specialized roles like the dedicated closing pitcher and enforced rigorous training regimens.

Kawakami's decades-long connection with the Hoshi family began before World War II when he scouted Ittetsu Hoshi for the Giants. After the war, Kawakami advised Ittetsu to leave the team due to his development of the "Devil's Fastball," a pitch deliberately targeting batters that Kawakami considered dishonorable to the Giants' tradition. Decades later, Kawakami learned of Ittetsu's son, Hyūma Hoshi. Despite initial reservations about Hyūma's injury history, Kawakami offered him a chance to join the Giants. He personally oversaw Hyūma's enrollment test, maintained a stern demeanor throughout, and ultimately awarded him his own retired jersey number 16.

Beyond professional baseball, Kawakami's influence is seen in a lasting tradition he inadvertently started. As a high school player in the 1937 Koshien tournament, he took dirt from the stadium as a memento after losing the championship game. His persona consistently blended authority with subtle support, watching over players' development while upholding exacting standards.