Mitsuru Hanagata began his career as a celebrated baseball prodigy, a pitcher of exceptional skill whose talent earned him a place in The Little League. His promising pitching career ended abruptly when his shoulder gave way under the strain of intense training, forcing him to leave his team and abandon the pitcher's mound.

In response, Hanagata reinvented himself as a powerful hitter and eventually joined the Hanshin Tigers, where he emerged as the primary rival to Hyūma Hoshi of the Yomiuri Giants. Known for his intense dedication and relentless training ethic, Hanagata undertook a secret and extreme regimen to counter Hoshi's Dai League Ball No. 1—a pitch designed to hit the batter's bat. He practiced his swing using an iron bat to strike an iron ball, a method that vastly increased his strength and hitting power.

This specialized training succeeded when Hanagata hit the Dai League Ball No. 1 for a home run. That victory, however, came at a great cost: the tremendous impact of the pitch destroyed every muscle in his body, leaving him seriously injured.

At the start of his first year of high school, Hanagata discovered his school’s baseball team in complete disarray, with no member showing genuine care for the sport. Resolved to create change, he dedicated himself to reforming the team alongside a teammate named Amano.

Originally introduced as a rival, Mitsuru Hanagata evolved into an immensely popular character. His story was expanded through a 13-episode original video animation series produced in 2002, titled *Special Edition: Fierce Tiger Mitsuru Hanagata*, which featured more modern animation. Additionally, a manga retelling of the original story from his perspective, titled *Shinyaku "Kyojin no Hoshi" Hanagata*, was written by mangaka Yoshiyuki Murakami in 2006.