On October 3, the retirement ceremony for pitcher Wataru Karashima was held at Rakuten Eagles Mobile Saikyo Park Miyagi. Pitcher Wataru Karashima took the starting mound on this day. Against the lead-off batter Ryoma Nishikawa, with a count 1-2, he finished his final career appearance by inducing a fly out to left on a slider.

During the ceremony, video messages arrived from Padres pitcher Yuki Matsui, Samsung The Lions second-team manager Ryoji Moriyama, international scout Rasner, Andrew Jones, Chiba Lotte Marines second-team pitching coach Manabu Mima, Chunichi head coach Motohiro Shima, and The Giants pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, after which pitcher Wataru Karashima gave a speech. Below is the full text of the speech.

"I have walked the path of a professional baseball player for 18 years since 2009. Among those years, my greatest memory is the 2013 league championship and becoming number one in Japan. Through the victory toss and the parade, the sight of the fans rejoicing and the scenery at that time remain very impressive to me.

Manager Senichi Hoshino gave me strict but loving guidance. He always told me to 'pitch until the very end,' and there were times when a kick came flying my way. When I pitched my first professional shutout game in 2014, he praised me for the first time. I am glad I was able to show him that performance before he stepped down. Manager Hoshino, thank you very much.

To all the support staff, the reason players can play baseball as if it were natural is because you support us in places we cannot see. I suffered many injuries, but thanks to everyone's support, I was able to overcome them many times. I am truly grateful.

To my family, thank you for always supporting me nearby. Thanks to the support of my whole family, I have been able to work hard until now. And to the fans in Tohoku and Sendai, the reason I was able to play for this long is because of your warm cheers.

In the last few years, I have been filled with regret for not being able to leave satisfactory results, but I intend to continue contributing as a person involved in baseball.

Lastly, I would like to express my gratitude once again to everyone gathered at the stadium, everyone watching on TV and radio, the team officials who prepared this wonderful day, the managers and coaches who took care of me, all the teammates I have fought alongside, and my family and friends.

Thank you very much for these long 18 years."

　Takayuki Kishi pitcher, Ginji Ambassador, Takeo Okajima Ambassador, and children presented bouquets, followed by a commemorative photo session with teammates on the field with smiles. After being tossed into the air seven times near the mound, he circled the stadium while responding to the loud cheers from the fans and left the ground.