Major 2nd
Major 2nd is a Japanese sports manga series written and illustrated by Takuya Mitsuda, serving as a direct sequel to his acclaimed baseball manga Major. Serialized in Shogakukan's Weekly Shōnen Sunday magazine since March 2015, the story centers on Daigo Shigeno, the young son of legendary professional baseball player Goro Shigeno, as he grapples with his own aspirations in the sport while attending middle school and forming a team with friends.[1][2] The series explores themes of legacy, teamwork, and personal growth through intense baseball matches and character development, with Daigo initially hesitant about the sport due to his father's shadow but eventually embracing it alongside transfer student Hikaru Satō and others. As of November 2025, Major 2nd has spanned 31 volumes, reflecting its ongoing popularity and the mangaka's health-related hiatuses, including a year-long break from 2021 to 2022.[3][1] An anime television adaptation produced by OLM and NHK Enterprises aired in two seasons on NHK-E from April 2018 to September 2018 (25 episodes) and April 2020 to November 2020 (another 25 episodes), directed by Ayumu Watanabe, faithfully adapting the manga's early arcs and introducing the middle school baseball tournaments.[4] The adaptation emphasizes dynamic sports animation and has been streamed internationally on platforms like Crunchyroll, contributing to the franchise's enduring appeal among fans of sports anime and manga.[5]Premise
Plot summary
Daigo Shigeno, the son of legendary professional baseball player Goro Shigeno, enters elementary school burdened by the expectations tied to his father's illustrious career in Major League Baseball, the Japanese leagues, and later Taiwan.[4] Despite his initial hesitation due to the pressure and difficulty making friends, Daigo joins the established Mifune Dolphins youth team, where he recruits classmates and transfer student Tsukishima Hikaru to complete the roster. He discovers a passion for baseball through rigorous training and regional tournaments, such as the summer Little League competition against local rivals like the Touto Boys. His motivation grows as he aims to forge his own path, with key events highlighting his strategic growth and reliance on teammates. Daigo's development as a player intensifies, shifting from outfield to catcher. Transitioning to middle school at Fūrin Middle School, Daigo encounters heightened rivalries, particularly with Ōbi Middle School, leading to team formations and collaborations such as the Fūrin-Ōbi combined squad to strengthen their chances in competitive play.[1] The story focuses on the prefectural tournament, featuring intense matchups that drive Daigo's evolution as a catcher and underscore personal motivations intertwined with collective efforts for victory.[4] As of November 2025, the manga continues this arc with ongoing developments in the tournament, building on early resolutions like the regional tournament experiences to explore deeper teamwork dynamics.[6]Themes and setting
Major 2nd explores central themes of legacy and the pressures stemming from parental expectations in the world of sports, particularly through protagonist Daigo Shigeno's journey in baseball. As the son of renowned professional player Goro Shigeno from the original Major series, Daigo grapples with the weight of his father's achievements, initially aspiring to emulate Goro's path as a pitcher but ultimately diverging by embracing the catcher position. This narrative arc highlights the challenges of forging one's identity in the shadow of a family legend, emphasizing emotional struggles and the quest for self-acceptance rather than direct replication of past successes.[7][8] The series places strong emphasis on teamwork, rivalry, and personal growth within youth baseball, portraying the sport as a conduit for "baseball as a family bond" and overcoming physical limitations. Characters navigate intense rivalries, such as those between school clubs, fostering mutual support and development among teammates, including mixed-gender dynamics that underscore collaboration over individual prowess. Personal growth is depicted through moments of resilience, where players confront their shortcomings—whether talent gaps or societal barriers—and build enduring family connections, as seen in the Shigeno household's shared passion for the game. These elements collectively illustrate baseball's role in cultivating emotional maturity and interpersonal ties in Japanese youth culture.[8][7] Set primarily in contemporary Japan, the story unfolds around middle school baseball clubs in urban areas like Tokyo and its surroundings, with key events at institutions such as Fuurin Private Academy. It incorporates references to authentic Japanese baseball structures, including prefectural qualifiers leading to national middle school championships organized by the Japan Middle School Baseball Federation, which mirror real-world events like the All-Japan Junior High School Baseball Championship. The narrative integrates realistic baseball rules and strategies as drivers of tension and character development, such as strategic pitch-calling by catchers to outmaneuver opponents and defensive plays adapted for youth leagues, where finesse and positioning often compensate for developing physical strength.[8][9]Characters
Protagonists
Daigo Shigeno serves as the central protagonist of Major 2nd, the son of renowned professional baseball player Goro Shigeno, whose legacy initially burdens Daigo with immense pressure as a second-generation athlete.[10] Growing up in the shadow of his father's achievements, Daigo initially shows reluctance toward baseball, quitting Little League due to his perceived lack of talent and the overwhelming expectations placed upon him.[11] His personality evolves from one marked by self-doubt and frustration to a resilient, passionate leader who rediscovers his love for the game through key friendships and personal challenges. As a catcher, Daigo excels with a strong throwing arm and strategic acumen, enabling him to guide pitchers effectively on the field.[10] His arc spans from founding the struggling baseball club at Fūrin Junior High School—where he enrolls alongside childhood friends—to emerging as a tournament leader, navigating team rebuilds after defeats like the loss to Ōga Junior High and pushing toward prefectural success.[10] Hikaru Satō acts as Daigo's deuteragonist and closest rival-friend, the son of former major leaguer and catcher Toshiya Satō, which introduces family pressures to uphold a legacy of excellence in the sport.[11] Born in the United States and returning to Japan in elementary school, Hikaru demonstrates natural talent as a dual-role player, proficient as both a pitcher—specializing in curveballs and high-speed deliveries—and a catcher with exceptional handling skills.[10] His personality blends encouragement with competitive drive, often pushing Daigo to improve while grappling with his own setbacks, such as a severe injury during a Little League game that tests his resolve and leads to a period of rehabilitation.[11] Hikaru's personal arc involves balancing familial expectations with his passion for baseball's joy, transitioning from the Mifune Dolphins team in elementary school to starring as a catcher for Tsujido Junior High, where he hones his technical prowess amid rivalries.[10] Mutsuko Sakura rounds out the core trio as a determined female athlete breaking gender barriers in a male-dominated sport, serving as Daigo's classmate, first love interest, and a pivotal team member since their shared time on the Mifune Dolphins Little League squad.[11] Despite societal challenges, her unyielding spirit and baseball aptitude position her as the vice-captain and ace pitcher for Fūrin Junior High's team, where she plays outfield when not pitching.[10] Mutsuko's pitching style emphasizes precise control and fastballs with remarkable accuracy, complemented by strong offensive and defensive instincts that enhance team dynamics through her supportive yet assertive presence.[11] Her arc highlights perseverance against obstacles, contributing to the team's growth from club reformation to competitive readiness, including standout performances in regional qualifiers.[10] The protagonists' relationships form the emotional backbone of the series, particularly the evolving battery partnership between Daigo and Hikaru, which begins in Little League as a pitcher-catcher duo and matures through shared trials like injuries and school rivalries.[11] This friendship-rivalry dynamic, rooted in their fathers' own bond, fosters mutual growth, with Mutsuko providing stabilizing influence in team interactions and subtle romantic tension with Daigo.[10] By 2025, as depicted in recent manga developments, the trio prepares for intensified prefectural tournament challenges, including a matchup against Tsujido, where Daigo confronts health issues amid their collective drive toward victory.[10]Supporting characters
Goro Shigeno serves as the father of protagonist Daigo Shigeno and a retired professional baseball pitcher who once competed in Major League Baseball before transitioning to independent leagues in Japan and Taiwan.[4] His experiences as a player profoundly influence Daigo's motivation, offering guidance during moments of doubt, such as when Daigo struggles with self-confidence after early failures on the field, ultimately encouraging him to persevere in youth leagues like the Mifune Dolphins.[11] Kaoru Shigeno, née Shimizu, is Goro's wife and Daigo's mother, a former player on her school's baseball team who provides emotional support to the family amid Goro's frequent absences due to his career.[4] Her role emphasizes familial stability, reinforcing Daigo's drive through encouragement during personal crises, such as family discussions that help him recommit to baseball after quitting temporarily.[11] Among mentors, Coach Tashiro leads the Mifune Dolphins youth team, focusing on instilling baseball fundamentals like teamwork and basic techniques to build a strong foundation for young players.[4] His coaching philosophy prioritizes discipline and gradual skill development over immediate results, aiding Daigo's growth by addressing weaknesses in positioning and strategy during practice sessions that advance the team's progress in local tournaments.[12] Rival characters outside formal team structures include Hayato Urabe, a skilled pitcher whose competitive drive stems from a desire to surpass peers like Daigo, often manifesting in taunts and direct confrontations on the field.[4] These interactions spark Daigo's personal development, such as motivating him to refine his catching and game-calling skills after Urabe exposes vulnerabilities in practice matches, contributing to plot progression through heightened rivalries.[12] In recent 2025 manga arcs, such as those in Volume 30 released in March, new tournament rivalries emerge, where individual antagonists challenge protagonists in high-stakes prefectural competitions, further catalyzing growth through intensified personal conflicts.[13]Mifune Dolphins
The Mifune Dolphins little league team, composed of elementary school players, centers around Daigo Shigeno as the primary catcher, Hikaru Sato serving as the ace pitcher, and Mutsuko Sakura handling outfield duties. Additional key members include Hayato Urabe, a versatile pitcher, and Andy Suzuki, who pairs with Daigo in the battery as a secondary catcher, alongside other infielders and outfielders filling the starting nine. This ragtag group initially struggles with inconsistent skills and coordination but develops strong bonds through rigorous practices and matches, fostering team dynamics that emphasize mutual support and gradual improvement in synergy.[14]| Position | Player | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Catcher | Daigo Shigeno | Primary battery member, focuses on game-calling |
| Pitcher | Hikaru Sato | Ace pitcher, drives the team's offensive starts |
| Outfield | Mutsuko Sakura | Speedy defender, contributes to base running |
| Pitcher | Hayato Urabe | Reliever with strong control |
| Catcher | Andy Suzuki | Backup, supports battery rotations |
| Infield/Outfield | Various (e.g., supporting players) | Fill rotational roles to maintain depth |
Ōbi Middle School
Ōbi Middle School's baseball team features a roster highlighted by Michiru Mayumura, a multi-positional player excelling as pitcher, shortstop, and second baseman, Kotaro Uozumi as the reliable catcher, and Sanae Goda in center field, contributing to the team's renowned defensive strengths. Other notable players include Idemitsu at second base and Seiko as a pitcher/shortstop, forming a starting lineup geared toward solid fielding and strategic pitching. As fierce rivals to Fūrin Middle School, their interactions are defined by intense competition, particularly in defensive battles during regional matches, where positional versatility allows for adaptive strategies.[15]| Position | Player | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pitcher/Infield | Michiru Mayumura | Versatile ace, shifts between pitching and infield |
| Catcher | Kotaro Uozumi | Strong arm, anchors the defense |
| Center Field | Sanae Goda | Agile outfielder, key to coverage |
| Second Base/Pitcher | Idemitsu | Utility player for rotations |
| Pitcher/Shortstop | Seiko | Provides relief and infield support |
| Infield/Outfield | Various | Emphasize defensive unity |
Fūrin Middle School
Fūrin Middle School's baseball team, with Daigo Shigeno as captain and catcher/outfielder, relies on Mutsuko Sakura as the main pitcher, Tao Sagara at shortstop for infield stability, and Yayoi Sawa at second base, supported by outfield specialists like Chisato Fujii in center field and Takumi Chiba in left field, as well as infielders Seira Kandori and catcher/outfielder Anita Kabashima. The team's composition evolves significantly across arcs, starting with a core of six members—Daigo, Mutsuko, Sagara, Sawa, Kandori, and Fujii—after a major incident reduced the roster in their second year, prompting recruitment from local little leagues. By 2025, the team merges with Ōbi Middle School to form the Fūrin-Ōbi combined squad for the prefectural tournament, incorporating players like Michiru Mayumura and Kotaro Uozumi to bolster depth and create a more balanced starting nine focused on collective synergy. Roster adjustments due to injuries, such as temporary sidelining of pitchers, and transfers have repeatedly tested the group, highlighting their resilience and emphasis on team-wide contributions rather than standout individuals.[16][17]| Position | Player | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Catcher/Outfield | Daigo Shigeno | Captain, versatile battery leader |
| Pitcher | Mutsuko Sakura | Core starter, evolves with control |
| Shortstop | Tao Sagara | Defensive anchor in infield |
| Second Base | Yayoi Sawa | Reliable hitter and fielder |
| Center Field | Chisato Fujii | Speedy outfielder, occasional pitcher |
| Left Field | Takumi Chiba | Power hitter in outfield |
| First Base/Infield | Seira Kandori | Strengthens infield coverage |
| Catcher/Outfield | Anita Kabashima | Backup battery, adds depth |
| Combined Additions (2025) | Michiru Mayumura, Kotaro Uozumi, etc. | Enhance tournament lineup for synergy |