Ryu Katsumata
Makyu

Published by Salt & Pepper (Japan) 
25 x 19 cm
18 pages

A "magic pitch" is a ball with power that defies common sense. November 16, 2025. The final game of the city tournament. Tragedy struck while he was standing on the mound as the pitcher. Top of the 3rd inning, trailing by 3 runs. Runner on 2nd base. A slider was thrown in a situation where he couldn't afford to allow any more runs. The moment he threw it, a "crack" sound echoed through the stadium, and he collapsed on the mound in intense pain. Five minutes later, an ambulance arrived and he was taken straight to the hospital. After an X-ray, the doctor diagnosed him with a spiral fracture of the humerus. The game ended with a score of 8-0, lost in the 5th inning despite the efforts of the subsequent pitchers. They missed out on the championship. These photographs document everything from the moment he collapsed to his transport to the hospital and his rehabilitation. They were taken as selfies and by his teammates. Ryu Katsumata, born in 2002, is a photographer/artist based in Tokyo.