打席に立つのは-Sogen SF Short Story Prize Edition- 創元SF短編賞受賞作
In a near future where everyone carries a digital brain implant called a denka-nou, Kiriyama, a cleanup hitter on a high school baseball team, is plagued by the yips that freeze his arms at bat. One day, his female team manager Nakamura secretly installs an unauthorized app that can swap the consciousness of two people who lock eyes. Nakamura, who once showed exceptional athletic talent but was sidelined to manager duties by rules barring girls from competition, offers to step in for Kiriyama at bat. A refreshing coming-of-age SF that explores mutual understanding and the question of who gets to stand at the plate through the lens of mind swapping.
Work Information
In an age where everyone carries a device called a digital brain, an unauthorized app makes the swapping of consciousness between two people possible.
A coming-of-age short story blending high school baseball with consciousness-transfer SF, built around an unauthorized app called torikaebaya. The contrasting duo — a cleanup hitter suffering from the yips and a female manager barred from competition — swap their places, weaving a story about competition and recognition. Originally titled Pinch Hitter on submission, it was retitled Who Stands at the Plate upon publication. First published in Shimi no Techo Vol. 24 (Tokyo Sogensha, August 2025), then released as a standalone e-book. The author Takaya Sai changed their pen name from Saito Sen on the occasion of winning. A previous winner of the 10th Jump Horror Novel Award Gold Prize.
Review Summaries
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Received high praise as a refreshing coming-of-age sports SF.
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Judge Satoshi Hase praised it as a fresh and fine YA SF, lauding the focus on emotional exchange while carefully avoiding sexual content as well-suited to contemporary sensibilities. Iori Miyazawa commended its skillful storytelling while questioning whether the desexualization went too far. Hirotaka Tobi noted it was not groundbreaking as genre SF but concluded there was meaning in presenting this work under the SF label. While judges had differing opinions on certain aspects, the work ultimately won the award.
Book Information
- Publisher
- 東京創元社
- Published
- 2025-08-08
- Pages
- 76 pages
- Language
- 日本語
- Price
- 220 JPY
- Category
- Kindleストア/Kindle本/文学・評論/小説・文芸/日本の小説・文芸
誰もが頭の中に〈電化脳〉を持つ近未来。 野球部の桐生は マネージャーの中村から 驚くべき提案を受ける。 第16回創元SF短編賞受賞作。 県立高校の野球部三年の桐山は、打席に立つと腕がこわばる症状に苦しんでいた。このまま夏の予選を迎えるのか――そんな恐怖を抱えていたある日、同学年のマネージャー・中村から、入れ替わりを提案される。誰もが〈電化脳〉と呼ばれるデバイスを備えたこの時代、日本では非認証のアプリを使えば意識の交換が可能になるという。中村は選手として非凡な才能を発揮していたが、女子の大会出場を禁じる規定が変わらなかったため、マネージャーに転じたのだ。迷いつつ、まずは試してみることにした桐山だったが……。第16回創元SF短編賞受賞作。 ※本電子書籍は、『紙魚の手帖Ｖｏｌ．２４』（東京創元社 2024年8月8日初版発行）に掲載の「打席に立つのは」のみを電子書籍化したものです。『紙魚の手帖Ｖｏｌ．２４』全ての電子書籍版ではございませんのでご注意ください。