Sawazaki Makoto Will Not Play Next Season, Contract Will Expire

On June 30, it was announced that the Kadokawa Sakura Knights would not be renewing Sawazaki Makoto‘s contract, meaning that he will not be playing for the Kadokawa Sakura Knights in the 2022-23 season.

In a letter posted on Twitter, the team noted that Sawazaki has been making a good recovery after his hospitalization earlier this year, but the mental and physical load of M-League, as well as other team activities, may be overbearing as he recovers. As a result, they decided not to renew Sawazaki’s contract.

ＫＡＤＯＫＡＷＡサクラナイツは、当チーム所属の沢崎誠選手との契約を2021-22シーズン限りで満了といたしますことをご報告申し上げます。

詳しくは添付の画像をご覧ください。

沢崎選手のこれまでのご活躍に厚く感謝を申し上げるとともに、一日も早いご快復を心よりお祈りしております。 pic.twitter.com/YbTWJsRvjt

— KADOKAWAサクラナイツ🌸 (@kadokawa_sk) June 30, 2022

Sawazaki Makoto was the 3rd round pick of the Sakura Knight in the team’s first season in 2019. In his first year as an M-Leaguer, he was a big help in scoring points, scoring +234.3pt and placing 5th overall in the individual standings. In the 2021-22 season, his team managed to get to the finals for the second year in a row and placed 2nd overall. In the 2022-23 season, his was a big contributor to the team’s success, he placed 2nd in the individual standings and scored +399.7pt. With the big start, his teammates played their best and the team eventually won their first ever championship.

In a Twitter thread, Sawazaki expressed his disappointment of not being able to help the team in the finals, but was proud of the work that he and his teammates were able to do to win the championship. He thanked the fans for all the encouragement and that he is truly grateful for it. As he recovers, he says that he will continue to play mahjong on Ron2 and the Mahjong Fight Club arcade games, as well as in professional league tournaments.

しかし、チームメイトの頑張りで念願のリーグ優勝を遂げ、私もその一員で、レギュラーシーズンでは貢献できたことを誇りに思います。また、サクラナイツにいられた事に心から感謝しております。三年間お世話になりました。ありがとうございました。

— 沢崎誠🌸 (@sawazakimakoto) June 30, 2022

まずは体調を整えつつ、麻雀格闘倶楽部とロン２の麻雀をたくさん打ち始めたいと思います。
楽しく、観ていて面白い麻雀が打てるように更に努力します。
引き続き応援宜しくお願い致します。
m(_ _)m

— 沢崎誠🌸 (@sawazakimakoto) June 30, 2022

Soon after the news was released, his teammates tweeted out messages. They described Sawazaki as a team mainstay and a father. They said that they will keep the lessons that he had taught with them and that they would continue what he had started.

自分にとって親父みたいな存在の沢崎さんと来シーズン一緒に闘えないのはただただ残念です。
麻雀や人柄で沢山の人を魅了し、初年度からチームが活躍できたのも念願の優勝を掴めたのも沢崎さんのおかげです。
順調に回復されてるようですので、早く万全なお姿で異次元の麻雀を皆に観させてください。 https://t.co/09jifUUGlD

— 内川幸太郎🌸 (@kotarouchikawa) June 30, 2022

https://t.co/uQMaAPw4sL pic.twitter.com/kMx2y5mRC8

— 岡田紗佳🌸おかぴー (@sayaka_okada219) June 30, 2022

ずっとサクラナイツを引っ張ってきていただきましたし、今シーズンも変わらず優しく強い姿を見せていただきました。麻雀に全振りして生きてきたんだもん。まだMリーグで戦いたかったでしょうし悔しいでしょう‥
早く元気になって、また楽しそうに麻雀を打つ姿を見せてください
ありがとうございました https://t.co/volmRR4vV5

— 堀 慎吾🌸 (@elis0323) June 30, 2022

With the Kadokawa Sakura Knights only having three players on the team, they will having to draft one more player during the draft in early July.

The M-League Watch Team would like to wish Sawazaki well though his continued recovery and wish him luck with all his future mahjong endeavours.