After playing, he became a full-time manager and served led the Yakult Swallows to four league titles and three Japan Series championships from 1990 to 1998.

Nomura was born in the coastal fishing village of Amino (now Kyōtango) in Kyoto Prefecture.

The Hawks discussed cutting him from the team, however, he was given another chance reportedly after Nomura offered to play for free and even threatened to throw himself in front of a train if he was let go.

[1] During a career that spanned four decades from 1954 to 1980, Nomura hit 657 home runs and led the Pacific League in homers eight straight seasons.

[9] On December 5, 2001, his wife, television personality Sachiyo Nomura, was arrested for tax evasion.

Hoping to improve for their second season, the team hired Nomura to manage the club because of his experience.

After losing in the final stage of the 2009 Pacific League Climax Series, Nomura retired from managing at the age of 74.

Because of this, Nomura was often overshadowed by his Central League contemporaries such as superstars Sadaharu Oh and Shigeo Nagashima of the Yomiuri Giants.

During his time with the Hawks, he won five Pacific League MVP Awards – the most of any PL player and second-most all-time.

[13] Nomura also led the PL in home runs for nine seasons, eight of which were consecutive and won 19 Best Nine Awards for best catcher in the league.

[7] He was elected into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame by the Selection Committee for Players in 1989.;[14] his copper plaque depicts him wearing his cap backwards with no team logo visible.