Tokyo International News Agency

Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks announced on the 9th that player Naoki Sato will transfer to the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles via the 2025 Active Player Draft. This announcement has become a major topic of discussion among many professional baseball fans on X (formerly Twitter). In response to Sato's transfer, many Hawks fans expressed surprise and sadness. Comments such as "It's unexpected that Naoki Sato was released in the active player draft" and "It's a shame, but he's a good player, so he'll definitely succeed!" were seen. Many fans seem to have mixed feelings about the release of Sato, who played in 104 games this season and contributed with defensive substitutions, pinch-running, and timely hitting. Some comments also highlighted the intensity of competition within the team, with remarks like "To release him with those stats is practically insulting Naoki Sato" and "The depth of the Hawks' roster is immense." On the other h...

A new development has occurred in Japanese professional baseball. The active player draft, held on December 9th, announced that Hanshin Tigers player Koda Inoue would be transferring to the Chiba Lotte Marines. This transfer has stirred various emotions among fans of both clubs. Hanshin Tigers fans have expressed regret over the departure of Inoue, who was expected to become a future slugging ace. Many complex feelings were shared on social media, with comments such as, "I thought it would be Koda Inoue... and then 'Yep, it's Koda Inoue' came," and "Honestly, I don't think Inoue would have developed much even if he stayed with Hanshin, so it's not a bad decision." Inoue, a powerful right-handed hitter from Riseisha High School, was highly regarded for his potential, having won a batting title in the minor league (farm team) and hitting a home run at Koshien. However, he failed to secure a regular spot in the top league (first team), and a breakth...

The 2025 NPB Active Player Draft was held, with many players moving to new teams in pursuit of fresh opportunities. According to the Nippon Professional Baseball Organization (NPB), a total of 12 players were selected, demonstrating active movement towards achieving the draft's objectives: strengthening each team's roster and creating playing opportunities for players. Particularly noteworthy in this year's draft was the de facto “major trade” between the Yomiuri Giants and the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. The Giants acquired left-handed pitcher Keito Matsuura from the Nippon-Ham Fighters. Expectations are high for Matsuura, an alumnus of Osaka Toin High School, to form a powerful left-handed pitching duo with fellow Osaka Toin alum Kaoru Yokogawa. Conversely, the Giants sent pitcher Daiki Kikuchi to the Nippon-Ham Fighters, a move that drew expressions of regret from some fans. It appears there were complex dealings between these two clubs, involving FA transfers and coac...

Shimizu S-Pulse of the J1 League officially announced on the 8th that Takayuki Yoshida (48), former manager of Vissel Kobe, will take over as their new manager starting next season. Through the club, new manager Yoshida commented powerfully, "Shimizu is a club with a special history and culture, known as the 'Football Kingdom.' I am deeply honored to be able to lead this wonderful club. Together with the S-Pulse family, I want to bring back our strong era once again." The team is scheduled to begin its new system on January 5th next year. Yoshida led Vissel Kobe to an impressive record, achieving two consecutive J1 League titles from 2023, and a domestic double in 2024 by winning both the J1 League and the Emperor's Cup. His managerial skills are highly regarded, and great expectations are placed on his success in this new chapter. Following this announcement, many fans and supporters reacted on social media (X). When Shimizu S-Pulse's official account announc...

Ezaki Glico announced on the 8th that it would voluntarily recall a total of 20 chocolate confectionery items, amounting to approximately 6 million units. This includes flagship products such as "Pocky Chocolate" and "Mental Balance Chocolate GABA." The decision was made after consumer feedback revealed that these products had an "unnatural flavor." According to the company, the change in flavor is believed to have been caused by cacao beans being stored for about eight months in an external logistics warehouse, in the same space as spices, which should have been stored separately. It is thought that the aroma of the spices transferred to the cacao beans, affecting the chocolate products. The voluntary recall applies to some products with an expiration date of May 2026 or later. No health issues have been reported so far, and the company states there are no safety concerns. Following this announcement, many consumers expressed surprise on social media. Som...

In the G1 horse race 'Champions Cup,' held on December 7th, the second-favorite Double Heart Bond (4-year-old mare, by sire Kizuna) achieved a spectacular victory, solidifying her reputation as the new queen of the dirt racing world. Partnered with jockey Ryusei Sakai, Double Heart Bond prevailed in a fiery and fierce battle, overcoming strong contenders such as Wilson Tesoro (2nd place) and Ramjet (3rd place) to claim the championship. According to a Net Keiba breaking news report, it was stated: 'A fiery, fierce battle won — 4-year-old mare Double Heart Bond, by sire Kizuna, claims victory!' This victory marked Double Heart Bond's first G1 title and a historic achievement as the first mare in 10 years to win the Champions Cup. Furthermore, jockey Ryusei Sakai, in the saddle, accomplished an astounding three consecutive wins in this race. The 'man-and-horse-as-one' performance was hailed by many racing fans as 'the birth of a new-era partnership with th...

On December 7th, at Fukuda Denshi Arena (Fukuali), a dramatic "Miracle of Fukuali" that will likely be etched into football history unfolded once again during the Meiji Yasuda J1 Promotion Playoff semi-final between JEF United Chiba and Omiya Ardija. From a seemingly hopeless situation, trailing 0-3, JEF Chiba achieved a stunning 4-3 comeback victory, securing their place in the J1 Promotion Playoff final. Omiya dominated the match from the start, taking a three-goal lead in the first half. Just as everyone was starting to believe Omiya had sealed their victory, the atmosphere at Fukuali began to shift. JEF Chiba launched a relentless offensive in the second half, scoring goal after goal. The highlight of the day was the equalizer scored by 17-year-old Makoto Himeno, a second-year high school student making his team debut. His artistic lob shot found the back of the net, engulfing the stadium in a frenzy of excitement. A Drama 17 Years in the Making, and the Coach's Maste...