History at Jingu: Kazuya Maruyama Hits for the Cycle as Yakult Swallows Crush Yokohama

On May 1, 2026, during a matchup against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars at Meiji Jingu Stadium, Tokyo Yakult Swallows outfielder Kazuya Maruyama made Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) history by becoming the 73rd player to hit for the cycle. The Swallows' offense was in full force, racking up 20 hits and 16 runs to secure an overwhelming victory over Yokohama.

Maruyama’s historic day began with a fly out to left field, but he followed it up with a relentless barrage of hits. With a double in the seventh inning, he completed the feat, marking the first time a Swallows player has hit for the cycle since Yasutaka Shiomi in 2021—a gap of approximately four years and eight months. Social media was flooded with celebratory messages like "The Jingu Speedster has exploded!" and "Congratulations, Maru-chan," causing "Cycle Hit" to surge to the top of trending topics.

The game was dominated by Yakult from the start. The top of the order was particularly lethal, with the duo of leadoff man Maruyama and second-hole hitter Iwata combining for a staggering 10 hits. Iwata contributed five hits of his own, including a home run, as the Swallows' lineup—famously nicknamed the "Hi-Yaku-Ko" (The Powder Keg)—lived up to its explosive reputation. Following a big win that washed away the team’s recent struggles, fans expressed their joy online with comments like "The best start to May possible" and "I can't wait for the commemorative merchandise."

The context

The Tokyo Yakult Swallows are one of the most storied professional baseball teams in Japan, based at the historic Meiji Jingu Stadium in Tokyo. In Japanese baseball culture, a "Cycle Hit" (hitting a single, double, triple, and home run in one game) is a rare and highly celebrated milestone. The term "Hi-Yaku-Ko" mentioned in the article is a clever play on words; it combines the team's name "Yakult" with the Japanese word "kayakuko," which means a powder keg or ammunition depot, referencing their high-powered offensive capabilities. Furthermore, Maruyama is often referred to as an "Idaten," a term derived from a swift-footed Buddhist deity, highlighting his reputation as one of the fastest players in the league.