Tokyo International News Agency

On March 31, 2026, a historic page was etched into the annals of professional baseball. Haruki Hosono, pitcher for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, achieved a no-hitter against the Chiba Lotte Marines in the home opener at Es Con Field Hokkaido. This remarkable feat, accomplished in only his ninth professional game and the first ever at the stadium, sent fans watching the game into a frenzy. For a team that had started the season with three consecutive losses, Hosono delivered the first victory in the most spectacular fashion possible: a no-hitter. On this day, he completely shut down the Lotte lineup with an overwhelming performance of 11 strikeouts and 108 pitches. His battery with catcher Yuya Tamiya also shone brightly, showcasing an ironclad defense. Furthermore, the offense rallied behind Hosono's masterful pitching with nine runs, including double home runs from Kotaro Kiyomiya and Reyes, providing ample support. On social media, numerous voices of joy and astonishment were...

The Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles officially announced on the 26th that they have reached an agreement with pitcher Kenta Maeda (37), who was a free agent from Major League Baseball. The right-hander, boasting a combined 171 wins in Japan and the U.S. (97 in NPB, 74 in MLB), is returning to Japanese baseball after 11 years, marking a significant highlight for the professional baseball world next season. After a successful career with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, Maeda challenged himself in MLB starting in 2016. He played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, and Detroit Tigers, carving out an illustrious career. Upon his return to Japanese baseball, a bidding war ensued, with multiple teams including the Yomiuri Giants and Tokyo Yakult Swallows vying for his acquisition. Rakuten ultimately secured him with an offer reportedly worth around 400 million yen over two years. This big news quickly garnered significant reactions on social media. Rakuten fans expressed excitement and antici...

The 2025 Mitsui Golden Glove Awards were announced on November 12th, recognizing defensive specialists from both the Central and Pacific Leagues. The Hanshin Tigers of the Central League drew particular attention by achieving a remarkable feat: a record-breaking seven players from their team received the award, once again demonstrating the team's exceptional overall defensive prowess. In the Central League, the championship-winning Hanshin Tigers dominated many positions, from pitcher to outfield. Shoki Murakami was selected as pitcher, Seishiro Sakamoto (2nd time) as catcher, Yūsuke Ōyama (2nd time) as first baseman, Takumu Nakano (2nd time) as second baseman, Teruaki Satō as third baseman, and Kōji Chikamoto (5th time) and Shōta Morishita as outfielders. Teruaki Satō, Shōta Morishita, and Shoki Murakami received their first Golden Glove Awards. Yūsuke Ōyama garnered the highest number of votes across both leagues, and Teruaki Satō commented upon receiving his award, "I want...

On September 27, 2025, during a game against the Chunichi Dragons at Hanshin Koshien Stadium, Hanshin Tigers' player Yusuke Ohyama achieved his 150th career home run in official games. This remarkable feat marks a significant milestone, making him the 182nd player in professional baseball history to reach this mark, and was met with thunderous cheers from the packed stadium. Ohyama stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the 7th inning with two outs and runners on first and second, trailing by four runs. He launched an opposing pitcher's 140 km/h fastball down the right-field foul pole. This dramatic 13th home run of the season, a three-run blast, brought the team within one run, sending the Koshien crowd into a frenzy. Social media was also flooded with celebratory messages such as, "So glad Ohyama stayed with Hanshin. We couldn't have won the championship without him. Thank you and congratulations on 150 career home runs ㊗️🎉" and "Our Yusuke Ohyama just ...