Tokyo International News Agency

Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki launched his 20th solo home run of the season, reaching the 20-homer milestone for the fourth consecutive year since moving to Major League Baseball. He becomes only the second Japanese player in MLB history to record four straight 20-home run seasons, following Shohei Ohtani, and the first Japanese right-handed hitter to accomplish the feat. Suzuki's milestone blast also marked a major milestone for Japanese baseball: the creation of MLB's first-ever "Japanese 20-Home Run Quartet," with four Japanese players reaching 20 homers in a single season alongside Shohei Ohtani, Munetaka Murakami, and Kazuma Okamoto. Suzuki's impressive drive off former Yomiuri Giants pitcher Miles Mikolas left the bat at 104.3 mph (167.9 km/h), drawing huge cheers from fans in both Japan and the United States. In addition to his home run, Suzuki went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and contributed with solid defense, playing a key role in bringing the Cubs to t...

On June 27, 2026, Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki started as the cleanup designated hitter against the Milwaukee Brewers and delivered a spectacular solo home run off their absolute ace and Cy Young frontrunner, Jared Misiorowski. Misiorowski was in dominant form from the start, touching a blistering 105.4 mph (169.7 km/h) in the first inning—some of the fastest velocity ever recorded by a starting pitcher. Yet, Suzuki perfectly timed the fireballer, driving the high-heat fastball deep into the opposite field for a shocking home run. This solo shot snapped an incredible streak for Misiorowski, marking the first home run he had surrendered in 75 innings. This matchup brought back memories of last year’s postseason, where Suzuki also hit a home run off Misiorowski. With this latest blast, Suzuki became the only batter in the majors to hit multiple home runs off the Brewers' formidable ace. Social media erupted with praise from fans, with comments like "Suzuki is the ultimat...

On March 15, a significant blow struck Japan's national baseball team, "Samurai Japan," when Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki (29) was forced to leave a game due to injury. During a World Baseball Classic (WBC) match held that day, Suzuki reported discomfort in his right knee and exited mid-game. This incident has caused considerable alarm and concern among fans and stakeholders, being viewed as a "turning point" that could heavily influence the team's trajectory. Speculation has arisen that Suzuki's injury might have occurred during an attempted stolen base play during the game. On social media, comments such as "That play where Seiya ran feels like the turning point" and "They had Seiya steal a base? Makes no sense" proliferated. Questions were also raised regarding coaching decisions that seemed to treat players merely as strategic pieces. While Suzuki's injury was a major setback for Samurai Japan, Hanshin Tigers outfielde...

The MLB Division Series Game 5 took place on October 12th, where the Chicago Cubs suffered a narrow 1-3 defeat to the Milwaukee Brewers, resulting in a 2-3 series record and their elimination from the postseason. In this decisive "fate game," Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki launched a soul-stirring solo home run, his third of the postseason, to tie the game temporarily. However, his heroic effort was ultimately not enough to lead the team to victory. In the top of the 2nd inning, immediately after the Cubs conceded the first run, Seiya Suzuki connected with an opposing pitcher's blazing 163 km/h fastball, sending it to right-center field for a game-tying solo home run. This dramatic hit garnered immense praise on social media, with fans exclaiming "A blow from the soul!", "God-like!", "Unbelievable!", "He's a monster!", and "Got goosebumps!" It also set a new record for the most postseason home runs by a Japanese player, ...

Chicago Cubs' Seiya Suzuki hit his 23rd solo home run of the season in the game on July 2nd (local time), bringing his RBI total to 70, making him the sole leader in the National League. Fans applauded the crucial extra run, a powerful hit that perfectly connected with an off-speed pitch. However, on the same day, Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani also blasted his 30th home run of the season. This led to a flurry of posts on social media such as "Seiya Suzuki's home run won't be covered again," "When Suzuki hits, Ohtani hits too," and "All the news is just about Ohtani-san..." This reflects a common sentiment among Japanese baseball fans: Seiya Suzuki's excellent performance tends to be "eclipsed" by the colossal news surrounding Shohei Ohtani. Nevertheless, Suzuki's performance this season has been remarkable, with his 23rd home run marking a new career high in MLB. He is also within striking distance of Hideki Matsui...