Saburo Mr. Marines - The 20-Year Lotte Outfielder
Saburo's 23-year career with the Chiba Lotte Marines, from his 2005 Japan Series performance (Outstanding Player Award) to his shocking Yomiuri trade and return, culminating in 2,000 career hits.
Articles tagged with giants
The Legend of Minoru Murayama - Mr. Tigers' Fighting Spirit and Records
Tracing the story of the legend of minoru murayama - mr. tigers' fighting spirit and records, from the zatopek pitching style and the birth of a fastball to ..
The Arrest and Resignation of Manager Shinnosuke Abe in 2026 - The Non-Indictment and the Club's Request for His Return
Yomiuri manager Shinnosuke Abe was arrested on suspicion of assault on May 25, 2026, and resigned the next day. On June 15 prosecutors decided not to indict him, and on October 11 the club was reported to have asked him to return. This article sets out the quick first response and the unexplained return request from news reports and club statements.
Seibu Lions Dynasty - The Strongest Team of the 1980s
The Seibu Lions dynasty won 8 pennants and 6 Japan Series titles in 9 years under Mori, following Hirooka's disciplined foundation. This traces NPB's most dominant dynasty.
Yomiuri's Grooming Rules and the Nameless Uniform - The "Be Gentlemen" Precept and the "FOR THE TEAM" Explanation
Dyed hair, long hair and facial hair are reported to be banned as a rule at Yomiuri, and from the 2023 season player names were removed from the back of its game uniforms. Both rules are explained through founder Matsutaro Shoriki's precept that the Yomiuri Giants must always be gentlemen and through the spirit of "FOR THE TEAM," with no published text and no reason that can be checked. Drawing on press reports and the club's own announcement, this article reads what the two rules are and how the club has explained them.
Multi-Year Contract Risks and Returns in NPB
Comparing successful and failed multi-year deals in NPB through total salary and performance data to assess the risk-return balance for club management.
The 1959 Emperor's Game - The Match of the Century Under the Emperor's Gaze
Examining the 1959 emperor's game - the match of the century under the emperor's gaze in depth, covering background of the emperor's game through historical ..
Yomiuri and COVID-19 - The "Slightly Positive" Explanation of 2020 and the Six Games Postponed by the 2022 Cluster
In June 2020, the Yomiuri Giants announced the PCR positives of Hayato Sakamoto and Takumi Oshiro as "slightly positive," a non-medical term, and the expert who had used it explained five days later. In July 2022, 81 people tested positive in 12 days and six games against Chunichi and DeNA were postponed. A look at how the club and the rules explained both.
How Yomiuri Picks Its Managers - The Homegrown-Only Custom, the 2015 Request to Active Player Yoshinobu Takahashi to Manage, and the Failed Approach to Senichi Hoshino in 2005
Since 1943, every Yomiuri manager has been a former Yomiuri player. The 2005 approach to an outsider, Senichi Hoshino, collapsed amid opposition from club alumni and threatening letters. In 2015 the club settled on its star Yoshinobu Takahashi, still an active player, as manager the same day Tatsunori Hara announced his exit, and Takahashi retired to take the job. This article traces the custom and the two decisions through club statements and first-hand accounts.
Sawamura's Acupuncture and Long Thoracic Nerve Palsy in 2017 - Yomiuri's Apology Six Months Later and Its Reply to Nine Acupuncture Associations
On February 27, 2017, Takuichi Sawamura received acupuncture from a Yomiuri club trainer for discomfort in his right shoulder and was later diagnosed by several doctors with long thoracic nerve palsy. The club president, GM and trainer apologized six months later, on September 9. Answering an open letter from nine acupuncture associations, the club listed both the possibility that acupuncture was the cause and the possibility of another external factor.
A Chronicle of Yomiuri Player and Manager Misconduct and Penalties, 1948 to 2000 - From the Bessho Poaching Case to the Sugiyama Arrest
From the poaching of Akira Bessho in 1948 and manager Osamu Mihara's blow in 1949, through the death of Toshihiko Yuguchi in 1973, Masumi Kuwata in 1990 and Balvino Gálvez in 1998, to the arrest of Naoki Sugiyama in 2000: six cases involving Yomiuri players and managers, set out in one chronicle with the penalties imposed by the league and the club, including the three kinds of penalty and the players the club brought back afterwards.
Four Moments When Yomiuri Was Accused of Bending Fair Play - Bass's 55th, the Petagine Walk, Wakiya's Drop, and Kato's Beanball Call
Four moments when Yomiuri broke no rule yet was accused of bending an opponent's title chase or an umpire's call in its favor, set out through the facts and the reactions of those involved: the walks that stopped Randy Bass in 1985, the Petagine walk in 1999, Ryota Wakiya's drop in 2011 and the beanball call for Ken Kato in the 2012 Japan Series.
A Chronicle of Yomiuri Misconduct and the Club's Responses - From the 2008 Doping Ban to the Online Casino Case
From Luis Gonzalez's doping suspension in 2008 to the online casino referrals and non-prosecution of Louis Okoye and Daiki Masuda, a single chronicle of misconduct involving Yomiuri players and coaches and how the club responded. Cases are sorted into three patterns: penalties the club announced, reports the club denied, and cases with no announced penalty, with denials, settlements and non-prosecution noted alongside.
Yomiuri Giants Free Agent Issues - Big Spending That Disrupts Competitive Balance
An analysis of the Yomiuri Giants' history of big-spending free agent acquisitions and their impact on competitive balance in NPB.
The Kiyotake Revolt - Yomiuri GM Exposes Owner Interference
In November 2011, Yomiuri GM Hidetoshi Kiyotake held a press conference exposing owner Tsuneo Watanabe interference in coaching staff decisions.
The Hara 100 Million Yen Lawsuit - Yomiuri Lost to Bungeishunju, and the Court Found the Club's Press Conference Account Was Likely False
The Yomiuri Giants sued Bungeishunju for ¥30 million in damages and an apology over Shukan Bunshun's report on Tatsunori Hara's 100 million yen payment. The club lost at the district court and the high court, and the defeat became final on June 28, 2016. The high court ruling that stood found it could be inferred that a club official had given a false account at a press conference.
Every Yomiuri Free-Agent Signing and the Players Sent Back as Compensation - From Ochiai in 1993, Through the Winter Yomiuri Let Utsumi and Chono Go
Yomiuri took 31 of NPB's 113 domestic free-agent moves from 1993 to 2025, the most of any team, and gave up 16 of 42 compensation players. The full list, the winter it let Utsumi and Chono go, and its call for the abolition of player compensation.
The 1980 Dismissal of Shigeo Nagashima - The Yomiuri Shimbun President Who Overturned a Promise to Keep Him
On October 21, 1980, Yomiuri announced the "resignation" of manager Shigeo Nagashima after a third-place finish. The decision was made not by the club owner but by Yomiuri Shimbun president Mitsuo Mutai, breaking a public promise to keep him.
Cash in the Yomiuri Huddle - ¥5,000 for a Win, ¥1,000 for a Loss, and NPB Called It a Good-Luck Ritual
On March 14, 2016, NPB disclosed that since 2012 many Yomiuri first-team players had exchanged cash in the pregame huddle: the shouter collected ¥5,000 per player after a win and paid ¥1,000 to each after a loss. No penalty followed.
The History of the Japan Series - Great Matchups and Turning Points
Examining the history of the japan series - great matchups and turning points in depth, covering the birth of the japan series and early classic matchups thr..
The Pinch Runner Specialist - Value and Tactics of Designated Runners in NPB
NPB has players known as 'pinch runner specialists.' This article analyzes the tactical rationale behind dedicating a roster spot to a player specializing solely in baserunning, examining the history and win contribution of pinch runner deployment.
The 2021 Sho Nakata Trade for Nothing - How Yomiuri Ended Nippon-Ham's Suspension in Nine Days and Played Him the Next Day
On August 20, 2021, Nippon-Ham traded Sho Nakata, suspended for violence against a teammate, to Yomiuri for nothing. The suspension ended after nine days, and Yomiuri registered him the next day. In 2023 he left on an opt-out, with no compensation.
3.6 Billion Yen for Six Rookies - How Yomiuri's Signing Bonuses Blew Past NPB's Agreed Standard, and the Ruling That Stood
On March 15, 2012, the Asahi Shimbun reported that Yomiuri had signed six rookies who joined between fiscal 1997 and 2004 for a combined ¥3.6 billion, ¥2.7 billion over the ¥150 million per player the 12 clubs had agreed on. Yomiuri sued for defamation, but the courts found the excess to be true. Yomiuri won only ¥3.3 million over certain passages, and the ruling became final in 2016.
Only Yomiuri Would Do - Tomoyuki Sugano's Year in Limbo and the Lineage of Draft Refusals That Ended in a Yomiuri Uniform
At the 2011 draft, Nippon-Ham won the lottery for Tomoyuki Sugano, whom Yomiuri had announced as its first pick. Sugano refused, sat out a year and joined Yomiuri as its unopposed first pick in 2012. This article traces the “Yomiuri or nothing” lineage from Suguru Egawa through Daisuke Motoki, Tetsuya Utsumi, Hisayoshi Chono and Hirokazu Sawamura, from the side of the clubs whose picks were wasted.
The Anti-Yomiuri Phenomenon - Why the Yomiuri Giants Are So Hated in Japan
Behind the Yomiuri Giants' nationwide popularity lies a massive counter-culture of anti-Yomiuri sentiment.
The Impact of Baseball Anime - How Animation Cultivated Baseball Fans
An analysis of the impact baseball anime has had on Japanese baseball culture. This article examines how anime works from Star of the Giants to Touch, MAJOR, and Ace of Diamond have broadened the baseball fan base and influenced players themselves.
History of Corporate Ownership - Parent Companies and Team Management
From newspaper and railway companies to IT firms: the evolution of NPB team ownership, the benefits and drawbacks of parent company dependence, and the modern shift toward independent business models.
Player Discipline Violations During COVID-19 - NPB's Broken Curfew
In 2020, while NPB enforced strict behavioral restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, multiple players were found to have violated curfews for dining and nightlife. The positive tests of Yomiuri players Hayato Sakamoto and Takumi Oshiro triggered scrutiny of discipline across the league.
Draft Refusal Incidents - Player Will vs Team Rights
An in-depth analysis of draft refusal incidents - player will vs team rights, exploring structural contradictions of the draft system and refusals and reform..
Suguru Egawa - The Blank Day Incident and Draft System Contradictions
An examination of the Blank Day Incident centered on Suguru Egawa, verifying controversies surrounding draft system contradictions and player team selection rights.
Ekiden vs Baseball Popularity - Two Yomiuri of Japanese Sports
The New Year's Hakone Ekiden and summer Koshien dominate Japanese sports ratings. This comparison analyzes viewership trends and digital-era consumption patterns.
Foreign Pioneers - The Players Who Changed NPB
An in-depth analysis of foreign pioneers - the players who changed npb, exploring the dawn of foreign players in npb and evolution of foreign player rules an..
Yomiuri Brand Decline - Structural Analysis of Falling Popularity
A structural analysis of the Yomiuri Giants' declining brand power, examining the collapse of TV ratings from over 30% to single digits, the loss of terrestrial broadcasts, and the rise of Pacific League popularity.
Yomiuri Giants Draft Controversies - The Egawa Incident and the Blank Day
An analysis of Yomiuri Giants draft controversies. Focusing on the 1978 Egawa Incident, this article examines the events that shook the foundation of the NPB draft system.
Yomiuri Gambling Crisis 2015-2016 - The Scandal That Shook NPB
Between 2015 and 2016, four active Yomiuri players were found to have been involved in illegal baseball gambling.
Hara Tatsunori Extortion Scandal - Yomiuri Manager and Organized Crime
In 2012, reports revealed Yomiuri manager Tatsunori Hara had paid 100 million yen to an organized crime associate over a personal scandal.
The KK Draft Scandal - Kuwata Secret Deal with the Yomiuri
The 1985 draft saw PL Gakuen Masumi Kuwata selected first by the Yomiuri amid allegations of a secret pre-draft agreement.
Hideki Matsui's Godzilla Legend - From 5 Consecutive Intentional Walks to World Series MVP
Revisiting Hideki Matsui's Yomiuri career from the famous 5 intentional walks to MLB World Series MVP.
Yomiuri Group's Media Dominance - Yomiuri-Centric Broadcasting and Information Control
An examination of the media dominance created by the integrated management of Yomiuri Shimbun, Nippon Television, and the Yomiuri Giants. This article analyzes how Yomiuri-centric broadcasting hindered Pacific League development and how information control shaped public opinion.
The Baseball Restructuring Crisis and Yomiuri's Responsibility - From the Single-League Plan to the Players' Strike
An examination of the Yomiuri Giants' responsibility in the 2004 baseball restructuring crisis. This article analyzes owner Tsuneo Watanabe's push for a single-league system, Yomiuri's stance on the Kintetsu-Orix merger, and their hardline approach against the players' union.
Hayato Sakamoto - The Yomiuri Captain's Achievements and the 2022 Scandal Reports
Hayato Sakamoto, the Yomiuri shortstop who reached 2,000 hits, won the 2016 batting title as the first Central League shortstop to do so, and took the 2019 MVP - a look at his record and the 2022 tabloid reports.
Yomiuri Giants Talent Monopoly - Structural Issues Persisting Since the Era of Prolonged Dominance (1965-73)
A multi-faceted examination of the Yomiuri Giants' structural talent monopoly, from player hoarding during the era of prolonged dominance to imbalanced trades and a culture of neglecting player development. This article analyzes the long-term impact on NPB's competitiveness and popularity.
The 1981 Draft: Yomiuri Picked Tadaaki Yoshimura After He Chose College - The Same Playbook Four Years Before Kuwata
At the 1981 draft Yomiuri took PL Gakuen captain Tadaaki Yoshimura in the third round although he had announced he would attend Hosei University, and after direct talks he signed. Using the scout's own testimony and contemporary reports, this article traces why Yomiuri made the pick, how the talks went, why it was the same pattern as Masumi Kuwata four years later, and how the 2004 pro declaration form shut that pattern down.
Data Anatomy of Yomiuri vs. Tigers - 90 Years of Traditional Rivalry in Numbers
Tracing the story of data anatomy of Yomiuri vs. Tigers - 90 years of traditional rivalry in numbers, from complete head-to-head record to the rivalry's future.
The Founding History of the Hanshin Tigers - A Story Beginning as the Osaka Tigers
Tracing the story of the founding history of the hanshin tigers - a story beginning as the osaka tigers, from the birth of the osaka tigers and hanshin railw..
What is 'Jampire' - The Truth Behind Pro-Yomiuri Umpiring Bias and Officiating Fairness
Jampire is a fan-coined term referring to umpires perceived as making calls favoring the Yomiuri Giants. This article examines the origins of the term, specific controversial calls, structural issues surrounding umpire fairness, and changes following the introduction of replay review.
Masaichi Kaneda's 400 Wins - An Immortal Record and Its Era
A comprehensive look at masaichi kaneda's 400 wins - an immortal record and its era, from the lone ace of the kokutetsu swallows to kaneda's character and im..
The Legacy of the Kintetsu Buffaloes - What a Dissolved Franchise Left Behind
An examination of the history and legacy of the Kintetsu Buffaloes, dissolved in 2004. This article analyzes the golden era of the Fighting Bulls, their role in the baseball restructuring crisis, and the cultural significance of a team still remembered today.
Shigeru Kobayashi - The Tragic Ace's Fighting Spirit from Yomiuri to Hanshin
A detailed exploration of shigeru kobayashi - the tragic ace's fighting spirit from Yomiuri to Hanshin, spanning the egawa incident and shocking trade to prem..
Kazuhiro Kiyohara's Monster Legend - From PL Gakuen to Seibu, 525 Career Home Runs
Kazuhiro Kiyohara, the 'Bancho' who hit 525 career home runs after his tearful 1985 draft, and the tragic fall that followed his playing career.
Nabetsune Reign - How the Yomiuri Owner Controlled NPB
Tsuneo Watanabe, chairman of the Yomiuri Group, wielded unprecedented power over NPB through media dominance and political maneuvering.
Nagashima Memorial Game - Tigers Dominate Yomiuri in Tribute Match
The Nagashima memorial game on August 16, 2025 at Tokyo Dome saw the Hanshin Tigers dominate the Yomiuri with Shota Morishita's 2-run homer and Shouki Murakami's shutout.
The Birth and Evolution of Night Games - How Lighting Transformed Japanese Baseball
From Japan's first night game in 1948 through television synergy, salaryman culture, the dome era, and LED lighting revolution, tracing the complete history of NPB's night game culture.
Nippon-Ham's Hokkaido Relocation - A Model for Regional Team Success
An examination of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters' relocation to Hokkaido and its success. This article analyzes the struggles of the Tokyo Dome era, the community-focused strategy at Sapporo Dome, and the new challenge of ES CON FIELD HOKKAIDO.
The 1936 NPB Inaugural Season - The Birth of Japanese Professional Baseball
Examining the inaugural year of the Japanese Professional Baseball League, which launched with seven teams including the Yomiuri, Tigers, and Dragons, playing a two-season spring-autumn format.
NPB Traditional Rivalries - From Hanshin-Yomiuri to Nippon-Ham vs SoftBank
NPB's interleague play since 2005: the Pacific League's sustained winning record, DH rule impact, and what the data reveals about the Central-Pacific talent gap.
The Politics of Retired Numbers - Criteria for Retiring Numbers and Team Considerations
NPB has 24 retired numbers as of 2024. Yet many players with worthy achievements never had their numbers retired. This article analyzes differences in team policies, the practice of 'quasi-retired numbers,' and political maneuvering around jersey numbers.
Geography-Born Rivalries - NPB's Regional Conflict Structure
Tracing the story of geography-born rivalries - npb's regional conflict structure, from the traditional rivalry - Yomiuri vs. Tigers to the future of rivalries.
NPB Salary Evolution - Historical Trends in Player Compensation
Tracing NPB player salaries from 150-yen monthly pay in 1936 to Yoshinobu Yamamoto's 650-million-yen deal in 2023, analyzing the impact of free agency, the posting system, and broadcasting revenue.
Behind Trade Negotiations - GMs Reveal the Reality of Deal-Making
Reveals the reality of NPB trade negotiations based on testimonies from former GMs and front office staff, covering the process from initiation to completion, player evaluation criteria, and famous deals that fell through.
Koji Uehara's Weed Spirit - From Yomiuri Pitcher to World Series-Winning Closer
Koji Uehara's transformation from Yomiuri pitcher to Red Sox closer, capped by the 2013 ALCS MVP and closing out the World Series at age 38.
Professional Baseball in Wartime Japan - The Relationship Between War and Baseball
An examination of the hardships and survival of Japanese professional baseball during the Pacific War. This article traces the impact of militarism, player conscription, team name changes, and the efforts to preserve baseball amid wartime.
The Golden Age of Radio Baseball Broadcasting - Audio Media and NPB
An analysis of the role radio baseball broadcasting played in NPB's development. This article examines how audio media shaped baseball fan culture from the golden age before television to modern internet streaming.
The Seibu Lions Golden Era - Dominance in the 1980s and 1990s
An in-depth analysis of the seibu lions golden era - dominance in the 1980s and 1990s, exploring the tokorozawa relocation and the dawn of the golden era and..
Spring Training Evolution - The Development of Camp Culture in NPB
An in-depth analysis of spring training evolution - the development of camp culture in npb, exploring postwar recovery era camps - a tentative beginning and ..
The History of Baseball Exchange with Taiwan - The Baseball Bond Connecting Japan and Taiwan
An analysis of the history of baseball exchange between Japan and Taiwan. Examines the spread of baseball beginning in the Japanese colonial era, the relationship between the CPBL and NPB, the achievements of Taiwanese players in NPB, and the cultural bond between Japan and Taiwan forged through baseball.
Shosei Togo's No-Hitter - The Controversy Born from Official Scoring Decisions
An examination of Shosei Togo's no-hitter against the Hanshin Tigers at Koshien Stadium on May 24, 2024.
The Yakult Swallows' Underdog Story - A Weak Team's History of Defiance
An analysis of the Yakult Swallows' history through the lens of underdog triumphs. This article examines how a perennially weak team, overshadowed by the Yomiuri and Tigers, repeatedly reached the summit through Katsuya Nomura's ID baseball and the fighting spirit of players like Tsutomu Wakamatsu.
The Cultural Phenomenon of 'Shokon Komete' - The Anti-Giants Parody Anthem Embraced by 11 Teams
An analysis of how 'Shokon Komete,' a parody of the Yomiuri Giants' anthem 'Toukon Komete,' became a shared cultural phenomenon among fans of all 11 non-Giants NPB teams.
NPB Attendance History - The 26 Million Era
Examining npb attendance history - the 26 million era in depth, covering early attendance through covid and recovery.
Broadcasting Rights Evolution - From Terrestrial TV Golden Age to Digital Streaming
NPB broadcasting rights evolved from the golden age of consistently high-rated Yomiuri terrestrial broadcasts through CS/BS to DAZN and Pacific League TV digital streaming.
The Karakuri Dome Mystery - Is Tokyo Dome Really a Home Run Haven?
Tokyo Dome has been mockingly called 'Karakuri Dome' (Trick Dome) and criticized as a home run-friendly park that favors the Yomiuri.
NPB's Under-the-Table Money Culture - The Full Picture of Illicit Payments to Draft Prospects
Behind NPB's draft system, the problem of teams making illicit payments to amateur players and their associates has repeatedly surfaced.
Masataka Yoshida the Small Giant - From Orix Three-Peat Slugger to MLB
Revisiting Orix three-peat slugger Masataka Yoshida's elite batting and MLB challenge in Boston.
The Dome Run Phenomenon - Examining Tokyo Dome's Home Run Inflation
A comprehensive examination of the 'Dome Run' phenomenon unique to Tokyo Dome, analyzing why home runs are inflated through park factors and physical conditions.
The Chunichi Dragons' Tradition - The Pride of Nagoya Baseball
An examination of the Chunichi Dragons' history and the tradition of Nagoya baseball. This article analyzes the lineage of pitching excellence, the golden era under manager Hiromitsu Ochiai, and the deep bond between the city of Nagoya and its team.
History of the Free Agent System - Liberalization of Player Transfers and Its Impact
An analysis of the history and impact of the free agent system in NPB. This article examines the evolution from its 1993 introduction to the present, the expansion of player rights, and its effects on competitive balance.
Kazuhiro Kiyohara's Drug Arrest - The Fall of a Baseball Superstar
In February 2016, former NPB star Kazuhiro Kiyohara was arrested for stimulant drug possession.
Masumi Kuwata's Off-Field Troubles - Real Estate Failures and Debt
Masumi Kuwata thrilled fans at Koshien alongside Kazuhiro Kiyohara and became the ace of the Yomiuri Giants. However, his real estate investments during the bubble era led to massive debts after the economic collapse.
Baseball Manga and NPB Resonance - From Touch to Ace of Diamond
From Star of the Giants to Ace of Diamond, Japan has produced more baseball manga than any other country. Tracing the genre's evolution and its mutual influence with NPB.