Articles tagged with yokohama

Fifty Years of the Taiyo Whales - A Franchise History from Shimonoseki to Kawasaki to Yokohama

The Taiyo Whales were born in Shimonoseki in 1950 and supported NPB's Central League for 42 years until they were renamed the Yokohama BayStars in 1992, moving their home base across Osaka, Kawasaki, and finally Yokohama. With the fishing conglomerate Taiyo Fisheries as their parent and the distinctive 'Whales' team name, this nomadic franchise's history stands out within NPB. We trace 50 years of the Taiyo Whales through the lens of relocations and reorganizations.

Teams Last updated: 2026-05-22 Estimated reading time: 2 min

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.

Controversies Last updated: 2026-03-20 Estimated reading time: 1 min

Takashi Saito the 40-Year-Old MLB Closer - Late-Blooming Success from Yokohama Across the Pacific

Takashi Saito's remarkable reinvention from Yokohama starter to MLB closer at age 36, posting a 1.07 ERA with the Dodgers in his debut season.

Players Last updated: 2026-02-16 Estimated reading time: 1 min

Takuro Ishii the Craftsman Shortstop - The Unusual Career from Pitcher to Position Player

Revisiting Takuro Ishii's unusual pitcher-to-position-player conversion and 2,432 career hits with Yokohama.

Players Last updated: 2025-12-31 Estimated reading time: 1 min

Hisanori Suzuki's Batting Title - The Hit Machine Who Colored 1998 Yokohama

Revisiting Hisanori Suzuki's batting title and contribution to Yokohama's 1998 championship as the team's offensive symbol.

Players Last updated: 2025-12-07 Estimated reading time: 1 min

Motonobu Tanishige the Cerebral Catcher - NPB Record Holder with 3,021 Career Games

Motonobu Tanishige, the cerebral catcher who holds NPB's all-time games played record at 3,021 across 27 seasons with Yokohama and Chunichi.

Players Last updated: 2025-11-18 Estimated reading time: 1 min

Daisuke Miura the Hama Bancho - Yokohama's 25-Year Franchise Ace

Revisiting Daisuke Miura's 172-win pitching career across 25 Yokohama seasons and his Hama Bancho presence.

Players Last updated: 2025-11-07 Estimated reading time: 1 min

The Transformation of Yokohama DeNA BayStars - How an IT Company Changed Team Management

DeNA's 2011 acquisition of the Yokohama BayStars brought IT-driven marketing that transformed attendance and culminated in the 2024 Japan Series championship.

Teams Last updated: 2025-10-15 Estimated reading time: 2 min