Kan Otake (大竹 寛, Ōtake Kan; born May 21, 1983) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Nippon…Kan Otake (大竹 寛, Ōtake Kan; born May 21, 1983) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for 19 seasons for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp and Yomiuri Giants.
Nobuhiro Matsuda (松田 宣浩, Matsuda Nobuhiro; born May 17, 1983) is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder. He…Nobuhiro Matsuda (松田 宣浩, Matsuda Nobuhiro; born May 17, 1983) is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and Yomiuri Giants.
Yusuke Kosai (小斉 祐輔, born April 30, 1983, in Matsubara, Osaka) is a Japanese professional baseball infielder for the…Yusuke Kosai (小斉 祐輔, born April 30, 1983, in Matsubara, Osaka) is a Japanese professional baseball infielder for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.
Yasushi Iihara (飯原 誉士, Iihara Yasushi; born April 26, 1983 in Oyama, Tochigi, Japan) is a professional Japanese…Yasushi Iihara (飯原 誉士, Iihara Yasushi; born April 26, 1983 in Oyama, Tochigi, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays outfielder for the Tochigi Golden Braves of Baseball Challenge League.
Takuya Fukata (深田 拓也, Fukata Takuya; born April 23, 1983 in Suruga-ku, Shizuoka, Japan) is a former Japanese Nippon…Takuya Fukata (深田 拓也, Fukata Takuya; born April 23, 1983 in Suruga-ku, Shizuoka, Japan) is a former Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. He played for the Yomiuri Giants in 2007 and 2009.
Yuji Onizaki (鬼﨑 裕司, born April 7, 1983, in Saga, Saga) is a Japanese professional baseball infielder for the Saitama…Yuji Onizaki (鬼﨑 裕司, born April 7, 1983, in Saga, Saga) is a Japanese professional baseball infielder for the Saitama Seibu Lions in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.
Tatsuya Shiokawa (塩川 達也, Shiokawa Tatsuya; born March 15, 1983 in Kobe, Japan) is a former Japanese Nippon Professional…Tatsuya Shiokawa (塩川 達也, Shiokawa Tatsuya; born March 15, 1983 in Kobe, Japan) is a former Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player. He is currently a coach for Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in Japan's Pacific League.
Yasuyuki Kataoka (片岡 保幸, Kataoka Yasuyuki; born February 17, 1983 in Hanamigawa-ku, Chiba, Japan) is a Japanese former…Yasuyuki Kataoka (片岡 保幸, Kataoka Yasuyuki; born February 17, 1983 in Hanamigawa-ku, Chiba, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball player. He played for the Seibu Lions in Japan’s Pacific League and the Yomiuri Giants in the Central League. His wife is Japanese talent artist Becky. On 17 March 2020 the couple announced the birth of their first child, and their second child was born on 20 August 2021.
Takeshi Aono (青野 毅, born January 12, 1983, in Bonotsu, Kagoshima) is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder…Takeshi Aono (青野 毅, born January 12, 1983, in Bonotsu, Kagoshima) is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder for the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He played in 2002, and from 2006 to 2007 and from 2010 to 2012.
Yoshihiro Suzuki (鈴木 義広, born January 5, 1983, in Mannō, Kagawa Prefecture) is a Japanese retired professional baseball…Yoshihiro Suzuki (鈴木 義広, born January 5, 1983, in Mannō, Kagawa Prefecture) is a Japanese retired professional baseball pitcher. He played for the Chunichi Dragons in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball for the entirety of his career. Since 2015, he has been employed as the Dragons scorer.
Teppei Tsuchiya (土谷 鉄平, born December 27, 1982, in Ōita, Ōita) also known as Teppei (鉄平) is a Japanese professional…Teppei Tsuchiya (土谷 鉄平, born December 27, 1982, in Ōita, Ōita) also known as Teppei (鉄平) is a Japanese professional baseball infielder. Teppei announced his retirement on January 26, 2016.
Keisuke Kanoh (狩野 恵輔, Kanoh Keisuke; born December 17, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder. He…Keisuke Kanoh (狩野 恵輔, Kanoh Keisuke; born December 17, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hanshin Tigers from 2004 to 2017.
Motoki Higa (比嘉 幹貴, Higa Motoki; born December 7, 1982) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Orix…Motoki Higa (比嘉 幹貴, Higa Motoki; born December 7, 1982) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Takehiko Oshimoto (押本 健彦, Oshimoto Takehiko; born October 28, 1982 in Nagareyama, Chiba, Japan) is a former…Takehiko Oshimoto (押本 健彦, Oshimoto Takehiko; born October 28, 1982 in Nagareyama, Chiba, Japan) is a former professional Japanese baseball player.
Kazuhiro Hatakeyama (畠山 和洋, Hatakeyama Kazuhiro; born September 13, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball…Kazuhiro Hatakeyama (畠山 和洋, Hatakeyama Kazuhiro; born September 13, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder and current hitting coach for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He played in NPB for the Swallows from 2001 to 2019. Hatakeyama was the 2015 Central League leader in runs batted in, with 105. His retirement ceremony was conducted on September 21, 2019.
Yasutaka Hattori (服部 泰卓, born September 10, 1982, in Mima, Tokushima) is a former Japanese professional baseball…Yasutaka Hattori (服部 泰卓, born September 10, 1982, in Mima, Tokushima) is a former Japanese professional baseball pitcher. He played with the Chiba Lotte Marines from 2010 to 2011 and from 2013 to 2014.
Masato Akamatsu (赤松 真人, Akamatsu Masato; born September 6, 1982, in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto City) is a Nippon Professional…Masato Akamatsu (赤松 真人, Akamatsu Masato; born September 6, 1982, in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto City) is a Nippon Professional Baseball player. He is currently with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. In August 2010, Masato made sports headlines by denying batter Shuichi Murata a home run with what sportswriters dubbed the "Spider-Man Catch," rapidly scaling the outfield fence before snaring the ball in midleap. He won the Gold Glove that same year.
Katsuki Yamazaki (山崎 勝己, born August 16, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball catcher. He has played in…Katsuki Yamazaki (山崎 勝己, born August 16, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball catcher. He has played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks / Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and Orix Buffaloes.
Hiroyuki Nakajima (中島 裕之, Nakajima Hiroyuki; born July 31, 1982), nicknamed "Nakaji", is a Japanese professional…Hiroyuki Nakajima (中島 裕之, Nakajima Hiroyuki; born July 31, 1982), nicknamed "Nakaji", is a Japanese professional baseball infielder for the Mid East Falcons of Baseball United. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Saitama Seibu Lions, Orix Buffaloes, Yomiuri Giants, and Chunichi Dragons. Nakajima played for the Japanese national team in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2009 World Baseball Classic. After the 2011 season, the Lions posted Nakajima to Major League Baseball, but Nakajima failed to reach an agreement with the New York Yankees. After the 2012 season, he signed a two-year contract with the Athletics. After spending two years in Minor League Baseball, Nakajima returned to Japan with Buffaloes in 2015. He played for them through 2018, before joining the Giants.
Yoshiyuki Kamei (亀井 善行, Kamei Yoshiyuki; born July 28, 1982 in Yamatokōriyama, Nara, Japan) is a Japanese professional…Yoshiyuki Kamei (亀井 善行, Kamei Yoshiyuki; born July 28, 1982 in Yamatokōriyama, Nara, Japan) is a Japanese professional baseball player for the Yomiuri Giants in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He was selected Japan national baseball team at the 2009 World Baseball Classic. During a brief stint in the 2010–11 Australian Baseball League season he played for the Melbourne Aces and although he did not qualify for any statistical leaders, he has the highest single season slugging (.859) and OPS (1.359) for any player with more than 50 at-bats (64). On November 16, 2018, he was selected Yomiuri Giants roster at the 2018 MLB Japan All-Star Series exhibition game against MLB All-Stars.
Ryota Katsuki (香月 良太, Katsuki Ryota; born July 27, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played…Ryota Katsuki (香月 良太, Katsuki Ryota; born July 27, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes in 2004, the Orix Buffaloes from 2005 to 2012, and the Yomiuri Giants from 2013 to 2016.
Yasuhiro Ichiba (一場 靖弘, Ichiba Yasuhiro; born July 5, 1982 in Agatsuma, Gunma, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon…Yasuhiro Ichiba (一場 靖弘, Ichiba Yasuhiro; born July 5, 1982 in Agatsuma, Gunma, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher.
Kazuya Fujita (藤田 一也, born July 3, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball player. He previously played in…Kazuya Fujita (藤田 一也, born July 3, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball player. He previously played in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles and the Yokohama DeNA BayStars.
Kazumasa Kikuchi (菊地 和正, Kikuchi Kazumasa; born June 27, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He…Kazumasa Kikuchi (菊地 和正, Kikuchi Kazumasa; born June 27, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Yokohama DeNA BayStars.
Masashi Chikazawa (近澤 昌志, Chikazawa Masashi; born June 26, 1982) is a former baseball player from Japan. Chikazawa…Masashi Chikazawa (近澤 昌志, Chikazawa Masashi; born June 26, 1982) is a former baseball player from Japan. Chikazawa played in the Japan Pacific League for the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes. He later played for Reno.
Shoitsu Omatsu (大松 尚逸, born June 16, 1982, in Kanazawa, Ishikawa) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder…Shoitsu Omatsu (大松 尚逸, born June 16, 1982, in Kanazawa, Ishikawa) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He played with the Chiba Lotte Marines from 2005 to 2015 and with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in 2017. He has been a coach since 2020.
Kenichi Matsuoka (松岡 健一, Matsuoka Ken'ichi; born June 7, 1982) is a professional Japanese baseball player and coach. He…Kenichi Matsuoka (松岡 健一, Matsuoka Ken'ichi; born June 7, 1982) is a professional Japanese baseball player and coach. He pitched for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows from 2005 through 2018, and has been a pitching coach for the Swallows since the 2019 season. Matsuoka played the one season with the Waikiki BeachBoys of the now defunct Hawaii Winter Baseball league, an MLB off-season developmental league that sought to develop Japanese players much like the Arizona Fall League. Matsuoka was picked up by the Swallows in 2005 as a pre-round draft pick from Kyushu Tokai University.
Akihisa Makida (牧田 明久, born June 3, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder and currently second…Akihisa Makida (牧田 明久, born June 3, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder and currently second squad coach for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He played for the Golden Eagles from 2005 to 2007 and from 2009 to 2016. On October 14, 2019, Makita become second squad fielding coach for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of NPB.
Yoshihiro Ito (伊藤 義弘, Ito Yoshihiro; June 2, 1982 – October 6, 2025) was a Japanese professional baseball pitcher. He…Yoshihiro Ito (伊藤 義弘, Ito Yoshihiro; June 2, 1982 – October 6, 2025) was a Japanese professional baseball pitcher. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) from 2008 to 2015 for the Chiba Lotte Marines.
Tadashi Settsu (攝津 正, Settsu Tadashi; born 1 June 1982 in Sendai, Miyagi) is a Japanese baseball player. He has been…Tadashi Settsu (攝津 正, Settsu Tadashi; born 1 June 1982 in Sendai, Miyagi) is a Japanese baseball player. He has been with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks since 2009, and plays as pitcher, wearing number 50. In 2009, he was voted Most Valuable Rookie. The next year, he became the first pitcher ever to make 70 or more appearances in his first two seasons in the league. He won the 2012 Sawamura Award with a record of 17-5 and a 1.91 ERA, with 153 strikeouts in 193+1⁄3 innings, and 3 complete games with 2 shutouts. Settsu is a 5 ft 11 in, 200 lb right-handed pitcher. With an overhand delivery he throws a fastball that usually sits in 86-88 mph (tops out at 92 mph), curveball, slider, and a solid-average screwball around 80 mph. He also has decent command, posting a walks per nine innings rate of 2.38 in his career (until 2012 season).
Kazumasa Azuma (東 和政, Azuma Kazumasa; born June 1, 1982) is a retired Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher…Kazumasa Azuma (東 和政, Azuma Kazumasa; born June 1, 1982) is a retired Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher with the Saitama Seibu Lions in Japan's Pacific League.
Hiroyasu Tanaka (Japanese:田中 浩康, born May 24, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball player. He was the…Hiroyasu Tanaka (Japanese:田中 浩康, born May 24, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball player. He was the number 1 draft pick for the Yakult Swallows in 2005.
Kenichi Nakata (中田 賢一, born November 5, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher, and current first…Kenichi Nakata (中田 賢一, born November 5, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher, and current first squad pitching coach for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He played in NPB for the Chunichi Dragons, the Hawks, and the Hanshin Tigers.
Takanori Hoshi (星 孝典, Hoshi Takanori; born May 4, 1982) is a former Japanese professional baseball catcher for the…Takanori Hoshi (星 孝典, Hoshi Takanori; born May 4, 1982) is a former Japanese professional baseball catcher for the Yomiuri Giants and Saitama Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball. He was born in Natori, Miyagi, Japan.
Tetsuya Utsumi (内海 哲也, Utsumi Tetsuya; born April 29, 1982 in Kyoto, Japan) is a Japanese professional baseball player…Tetsuya Utsumi (内海 哲也, Utsumi Tetsuya; born April 29, 1982 in Kyoto, Japan) is a Japanese professional baseball player for the Saitama Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball(NPB). He previously played for the Yomiuri Giants.
Tadahiro Ogino (荻野 忠寛, Ogino Tadahiro; born April 26, 1982 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball…Tadahiro Ogino (荻野 忠寛, Ogino Tadahiro; born April 26, 1982 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball with the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan's Pacific League.
Masumi Mishina (三科 真澄, Mishina Masumi) (born 12 March 1982 in Kanagawa) is a Japanese softball player who won the gold…Masumi Mishina (三科 真澄, Mishina Masumi) (born 12 March 1982 in Kanagawa) is a Japanese softball player who won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Shinya Nakayama (中山 慎也, Nakayama Shin'ya; born February 22, 1982 in Gunma, Japan) is a Japanese Nippon Professional…Shinya Nakayama (中山 慎也, Nakayama Shin'ya; born February 22, 1982 in Gunma, Japan) is a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player.
Satoko Mabuchi (馬渕 智子, Mabuchi Satoko; born 17 February 1982) is a Japanese softball player who won the gold medal at…Satoko Mabuchi (馬渕 智子, Mabuchi Satoko; born 17 February 1982) is a Japanese softball player who won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. She plays as an outfielder.
Yusuke Kawasaki (川崎 雄介, Kawasaki Yūsuke) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher. He was born on February 17, 1982…Yusuke Kawasaki (川崎 雄介, Kawasaki Yūsuke) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher. He was born on February 17, 1982, in Miyazaki, Japan. He is currently playing for the Saitama Seibu Lions of the NPB.
Ryo Watanabe (渡辺 亮, Watanabe Ryō; real name: 渡邊 亮, born February 10, 1982, in Naruto, Tokushima, Japan) is a retired…Ryo Watanabe (渡辺 亮, Watanabe Ryō; real name: 渡邊 亮, born February 10, 1982, in Naruto, Tokushima, Japan) is a retired Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher who spent 10 years with the Hanshin Tigers in Japan's Central League.
Tomohito Yoneno (米野 智人, born January 21, 1982, in Sapporo) is a Japanese professional baseball catcher for the Hokkaido…Tomohito Yoneno (米野 智人, born January 21, 1982, in Sapporo) is a Japanese professional baseball catcher for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.
Kenta Kurihara (栗原 健太, Kurihara Kenta; born January 8, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder who…Kenta Kurihara (栗原 健太, Kurihara Kenta; born January 8, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder who played for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp and the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. He was last a batting coach for the Chunichi Dragons. The Carp's main cleanup hitter during the early 2000s, Kurihara blossomed into one of the most feared power threats in the Central League. He played in the 2009 World Baseball Classic as an emergency replacement for Shuichi Murata, who suffered an injury in the second round of the tournament.
Takaya Kawauchi (河内 貴哉, Kawauchi Takaya; born January 6, 1982 in Yawata, Kyoto, Japan) is a professional Japanese…Takaya Kawauchi (河内 貴哉, Kawauchi Takaya; born January 6, 1982 in Yawata, Kyoto, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays pitcher for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
Norichika Aoki (青木 宣親, Aoki Norichika; born January 5, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder. He…Norichika Aoki (青木 宣親, Aoki Norichika; born January 5, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers, Kansas City Royals, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros, Toronto Blue Jays, and New York Mets and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. Aoki is one of only six players, alongside Ichiro Suzuki, Matt Murton, Alex Ramirez, Tsuyoshi Nishioka, and Shogo Akiyama, to amass 200 or more hits in a single season in Japanese professional baseball and the only individual to do so in two separate seasons. He played in the 2006, 2009, and 2017 World Baseball Classics as well as the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Yuichiro Mukae (迎 祐一郎, Mukae Yuichiro; born December 22, 1981 in Nishimatsuura District, Saga, Japan) is a professional…Yuichiro Mukae (迎 祐一郎, Mukae Yuichiro; born December 22, 1981 in Nishimatsuura District, Saga, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays outfielder for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
Takahiro Mahara (馬原 孝浩, Mahara Takahiro; born December 8, 1981) is a Japanese former professional baseball right-handed…Takahiro Mahara (馬原 孝浩, Mahara Takahiro; born December 8, 1981) is a Japanese former professional baseball right-handed pitcher. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks/Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
Shigeki Ushida (牛田 成樹, Ushida Shigeki; born July 7, 1972 in Komatsushima, Tokushima, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon…Shigeki Ushida (牛田 成樹, Ushida Shigeki; born July 7, 1972 in Komatsushima, Tokushima, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher.
Kazuya Takamiya (高宮 和也, born December 4, 1981) is a Japanese professional former baseball pitcher in Japan's Nippon…Kazuya Takamiya (高宮 和也, born December 4, 1981) is a Japanese professional former baseball pitcher in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He played for the Yokohama BayStars from 2006 to 2010, the Orix Buffaloes in 2011 and 2012, and for the Hanshin Tigers from 2013 to 2017.
Takahiro Aoki (青木 高広, Aoki Takahiro; born November 26, 1981 in Gifu, Japan) is a Nippon Professional Baseball player.…Takahiro Aoki (青木 高広, Aoki Takahiro; born November 26, 1981 in Gifu, Japan) is a Nippon Professional Baseball player. He is currently with the Yomiuri Giants of Japan's Central League.