Shunichi Nemoto (根元 俊一, Nemoto Shun'ichi), nicknamed "Nemo", is a former Japanese professional baseball infielder. He…Shunichi Nemoto (根元 俊一, Nemoto Shun'ichi), nicknamed "Nemo", is a former Japanese professional baseball infielder. He was born on July 8, 1983. He is currently playing for the Chiba Lotte Marines of the NPB.
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.
Takashi Toritani (鳥谷 敬, Toritani Takashi; born June 26, 1981) is a Japanese former professional baseball shortstop…Takashi Toritani (鳥谷 敬, Toritani Takashi; born June 26, 1981) is a Japanese former professional baseball shortstop, commentator, critic, and coach. Toritani was one of the most highly coveted position players in years as a senior for Waseda University in 2003. He holds the current NPB record for most consecutive games played without missing an inning as a shortstop, and appeared in every Tigers game for over 13 years from 2005 to May 27, 2018 (1,939 regular season games).
Hisashi Iwakuma (岩隈 久志, Iwakuma Hisashi; born April 12, 1981) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He…Hisashi Iwakuma (岩隈 久志, Iwakuma Hisashi; born April 12, 1981) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes from 2000 to 2004, Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles from 2005 to 2011, and Yomiuri Giants in 2019, and all of his time in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners from 2012 to 2017. Iwakuma retired in 2020 due to lingering shoulder issues that had prevented him from playing that year. Iwakuma made his professional debut with the Buffaloes in 2000. He was named a NPB All-Star in 2003 and 2004, and played in the 2004 Athens Olympics. He joined the Eagles in 2005. As the Eagles' reigning staff ace, Iwakuma won the Eiji Sawamura Award in 2008, and was also a NPB All-Star that year. He appeared in the 2009 World Baseball Classic for Japan. Iwakuma was posted to MLB after the 2010 season, but he failed to come to an agreement with the winning bidder. After the 2011 season, Iwakuma signed with the Mariners. He was an All-Star in 2013, as well as the third-place finisher for the 2013 American League Cy Young Award. On August 12, 2015, Iwakuma became the second Japanese player ever to pitch a no-hitter in MLB (joining Hideo Nomo, who threw two), throwing a three-walk, seven-strikeout 3–0 win over the Baltimore Orioles at Safeco Field. It was also his first MLB complete game and the Mariners' fifth no-hitter in team history.
Hichori Morimoto (Japanese: 森本 稀哲, Korean: 이희철, Hanja: 李稀哲, born January 31, 1981) is a Japanese professional baseball…Hichori Morimoto (Japanese: 森本 稀哲, Korean: 이희철, Hanja: 李稀哲, born January 31, 1981) is a Japanese professional baseball player of Korean descent for the Saitama Seibu Lions. He was the number 4 draft pick for the Fighters in 1999. For years, he was the backup for the most popular player in the league, Tsuyoshi Shinjo. After the 2006 season in which the Fighters won the Japan Series, SHINJO (registered name with capital letters) announced his retirement, in which Morimoto then took over SHINJO's center field spot, and also his number 1 (Morimoto had worn number 46 when SHINJO was playing). Morimoto has alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease that causes loss of body hair.
Eiichi Koyano (小谷野 栄一, Koyano Eīchi; born October 10, 1980) is a Japanese former professional baseball player…Eiichi Koyano (小谷野 栄一, Koyano Eīchi; born October 10, 1980) is a Japanese former professional baseball player (infielder) and currently the hitting coach for the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He is a native of Edogawa, Tokyo, Japan. Koyano is considered a member of the Matsuzaka Generation.
Kenji Yano (矢野 謙次, born September 21, 1980) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder. He played for the…Kenji Yano (矢野 謙次, born September 21, 1980) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder. He played for the Yomiuri Giants and the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. After his retirement in 2018, Yano was sent to the Texas Rangers for a year to train to be a coach. For the 2020 season, Yano will return to Japan as the Fighters' outfield coach and assistant hitting coach.
Takashi Sasagawa (笹川 隆, Sasagawa Takashi; born November 8, 1979) is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder…Takashi Sasagawa (笹川 隆, Sasagawa Takashi; born November 8, 1979) is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder, catcher, and current fourth squad infield defense and base running coach for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He played in NPB for the Hawks, and in the Chinese Professional Baseball League for the Chinatrust Whales.
Masashi Date (伊達 昌司, Date Masashi; born 23 August 1975) is a former baseball player for Japan. He initially played for…Masashi Date (伊達 昌司, Date Masashi; born 23 August 1975) is a former baseball player for Japan. He initially played for the Hanshin Tigers in the Central League.
Hisanori Takahashi (高橋 尚成, Takahashi Hisanori; born April 2, 1975) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher.…Hisanori Takahashi (高橋 尚成, Takahashi Hisanori; born April 2, 1975) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He began his professional career in NPB with the Yomiuri Giants, and played in Major League Baseball for the New York Mets, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Chicago Cubs.
Tadahito Iguchi (井口 資仁, Iguchi Tadahito; born December 4, 1974), nicknamed "Gucci", is a Japanese professional baseball…Tadahito Iguchi (井口 資仁, Iguchi Tadahito; born December 4, 1974), nicknamed "Gucci", is a Japanese professional baseball second baseman and former manager of the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). As a member of the Chicago White Sox in 2005, Iguchi became the first fully Japanese position player to win the World Series, and the second Japanese-born position player to win the World Series behind Dave Roberts.
Kokichi Akune (阿久根 鋼吉, Akune Kokichi; born June 22, 1974) is a retired Nippon Professional Baseball infielder with the…Kokichi Akune (阿久根 鋼吉, Akune Kokichi; born June 22, 1974) is a retired Nippon Professional Baseball infielder with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.
Koichi Misawa (三澤 興一, Misawa Koichi; born June 8, 1974) is a Japanese baseball pitcher who won a silver medal in the…Koichi Misawa (三澤 興一, Misawa Koichi; born June 8, 1974) is a Japanese baseball pitcher who won a silver medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics. He also played for the Yomiuri Giants, Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes, and the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in Nippon Professional Baseball from 1997 to 2005. In 2008, he came to the United States to play in the independent Northern League with the Gary SouthShore RailCats. He posted a 1.69 earned run average in 42.2 innings pitched. Gary manager Greg Tagert later told the Chicago Tribune that Misawa "was the absolute best I’ve ever seen coming out the bullpen at our level." During the winter, Misawa played for the Caribes de Anzoátegui in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League and pitched two thirds of an inning for the Leones del Escogido of the Dominican Professional Baseball League. In 2009, he played his final professional season with the Long Beach Armada of the Golden Baseball League.
Taisei Takagi (髙木 大成, Takagi Taisei; born December 7, 1973 in Hachiōji, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon…Taisei Takagi (髙木 大成, Takagi Taisei; born December 7, 1973 in Hachiōji, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball catcher/infielder/outfielder.
Takayuki Shimizu (清水 隆行, Shimizu Takayuki; born October 23, 1973, in Tokyo, Japan) is a former professional baseball…Takayuki Shimizu (清水 隆行, Shimizu Takayuki; born October 23, 1973, in Tokyo, Japan) is a former professional baseball outfielder for Nippon Professional Baseball. He was the Number 3 draft pick by the Yomiuri Giants in 1996 and played for them until 2008. After retiring as a player, he was a Giants coach.
Masataka Endoh (遠藤 政隆, Endō Masataka) is a former professional baseball player in Japan. He played for the Chunichi…Masataka Endoh (遠藤 政隆, Endō Masataka) is a former professional baseball player in Japan. He played for the Chunichi Dragons in the Japan Central League He was born in Tokyo, Japan.
Yasuyuki Saigo (西郷 泰之, Saigō Yasuyuki) (born August 30, 1972) is a Japanese former baseball outfielder who won a silver…Yasuyuki Saigo (西郷 泰之, Saigō Yasuyuki) (born August 30, 1972) is a Japanese former baseball outfielder who won a silver medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Akira Eto (江藤 智, Etō Akira; born April 15, 1970) is a Japanese former professional baseball third baseman in Nippon…Akira Eto (江藤 智, Etō Akira; born April 15, 1970) is a Japanese former professional baseball third baseman in Nippon Professional Baseball. He played for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp from 1990 to 1999, Yomiuri Giants from 2000 to 2005 and the Seibu Lions / Saitama Seibu Lions from 2006 to 2009.
Koichi Sekikawa (関川 浩一, Sekikawa Kōichi; born April 1, 1969) is a Japanese former professional baseball catcher…Koichi Sekikawa (関川 浩一, Sekikawa Kōichi; born April 1, 1969) is a Japanese former professional baseball catcher, outfielder, and current field player coordinator for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He previously played for the Hanshin Tigers, the Chunichi Dragons, and the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.
Masao Kida (木田 優夫, Kida Masao; born September 12, 1968) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played…Masao Kida (木田 優夫, Kida Masao; born September 12, 1968) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1999–2000, and 2003–2005. He is currently the manager for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters farm team in Nippon Professional Baseball's Eastern League.
Kosaku Akimoto (秋元 宏作, Akimoto Kōsaku; born January 29, 1968) is a retired Nippon Professional Baseball catcher. He…Kosaku Akimoto (秋元 宏作, Akimoto Kōsaku; born January 29, 1968) is a retired Nippon Professional Baseball catcher. He used to play for the Yokohama BayStars.
Yusuke Kawada (河田 雄祐, Kawada Yusuke; born December 22, 1967 in Nerima, Tokyo, Japan) is a former Japanese Nippon…Yusuke Kawada (河田 雄祐, Kawada Yusuke; born December 22, 1967 in Nerima, Tokyo, Japan) is a former Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player.
Takayuki Takabayashi (高林 孝行, Takabayashi Takayuki; born September 12, 1972) is a Japanese baseball outfielder who won a…Takayuki Takabayashi (高林 孝行, Takabayashi Takayuki; born September 12, 1972) is a Japanese baseball outfielder who won a silver medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Yasuhiro Sato (佐藤 康弘, Satō Yasuhiro; born July 25, 1967) is a Japanese baseball player. Born in Tochigi, he won a…Yasuhiro Sato (佐藤 康弘, Satō Yasuhiro; born July 25, 1967) is a Japanese baseball player. Born in Tochigi, he won a bronze medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Koichi Oshima (大島 公一, Oshima Koichi; born June 17, 1967) is a retired Japanese professional baseball player from…Koichi Oshima (大島 公一, Oshima Koichi; born June 17, 1967) is a retired Japanese professional baseball player from Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan. He played for the Kintetsu Buffaloes, Orix Buffaloes, and Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles during his professional career, and currently works as a minor league hitting coach for the Orix Buffaloes. Oshima was a valuable switch hitter and a solid fielder, winning three Japanese golden glove awards at second base, and two Best Nine awards. He dismissed an offer to work as a coach when the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes and Orix BlueWave merged, and played a season with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles before becoming a coach for the Orix Buffaloes in 2006. He won a bronze medal in the 1992 Summer Olympics before entering the Japanese professional leagues.
Kazuhiro Takeda (武田 一浩, Takeda Kazuhiro; born June 22, 1965) is a Japanese former professional baseball player. He…Kazuhiro Takeda (武田 一浩, Takeda Kazuhiro; born June 22, 1965) is a Japanese former professional baseball player. He played the first half of his career for the Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He was also the pitching coach for the Japan national baseball team at the 2006 World Baseball Classic.
Daisuke Araki (荒木 大輔, Araki Daisuke; born May 6, 1964) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. He is known…Daisuke Araki (荒木 大輔, Araki Daisuke; born May 6, 1964) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. He is known for being the namesake of former Major League Baseball pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka.
Kazuto Nonaka (Japanese: 野中寿人, born June 6, 1961) is a Japanese baseball coach and promoter. He has managed the…Kazuto Nonaka (Japanese: 野中寿人, born June 6, 1961) is a Japanese baseball coach and promoter. He has managed the Indonesia national baseball team and is currently the manager of the Pakistan national baseball team, which he skippered at the 2025 Asian Baseball Championship. Nonaka played with Third Junior & Senior High School of Nihon University as a catcher at the 1979 Summer Koshien tournament. Despite offers from professional baseball teams, he chose to attend university. Despite wishing to attend Meiji University, he was pressured to enroll at Nihon University. He dropped out six months later. He worked outside of baseball in Japan and the Philippines before moving to Indonesia in 2001, where he ran a tourism business. Nonaka began coaching youth baseball in Bali, and his work eventually earned him appointment as the manager of the Indonesian national baseball team. He steered Indonesia at the 2009 Asian Baseball Championship, its first appearance at the top level of baseball competition in Asia. He managed the Sri Lanka national baseball team at the 2019 West Asia Baseball Cup, winning the gold, and the 2023 West Asia Baseball Cup. He also coached Sri Lanka to a semifinals berth at the Baseball United Arab Classic, held in Dubai in 2024. Nonaka helped found the Saga Asian Dreams, a minor league team playing in Japan's Kyushu Asia League. His vision for the team was to sign emerging talents from Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, and other Asian countries where baseball is a developing sport. In July 2025, Pakistan Federation Baseball announced that it had hired Nonaka as manager for the Pakistan at the 2025 Asian Baseball Championship. Nonaka's experience with Saga Asian Dreams, and its two Pakistani pitchers, Faisal Hayat and Musharaf Khan, was cited as a factor in the appointment.
Hideki Kuriyama (栗山 英樹, Kuriyama Hideki; born April 26, 1961) is a Japanese former baseball manager and player. He…Hideki Kuriyama (栗山 英樹, Kuriyama Hideki; born April 26, 1961) is a Japanese former baseball manager and player. He managed the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball for ten seasons from 2012 to 2021, leading them to a Japan Series title in 2016. Kuriyama also managed for the Samurai Japan at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, leading the national team to its third Classic title and the first since 2009. Kuriyama also planned to be a teacher at Tokyo Gakugei University, but pursued a career in baseball instead, signing with the Yakult Swallows. His career came to a short end after an injury in 1990, and like other short careered baseball players, he pursued a career within sports media. He is also well known as the mentor of the two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, who was drafted by the Fighters despite him wanting to pursue an MLB career instead. Kuriyama retired from management following the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Kazunori "Toshio" Shinozuka (篠塚 和典, Shinozuka Kazunori; born July 16, 1957) is a former professional Japanese baseball…Kazunori "Toshio" Shinozuka (篠塚 和典, Shinozuka Kazunori; born July 16, 1957) is a former professional Japanese baseball player. As a boy, Ichiro Suzuki learned to pattern his original swinging pendulum leg kick after Shinozuka's.
Hisao Niura, also known as Kim Il-young (Korean: 김일융; born May 11, 1951), is a Japanese former professional baseball…Hisao Niura, also known as Kim Il-young (Korean: 김일융; born May 11, 1951), is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher who played Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan and KBO League baseball in South Korea. Over a 22-season career, he was a five-time champion, four times with the Yomiuri Giants and once with the Samsung Lions. He was a two-time ERA champion of Japan's Central League. A workhorse during much of his career, he had success as both a starter and a reliever. Although born in Japan, Niura is of Korean descent, part of the Zainichi community.
Kōichi Tabuchi (田淵 幸一, Tabuchi Kōichi; born September 24, 1946) is a Japanese former professional baseball player…Kōichi Tabuchi (田淵 幸一, Tabuchi Kōichi; born September 24, 1946) is a Japanese former professional baseball player, manager, and commentator. During his career, Tabuchi played for the Hanshin Tigers and the Seibu Lions. Tabuchi played catcher for the Hanshin Tigers from 1969 and 1978, where his combination with pitcher Yutaka Enatsu was called the "Golden Battery". Always a long-range hitter, Tabuchi was nicknamed home run artist because of the high-in-the-sky, long trajectory of his home runs. Although his career total of 474 home runs is far below Sadaharu Oh's 868, his frequency nearly matched Oh's. Tabuchi hit a home run once every 12.41 at-bats, while Oh did once every 10.66. In this statistic he is second only to Oh among sluggers who have logged 300 or more home runs. Known as Mr. Tiger (along with Fumio Fujimura, Minoru Murayama, and Masayuki Kakefu), Tabuchi has served as the chairman of Hanshin Tigers Old Boys' Committee since November 2009.
Sadaharu Oh (Japanese: 王貞治, Ō Sadaharu; born May 20, 1940), also known as Wang Chen-chih (simplified Chinese: 王贞治…Sadaharu Oh (Japanese: 王貞治, Ō Sadaharu; born May 20, 1940), also known as Wang Chen-chih (simplified Chinese: 王贞治; traditional Chinese: 王貞治; pinyin: Wáng Zhēnzhì), is a Chinese-Japanese former professional baseball player and manager who is currently the chairman of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Oh played for 22 consecutive seasons, all of them for the Yomiuri Giants. He holds the world career home run record at 868, over 100 more than MLB record holder Barry Bonds. Oh batted and threw left-handed and primarily played first base. Originally signed with the powerhouse Giants in 1959 as a pitcher, Oh was soon converted to a full-time hitter. Under the tutelage of coach Hiroshi Arakawa, Oh developed his distinctive "flamingo" leg kick. It took Oh three years to blossom, but he went on to dominate Nippon Professional Baseball. He was a 15-time home run champion and was named to the Central League All-Star team 18 times. More than just a power hitter, Oh was a five-time batting champion and won the Japanese Central League's batting triple crown twice. With Oh at first base, the Yomiuri Giants won 11 Japan Series championships, including 9 in a row from 1965 to 1973. Oh was named the Central League's Most Valuable Player nine times, including having the rare honor of winning Central League MVP while not on the team that won the season's pennant, which he did twice, in 1964 by virtue of breaking NPB's single season home run record with 55 home runs, a record that would stand until 2013 when Wladimir Balentien set a new record with 60 home runs that season, and 1974, when he earned his second batting Triple Crown in a row. Oh and Balentien are the only Central League players to win the Central League MVP while not on the pennant winning team the years that they won MVP. In addition to the world career home run record, Oh set many other NPB batting records, including runs batted in (RBI) (2,170), slugging percentage (.634), bases on balls (2,390), and on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) (1.080). In 1977, Oh became the first recipient of the People's Honour Award, and he became the second baseball player to receive the Order of Culture in 2025. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1994. After retiring as a player, Oh served as the Giants' manager from 1984 to 1988. He also managed the Fukuoka Daiei/Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks from 1995 to 2008. He was the manager of the Japanese national team in the inaugural World Baseball Classic, which defeated Cuba for the championship. He is currently the chairman of the Hawks.
Kihachi Enomoto (榎本 喜八 Enomoto Kihachi, December 5, 1936 – March 14, 2012) was a Japanese former Nippon Professional…Kihachi Enomoto (榎本 喜八 Enomoto Kihachi, December 5, 1936 – March 14, 2012) was a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball first baseman. He batted and threw left-handed. Enomoto was a 12-time All-Star, a 9-time Best Nine Award winner, and a Rookie of the Year winner, he was awarded all of these while under the Mainichi/Daimai/Tokyo/Lotte Orions. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016.
Shigeru Sugishita (杉下 茂, Sugishita Shigeru; September 17, 1925 – June 12, 2023) was a Japanese professional baseball…Shigeru Sugishita (杉下 茂, Sugishita Shigeru; September 17, 1925 – June 12, 2023) was a Japanese professional baseball pitcher and coach. Renowned for his forkball, Sugishita dominated the Central League from 1950–1955, winning more than 30 games twice (winning at least 23 games each season), and garnering three Eiji Sawamura Awards. Sugishita usually split his time between starting games and pitching in relief. He played 11 seasons, ten of them for the Chunichi/Nagoya Dragons.
Saburo Yokozawa (横沢 三郎, Yokozawa Saburō) (1904–1995) is a Japanese former professional baseball manager and umpire. He…Saburo Yokozawa (横沢 三郎, Yokozawa Saburō) (1904–1995) is a Japanese former professional baseball manager and umpire. He was involved in various iterations of Japanese professional baseball from 1929 through 1959.
Shinobu Ando (安藤 忍, Andō Shinobu; 1895 – December 8, 1970) was a Japanese professional baseball manager. He managed the…Shinobu Ando (安藤 忍, Andō Shinobu; 1895 – December 8, 1970) was a Japanese professional baseball manager. He managed the Tokyu Flyers in the Japan Pacific League.
Kazuhito Tadano (多田野 数人, Tadano Kazuhito; born April 25, 1980) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He…Kazuhito Tadano (多田野 数人, Tadano Kazuhito; born April 25, 1980) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. He is currently the pitching coach for the Fighters' farm team in the Eastern League.
Yuji Yoshioka (吉岡 雄二, Yoshioka Yuji; born July 29, 1971) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball infielder and the…Yuji Yoshioka (吉岡 雄二, Yoshioka Yuji; born July 29, 1971) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball infielder and the current coach of the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.。