Rui Muneyama (宗山 塁, Muneyama Rui; born February 27, 2003) is a Japanese professional baseball infielder for the Tohoku…Rui Muneyama (宗山 塁, Muneyama Rui; born February 27, 2003) is a Japanese professional baseball infielder for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Junya Nishi (西 純矢, Nishi Junya; born September 13, 2001) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Hanshin…Junya Nishi (西 純矢, Nishi Junya; born September 13, 2001) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Hanshin Tigers in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). His registered name is Jun Nishi (西純, Nishi Jun)
Yūki Okada (岡田 悠希, Okada Yūki; born January 19, 2000) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays outfielder…Yūki Okada (岡田 悠希, Okada Yūki; born January 19, 2000) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays outfielder for the Yomiuri Giants.
Shōsei Nakamura (中村 奨成, Nakamura Shōsei; born July 6, 1999 in Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima, Japan) is a professional Japanese…Shōsei Nakamura (中村 奨成, Nakamura Shōsei; born July 6, 1999 in Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays catcher and outfielder for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
Mizuki Hori (堀 瑞輝, Hori Mizuki; born May 10, 1998 in Kure, Hiroshima, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball…Mizuki Hori (堀 瑞輝, Hori Mizuki; born May 10, 1998 in Kure, Hiroshima, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays pitcher for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.
Taisuke Yamaoka (山岡 泰輔, Yamaoka Taisuke; born September 22, 1995) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the…Taisuke Yamaoka (山岡 泰輔, Yamaoka Taisuke; born September 22, 1995) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Kazuto Taguchi (田口 麗斗, Taguchi Kazuto; born September 14, 1995) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the…Kazuto Taguchi (田口 麗斗, Taguchi Kazuto; born September 14, 1995) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has previously played in NPB for the Yomiuri Giants.
Masashi Yamamoto (山本 雅士, Yamamoto Masashi; born November 3, 1994 in Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan) is a Japanese…Masashi Yamamoto (山本 雅士, Yamamoto Masashi; born November 3, 1994 in Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Kanagawa Future Dreams of the Baseball Challenge League (BCL). He has previously played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Chunichi Dragons.
Koshiro Sakamoto (坂本 光士郎, Sakamoto Koshiro; born September 9, 1994) is a professional Japanese baseball pitcher for the…Koshiro Sakamoto (坂本 光士郎, Sakamoto Koshiro; born September 9, 1994) is a professional Japanese baseball pitcher for the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He previously played in NPB for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.
Seishū Hatake (畠 世周, Hatake Seishū; born May 31, 1994 in Kure, Hiroshima, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball…Seishū Hatake (畠 世周, Hatake Seishū; born May 31, 1994 in Kure, Hiroshima, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays pitcher for the Hanshin Tigers.
Kenta Ishida (石田 健大, Ishida Kenta; born March 1, 1993) is a professional Japanese baseball pitcher for the Yokohama…Kenta Ishida (石田 健大, Ishida Kenta; born March 1, 1993) is a professional Japanese baseball pitcher for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball.
Kohei Arihara (有原 航平, Arihara Kōhei; born August 11, 1992) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Hokkaido…Kohei Arihara (有原 航平, Arihara Kōhei; born August 11, 1992) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers, and in NPB for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
Kazuki Yabuta (薮田 和樹, Yabuta Kazuki; born August 7, 1992) is a professional Japanese baseball pitcher who is a free…Kazuki Yabuta (薮田 和樹, Yabuta Kazuki; born August 7, 1992) is a professional Japanese baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
Naoya Emura (江村 直也, Emura Naoya) is a Japanese professional baseball catcher. He was born on May 6, 1992. He is…Naoya Emura (江村 直也, Emura Naoya) is a Japanese professional baseball catcher. He was born on May 6, 1992. He is currently playing for the Chiba Lotte Marines of the NPB. His elder brother Masaya is also a professional baseball player who last played for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows as a pitcher.
Keisuke Takano (高野 圭佑, born December 28, 1991) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Nippon…Keisuke Takano (高野 圭佑, born December 28, 1991) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Chiba Lotte Marines and Hanshin Tigers, and in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for the CTBC Brothers.
Kōhei Morihara (森原 康平, Morihara Kōhei; born December 26, 1991) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the…Kōhei Morihara (森原 康平, Morihara Kōhei; born December 26, 1991) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has previously played in NPB for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.
Takashi Uemoto (上本 崇司, Uemoto Takashi; born August 22, 1990 in Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan) is a professional Japanese…Takashi Uemoto (上本 崇司, Uemoto Takashi; born August 22, 1990 in Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays infielder for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. His elder brother Hiroki was also a professional baseball player who played for Hanshin Tigers.
Taishi Ohta (大田 泰示, Ohta Taishi; born June 9, 1990) is a Japanese professional baseball outfielder for the Yokohama…Taishi Ohta (大田 泰示, Ohta Taishi; born June 9, 1990) is a Japanese professional baseball outfielder for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.
Yuki Yanagita (柳田 悠岐, Yanagita Yūki; born October 9, 1988 in Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan), nicknamed "Gita (ギータ)" and…Yuki Yanagita (柳田 悠岐, Yanagita Yūki; born October 9, 1988 in Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan), nicknamed "Gita (ギータ)" and sometimes condescendingly referred to as "Japan's Mike Trout" in English-speaking reports of baseball in Japan, is a Japanese professional baseball outfielder for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He is an eleven-time All-Star and a two-time Pacific League MVP, earning those honors in 2015 and 2020. Yanagita is recognized as one of the most successful players in NPB since the 21st century, based on his accomplishments both team and individual, including seven Japan Series championships, four-time Japan Series MVP, two-time Pacific League MVP and five-time OPS leader.
Masaya Emura (江村 将也, Emura Masaya; born July 5, 1987, in Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan) is a professional Japanese…Masaya Emura (江村 将也, Emura Masaya; born July 5, 1987, in Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays pitcher for the Fukushima Hopes. His younger brother Naoya is also a professional baseball player currently playing for Chiba Lotte Marines.
Hiroki Uemoto (上本 博紀, Uemoto Hiroki; born July 4, 1986) is a Japanese former professional baseball player. He has…Hiroki Uemoto (上本 博紀, Uemoto Hiroki; born July 4, 1986) is a Japanese former professional baseball player. He has played in his entire career with the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hanshin Tigers.
Takahiro Iwamoto (岩本 貴裕, Iwamoto Takahiro; born April 18, 1986 in Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan) is a professional…Takahiro Iwamoto (岩本 貴裕, Iwamoto Takahiro; born April 18, 1986 in Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays outfielder for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
Kentaro Nishimura (西村 健太朗, Nishimura Kentaro; born May 10, 1985) is a former Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball…Kentaro Nishimura (西村 健太朗, Nishimura Kentaro; born May 10, 1985) is a former Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player. He played with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan's Central League. On October 3, 2018, he announced retirement after the season.
Tomoya Inzen (隠善 智也, Inzen Tomoya; born June 5, 1984 in Hiroshima, Japan) is a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball…Tomoya Inzen (隠善 智也, Inzen Tomoya; born June 5, 1984 in Hiroshima, Japan) is a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player for the Yomiuri Giants in Japan's Central League.
Ryota Arai (新井 良太, Arai Ryota; born August 16, 1983 in Hiroshima) is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder…Ryota Arai (新井 良太, Arai Ryota; born August 16, 1983 in Hiroshima) is a Japanese former professional baseball infielder and the second-string hitting coach for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He played in NPB for the Chunichi Dragons from 2006 to 2010, and with the Hanshin Tigers from 2011 to 2017. His elder brother Takahiro is also a former professional baseball player.
Akihiro Yanase (柳瀬 明宏, Yanase Akihiro; born July 8, 1983) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays pitcher…Akihiro Yanase (柳瀬 明宏, Yanase Akihiro; born July 8, 1983) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays pitcher for the Hanshin Tigers.
Naoki Nakahigashi (中東 直己, Nakahigashi Naoki; born October 5, 1981 in Kure, Hiroshima, Japan) is a professional Japanese…Naoki Nakahigashi (中東 直己, Nakahigashi Naoki; born October 5, 1981 in Kure, Hiroshima, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays outfielder for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
Katsuhiro Nagakawa (永川 勝浩, Nagakawa Katsuhiro; born December 14, 1980) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher…Katsuhiro Nagakawa (永川 勝浩, Nagakawa Katsuhiro; born December 14, 1980) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in Japan's Central League.
Eishin Soyogi (梵 英心, Soyogi Eishin; born October 11, 1980) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays…Eishin Soyogi (梵 英心, Soyogi Eishin; born October 11, 1980) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays infielder for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
Hirotaka Egusa (江草 仁貴, Egusa Hirotaka; born September 3, 1980) is a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. His…Hirotaka Egusa (江草 仁貴, Egusa Hirotaka; born September 3, 1980) is a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. His wife is a former Japanese volleyball player Yoshie Takeshita.
Naoto Inada (稲田 直人, Inada Naoto; born November 6, 1979 in Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima) is a retired Japanese professional…Naoto Inada (稲田 直人, Inada Naoto; born November 6, 1979 in Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima) is a retired Japanese professional infielder.
Shinobu Fukuhara (福原 忍, Fukuhara Shinobu; born December 28, 1976, in Miyoshi, Hiroshima, Japan) is a retired Japanese…Shinobu Fukuhara (福原 忍, Fukuhara Shinobu; born December 28, 1976, in Miyoshi, Hiroshima, Japan) is a retired Japanese baseball pitcher for the Hanshin Tigers. He was the number three draft pick for the Hanshin Tigers in 1999. In 2014 and 2015, he was a 2x Central League Middle Reliever.
Takayuki Shinohara (篠原 貴行, Shinohara Takayuki; born September 7, 1976 in Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan) is a professional…Takayuki Shinohara (篠原 貴行, Shinohara Takayuki; born September 7, 1976 in Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player.
Tomohiro Nioka (二岡 智宏, born April 29, 1976, in Miyoshi, Hiroshima, Japan) is a Japanese former professional baseball…Tomohiro Nioka (二岡 智宏, born April 29, 1976, in Miyoshi, Hiroshima, Japan) is a Japanese former professional baseball player. He previously played for the Yomiuri Giants and Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. Nioka batted and threw right-handed.
Yasuyuki Yamauchi (山内 泰幸, Yamauchi Yasuyuki; born March 16, 1973, in Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan) is a…Yasuyuki Yamauchi (山内 泰幸, Yamauchi Yasuyuki; born March 16, 1973, in Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player.
Motonobu Tanishige (Japanese: 谷繁 元信, born December 21, 1970, in Hiroshima) is a retired Japanese professional baseball…Motonobu Tanishige (Japanese: 谷繁 元信, born December 21, 1970, in Hiroshima) is a retired Japanese professional baseball player and manager. Tanishige played 27 seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), appearing in more games (3,021) than any other player in NPB history. Making his debut for the Taiyo Whales in 1989 at age 18, he played for the franchise for 13 years. In 2002, he moved to the Chunichi Dragons, where he played for 14 seasons, until 2015. He was the player-manager of the Chunichi Dragons from 2014 to 2015, staying on as manager in 2016. Tanishige played in five Japan Series. He played in the 2006 World Baseball Classic, when Japan won the championship. In 2024, he was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame.
Hiroshi Kobayashi (小林 宏, Kobayashi Hiroshi; born November 30, 1970) is a retired Japanese professional pitcher, who…Hiroshi Kobayashi (小林 宏, Kobayashi Hiroshi; born November 30, 1970) is a retired Japanese professional pitcher, who currently coaches for Orix Buffaloes.
Shingo Takatsu (高津 臣吾, Takatsu Shingo) (born November 25, 1968) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher and…Shingo Takatsu (高津 臣吾, Takatsu Shingo) (born November 25, 1968) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher and manager. He had a short stint with the Chicago White Sox where he was the closer for two seasons until struggles closing games ultimately led to his demotion to the minors. Despite being demoted in the summer of 2005, he received a World Series ring with the White Sox. He was signed by the New York Mets during the 2005 season, and he pitched in nine games for New York. After the 2005 season, he returned to the Nippon Professional Baseball. He is known by the nickname "Mr. Zero" because he did not give up a single run in 11 Japan Series games. In the 2004 season, his entrance in home games was accompanied by a video montage and a loud gong. Shingo Takatsu, like many Japanese pitchers, has incorporated pauses into his pitching mechanics in order to throw off batters' timing. His arm angle varies from sidearm to submarine.
Tatsuji Nishimura (西村 龍次, Nishimura Tatsuji; born July 18, 1968, in Kure, Hiroshima, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon…Tatsuji Nishimura (西村 龍次, Nishimura Tatsuji; born July 18, 1968, in Kure, Hiroshima, Japan) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher.
Tatsumi Une (畝 龍実, Une Tatsumi; born June 21, 1964 in Aki District, Hiroshima, Japan) is a professional Japanese…Tatsumi Une (畝 龍実, Une Tatsumi; born June 21, 1964 in Aki District, Hiroshima, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player. As of November 2021 he was a coach of the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
Yasuo Fujii (藤井 康雄, Fujii Yasuo; born July 7, 1962 in Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional…Yasuo Fujii (藤井 康雄, Fujii Yasuo; born July 7, 1962 in Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball outfielder.
Mitsuo Tatsukawa (達川 光男, Tatsukawa Mitsuo; born July 13, 1955 in Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan) is a former…Mitsuo Tatsukawa (達川 光男, Tatsukawa Mitsuo; born July 13, 1955 in Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball catcher.
Choji Murata (村田 兆治, 27 November 1949 – 11 November 2022) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. He…Choji Murata (村田 兆治, 27 November 1949 – 11 November 2022) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher. He played for the Tokyo/Lotte Orions over the period 1968 to 1990. Murata led the Pacific League in Earned run average in 1975 and 1976. In 1976 he won 21 games, the only time he won 20 games or more in his career. Overuse of Murata's pitching arm led to extreme pain and injury, and ultimately Murata was forced to undergo Tommy John elbow surgery, performed in 1982 by Dr. Frank Jobe in California. (Murata was the first Japanese pitcher to undergo the procedure.) As a result, Murata missed much of the 1982 season, all of the 1983 season, and most of the 1984 season during his recovery. Rebounding in 1985 with a 17–5 record, Murata won the Nippon Professional Baseball Comeback Player of the Year Award. In 1989 he again led the Pacific League in ERA. Retiring in 1990 with 200+ career wins, Murata became a member of Meikyukai. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2008, Murata served on the Eiji Sawamura Award selection committee. On 23 September 2022, Murata was arrested at Haneda airport for allegedly assaulting a customs agent. On 11 November 2022, Murata's house in Seijo, Setagaya, Tokyo, caught on fire during the early morning. Subsequently, he was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead due to carbon monoxide poisoning at age 72.
Haruki Ihara (伊原 春樹, Ihara Haruki; born January 18, 1949) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player. He played…Haruki Ihara (伊原 春樹, Ihara Haruki; born January 18, 1949) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player. He played for the Nishitetsu Lions, and continued his entire career with them. From 2002 to 2003, he was the manager of the Seibu Lions, as well as the Orix BlueWave in 2004. His daughter, Natsuna Ihara, is a model and actress.
Toshiyuki Mimura (三村 敏之, Mimura Toshiyuki) (September 19, 1948 – November 3, 2009) was a Japanese baseball player and…Toshiyuki Mimura (三村 敏之, Mimura Toshiyuki) (September 19, 1948 – November 3, 2009) was a Japanese baseball player and manager of the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
Kōji Yamamoto (山本 浩二, Yamamoto Kōji; born October 25, 1946) is a Japanese former baseball player and manager of the…Kōji Yamamoto (山本 浩二, Yamamoto Kōji; born October 25, 1946) is a Japanese former baseball player and manager of the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Japan's Central League. A four-time home run king having played for Hiroshima Carp throughout his career, Yamamoto contributed to the team winning five league championships including its first-ever in 1975, and three titles of Japan Series in 1979, 1980 and 1984. He recorded over 40 home runs for five years in a row from 1977. With 536 home runs, he is fourth on the NPB career list. He is known as the Mr. Red Helmet (ミスター赤ヘル, Misutā Akaheru), nicknamed after Hiroshima Carp's symbolic red colored helmet. Yamamoto managed Hiroshima Carp twice, between 1989 and 1993, and later between 2001 and 2005. He led the team to win Central League championship in 1991. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008, and is a member of the Meikyukai, or the "Golden Players Club."
Kazumi Takahashi (高橋一三, Takahashi Kazumi; June 9, 1946 – July 14, 2015) was a Japanese baseball pitcher. He played and…Kazumi Takahashi (高橋一三, Takahashi Kazumi; June 9, 1946 – July 14, 2015) was a Japanese baseball pitcher. He played and coached for the Yomiuri Giants and the Nippon Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball. He died of multiple organ failure in 2015 at the age of 69.
Isao Harimoto (張本 勲, Harimoto Isao; June 19, 1940 – September 9, 2026) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball…Isao Harimoto (張本 勲, Harimoto Isao; June 19, 1940 – September 9, 2026) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player. Over his 23-season playing career in Nippon Professional Baseball, Harimoto played for the Toei Flyers/Nittaku Home Flyers/Nippon-Ham Fighters, the Yomiuri Giants and the Lotte Orions. He is the holder of the record for most hits in the Japanese professional leagues. An ethnic Korean, his birth name was Jang Hun (Korean: 장훈; Hanja: 張勳). Harimoto spent his life as a resident of Japan and adopted a Japanese name, but remained a Korean citizen, thus making him a Zainichi Korean for many years. An accident from youth forced Harimoto into becoming a left-hander, and when he became interested in baseball, he dedicated himself to adjust to playing the field and batting that resulted in him making the majors in 1959. As a rookie, he batted .275 in 125 games with 115 hits on his way to being named the Pacific League Rookie of the Year. His career furthered the following season, where he earned his first All-Star selection and Best Nine Award. In the entire decade of the 1960s, he was named among the Best Nine in every season. He won the batting title in 1961, batting .336 while collecting 159 hits and 24 home runs. He had the first of his four 30-HR seasons in 1962, which saw the Flyers win their first ever Pacific League pennant along him winning the league MVP Award. The Flyers won their first Japan Series that year in seven games for what ended up being Harimoto's first and only championship. Harimoto would continue to rack up All-Star selections and batting championships for the team, which included seven total batting championships from 1961 to 1974 before he was traded in 1975 to the Yomiuri Giants. He was named to the Best Nine two further times with the Giants, with his 16th and final one occurring in 1977 at the age of 37. He departed the team for the Lotte Orions in 1980 on the precipice of Japanese history. That season, he became the first player in Japanese baseball history with 3,000 career hits, doing so in May. He later hit his 500th career home run that year to become the first Japanese player with 500 home runs and 300 stolen bases. One of the most well-rounded hitters in NPB history, in 23 seasons of play, he had sixteen 20-HR seasons along with five seasons of at least 20 stolen bases while batting .300 in sixteen different seasons. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1990 and during his post-playing career worked as a television baseball analyst.
Yoshinori Hirose (広瀬 叔功, Hirose Yoshinori; August 27, 1936 – November 2, 2025) was a Japanese professional baseball…Yoshinori Hirose (広瀬 叔功, Hirose Yoshinori; August 27, 1936 – November 2, 2025) was a Japanese professional baseball outfielder in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. In 1999, he was voted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame. He ranks second all-time in the NPB for stolen bases, with 596. He was also a member of the Meikyukai. Hirose died on November 2, 2025, at the age of 89.