Fujiidera Stadium quietly shut down after 77 years

Fujiidera Stadium quietly shut down after 77 years

OSAKA, Japan - Fujiidera Stadium, which had been used as the Kintetsu Buffaloes' home stadium for nearly half a century, was shut down on Jan. 31. With the team's merger with the Orix BlueWave, there was no team to use it since the controlling stake went to the new team -- the Orix Buffaloes.

Rakuten owner encourages Golden Eagles players

Rakuten owner encourages Golden Eagles players

OSAKA, Japan - Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles owner Hiroshi Mikitani (R) visits Fujiidera stadium in Osaka Prefecture on Nov. 20 to give words of encouragement to the members of the newly formed team at a practice session.

Rakuten owner encourages Golden Eagles players

Rakuten owner encourages Golden Eagles players

OSAKA, Japan - Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles owner Hiroshi Mikitani (R) visits Fujiidera stadium in Osaka Prefecture on Nov. 20 to give words of encouragement to the members of the newly formed team at a practice session. (Kyodo)

Fujiidera Stadium quietly shut down after 77 years

Fujiidera Stadium quietly shut down after 77 years

OSAKA, Japan - Fujiidera Stadium, which had been used as the Kintetsu Buffaloes' home stadium for nearly half a century, was shut down on Jan. 31. With the team's merger with the Orix BlueWave, there was no team to use it since the controlling stake went to the new team -- the Orix Buffaloes. (Kyodo)

Support staff aiming at efficient money spending

Support staff aiming at efficient money spending

FUJIIDERA, Japan - A support staff (R) for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles prepares for an autumn-season batting practice in Fujiidera Stadium in the city of Fujiidera, Osaka Prefecture, in November 2004. (Kyodo)