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Japan Hall of Fame award ceremony for Ichiro Suzuki

Ichiro Suzuki (C), who had a total of 4,367 hits between Japan and the United States, poses for a photo with his plaque during an award ceremony for his 2025 enshrinement in the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in the central Japan city on Aug. 31, 2025. Standing beside the former Seattle Mariners outfielder is former New York Yankees slugger Hideki Matsui.

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Meeting on National Strategic Special Zone in Kansai

OSAKA, Japan - Hyogo Gov. Toshizo Ido, Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui and Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Yoshitaka Shindo (from L) give a press conference in Osaka on June 23, 2014, after a meeting on establishing a National Strategic Special Zone covering Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo prefectures, western Japan, as a base for medical innovation.

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Osaka Mayor Hashimoto

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto (R), who is also co-head of the opposition Japan Restoration Party, and Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui, who is also secretary general of the JRP, look at each other during a press conference in Osaka on Feb. 3, 2014. Hashimoto officially announced his resignation as mayor and said he will run again in a mayoral election to gain support for his main policy goal -- the merger of Osaka prefectural and municipal governments.

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Osaka Mayor Hashimoto

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto (R), who is also co-head of the opposition Japan Restoration Party, speaks at a press conference in Osaka on Feb. 3, 2014. Hashimoto officially announced his resignation as mayor and said he will run again in a mayoral election to gain support for his main policy goal -- the merger of Osaka prefectural and municipal governments. At left is Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui, who is also secretary general of the JRP.

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Bean-throwing festival

OSAKA, Japan - Photo shows (from R) actress Naomi Zaizen, actress An and Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui during an annual bean-throwing festival, marking the start of spring according to the lunar calendar, at a temple in Neyagawa, Osaka Prefecture, on Feb. 3, 2014.

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Osaka Gov. Matsui heads off to Milan world expo

KANSAI AIRPORT, Japan, Sept. 9 Kyodo - Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui prepares to depart Kansai Airport in western Japan on Sept. 9, 2015, for a five-day trip to Italy and France. Matsui will visit the Milan Expo to meet with senior officials of the International Exhibitions Bureau in Paris as Osaka is considering becoming a candidate city for the 2025 world expo.

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Mascot characters launch joint publicity blitz

OSAKA, Japan - Kumamon (L), the black bear mascot of Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, and Mozuyan (R), the shrike mascot of Osaka Prefecture, strike a pose with Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui in the western Japan city of Osaka on Jan. 8, 2015. The two prefectures agreed the same day to jointly promote each other's specialties and tourism.

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Osaka Mayor Hashimoto to temporarily quit as party co-leader

TOKYO, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto (R) and Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui attend an executives' meeting of the Japan Innovation Party at a Tokyo hotel on Dec. 23, 2014. The opposition party accepted the resignations of Hashimoto, a party co-leader, and secretary general Matsui, albeit that their resignations might be effective only until spring.

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Celebrities attend event marking 400th anniv. of Osaka siege

OSAKA, Japan - Celebrities in traditional armor suits pose in front of Osaka Castle in western Japan during an event on Oct. 1, 2014, to mark the 400th anniversary of the "Winter Siege of Osaka" in feudal Japan. From R: Osaka Governor Ichiro Matsui, kabuki actor Ainosuke Kataoka, singer Akiko Wada, Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto and event executive committee head Shinya Hashizume.

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Celebrities start event for 400th anniv. of Osaka siege

OSAKA, Japan - Celebrities in traditional armor suits cut the ribbon to open an event commemorating the 400th anniversary of the "Winter Siege of Osaka" in feudal Japan. From L: Kabuki actor Ainosuke Kataoka, singer Akiko Wada, Osaka Governor Ichiro Matsui, Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto and event executive committee head Shinya Hashizume.

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Osaka Pref.'s mascot character renamed 'Mozuyan'

OSAKA, Japan - The Osaka prefectural government's mascot character "Mozuyan" (L), renamed after the western Japan prefecture's symbolic bird, the shrike ("mozu" in Japanese), is cheered by Gov. Ichiro Matsui and Universal Studio Japan's trademarked "Moppy" on Sept. 17, 2014, in the prefectural capital of Osaka. The Osaka character previously had the same name as the USJ mascot.

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4 pro sports teams pledge to promote Osaka Pref.

OSAKA, Japan - Four top officials of baseball and soccer teams in the Kansai region, Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui and mascot characters gather together at the Osaka prefectural government office to hold a "solidarity" ceremony on June 4, 2014, to further promote tourism for the western Japanese prefecture. (From L, Hanshin Tigers Managing Director Kazuo Awai, Orix Buffaloes President Hiroaki Nishina, Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui, Cerezo Osaka President Masao Okano, and Gamba Osaka President Teruhisa Noro).

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Osaka mayoral election

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui (2nd from R), a close ally of Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto and secretary general of the Japan Restoration Party, holds a press conference in Osaka on the night of March 23, 2014, after Hashimoto wins reelection in the day's mayoral election, as the mayor refused request to attend a press conference. The voter turnout was 23.59 percent, a record low.

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Japan's Sochi bronze winner Hiraoka shows medal to Osaka gov.

OSAKA, Japan - Japanese snowboarder Taku Hiraoka (R), the bronze medalist in the men's halfpipe competition at the Sochi Winter Olympics, shows his medal to Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui at the prefectural government office on March 13, 2014.

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Osaka Asian Film Festival event

OSAKA, Japan - Actors in the baseball movie "Kano" as well as others attend an event for the Osaka Asian Film Festival at JR Osaka Station in western Japan on March 7, 2014. From left, front row: Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui, Sadaharu Oh, chairman of the board of the Softbank Hawks, Japanese actor and actress Masatoshi Nagase and Maki Sakai, and producer Wei Te-sheng (far R).

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'Unpopular' mascots get an earful from Osaka Gov.

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui gives Fururu (L) and other mascot characters representing municipalities in the western Japan prefecture an earful regarding their apparent low popularity on Feb. 12, 2014, during a PR mascot appointment ceremony at the Osaka prefectural government office.

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Master bat maker

TOKYO, Japan - Master bat maker Isokazu Kubota (R) and Hideki Matsui, then a player of the New York Yankees, chat at Mizuno Technics Corp. in Yoro, Gifu Prefecture, in December 2003. The craftsman whose bats have launched thousands of big league hits for Matsui and Ichiro Suzuki announced his retirement on Jan. 28, 2014.

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Master bat maker

NAGOYA, Japan - Master bat maker Isokazu Kubota announces his retirement during a press conference in Yoro, Gifu Prefecture, on Jan. 28, 2014. The craftsman whose bats have struck thousands of big league hits for Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui is calling it quits after half a century at his craft.

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Master bat maker

NAGOYA, Japan - Master bat maker Isokazu Kubota crafts a bat after announcing his retirement in Yoro, Gifu Prefecture, on Jan. 28, 2014. The craftsman whose bats have struck thousands of big league hits for Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui is calling it quits after half a century at his craft.

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Sakai mayoral race

SAKAI, Japan - Toru Hashimoto (L), Osaka mayor and Japan Restoration Party co-leader, holds a press conference in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, on Sept. 29, 2013, after Katsutoshi Nishibayashi, a candidate in the Sakai mayoral election, backed by Hashimoto, was defeated by the incumbent mayor by a substantial margin. To the right is Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui, who also serves as secretary general of the opposition party.

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Osaka proposal on Osprey

TOKYO, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto (C) and Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui (L) answer reporters' questions after a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga at Abe's office in Tokyo on June 6, 2013. The mayor and governor proposed that Yao Airport in the western Japan prefecture host part of the training exercises for U.S. MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor transport aircraft.

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Osaka tourism bureau

OSAKA, Japan - (From R) Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui and Shigetaka Sato, chairman of the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, meet in Osaka City on Feb. 18, 2013. They decided to set up a bureau in April 2013 to boost tourism.

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Osaka Gov. Matsui

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui, secretary general of the Japan Restoration Party, the second-largest opposition party, answers reporters' questions at the Osaka prefectural hall in Osaka on Jan. 9, 2013.

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Osaka Gov. Matsui in Singapore

SINGAPORE, Singapore - Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui (R) shakes hands with George Tanasijevich, president and chief executive officer of Marina Bay Sands Pte Ltd., at the Marina Bay Sands resort in Singapore on July 9, 2012. Matsui urged the resort developer to bid for a casino project in Osaka after Japan enacts laws authorizing the operation of casinos.

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Osaka Gov. Matsui after plenary session

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui speaks to reporters at the Osaka prefectural hall in Osaka on March 23, 2012. Earlier a plenary session of the Osaka prefectural assembly passed an ordinance -- the first of its kind in Japan -- requiring convicted pedophiles, after leaving prison, to report their addresses to the Osaka governor.

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Osaka Gov. Matsui after plenary session

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui answers reporters' questions at the Osaka prefectural hall in Osaka on March 23, 2012. Earlier a plenary session of the Osaka prefectural assembly passed an ordinance -- the first of its kind in Japan -- requiring convicted pedophiles, after leaving prison, to report their addresses to the Osaka governor.

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Tourism promotion

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui shortly before leaving Kansai International Airport near Osaka on Feb. 9, 2012, for Shanghai to attend a ceremonial event to launch the western Japan prefecture's tourism promotion campaign.

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Ex-gov. Hashimoto wins Osaka mayoral election

OSAKA, Japan - Winners of the Osaka mayoral and gubernatorial elections, respectively, former Osaka Gov. Toru Hashimoto (R) and his political ally Ichiro Matsui pose with a cake provided by their supporters in Osaka on the night of Nov. 27, 2011, after their victories in the double election. Hashimoto scored a landslide victory over incumbent Kunio Hiramatsu in Japan's second-largest business center, winning support for his proposal to establish an Osaka metropolitan government with an administrative structure similar to Tokyo's. Matsui will fill the governor's post which Hashimoto vacated in order to run for mayor.

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Ex-gov. Hashimoto wins Osaka mayoral election

OSAKA, Japan - Winners of the Osaka mayoral and gubernatorial elections, respectively, former Osaka Gov. Toru Hashimoto (front L) and political ally Ichiro Matsui, shake hands while celebrating their victories in the double election in Osaka on the night of Nov. 27, 2011. Matsui will fill the governor's post which Hashimoto vacated in order to run for mayor. Hashimoto scored a landslide victory over incumbent Kunio Hiramatsu in Japan's second-largest business center, winning support for his proposal to establish an Osaka metropolitan government with an administrative structure similar to Tokyo's.

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Hashimoto assured of victory in Osaka mayoral election

OSAKA, Japan - Former Osaka Gov. Toru Hashimoto (front L) celebrates in Osaka on Nov. 27, 2011, after projections showing he won the mayoral election in Osaka, Japan's second-largest business center, by defeating incumbent Kunio Hiramatsu. Hashimoto apparently won support for his proposal to establish an Osaka metropolitan government similar to Tokyo's. On right is Ichiro Matsui, a close aide to Hashimoto who was set to win the Osaka gubernatorial election to fill up the post vacated by Hashimoto.

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Ichiro and Matsui observe moment of silence

OAKLAND, United States - Ichiro Suzuki (L) of the Seattle Mariners and compatriot Hideki Matsui (R) of the Oakland Athletics observe a moment of silence to honor the March 11 earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan, ahead of a game between their teams in Oakland, California, on April 1, 2011.

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Matsui, Ichiro T-shirt sold at Oakland Coliseum

OAKLAND, United States - Women show a T-shirt with the image of the Oakland Athletics' Hideki Matsui and the Seattle Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki, which is sold at Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California. The two Japanese players faced off in their clubs' season opener at the stadium on April 1, 2011.

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Ichiro and Matsui

ANAHEIM, United States - Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners (R) and Hideki Matsui of the Los Angeles Angels shake hands before a game at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, on July 17, 2010. The Angels won 7-6.

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Ichiro and H. Matsui at preseason match

TEMPE, United States - The Seattle Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki (front, back to camera) waves goodbye to the Los Angeles Angels' Hideki Matsui (R) after a preseason game in Tempe, Arizona, on March 21, 2010.

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Ichiro and H. Matsui at preseason match

TEMPE, United States - The Los Angeles Angels' Hideki Matsui (L) and the Seattle Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki chat after a preseason game in Tempe, Arizona, on March 21, 2010.

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Ichiro and H. Matsui at preseason match

TEMPE, United States - The Seattle Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki (L) and the Los Angeles Angels' Hideki Matsui chat at the end of the second inning of a preseason game in Tempe, Arizona, on March 21, 2010.

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Ichiro and H. Matsui at preseason match

TEMPE, United States - The Seattle Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki (L) and the Los Angeles Angels' Hideki Matsui shake hands after a preseason game in Tempe, Arizona, on March 21, 2010.

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Ichiro extends hitting streak, Okajima remains in form

NEW YORK, United States - New York Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui hits a double right-center in the third inning of a game against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium on May 20. Matsui went 3-for-5 to help the Yankees to a 6-2 win over the Mets. (MLB)

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Ichiro, H. Matsui held hitless

NEW YORK, United States - Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki was held hitless against Yankees right-hander Wang Chien-ming as his team lost 8-1 at Yankee Stadium on May 5. (MLB)

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Ichiro, H. Matsui held hitless

NEW YORK, United States - New York Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui went hitless in three at-bats but drove in a run when he was hit by a pitch in the sixth inning in an 8-1 rout of the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium on May 5. Matsui remains one away from marking his 2000th hit in games played in Japan and the major leagues. (MLB)

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Matsui, Jojima go deep, Igawa pounded by Mariners

NEW YORK, United States - Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki (R) races to the first base with New York Yankees starter Kei Igawa (L) after hitting an infield grounder in the third inning at Yankee Stadium on May 4. Ichiro had two hits as the Mariners outslugged the New York Yankees 15-11. (MLB)

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Mariners' Ichiro encourages Yankees' Matsui

NEW YORK, United States - Seattle Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki (L) and New York Yankees' Hideki Matsui shake hands at Yankee Stadium in New York on July 17 before the start of a game. Matsui is still continuing rehabilitation for a fractured left wrist he sustained in May.

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Ichiro, Iguchi make WBC roster, H. Matsui on hold

TOKYO, Japan -Manager Sadaharu Oh announces Japan-based star players in the country's roster for the World Baseball Classic in Tokyo on Dec. 9. The team will include Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki and Chicago White Sox infielder Tadahito Iguchi. Oh still awaits a response from New York Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui.

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(2)Ichiro to start for AL in leadoff spot in All-Star game

HOUSTON, United States - New York Yankees Outfielder Hideki Matsui smiles before starting practice for the MLB All-Star game at Minute Maid Field in Houston, Texas, on July 12. Matsui is expected to make an appearance as a pinch-hitter in the All-Star game on July 13. (MLB)

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Ichiro goes 2-for-4 against Yankees

SEATTLE, United States - The Seattle Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki singles to center in the seventh inning against the New York Yankees at Safeco Field in Seattle on May 7. Ichiro went 2-for-4 with an RBI as the Mariners defeated Hideki Matsui and the Yankees 6-2. (MLB)

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(3)Ichiro goes 2-for-4 as Mariners edge Yankees 2-1

NEW YORK, United States - New York Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui hits a single to right in the fifth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium on Aug. 9. Matsui went 1-for-3, keeping his batting average unchanged at .295 as New York lost 2-1. (MLB)

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(1)Japanese players in MLB All-Star Game

CHICAGO, United States - Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki (L) and New York Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui (3rd from R) are among American League players lining up before the start of the 74th All-Star Game at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago on July 15. (MLB)

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(2)Ichiro to lead off, Matsui to bat 7th in All-Star Game

CHICAGO, United States - Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki (L), Mariners pitcher Shigetoshi Hasegawa and New York Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui pose for photographs at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago on July 14, one day before the 74th All-Star Game there. (MLB)

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(1)Ichiro to lead off, Matsui to bat 7th in All-Star Game

CHICAGO, United States - New York Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui (L) and Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki chat during practice at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago on July 14. Ichiro will lead off and Matsui will bat 7th for the American League in the 74th All-Star Game on July 15. (MLB)

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(4)Ichiro, Matsui, Hasegawa picked for MLB All-Star game

NEAGARI, Japan - People visit the Hideki Matsui Baseball Hall in his hometown of Neagari, Ishikawa Prefecture, on July 7. The New York Yankees outfielder has been picked in the American League for the Major League Baseball All-Star game July 15 in Chicago. (MLB)