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Van den Hurk, Lee lead Hawks to Game 2 win

FUKUOKA, Oct. 26 Kyodo - Yakult Swallows manager Mitsuru Manaka (C) is seen in the dugout during the ninth inning of a 4-0 loss to the SoftBank Hawks in Game 2 of the Japan Series at Yafuoku Dome in Fukuoka on Oct. 25, 2015. The Hawks led the best-of-seven series two games to none.

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Swallows name Manaka as new manager

TOKYO, Japan - New Yakult Swallows manager Mitsuru Manaka attends a press conference in Tokyo, Japan, on Oct. 8, 2014. Manaka succeeded Junji Ogawa, who resigned due to the cellar-dwelling club's poor results.

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Swallows skipper Ogawa to step down

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken Sept. 17, 2014, shows Junji Ogawa (R back), manager of the Central League's Yakult Swallows, and the team's batting coach Mitsuru Manaka (L back), watching a game against the Hanshin Tigers at Jingu Stadium in Tokyo. Ogawa, 57, told a press conference on Sept. 22 that the club has accepted his decision to resign at the end of the season due to the cellar-dwelling club's poor results. Manaka, 43, is a strong candidate to take over.

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Japanese monkey troupe set for performance in China

UTSUNOMIA, Japan - Toshio Manaka, head of the Nikko Saru Gundan (Nikko Monkey Troupe), which was disbanded at the end of 2013, trains a monkey in Nikko, northeast of Tokyo, on Aug. 22, 2014, as part of preparations for the troupe's first performance in China, slated for next May.

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Graduation ceremony held for popular monkey group in Nikko

UTSUNOMIYA, Japan - Toshio Manaka, president of the Nikko Saru Gundan theme park, reads a diploma during a "graduation ceremony" in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, on Dec. 21, 2013. The park opened in 1992 in Nikko, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Japan, and became popular because of the monkey performances. But it will close at the end of this year because foreign monkey trainers left Japan after the devastating 2011 earthquake.

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Manaka hits three-run homer

TOKYO, Japan - Yakult Swallows outfielder Mitsuru Manaka hits a three-run homer off Hiroshima Toyo Carp starter Ken Takahashi with two outs in the bottom of fifth inning at Jingu Ball Park on April 4. Yakult shut out Hiroshima 4-0.

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Manaka hits two-run homer

TOKYO, Japan - Yakult Swallows outfielder Mitsuru Manaka watches the ball after hitting a two-run homer off Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes relief pitcher Isao Koda with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning in Game 3 of the best-of-seven Japan Series at Jingu Stadium on Oct. 23.

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Manaka hits solo home run

TOKYO, Japan - Yakult Swallows outfielder Mitsuru Manaka is greeted by his coach after blasting a solo homer off Yomiuri Giants starter Chung Min Chul in the top of the third inning at Tokyo Dome on Aug. 12.

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Manaka hits three-run homer

TOKYO, Japan - Yakult Swallows outfielder Mitsuru Manaka hits a three-run homer off Hiroshima Toyo Carp starter Ken Takahashi with two outs in the bottom of fifth inning at Jingu Ball Park on April 4. Yakult shut out Hiroshima 4-0.

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Manaka hits solo home run

TOKYO, Japan - Yakult Swallows outfielder Mitsuru Manaka is greeted by his coach after blasting a solo homer off Yomiuri Giants starter Chung Min Chul in the top of the third inning at Tokyo Dome on Aug. 12.

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Swallows bound for Japan Series

Mitsuru Manaka, manager of the Yakult Swallows, is tossed into the air by his players at Jingu Stadium in Tokyo on Oct. 17, 2015 after their 3-2 victory over the Yomiuri Giants to win the Central League Climax Series four games to one. The Swallows will now take on the Pacific League champion SoftBank Hawks in the Japan Series starting Oct. 24. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Swallows fly to 1st CL pennant in 14 years

Members of the Yakult Swallows give their skipper Mitsuru Manaka a victorious toss as they won their seventh Central League pennant and the first in 14 years by beating the Hanshin Tigers 2-1 at Tokyo's Jingu Stadium on Oct. 2, 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Baseball: Yakult manager Manaka to resign at season's end

Yakult Swallows manager Mitsuru Manaka watches from the dugout a game against the Hanshin Tigers at Kyocera Dome in Osaka on Aug. 5, 2017. Manaka is set to step down at the end of the season due to the team's poor performance, team president Tsuyoshi Kinugasa said on Aug. 22. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Yakult Swallows celebrate CLCS victory

Yakult Swallows members, including manager Mitsuru Manaka (far L, front row), pose for photos at Jingu Stadium in Tokyo on Oct. 17, 2015, after winning the Central League Climax Series and securing their Japan Series berth. The team will face the defending champion SoftBank Hawks. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Yakult skipper Manaka tossed in air after CLCS win

Yakult Swallows skipper Mitsuru Manaka is tossed in the air by members of the team at Jingu Stadium in Tokyo on Oct. 17, 2015, after they won the Central League Climax Series by beating the Yomiuri Giants. The Swallows secured their Japan Series berth for the first time in 14 years. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Swallows members meet press after winning CL pennant

Yakult Swallows infielder Tetsuto Yamada (far L) and skipper Mitsuru Manaka (2nd from L) join pitcher Masanori Ishikawa (2nd from R) and outfielder Yuhei Takai at a press conference in Tokyo on Oct. 2, 2015, after winning the Central League pennant, their first in 14 years, by beating the Hanshin Tigers 2-1. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Swallows members join group photo as CL pennant winners

Yakult Swallows players and officials pose for commemorative photos at Tokyo's Jingu Stadium on Oct. 2, 2015, after winning the Central League pennant, their first in 14 years, by beating the Hanshin Tigers 2-1. Standing in the front line is skipper Mitsuru Manaka (2nd from L). (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Swallows win 1st CL pennant in 14 years

Yakult Swallows skipper Mitsuru Manaka (2nd from R) and his players acknowledge the cheering of fans at Tokyo's Jingu Stadium on Oct. 2, 2015, after clinching the Central League pennant for the first time in 14 years by beating the Hanshin Tigers 2-1. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Swallows skipper in tears after team's 1st CL title in 14 years

First-time Yakult Swallows skipper Mitsuru Manaka appears overcome with emotion at Tokyo's Jingu Stadium on Oct. 2, 2015, as the team won the Central League pennant, their first in 14 years, by beating the Hanshin Tigers 2-1. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Swallows name Manaka as new manager

TOKYO, Japan - New Yakult Swallows manager Mitsuru Manaka attends a press conference in Tokyo, Japan, on Oct. 8, 2014. Manaka succeeded Junji Ogawa, who resigned due to the cellar-dwelling club's poor results. (Kyodo)

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Swallows skipper Ogawa to step down

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken Sept. 17, 2014, shows Junji Ogawa (R back), manager of the Central League's Yakult Swallows, and the team's batting coach Mitsuru Manaka (L back), watching a game against the Hanshin Tigers at Jingu Stadium in Tokyo. Ogawa, 57, told a press conference on Sept. 22 that the club has accepted his decision to resign at the end of the season due to the cellar-dwelling club's poor results. Manaka, 43, is a strong candidate to take over. (Kyodo)

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Japanese monkey troupe set for performance in China

UTSUNOMIA, Japan - Toshio Manaka, head of the Nikko Saru Gundan (Nikko Monkey Troupe), which was disbanded at the end of 2013, trains a monkey in Nikko, northeast of Tokyo, on Aug. 22, 2014, as part of preparations for the troupe's first performance in China, slated for next May. (Kyodo)

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Manaka hits two-run homer

TOKYO, Japan - Yakult Swallows outfielder Mitsuru Manaka watches the ball after hitting a two-run homer off Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes relief pitcher Isao Koda with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning in Game 3 of the best-of-seven Japan Series at Jingu Stadium on Oct. 23.