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New Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame members

Former major league pitcher Hiroki Kuroda (R) and former catcher Motonobu Tanishige pose for a photo in Tokyo on Jan. 18, 2024, after being named two of the newest members of the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame. (Pool photo)

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New Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame members

Former major league pitcher Hiroki Kuroda (R) and former catcher Motonobu Tanishige shake hands in Tokyo on Jan. 18, 2024, after being named two of the newest members of the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame. (Pool photo)

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Japan's new Baseball Hall of Fame member

Former catcher Motonobu Tanishige makes a speech in Tokyo on Jan. 18, 2024, after being named one of the newest members of the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame. (Pool photo)

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New Dragons manager Tanishige arrives for training camp

ONNA, Japan - Motonobu Tanishige (R), the new manager of the Chunichi Dragons, receives a bunch of welcome flowers as he arrives at a hotel in Onna, Okinawa Prefecture, on Jan. 30, 2014, where the professional baseball club will stay for its spring training camp starting on Feb. 1.

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Dragons' Tanishige donates bat to museum

TOKYO, Japan - Chunichi Dragons player-manager Motonobu Tanishige on Aug. 23, 2014, donates to the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Tokyo the bat and ball used to extend his home run streak to a record 26 consecutive years in a game against DeNA the previous month.

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Softbank wins Game 5 of Japan Series

NAGOYA, Japan - Softbank Hawks' Nobuhiro Matsuda (back) scores on Toru Hosokawa's single as Chunichi Dragons catcher Motonobu Tanishige attempts to block him during Game 5 of the Japan Series at Nagoya Dome in Aichi Prefecture on Nov. 17, 2011. The Hawks won the game 5-0 to lead the best-of-seven series three games to two.

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Iwase reaches 250th saves milestone

NAGOYA, Japan - Chunichi Dragons closer Hitoki Iwase shakes hands with catcher Motonobu Tanishige after picking up his 250th career save following the team's 5-3 victory over the Nippon Ham Fighters at Nagoya Dome in Nagoya on June 16, 2010. The left-hander threw a scoreless ninth inning, making him the third pitcher in Japanese baseball history to reach the plateau in his 658th game.

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Failed catch attempt by Swallows' Guiel leads to double

TOKYO, Japan - Yakult Swallows right fielder Aeron Guiel tries to catch a fly ball off the bat of Chinichi Dragons catcher Motonobu Tanishige in the seventh inning of their game at Jingu Stadium in Tokyo on July 31. The ball Guiel missed ended up an RBI double. The Swallows won 3-2.

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Nippon Ham's Takahashi signals safe

SAPPORO, Japan - Nippon Ham Fighters first baseman Shinji Takahashi (C) signals he is safe while scoring on a double by designated hitter Terrmel Sledge after Chunichi Dragons catcher Motonobu Tanishige (L) is late on the tag in the second inning of their game at Sapporo Dome on June 13.

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Chunichi slugger Wada scores

NAGOYA, Japan - Chunichi Dragons slugger Kazuhiro Wada slides home to score following a sacrifice fly by Motonobu Tanishige in the second inning of a game against the Yokohama BayStars at Nagoya Dome on May 17. The Dragons won 4-1.

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Veteran Chunichi lefty Yamamoto throws no-hitter

NAGOYA, Japan - Chunichi Dragons left-hander Masahiro Yamamoto (L) gets congratulations from teammates Motonobu Tanishige (C) and Hirokazu Ibata after becoming the oldest pitcher in Japanese baseball history to throw a no-hitte, leading the Central League leaders to a 3-0 victory over the Hanshin Tigers at Nagoya Dome on Sept. 16. Yamamoto, who is playing in his 23rd season, pitched his first career no-hitter at 41 years and one month after striking out five and issuing no walks in a 97-pitch outing.

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Kawakami shuts out BayStars

NAGOYA, Japan - Chunichi Dragons starter Kenshin Kawakami joins catcher Motonobu Tanishige and other teammates in celebration after going the distance to shut out the Yokohama BayStars at Nagoya Dome on May 2. Chunichi defeated Yokohama 4-0.

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Tanishige to make same amount with Chunichi in 2004

NAGOYA, Japan - Chunichi Dragons catcher Motonobu Tanishige speaks at a news conference in Nagoya on Nov. 26 after agreeing to an unchanged 250 million yen annual salary in addition to performance-based incentives for the 2004 season.

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Tanishige hits 3-run double

TOYOHASHI, Japan - Chunichi Dragons catcher Motonobu Tanishige hits a three-run double with bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning against the Hanshin Tigers at Toyohashi Ball Park on April 16. Chunichi beat Hanshin 7-3.

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Free agent Tanishige signs 4-year deal with Chunichi

NAGOYA, Japan - Free agent catcher Motonobu Tanishige (C) beams after signing a four-year, 1 billion yen contract with the Chunichi Dragons on Dec. 27, flanked by Chunichi manager Hisashi Yamada (L) and President Junnosuke Nishikawa (R). The 31-year-old Tanishige, who will wear the No. 7 uniform, said he was ''happy to lead the best pitching staff in Japanese baseball.''

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Free agent catcher Tanishige to join Chunichi

NAGOYA, Japan - Free agent catcher Motonobu Tanishige (file photo) has opted to accept an offer from the Chunichi Dragons of Japan's Central League after his negotiations with U.S. major league clubs hit a snag, Chunichi officials said Dec. 24. Tanishige demonstrated his catching and batting skills in Arizona in early December in front of officials from clubs interested in signing the 31-year-old, including the Seattle Mariners, Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres.

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Tanishige eyes major league baseball as free agent

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Yokohama BayStars catcher Motonobu Tanishige speaks at a news conference in Yokohama on Oct. 31 after filing for free agency. Tanishige said he hopes to negotiate with major league clubs if he receives offers, with the option to re-sign with the Central League club as free agent. ''The first thing I want to do is talk with major league teams interested in me.,'' he said.

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Tanishige belts three-run homer

HIROSHIMA, Japan - Yokohama Baystars catcher Motonobu Tanishige (R) is greeted by teammates after hitting a three-run home run off Hiroshima Toyo Carp starter Hiroki Kuroda with one out in the top of the second inning at Hiroshima Stadium on August 1.

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Petagine welcomed after 1st of 2 homers in all-star game

TOKYO, Japan - Yakult Swallows slugger Roberto Petagine (No. 9) is greeted by his Central League teammates after hitting the first of two home runs in the second inning of Game 1 of the Japanese professional baseball all-star series at Tokyo Dome on July 22.Petagine's homer in the second tied the game 1-1 while his solo blast in the eighth gave the Central League a 5-3 lead. He is greeted at the dugout by (left to right) Melvin Bunch (Chunichi), Bobby Rose (Yokoham), Darrell May (Yomiuri), Motonobu Tanishige (Yokohama) and Kazuhiro Kiyohara (Yomiuri).

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Free agent catcher Tanishige to join Chunichi

NAGOYA, Japan - Free agent catcher Motonobu Tanishige (file photo) has opted to accept an offer from the Chunichi Dragons of Japan's Central League after his negotiations with U.S. major league clubs hit a snag, Chunichi officials said Dec. 24. Tanishige demonstrated his catching and batting skills in Arizona in early December in front of officials from clubs interested in signing the 31-year-old, including the Seattle Mariners, Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres.

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Free agent Tanishige signs 4-year deal with Chunichi

NAGOYA, Japan - Free agent catcher Motonobu Tanishige (C) beams after signing a four-year, 1 billion yen contract with the Chunichi Dragons on Dec. 27, flanked by Chunichi manager Hisashi Yamada (L) and President Junnosuke Nishikawa (R). The 31-year-old Tanishige, who will wear the No. 7 uniform, said he was ''happy to lead the best pitching staff in Japanese baseball.''

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Tanishige hits 3-run double

TOYOHASHI, Japan - Chunichi Dragons catcher Motonobu Tanishige hits a three-run double with bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning against the Hanshin Tigers at Toyohashi Ball Park on April 16. Chunichi beat Hanshin 7-3.

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Kawakami shuts out BayStars

NAGOYA, Japan - Chunichi Dragons starter Kenshin Kawakami joins catcher Motonobu Tanishige and other teammates after going the distance to shut out the Yokohama BayStars at Nagoya Dome on May 2. Chunichi defeated Yokohama 4-0. (Kyodo)

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Veteran Chunichi lefty Yamamoto throws no-hitter

NAGOYA, Japan - Chunichi Dragons left-hander Masahiro Yamamoto (L) gets congratulations from teammates Motonobu Tanishige (C) and Hirokazu Ibata after becoming the oldest pitcher in Japanese baseball history to throw a no-hitte, leading the Central League leaders to a 3-0 victory over the Hanshin Tigers at Nagoya Dome on Sept. 16. Yamamoto, who is playing in his 23rd season, pitched his first career no-hitter at 41 years and one month after striking out five and issuing no walks in a 97-pitch outing. (Kyodo)

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Chunichi slugger Wada scores

NAGOYA, Japan - Chunichi Dragons slugger Kazuhiro Wada slides home to score following a sacrifice fly by Motonobu Tanishige in the second inning of a game against the Yokohama BayStars at Nagoya Dome on May 17. The Dragons won 4-1. (Kyodo)

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Nippon Ham's Takahashi signals safe

SAPPORO, Japan - Nippon Ham Fighters first baseman Shinji Takahashi (C) signals he is safe while scoring on a double by designated hitter Terrmel Sledge after Chunichi Dragons catcher Motonobu Tanishige (L) is late on the tag in the second inning of their game at Sapporo Dome on June 13. (Kyodo)

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Tanishige eyes major league baseball as free agent

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Yokohama BayStars catcher Motonobu Tanishige speaks at a news conference in Yokohama on Oct. 31 after filing for free agency. Tanishige said he hopes to negotiate with major league clubs if he receives offers, with the option to re-sign with the Central League club as free agent. ''The first thing I want to do is talk with major league teams interested in me.\,'' he said.

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Dragons Tanishige to end his playing career at season's end

Chunichi Dragons player-manager Motonobu Tanishige, 44, gives a press conference at Nagoya Dome in central Japan on Sept. 21, 2015, saying he will retire as an active player at the end of this season. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Dragons catcher Tanishige sets games-played record

Dragons player-manager Motonobu Tanishige throws the ball during a game against the Hanshin Tigers on July 28, 2015, his 3,018th career game, a new Nippon Professional Baseball record for games played. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Dragons catcher Tanishige sets games-played record

Dragons player-manager Motonobu Tanishige holds up a sign marking his 3,018th career game, a new Nippon Professional Baseball record for games played, during a game against the Hanshin Tigers at Nagoya Dome in Nagoya, central Japan, on July 28, 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Tanishige sets Japan baseball record with 3,018th game appearances

Chunichi Dragons player-manager Motonobu Tanishige practices before a game against the Hanshin Tigers at Nagoya Dome on July 28, 2015. Tanishige set a Japanese baseball record by making his 3,018th game appearance. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Craftsman shows catcher's mitt for retiring pro baseball player

Yoshihisa Hatakeyama, president of a sports goods maker in Osaka, shows a catcher's mitt (L) produced for Chunichi Dragons player-manager Motonobu Tanishige and an ordinary mitt in the western Japanese city on Sept. 7, 2015. Hatakeyama has produced mitts for Tanishige, who is retiring as an active player this season, since 1989. They are narrower and deeper than ordinary ones. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Iwase reaches 250th saves milestone

NAGOYA, Japan - Chunichi Dragons closer Hitoki Iwase shakes hands with catcher Motonobu Tanishige after picking up his 250th career save following the team's 5-3 victory over the Nippon Ham Fighters at Nagoya Dome in Nagoya on June 16, 2010. The left-hander threw a scoreless ninth inning, making him the third pitcher in Japanese baseball history to reach the plateau in his 658th game. (Kyodo)

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Dragons' Tanishige donates bat to museum

TOKYO, Japan - Chunichi Dragons player-manager Motonobu Tanishige on Aug. 23, 2014, donates to the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Tokyo the bat and ball used to extend his home run streak to a record 26 consecutive years in a game against DeNA the previous month. (Kyodo)

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Softbank wins Game 5 of Japan Series

NAGOYA, Japan - Softbank Hawks' Nobuhiro Matsuda (back) scores on Toru Hosokawa's single as Chunichi Dragons catcher Motonobu Tanishige attempts to block him during Game 5 of the Japan Series at Nagoya Dome in Aichi Prefecture on Nov. 17, 2011. The Hawks won the game 5-0 to lead the best-of-seven series three games to two. (Kyodo)

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Dragons name Mori as full-time manager for next season

Shigekazu Mori, acting manger of the Chunichi Dragons baseball club, speaks at a news conference in Nagoya on Sept. 29, 2016, after the team announced Mori will take on the job full-time next season. In August, the Dragons placed third-year manager Motonobu Tanishige on leave, effectively firing him and promoting Mori, who was the bench coach at the time. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Baseball: Dragons skipper Tanishige leaves struggling team

Chunichi Dragons manager Motonobu Tanishige says at a press conference at Nagoya Dome on Aug. 9, 2016 that he will leave the last-place team for an indefinite period. Head coach Shigekazu Mori will serve as interim manager after the front office asked Tanishige, in the third year of his four-year contract, to take some time off. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Tanishige belts three-run homer

HIROSHIMA, Japan - Yokohama Baystars catcher Motonobu Tanishige (R) is greeted by teammates after hitting a three-run home run off Hiroshima Toyo Carp starter Hiroki Kuroda with one out in the top of the second inning at Hiroshima Stadium on August 1.

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Petagine welcomed after 1st of 2 homers in all-star game

TOKYO, Japan - Yakult Swallows slugger Roberto Petagine (No. 9) is greeted by his Central League teammates after hitting the first of two home runs in the second inning of Game 1 of the Japanese professional baseball all-star series at Tokyo Dome on July 22.Petagine's homer in the second tied the game 1-1 while his solo blast in the eighth gave the Central League a 5-3 lead. He is greeted at the dugout by (left to right) Melvin Bunch (Chunichi), Bobby Rose (Yokoham), Darrell May (Yomiuri), Motonobu Tanishige (Yokohama) and Kazuhiro Kiyohara (Yomiuri).