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Baseball: ex-big leaguer Matsui at NPB minor league game

Former New York Yankees slugger Hideki Matsui throws a ceremonial first pitch in a Nippon Professional Baseball minor league game between the Yomiuri Giants and the DeNA BayStars on May 7, 2025, in Inagi, western Tokyo.

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Baseball: NPB spring training

Yomiuri Giants catcher Takuya Kai heads to the bullpen during the club's spring training on Feb. 1, 2025, in Miyazaki, southwestern Japan.

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Baseball: NPB spring training

SoftBank Hawks pitcher Naoyuki Uwasawa throws a bullpen session during the club's spring training on Feb. 16, 2025, in Miyazaki, southwestern Japan.

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Baseball: NPB season opener at new Hokkaido ballpark

Baseball fans pack the Nippon Ham Fighters' new home stadium, Es Con Field Hokkaido, in Kitahiroshima, northern Japan, ahead of Nippon Professional Baseball's season-opening game against the Tohoku Rakuten Eagles on March 30, 2023. The new stadium boasts a retractable roof to shield the game and its natural grass turf from Hokkaido's frigid winters and snowy weather, as well as a 70-meter glass wall behind the bleachers to allow sunlight onto the turf.

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Baseball: NPB season opener at new Hokkaido ballpark

A ceremony is held at the Nippon Ham Fighters' new home stadium, Es Con Field Hokkaido, in Kitahiroshima, northern Japan, ahead of Nippon Professional Baseball's season-opening game against the Tohoku Rakuten Eagles on March 30, 2023.

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Baseball: NPB season opener at new Hokkaido ballpark

Baseball fans pack the Nippon Ham Fighters' new home stadium, Es Con Field Hokkaido, in Kitahiroshima, northern Japan, ahead of Nippon Professional Baseball's season-opening game against the Tohoku Rakuten Eagles on March 30, 2023.

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Baseball: NPB season opener at new Hokkaido ballpark

Players of the Nippon Ham Fighters and the Tohoku Rakuten Eagles line up on the field of Es Con Field Hokkaido, the Fighters' new home in Kitahiroshima in Hokkaido, northern Japan, to sing Japan's national anthem ahead of Nippon Professional Baseball's season-opening game between the two on March 30, 2023.

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Baseball: NPB season opener at new Hokkaido ballpark

Japan's 2023 World Baseball Classic-winning manager Hideki Kuriyama throws out the ceremonial first pitch for Nippon Professional Baseball's season-opening game between the Nippon Ham Fighters and the Tohoku Rakuten Eagles at Es Con Field Hokkaido, the Fighters' new home in Kitahiroshima in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on March 30, 2023. Kuriyama managed the fighters for 10 years before becoming the manager of the Japan national baseball team.

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Baseball: NPB season opener at new Hokkaido ballpark

People wait for the opening of Es Con Field Hokkaido, the Nippon Ham Fighters' new home in Kitahiroshima in Hokkaido, northern Japan, ahead of Nippon Professional Baseball's season-opening game against the Tohoku Rakuten Eagles on March 30, 2023.

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Baseball: NPB season opener at new Hokkaido ballpark

People wait for the opening of Es Con Field Hokkaido, the Nippon Ham Fighters' new home in Kitahiroshima in Hokkaido, northern Japan, ahead of Nippon Professional Baseball's season-opening game against the Tohoku Rakuten Eagles on March 30, 2023.

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Baseball: NPB season opener at new Hokkaido ballpark

People wait for the opening of Es Con Field Hokkaido, the Nippon Ham Fighters' new home in Kitahiroshima in Hokkaido, northern Japan, ahead of Nippon Professional Baseball's season-opening game against the Tohoku Rakuten Eagles on March 30, 2023.

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Baseball: NPB season opener at new Hokkaido ballpark

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Blue Impulse aerobatic team flies over Es Con Field Hokkaido, the Nippon Ham Fighters' new home in Kitahiroshima in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on March 30, 2023, ahead of Nippon Professional Baseball's season-opening game against the Tohoku Rakuten Eagles.

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Baseball: NPB season opener at new Hokkaido ballpark

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Blue Impulse aerobatic team flies over Es Con Field Hokkaido, the Nippon Ham Fighters' new home in Kitahiroshima in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on March 30, 2023, ahead of Nippon Professional Baseball's season-opening game against the Tohoku Rakuten Eagles.

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Baseball: NPB season opener at new Hokkaido ballpark

People take photos of a mural featuring major leaguers Shohei Ohtani and Yu Darvish, who both previously played for the Nippon Ham Fighters, at Es Con Field Hokkaido, the team's new home in Kitahiroshima in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on March 30, 2023, ahead of Nippon Professional Baseball's season-opening game against the Tohoku Rakuten Eagles.

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Baseball: NPB season opener at new Hokkaido ballpark

People wait for the opening of Es Con Field Hokkaido, the Nippon Ham Fighters' new home in Kitahiroshima in Hokkaido, northern Japan, ahead of Nippon Professional Baseball's season-opening game against the Tohoku Rakuten Eagles on March 30, 2023.

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Baseball: Iwase man of the hour as NPB pitching record falls

TOKYO, Japan, Aug. 7 Kyodo - Chunichi Dragons reliever Hitoki Iwase pitches against the Yomiuri Giants at Tokyo Dome on Aug. 6, 2017. Iwase made his 950th career appearance, setting Japanese baseball's new record for games pitched.

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Baseball: NPB to adopt new intentional walk rule in 2018

MIAMI, United States, Dec. 19 Kyodo - Major league baseball has implemented the no-pitch intentional walk rule as seen in this photo taken May 15, 2017, in Miami, Florida. Nippon Professional Baseball will introduce the same rule in 2018, according to a source familiar with the matter.

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Baseball: NPB to adopt no-pitch intentional walk rule in 2018

SAPPORO, Japan, Dec. 19 Kyodo - Shohei Otani (L) of the Nippon Ham Fighters draws an intentional walk in Game 2 of the Pacific League Climax Series final stage against the SoftBank Hawks at Sapporo Dome on Oct. 13, 2016. Nippon Professional Baseball will adopt the no-pitch intentional walk rule in 2018, according to a source familiar with the matter.

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Kumazaki named next NPB commissioner

TOKYO, Japan - Former prosecutor Katsuhiko Kumazaki holds a press conference at a Tokyo hotel on Dec. 26, 2013, after he was confirmed as Nippon Professional Baseball's next commissioner earlier in the day at an extraordinary owners meeting.

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NPB, MLB, fail to reach accord

NEW YORK, United States - Nobuhisa Ito, a legal expert of Nippon Professional Baseball, speaks with reporters after holding negotiations with Major League Baseball on a new posting system on Nov. 27, 2013 in New York. Ito said the two sides failed to reach an agreement during their second day of talks but are expected to continue negotiations.

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Ex-baseball commissioner Negoro dies

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken in August 2007 in Tokyo shows Yasuchika Negoro, then acting commissioner of Nippon Professional Baseball. Negoro, a former NPB commissioner who took the post after retiring as head of the Tokyo High Public Prosecutors' Office, died of lung cancer at a Tokyo hospital on Nov. 4, 2013, the Justice Ministry said Nov. 8. He was 81.

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NPB head Kato announces resignation

TOKYO, Japan - Nippon Professional Baseball Commissioner Ryozo Kato (back L) is pictured at the owners' meeting on Sept. 19, 2013. Kato announced his resignation at the meeting. He had come under fire in June, when it was revealed that NPB had secretly altered the baseball used by its two leagues.

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NPB head Kato announces resignation

TOKYO, Japan - A meeting of the professional baseball owners is held in Tokyo on Sept. 19, 2013. Nippon Professional Baseball Commissioner Ryozo Kato (back, center L) announced his resignation at the meeting. He had come under fire in June, when it was revealed that NPB had secretly altered the baseball used by its two leagues.

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NPB head Kato announces resignation

TOKYO, Japan - Nippon Professional Baseball Commissioner Ryozo Kato enters a room at a hotel in Tokyo to attend the owners' meeting on Sept. 19, 2013. Kato announced his resignation at the meeting. He had come under fire in June, when it was revealed that NPB had secretly altered the baseball used by its two leagues.

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NPB head Kato intends to resign

TOKYO, Japan - Photo shows Nippon Professional Baseball Commissioner Ryozo Kato. Kato, 72, intends to resign, sources close to the matter said Sept. 19, 2013. He came under fire earlier in the year after the Japanese league secretly altered its ball.

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NPB ball change revelation

TOKYO, Japan - Nippon Professional Baseball commissioner Ryozo Kato (R) attends a press conference in Tokyo on June 12, 2013, with NPB secretary general Kunio Shimoda, after NPB admitted the previous day it had changed its official ball for the 2013 season. NPB had previously denied that the increase in home runs during the current season had anything to do with changes to the ball.

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NPB ball change revelation

TOKYO, Japan - Nippon Professional Baseball commissioner Ryozo Kato attends a press conference in Tokyo on June 12, 2013, after NPB admitted the previous day it had changed its official ball for the 2013 season. NPB had previously denied that the increase in home runs during the current season had anything to do with changes to the ball.

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NPB ball change revelation

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Photo shows Nippon Professional Baseball's official balls being used from the 2013 season. The balls were used in a game between the Seibu Lions and the Yomiuri Giants on June 3, 2013. NPB admitted on June 11, 2013, that it had changed its official ball for the 2013 season.

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NPB ball change revelation

TOKYO, Japan - Nippon Professional Baseball holds a press conference with commissioner Ryozo Kato (3rd from front) in Tokyo on June 12, 2013, after admitting the previous day it had changed its official ball for the 2013 season. NPB had previously denied that the increase in home runs during the current season had anything to do with changes to the ball.

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NPB ball change revelation

TOKYO, Japan - Nippon Professional Baseball commissioner Ryozo Kato attends a press conference in Tokyo on June 12, 2013, after NPB admitted the previous day it had changed its official ball for the 2013 season. NPB had previously denied that the increase in home runs during the current season had anything to do with changes to the ball.

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NPB ball change revelation

TOKYO, Japan - Nippon Professional Baseball commissioner Ryozo Kato attends a press conference in Tokyo on June 12, 2013, after NPB admitted the previous day it had changed its official ball for the 2013 season. NPB had previously denied that the increase in home runs during the current season had anything to do with changes to the ball.

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NPB ball change revelation

TOKYO, Japan - Nippon Professional Baseball commissioner Ryozo Kato attends a press conference in Tokyo on June 12, 2013, after NPB admitted the previous day it had changed its official ball for the 2013 season. NPB had previously denied that the increase in home runs during the current season had anything to do with changes to the ball.

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NPB ball change revelation

SENDAI, Japan - Motohiro Shima, head of Japan's pro baseball players association, holds a press conference in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, on June 12, 2013, after Nippon Professional Baseball admitted the previous day that it had changed its official ball for the 2013 season.

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NPB ball change revelation

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Photo shows Nippon Professional Baseball's official ball being used from the 2013 season. NPB admitted on June 11, 2013, that it had changed its official ball for the 2013 season.

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NPB admits changing ball

TOKYO, Japan - File photo shows the Nippon Professional Baseball's official ball used in the 2011 and 2012 seasons. The NPB admitted on June 11, 2013, that it had changed its official ball prior to the start of the ongoing season, which has seen markedly more home runs.

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NPB admits changing ball for current season

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken in Tokyo in August 2010 shows Nippon Professional Baseball commissioner Ryozo Kato showing off a new ball, as well as its cross section, to be used by the 12 professional baseball teams of the Japanese Central and Pacific leagues from the 2011 season. NPB admitted June 11, 2013, that it had changed its official ball prior to the start of the current season, which has seen markedly more home runs.

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DeNA submits application to NPB

TOKYO, Japan - Makoto Haruta (R), director and chairman of DeNA Co., hands an application to Kunio Shimoda, secretary general of Nippon Professional Baseball, in Tokyo on Nov. 4, 2011, as DeNA has struck a deal with Tokyo Broadcasting System Holdings Inc. to buy the baseball club Yokohama BayStars.

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Japan to use MLB-like baseballs

TOKYO, Japan - Nippon Professional Baseball commissioner Ryozo Kato shows off a new ball and its cross section to be used as a standardized ball by the 12 professional baseball teams of the Japanese Central and Pacific leagues from next season on Aug. 23, 2010, in Tokyo. The specifications of the new ball will be closer to that of Major League Baseball. NPB hopes using the new balls will give Japanese players an edge in international tournaments like the World Baseball Classic.

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Kato begins NPB commissioner assignment

TOKYO, Japan - Former Japanese Ambassador to the United States Ryozo Kato, who assumed the post of Nippon Professional Baseball commissioner on July 1, visits the commissioner's office in Tokyo the same day.

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NPB meeting begins for new team selection

TOKYO, Japan - Owners of Japanese professional baseball clubs are seated for a crucial meeting at a Tokyo hotel on Nov. 2 to select a new team to be allowed to join their clubs in the 2005 season. The meeting will choose either Internet shopping mall operator Rakuten Inc. or Internet service provider Livedoor Co.

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NPB inconclusive on viability of Rakuten, Livedoor

TOKYO, Japan - Members of the Nippon Professional Baseball's executive committee panel speaks at a press conference at a Tokyo hotel on Oct. 26 after their inconclusive meeting on the applications filed by Internet-related companies Rakuten Inc. and Livedoor Co. to create a new baseball team in Sendai. The panel gave a progress report on the screenings of the two companies but has not revealed any concrete conclusions on whether either company is fit to establish a team next season.

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(1)Rakuten files for entry into pro baseball

TOKYO, Japan - Rakuten Inc. President Hiroshi Mikitani (L) files an application to join Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) with Kazuo Hasegawa, secretary general to the Japanese baseball commissioner, in Tokyo on Sept. 24.

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(2)Ball players to strike after NPB talks fail

TOKYO, Japan - Ryuzo Setoyama (R), representative of the Pacific League ball club Lotte Marines, speaks to reporters at a Tokyo hotel Sept. 17 after negotiations between management and players broke down. At left is Atsuya Furuta, a catcher with the Central League baseball club Yakult Swallows who heads the Japan Professional Baseball Players Association.

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(3)Ball players to strike after NPB talks fail

KOBE, Japan - A baseball fan holds up a sign in support of a baseball players' strike at Yahoo BB Stadium in Kobe Sept. 17 after the Japan Professional Baseball Players Association decided to go on strike Sept. 18 and 19.

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(1)Ball players to strike after NPB talks fail

TOKYO, Japan - Atsuya Furuta (C), a catcher with the Central League ball club Yakult Swallows who heads the Japan Professional Baseball Players Association, speaks at a press conference at a Tokyo hotel Sept. 17 after negotiations with Nippon Professional Baseball ended in failure. Players will go on strike Sept. 18 and 19 for the first time in the 70-year history of Japanese pro baseball.

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Baseball: Yakult Swallows player Murakami

Yakult Swallows infielder Munetaka Murakami (R) speaks at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Nov. 14, 2022. Murakami, who became NPB's youngest Triple Crown winner at 22, expressed his desire to play in MLB in the near future.

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Baseball: Yakult Swallows player Murakami

Yakult Swallows infielder Munetaka Murakami speaks at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Nov. 14, 2022. Murakami, who became NPB's youngest Triple Crown winner at 22, expressed his desire to play in MLB in the near future.

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Baseball: Yakult Swallows player Murakami

Yakult Swallows infielder Munetaka Murakami speaks at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Nov. 14, 2022. Murakami, who became NPB's youngest Triple Crown winner at 22, expressed his desire to play in MLB in the near future.

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Baseball: Yakult Swallows player Murakami

Yakult Swallows infielder Munetaka Murakami speaks at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Nov. 14, 2022. Murakami, who became NPB's youngest Triple Crown winner at 22, expressed his desire to play in MLB in the near future.

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Baseball: Ohtani's mentor Kuriyama named Japan manager

Former Nippon Ham Fighters skipper Hideki Kuriyama was appointed the new manager of Japan's national baseball team, Samurai Japan, NPB Enterprise Inc. announced Thursday. Kuriyama won two Pacific League pennants and a Japan Series in his 10 years with the Fighters, where he oversaw Shohei Ohtani's professional development as both a batter and pitcher. "I feel a sense of responsibility from the bottom of my heart," Kuriyama told a press conference. "I will give 100 percent so that Japan can win the 2023 World Baseball Classic.