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Baseball: Lions vs. Eagles

Manaya Nishikawa of the Seibu Lions hits a solo home run during the sixth inning of a Pacific League baseball game against the Rakuten Eagles at Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi in Sendai, northeastern Japan, on July 27, 2025.

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Baseball:veteran pitcher Maeda joins Rakuten Eagles

SENDAI, Japan, Dec. 24 Kyodo - Right-hander Kenta Maeda poses for a photo with fans at Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi in Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Dec. 16, 2025, as he holds his first news conference after joining the Pacific League pro baseball team Rakuten Eagles. He returned to Japan after playing for 10 years in the U.S. majors.

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Baseball: Eagles vs. Buffaloes

Orix Buffaloes starter Hiroya Miyagi pitches in a baseball game against the Rakuten Eagles on March 28, 2025, at Kyocera Dome Osaka in the city of Osaka, western Japan.

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Japanese baseball legend Nagashima dies at 89

DeNA BayStars players observe a moment of silence before a baseball game against the Rakuten Eagles at Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi in Sendai, northeastern Japan, on June 3, 2025, after Japanese baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima died aged 89 earlier in the day.

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Japanese baseball legend Nagashima dies at 89

Rakuten Eagles players observe a moment of silence before a baseball game against the DeNA BayStars at Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi in Sendai, northeastern Japan, on June 3, 2025, after Japanese baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima died aged 89 earlier in the day.

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Japanese baseball legend Nagashima dies at 89

Rakuten Eagles players observe a moment of silence before a baseball game against the DeNA BayStars at Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi in Sendai, northeastern Japan, on June 3, 2025, after Japanese baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima died aged 89 earlier in the day.

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Baseball: Pitcher Roki Sasaki

Roki Sasaki of the Lotte Marines reacts after getting Ryosuke Tatsumi of the Rakuten Eagles to ground out during the second inning of a baseball game at Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi in Sendai in the northeastern Japan prefecture of Miyagi on April 14, 2024.

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Pitcher Masahiro Tanaka

Veteran pitcher Masahiro Tanaka speaks to reporters at Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Nov. 26, 2024, about his decision to depart from the Rakuten Eagles.

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Pitcher Masahiro Tanaka

Veteran pitcher Masahiro Tanaka speaks to reporters at Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Nov. 26, 2024, about his decision to depart from the Rakuten Eagles.

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Pitcher Masahiro Tanaka

Veteran pitcher Masahiro Tanaka speaks to reporters at Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Nov. 26, 2024, about his decision to depart from the Rakuten Eagles.

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Baseball: Miki unveiled as new Rakuten manager

Hajime Miki poses for photos after being introduced as new manager of the Rakuten Eagles pro baseball team at Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi in the northeastern Japan city of Sendai on Oct. 17, 2024.

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Baseball: Miki unveiled as new Rakuten manager

Hajime Miki attends a press conference on Oct. 17, 2024, at Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi in the northeastern Japan city of Sendai where he is introduced as new manager of the Rakuten Eagles pro baseball team.

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Baseball: Miki unveiled as new Rakuten manager

Hajime Miki attends a press conference on Oct. 17, 2024, at Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi in the northeastern Japan city of Sendai where he is introduced as new manager of the Rakuten Eagles pro baseball team.

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Baseball: Yakult vs. Eagles

Masanori Ishikawa of the Yakult Swallows pitches against the Rakuten Eagles on June 2, 2024, in an interleague baseball game at Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi in the northeastern Japan city of Sendai. The 44-year-old earned his first win of the season, becoming the first to get at least one win in 23 straight seasons since turning pro.

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Baseball: Giants vs. Eagles

Daichi Suzuki (7) of the Rakuten Eagles is greeted by team manager Toshiaki Imae (98) in the dugout after scoring on Maikel Franco's RBI single in the fourth inning of an interleague baseball game against the Yomiuri Giants on June 13, 2024, at Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi in the northeastern Japan city of Sendai.

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Baseball: Reliever Matsui signs 5-year deal with Padres

Rakuten Eagles pitcher Yuki Matsui pitches against the Nippon Ham Fighters in their Pacific League game at Sendai's Rakuten Mobile Park on Oct. 5, 2023. The Japanese left-handed reliever has signed a five-year contract with the San Diego Padres, the major league club said Dec. 23, with the deal expected to be worth $28 million.

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Baseball: Reliever Matsui signs 5-year deal with Padres

Rakuten Eagles pitcher Yuki Matsui pitches against the Nippon Ham Fighters in their Pacific League game at Sendai's Rakuten Mobile Park on Sept. 23, 2023. The Japanese left-handed reliever has signed a five-year contract with the San Diego Padres, the major league club said Dec. 23, with the deal expected to be worth $28 million.

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Baseball in Japan

TOKOROZAWA, Japan, Kyodo - Wu Nien-ting (39) of the Seibu Lions is congratulated by teammates after scoring a run in the second inning of a Pacific League baseball game against the Rakuten Eagles at Belluna Dome in Tokorozawa, eastern Japan, on April 24, 2022.

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Baseball: Eagles to release pitcher Anraku over workplace abuse

Masayuki Morii, president of the Pacific League's Rakuten Eagles, speaks at a press conference in Sendai, northeastern Japan, on Nov. 30, 2023, after the team released pitcher Tomohiro Anraku for his pattern of abusive behavior toward teammates.

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Baseball: Japan's Matsui to test MLB free agent market

Yuki Matsui, a Japanese left-handed pitcher at the Rakuten Eagles pro baseball team who aims to sign with a major league club as a free agent this offseason, speaks at a press conference in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture in northeastern Japan, on Nov. 8, 2023.

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Baseball: Japan's Matsui to test MLB free agent market

Yuki Matsui, a Japanese left-handed pitcher at the Rakuten Eagles pro baseball team who aims to sign with a major league club as a free agent this offseason, speaks at a press conference in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture in northeastern Japan, on Nov. 8, 2023.

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Baseball: Imae unveiled as new Rakuten manager

Toshiaki Imae poses during a press conference at Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi in the northeastern Japan city of Sendai on Oct. 17, 2023, where he is introduced as new manager of the Rakuten Eagles pro baseball team.

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Baseball: Imae unveiled as new Rakuten manager

Toshiaki Imae attends a press conference at Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi in the northeastern Japan city of Sendai on Oct. 17, 2023, where he is introduced as new manager of the Rakuten Eagles pro baseball team.

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Baseball: Eagles' Sung Chia-hao

Sung Chia-hao of the Pacific League's Rakuten Eagles is pictured at Rakuten Seimei Park Miyagi in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on July 18, 2022. He played for Taiwan at the World Baseball Classic in the spring of 2023.

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Baseball: Mannami hits go-ahead double

Chusei Mannami of the Nippon Ham Fighters hits a go-ahead two-run double in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Rakuten Eagles at Es Con Field Hokkaido in Kitahiroshima, northern Japan, on May 5, 2023.

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Baseball: Fighters snaps 13-game losing streak

Nippon Ham Fighters players high-five each other after the Pacific League pro baseball team snapped their 13-game losing streak with a 3-2 win over the Rakuten Eagles at Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi in Sendai, northeastern Japan, on July 26, 2023.

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Baseball: Rakuten Eagles pitcher Tanaka

Rakuten Eagles pitcher Masahiro Tanaka holds up a celebratory sign after recording the 2,500th strikeout of his combined playing career in Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball during a game at Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi in the northeastern Japan city of Sendai on April 21, 2023.

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Baseball: Fighters' new ballpark in Hokkaido

The Nippon Ham Fighters' new home stadium, Es Con Field Hokkaido, in Kitahiroshima, northern Japan, opens with Nippon Professional Baseball's season-opening game against the Tohoku Rakuten Eagles on March 30, 2023. The stadium boasts huge screens above the spectators seats on the right and left sides, as well as a retractable roof to shield the game and its natural grass turf from Hokkaido's frigid winters and snowy weather.

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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 new posting system

SENDAI, Japan - Rakuten Eagles ace Masahiro Tanaka holds a press conference after a meeting with officials of the pro baseball team at its office in Sendai, northeastern Japan, on Dec. 17, 2013, following an agreement between Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball on the terms of a new posting system. Tanaka may be the first player affected by the new rules.

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Baseball new posting system

SENDAI, Japan - Rakuten Eagles ace Masahiro Tanaka heads to a meeting with officials of the pro baseball team at its office in Sendai, northeastern Japan, on Dec. 17, 2013, after Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball agreed on the terms of a new posting system. Tanaka may be the first player affected by the new rules.

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Baseball new posting system

SENDAI, Japan - Rakuten Eagles ace Masahiro Tanaka holds a press conference after a meeting with officials of the pro baseball team at its office in Sendai, northeastern Japan, on Dec. 17, 2013, following an agreement between Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball on the terms of a new posting system. Tanaka may be the first player affected by the new rules.

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Baseball new posting system

SENDAI, Japan - Rakuten Eagles ace Masahiro Tanaka holds a press conference after a meeting with officials of the pro baseball team at its office in Sendai, northeastern Japan, on Dec. 17, 2013, following an agreement between Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball on the terms of a new posting system. Tanaka may be the first player affected by the new rules.

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Baseball new posting system

SENDAI, Japan - Rakuten Eagles ace Masahiro Tanaka heads to a meeting with officials of the pro baseball team at its office in Sendai, northeastern Japan, on Dec. 17, 2013, after Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball agreed on the terms of a new posting system. Tanaka may be the first player affected by the new rules.

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(1)Pitcher Iwakuma gets wish on cash trade to Rakuten

KOBE, Japan - Orix Buffaloes club president Takashi Koizumi speaks at a press conference at Kobe Stadium on Dec. 22. He said that right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma was granted his wish in a cash trade to the newly formed Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.

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Baseball: Tanaka at Rakuten's spring training

KIN, Japan, Feb. 6 Kyodo - Former New York Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (C) joins the Rakuten Eagles' spring training in the Okinawa Prefecture town of Kin, southern Japan, on Feb. 6, 2021.

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Baseball: Tanaka at Rakuten's spring training

KIN, Japan, Feb. 6 Kyodo - Former New York Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (R) plays catch during the Rakuten Eagles' spring training in the Okinawa Prefecture town of Kin, southern Japan, on Feb. 6, 2021, with manager Kazuhisa Ishii looking on.

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Baseball: Kishi successful in belated Rakuten debut

CHIBA, Japan, April 9 Kyodo - Takayuki Kishi of the Rakuten Eagles pitches against the Lotte Marines at Zozo Marine Stadium in Chiba, east of Tokyo, on April 9, 2017. In his season debut, Kishi allowed a run in six innings as Rakuten claimed a 12-4 victory.

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Rakuten opens indoor sports facility for Fukushima kids

SOMA, Japan - Rakuten Eagles catcher (far R) Yasuhito Uchida and pitcher Takahiro Norimoto play with children on Dec. 18, 2014, at an event marking the opening of Soma Kodomo Dome, an indoor sports facility for kids built by Rakuten Baseball Inc. and others in Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, before it opens to the public on Dec. 22. Many children in the northeastern Japan city lack in physical exercise as they have been barred from playing outdoors due to radioactive contamination from the tsunami-crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.