Baseball: Marines vs. Lions

Baseball: Marines vs. Lions

Wu Nien-ting of the Seibu Lions hits a solo home run in the fourth inning of a Pacific League baseball game against the Lotte Marines at Belluna Dome in Tokorozawa in Saitama Prefecture, eastern Japan, on Sept. 6, 2022. Marines pitcher Ayumu Ishikawa surrendered three straight home runs to Tomoya Mori, Hotaka Yamakawa and Wu during the inning.

Baseball: Hawks clinch Pacific League title

Baseball: Hawks clinch Pacific League title

SoftBank Hawks players celebrate after the baseball team won the Pacific League pennant for the second consecutive season with a 4-1 victory over the Seibu Lions at Belluna Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Sept. 27, 2025.

Baseball: Hawks clinch Pacific League title

Baseball: Hawks clinch Pacific League title

SoftBank Hawks players celebrate after the baseball team won the Pacific League pennant for the second consecutive season with a 4-1 victory over the Seibu Lions at Belluna Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Sept. 27, 2025.

Baseball: Hawks clinch Pacific League title

Baseball: Hawks clinch Pacific League title

SoftBank Hawks players celebrate after the baseball team won the Pacific League pennant for the second consecutive season with a 4-1 victory over the Seibu Lions at Belluna Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Sept. 27, 2025.

Baseball: Hawks clinch Pacific League title

Baseball: Hawks clinch Pacific League title

SoftBank Hawks players celebrate after the baseball team won the Pacific League pennant for the second consecutive season with a 4-1 victory over the Seibu Lions at Belluna Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Sept. 27, 2025.

Baseball: Hawks clinch Pacific League title

Baseball: Hawks clinch Pacific League title

SoftBank Hawks manager Hiroki Kokubo is tossed in the air by his players after the baseball team won the Pacific League pennant for the second consecutive season with a 4-1 victory over the Seibu Lions at Belluna Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Sept. 27, 2025.

Baseball: Hawks clinch Pacific League title

Baseball: Hawks clinch Pacific League title

SoftBank Hawks manager Hiroki Kokubo is tossed in the air by his players after the baseball team won the Pacific League pennant for the second consecutive season with a 4-1 victory over the Seibu Lions at Belluna Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Sept. 27, 2025.

Baseball: Hawks clinch Pacific League title

Baseball: Hawks clinch Pacific League title

SoftBank Hawks manager Hiroki Kokubo is tossed in the air by his players after the baseball team won the Pacific League pennant for the second consecutive season with a 4-1 victory over the Seibu Lions at Belluna Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Sept. 27, 2025.

Baseball: Hawks clinch Pacific League title

Baseball: Hawks clinch Pacific League title

SoftBank Hawks manager Hiroki Kokubo is tossed in the air by his players after the baseball team won the Pacific League pennant for the second consecutive season with a 4-1 victory over the Seibu Lions at Belluna Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Sept. 27, 2025.

Baseball: Hawks clinch Pacific League title

Baseball: Hawks clinch Pacific League title

SoftBank Hawks manager Hiroki Kokubo is tossed in the air by his players after the baseball team won the Pacific League pennant for the second consecutive season with a 4-1 victory over the Seibu Lions at Belluna Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Sept. 27, 2025.

Baseball: SoftBank Hawks slugger Hotaka Yamakawa

Baseball: SoftBank Hawks slugger Hotaka Yamakawa

Hotaka Yamakawa of the SoftBank Hawks hits a solo home run in the third inning of a baseball game against the Seibu Lions at Mizuho PayPay Dome in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka on May 17, 2024.

Baseball: Hawks vs. Lions

Baseball: Hawks vs. Lions

Kensuke Kondo of the Softbank Hawks hits a two-run single in the fifth inning of a Pacific League baseball game against the Seibu Lions on April 13, 2024, at Belluna Dome in Tokorozawa in Saitama Prefecture, near Tokyo.

Baseball: Daisuke Matsuzaka

Baseball: Daisuke Matsuzaka

Seibu Lions pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka touches the mound after throwing against the Nippon Ham Fighters at MetLife Dome in Tokorozawa, near Tokyo, on Oct. 19, 2021, as the former Boston Red Sox right-hander ended his 23-year baseball career.

Baseball: Orix Buffaloes pitcher Shumpeita Yamashita

Baseball: Orix Buffaloes pitcher Shumpeita Yamashita

Shumpeita Yamashita of the Orix Buffaloes pitches in a baseball game against the Seibu Lions at Belluna Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, eastern Japan, on March 31, 2023.

Baseball in Japan

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.

Baseball: Hawks acquire suspended slugger Yamakawa

FUKUOKA, Japan Kyodo - Three-time Pacific League home run leader Hotaka Yamakawa wears his new jersey after an introductory press conference by the SoftBank Hawks at PayPay Dome in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka on Dec. 19, 2023. He was suspended for much of the 2023 season by PL rivals the Seibu Lions after being accused of sexual assault. (Kyodo)

Baseball: Hawks acquire suspended slugger Yamakawa

Baseball: Hawks acquire suspended slugger Yamakawa

Three-time Pacific League home run leader Hotaka Yamakawa attends a press conference at PayPay Dome in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka on Dec. 19, 2023, as he joins the SoftBank Hawks. He was suspended for much of the 2023 season by PL rivals the Seibu Lions after being accused of sexual assault.

Baseball: Hawks acquire suspended slugger Yamakawa

Baseball: Hawks acquire suspended slugger Yamakawa

Three-time Pacific League home run leader Hotaka Yamakawa attends a press conference at PayPay Dome in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka on Dec. 19, 2023, as he joins the SoftBank Hawks. He was suspended for much of the 2023 season by PL rivals the Seibu Lions after being accused of sexual assault.

Baseball: Hawks acquire suspended slugger Yamakawa

Baseball: Hawks acquire suspended slugger Yamakawa

Three-time Pacific League home run leader Hotaka Yamakawa attends a press conference at PayPay Dome in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka on Dec. 19, 2023, as he joins the SoftBank Hawks. He was suspended for much of the 2023 season by PL rivals the Seibu Lions after being accused of sexual assault.

Baseball: Hawks acquire suspended slugger Yamakawa

Baseball: Hawks acquire suspended slugger Yamakawa

Three-time Pacific League home run leader Hotaka Yamakawa wears his new jersey after an introductory press conference by the SoftBank Hawks at PayPay Dome in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka on Dec. 19, 2023. He was suspended for much of the 2023 season by PL rivals the Seibu Lions after being accused of sexual assault.

Baseball: Hawks acquire suspended slugger Yamakawa

Baseball: Hawks acquire suspended slugger Yamakawa

Three-time Pacific League home run leader Hotaka Yamakawa poses for photos after a press conference at PayPay Dome in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka on Dec. 19, 2023, as he joins the SoftBank Hawks. He was suspended for much of the 2023 season by PL rivals the Seibu Lions after being accused of sexual assault.

Baseball: Hawks acquire suspended slugger Yamakawa

Baseball: Hawks acquire suspended slugger Yamakawa

Three-time Pacific League home run leader Hotaka Yamakawa bows during a press conference at PayPay Dome in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka on Dec. 19, 2023, as he joins the SoftBank Hawks. He was suspended for much of the 2023 season by PL rivals the Seibu Lions after being accused of sexual assault.

Baseball: Orix player Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Baseball: Orix player Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Orix Buffaloes starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto throws against the Seibu Lions during a baseball game at Belluna Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, eastern Japan, on Aug. 23, 2023.

Baseball: Wu Nien-ting

Baseball: Wu Nien-ting

Wu Nien-ting of the Seibu Lions hits an RBI single in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Orix Buffaloes at Kyocera Dome in Osaka, western Japan, on May 7, 2023.

Baseball: Figure skating champ Sakamoto throws ceremonial 1st pitch

Baseball: Figure skating champ Sakamoto throws ceremonial 1st pitch

Figure skating world champion Kaori Sakamoto throws a ceremonial first pitch for a pro baseball game between the Orix Buffaloes and the Seibu Lions at Kyocera Dome Osaka in the western Japan city on April 22, 2023.

Nippon Ham's Inaba gets flowers from ski jumper Kasai

Nippon Ham's Inaba gets flowers from ski jumper Kasai

SAPPORO, Japan - Retiring Atsunori Inaba (R) of the Nippon Ham Fighters receives a bouquet of flowers from Olympic medalist ski jumper Noriaki Kasai during an event before a game against the Seibu Lions at Sapporo Dome in Hokkaido, Japan, on Sept. 30, 2014. Inaba will retire at the end of this season.

NTT, Seibu Lions launch mobile video streaming at ballpark

NTT, Seibu Lions launch mobile video streaming at ballpark

TOKYO, Japan - A demo of the pilot video streaming service at Seibu Dome unveiled by telecommunications giant NTT and Japanese professional baseball team Seibu Lions is shown on Sept. 8, 2014. The new service will enable fans at the ballpark to view the game in action from six different angles on their smartphones or tablets.

Japan's All-Star series starts, CL beats PL 7-0

Japan's All-Star series starts, CL beats PL 7-0

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Japan home run leader Brad Eldred of the Hiroshima Carp hits a two-run homer in the seventh inning of the first game of Nippon Professional Baseball's annual All-Star series at Seibu Dome in Saitama Prefecture near Tokyo on July 18, 2014. The Central League beat the Pacific League 7-0. Eldred was named the game's MVP.

Japan's All-Star series starts, CL beats PL 7-0

Japan's All-Star series starts, CL beats PL 7-0

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Seibu Lions ace Takayuki Kishi of the Pacific League starts for the first game of Nippon Professional Baseball's annual All-Star series at Seibu Dome in Saitama Prefecture near Tokyo on July 18, 2014. The Central League beat the Pacific League 7-0.

Japan's All-Star series starts, CL beats PL 7-0

Japan's All-Star series starts, CL beats PL 7-0

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Hiroshima Carp ace Kenta Maeda of the Central League starts for the first game of Nippon Professional Baseball's annual All-Star series at Seibu Dome in Saitama Prefecture near Tokyo on July 18, 2014. The Central League beat the Pacific League 7-0.

Rakuten clinches 1st PL pennant title

Rakuten clinches 1st PL pennant title

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Rakuten Eagles players toss manager Senichi Hoshino into the air after the Eagles beat the Seibu Lions 4-3 at Seibu Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Sept. 26, 2013, to clinch their first ever Pacific League title.

Rakuten clinches 1st PL pennant title

Rakuten clinches 1st PL pennant title

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Rakuten Eagles pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (C) celebrates with teammates while manager Senichi Hoshino is tossed into the air after the Eagles beat the Seibu Lions 4-3 at Seibu Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Sept. 26, 2013, to clinch their first ever Pacific League title.

Rakuten clinches 1st PL pennant title

Rakuten clinches 1st PL pennant title

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Rakuten Eagles players toss manager Senichi Hoshino into the air after the Eagles beat the Seibu Lions 4-3 at Seibu Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Sept. 26, 2013, to clinch their first ever Pacific League title.

Rakuten clinches 1st PL pennant title

Rakuten clinches 1st PL pennant title

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Rakuten Eagles pitcher Masahiro Tanaka celebrates after the Eagles beat the Seibu Lions 4-3 at Seibu Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Sept. 26, 2013, to clinch their first ever Pacific League title. Catcher Motohiro Shima is visible in back.

Otani makes successful pro debut

Otani makes successful pro debut

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Nippon Ham Fighters rookie Shohei Otani hits an RBI single during the sixth inning of a game against the Seibu Lions at Seibu Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on March 29, 2013. Otani made a successful pro debut with two hits and an RBI in the Fighters' 5-3 win as Nippon Professional Baseball opened its 2013 season.

Nakajima signs with A's

Nakajima signs with A's

TOKYO, Japan - File photo shows free agent shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima homering during a Seibu Lions game against the Softbank Hawks at Seibu Dome in Saitama Prefecture near Tokyo in September 2012. Nakajima is bound for the Oakland Athletics, with the two sides having agreed on a two-year, $6.5 million deal with additional incentives.

Fighters clinch pennant

Fighters clinch pennant

SAPPORO, Japan - Nippon Ham Fighters infielder Sho Nakata (R) and catcher Satoshi Nakajima (27) hug each other as they celebrate the team's pennant victory in Japanese professional baseball's Pacific League at Sapporo Dome in Hokkaido on Oct. 2, 2012. The Fighters claimed their first title in three years without even having to suit up for a game, thanks to the Seibu Lions' 5-3 defeat to the Lotte Marines.

Fighters clinch pennant

Fighters clinch pennant

SAPPORO, Japan - Photo taken at Sapporo Dome in Hokkaido on Oct. 2, 2012, shows the moment when the Nippon Ham Fighters clinched their pennant victory in Japanese professional baseball's Pacific League. The Fighters claimed their first title in three years without even having to suit up for a game, thanks to the Seibu Lions' 5-3 defeat to the Lotte Marines.

Fighters clinch pennant

Fighters clinch pennant

SAPPORO, Japan - Nippon Ham Fighters rookie manager Hideki Kuriyama is tossed up in the air at Sapporo Dome in Hokkaido on Oct. 2, 2012, after the team clinched its pennant victory in Japanese professional baseball's Pacific League. Kuriyama became the first skipper in his first year to win the pennant since Seibu Lions' Hisanobu Watanabe achieved the feat in 2008.

Lion's Nakajima in press conference

Lion's Nakajima in press conference

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Seibu Lions captain Hiroyuki Nakajima gives a press conference at Seibu Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Jan. 10, 2012, after re-signing with the Lions for an estimated 280 million yen plus incentives. Nakajima said he plans to take another shot at playing in the majors in the following offseason as a free agent.

Lions' Nakajima to make bid for majors via posting system

Lions' Nakajima to make bid for majors via posting system

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Seibu Lions shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima (L), accompanied by team president Hajime Igo, speaks during a press conference at Seibu Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Nov. 22, 2011. The Lions permitted Nakajima to use the posting system during the offseason in a bid to make a move to the major leagues.

Softbank advances to Japan Series

Softbank advances to Japan Series

FUKUOKA, Japan - Masayoshi Son (2nd from R, front row), chairman and chief executive officer of Softbank Corp. and owner of the baseball club Softbank Hawks, Sadaharu Oh (3rd from L, front row), chairman of the Pacific League club, and manager Koji Akiyama (4th from L, front row) pose with the Hawks players at Yahoo Dome in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, on Nov. 5, 2011. The Hawks advanced to the Japan Series by beating the Seibu Lions in the Climax Series.

Nippon Ham Fighters starter Darvish

Nippon Ham Fighters starter Darvish

SAPPORO, Japan - Nippon Ham Fighters starter Yu Darvish pitches against the Seibu Lions at Sapporo Dome in Sapporo on Oct. 11, 2011.

Hawks clinch PL title

Hawks clinch PL title

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Softbank Hawks professional baseball team members react to cheers from the crowd at Seibu Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture on Oct. 1, 2011, after beating the Seibu Lions 3-0 to clinch the Pacific League title.

Lotte's Nishioka completes double play

Lotte's Nishioka completes double play

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Lotte Marines shortstop Tsuyoshi Nishioka (R) throws to first to complete a double play after forcing out the Seibu Lions' Hisashi Takayama in the seventh inning of a game at Seibu Dome in Saitama Prefecture on July 27, 2010. The Marines won 5-3.

Wakui one-hits Hawks as Lions take PL lead

Wakui one-hits Hawks as Lions take PL lead

FUKUOKA, Japan - Seibu Lions starter Hideaki Wakui pitches against the Softbank Hawks at Yahoo Dome in Fukuoka on May 7, 2010. Wakui pitched a one-hitter for his first shutout of the season as the Lions beat the Hawks 4-0 to move atop the Pacific League.

Randy Johnson throws at Seibu Dome

Randy Johnson throws at Seibu Dome

TOKOROZAWA, Saitama - Former Major League Baseball pitcher Randy Johnson, who won the Cy Young Award five times, throws a ball before the game between Seibu Lions and Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan's Pacific League at Seibu Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on April 17, 2010.

Fighters Takahashi makes picture-perfect catch

Fighters Takahashi makes picture-perfect catch

SAPPORO, Japan - Photographers react as Nippon Ham Fighters first baseman Shinji Takahashi pulls in a pop-up foul just in front of their well during the second inning of a game against the Seibu Lions at Sapporo Dome on April 2, 2010. The Lions won 6-4.

Japan's Pacific League opens 2010 season

Japan's Pacific League opens 2010 season

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Seibu Lions starting pitcher Hideaki Wakui throws the ball to Lotte Marines leadoff batter Tsuyoshi Nishioka in the first inning at Seibu Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on March 20, 2010, the opening day for the 2010 season of the Pacific League. Wakui struck out 11 and allowed one run on seven hits before Brian Sikorski pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the save as the Lions won 2-1.

Japan's Pacific League opens 2010 season

Japan's Pacific League opens 2010 season

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Lotte Marines manager Norifumi Nishimura (L) and Seibu Lions manager Hisanobu Watanabe shake hands at Seibu Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on March 20, 2010, before their opening game for the 2010 season of the Pacific League.