Baseball: MLB spring training game

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Chicago Cubs' Shota Imanaga speaks to the press after pitching in a spring training game against the San Diego Padres in Mesa, Arizona, on Feb. 24, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Chicago Cubs' Shota Imanaga pitches in a spring training game against the San Diego Padres in Mesa, Arizona, on Feb. 24, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Chicago Cubs' Shota Imanaga pitches in a spring training game against the San Diego Padres in Mesa, Arizona, on Feb. 24, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Chicago Cubs' Shota Imanaga pitches in a spring training game against the San Diego Padres in Mesa, Arizona, on Feb. 24, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Baseball: MLB spring training game

Chicago Cubs' Shota Imanaga pitches in a spring training game against the San Diego Padres in Mesa, Arizona, on Feb. 24, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga throws a live batting practice during the team's spring training in Mesa, Arizona, on Feb. 19, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga throws a live batting practice during the team's spring training in Mesa, Arizona, on Feb. 19, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga throws a live batting practice during the team's spring training in Mesa, Arizona, on Feb. 19, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga (R) chats with Seiya Suzuki (C) during the team's spring training in Mesa, Arizona, on Feb. 19, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga throws a live batting practice against Seiya Suzuki (R) during the team's spring training in Mesa, Arizona, on Feb. 19, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga throws a live batting practice against Seiya Suzuki (R) during the team's spring training in Mesa, Arizona, on Feb. 19, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga throws a live batting practice against Seiya Suzuki (R) during the team's spring training in Mesa, Arizona, on Feb. 19, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga plays catch during the team's spring training in Mesa, Arizona, on Feb. 16, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga plays catch during the team's spring training in Mesa, Arizona, on Feb. 16, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga is pictured after taking fielding practice during the team's spring training in Mesa, Arizona, on Feb. 16, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga plays catch during the team's spring training in Mesa, Arizona, on Feb. 16, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Chicago Cubs players Shota Imanaga (L) and Seiya Suzuki work out during spring training in Tempe, Arizona, on Feb. 14, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga plays catch during spring training in Tempe, Arizona, on Feb. 14, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga works out during spring training in Tempe, Arizona, on Feb. 14, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga takes part in a live batting practice session during spring training in Tempe, Arizona, on Feb. 14, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga takes part in a live batting practice session during spring training in Tempe, Arizona, on Feb. 14, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga takes part in a live batting practice session during spring training in Tempe, Arizona, on Feb. 14, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga takes part in a live batting practice session during spring training in Tempe, Arizona, on Feb. 14, 2026.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga takes part in a live batting practice session during spring training in Tempe, Arizona, on Feb. 14, 2026.

Freestyle skiing: World Cup in U.S.

Freestyle skiing: World Cup in U.S.

Japan's Shota Hirayama competes en route to winning the men's moguls bronze at a freestyle skiing World Cup event in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, on Jan. 16, 2026.

Freestyle skiing: World Cup in U.S.

Freestyle skiing: World Cup in U.S.

Japan's Ikuma Horishima (C) poses after winning the men's moguls gold at a freestyle skiing World Cup event in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, on Jan. 16, 2026, alongside silver medalist Filip Gravenfors (L) of Sweden and bronze medalist Shota Hirayama of Japan.

Freestyle skiing: World Cup in U.S.

Freestyle skiing: World Cup in U.S.

Japan's Shota Hirayama competes en route to winning the men's moguls bronze at a freestyle skiing World Cup event in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, on Jan. 16, 2026.

Freestyle skiing: World Cup in U.S.

Freestyle skiing: World Cup in U.S.

Japan's Shota Hirayama competes en route to winning the men's moguls bronze at a freestyle skiing World Cup event in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, on Jan. 16, 2026.

Football: Emperor's Cup

Football: Emperor's Cup

Shota Fujio of Machida Zelvia celebrates after scoring the opening goal in the first half of the Emperor's Cup football final against Vissel Kobe at Tokyo's National Stadium on Nov. 22, 2025.

Football: Emperor's Cup

Football: Emperor's Cup

Shota Fujio (9) of Machida Zelvia scores the opening goal in the first half of the Emperor's Cup football final against Vissel Kobe at Tokyo's National Stadium on Nov. 22, 2025.

Football: Emperor's Cup

Football: Emperor's Cup

Shota Fujio (9) of Machida Zelvia scores the opening goal in the first half of the Emperor's Cup football final against Vissel Kobe at Tokyo's National Stadium on Nov. 22, 2025.

Football: Emperor's Cup

Football: Emperor's Cup

Shota Fujio (C, top) of Machida Zelvia scores the opening goal in the first half of the Emperor's Cup football final against Vissel Kobe at Tokyo's National Stadium on Nov. 22, 2025.

Japanese startup for art by people with disabilities

Japanese startup for art by people with disabilities

Fumito Matsuda (2nd from R), co-CEO of Heralbony Co., a Japanese start-up commercializing artwork by people with disabilities, and his elderly brother Shota (4th from R) pose for a photo on June 25, 2025, during their visit to meet Iwate Gov. Takuya Tasso (C) at the Iwate prefectural government office in Morioka in the northeastern Japan prefecture. The brothers visited the office to tell the governor that the company won the Gold prize in the "Glass: The Lion for Change" category of the Cannes Lions Awards.

Japanese startup for art by people with disabilities

Japanese startup for art by people with disabilities

Fumito Matsuda (L), co-CEO of Heralbony Co., a Japanese start-up commercializing artwork by people with disabilities, and his elderly brother Shota pose for a photo on June 25, 2025, during their visit to the Iwate prefectural government office in Morioka in the northeastern Japan prefecture. The two visited the office to tell Iwate Gov. Takuya Tasso that the company won the Gold prize in the "Glass: The Lion for Change" category of the Cannes Lions Awards.

Japanese startup for art by people with disabilities

Japanese startup for art by people with disabilities

Fumito Matsuda (L), co-CEO of Heralbony Co., a Japanese start-up commercializing artwork by people with disabilities, and his elderly brother Shota pose for a photo on June 25, 2025, during their visit to the Iwate prefectural government office in Morioka in the northeastern Japan prefecture. The two visited the office to tell Iwate Gov. Takuya Tasso that the company won the Gold prize in the "Glass: The Lion for Change" category of the Cannes Lions Awards.

Baseball: Division Series between Cubs and Brewers

Baseball: Division Series between Cubs and Brewers

Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga leaves the ground after losing Game 5 of the best-of-five National League Division Series to the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Oct. 11, 2025, sending the team packing before the National League Championship Series.

Baseball: Division Series between Cubs and Brewers

Baseball: Division Series between Cubs and Brewers

Shota Imanaga of the Chicago Cubs pitches in Game 2 of the Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Oct. 6, 2025.

Baseball: Division Series between Cubs and Brewers

Baseball: Division Series between Cubs and Brewers

Shota Imanaga of the Chicago Cubs pitches in Game 2 of the Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Oct. 6, 2025.

Baseball: Division Series between Cubs and Brewers

Baseball: Division Series between Cubs and Brewers

Shota Imanaga of the Chicago Cubs is pictured after allowing a game-tying three-run home run to Andrew Vaughn of the Milwaukee Brewers during the first inning of Game 2 of the Division Series at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Oct. 6, 2025.

Baseball: Division Series between Cubs and Brewers

Baseball: Division Series between Cubs and Brewers

Shota Imanaga (far L) of the Chicago Cubs leaves the mound during the third inning of Game 2 of the Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Oct. 6, 2025.

Baseball: Division Series between Cubs and Brewers

Baseball: Division Series between Cubs and Brewers

Shota Imanaga of the Chicago Cubs pitches in Game 2 of the Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Oct. 6, 2025.

Baseball: Division Series between Cubs and Brewers

Baseball: Division Series between Cubs and Brewers

Shota Imanaga of the Chicago Cubs pitches in Game 2 of the Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Oct. 6, 2025.

Baseball: Division Series between Cubs and Brewers

Baseball: Division Series between Cubs and Brewers

Shota Imanaga of the Chicago Cubs leaves the mound during the third inning of Game 2 of the Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Oct. 6, 2025.

Baseball: Division Series between Cubs and Brewers

Baseball: Division Series between Cubs and Brewers

Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga plays catch at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Oct. 3, 2025, the eve of Game 1 of the Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Baseball: Division Series between Cubs and Brewers

Baseball: Division Series between Cubs and Brewers

Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga leaves American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Oct. 3, 2025, following practice conducted ahead of Game 1 of the Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers the following day.

Baseball: Division Series between Cubs and Brewers

Baseball: Division Series between Cubs and Brewers

Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga plays catch at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Oct. 3, 2025, the eve of Game 1 of the Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Baseball: Wild Card Series between Padres and Cubs

Baseball: Wild Card Series between Padres and Cubs

Seiya Suzuki (L) and Shota Imanaga of the Chicago Cubs celebrate after earning a berth in the National League Division Series with a 3-1 victory against the San Diego Padres in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Oct. 2, 2025.

Baseball: Wild Card Series between Padres and Cubs

Baseball: Wild Card Series between Padres and Cubs

Seiya Suzuki (L) and Shota Imanaga of the Chicago Cubs pose for a photo after earning a berth in the National League Division Series with a 3-1 victory against the San Diego Padres in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Oct. 2, 2025.

Baseball: Wild Card Series between Padres and Cubs

Baseball: Wild Card Series between Padres and Cubs

Seiya Suzuki (L) and Shota Imanaga of the Chicago Cubs pose for a photo after earning a berth in the National League Division Series with a 3-1 victory against the San Diego Padres in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Oct. 2, 2025.

Baseball: Wild Card Series between Padres and Cubs

Baseball: Wild Card Series between Padres and Cubs

Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga reacts after allowing a two-run home run to Manny Machado of the San Diego Padres in the fifth inning of Game 2 of the Wild Card Series on Oct. 1, 2025, at Wrigley Field in Chicago.