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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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Yomiuri's Sakamoto cracks 1,000th career hit

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Hayato Sakamoto of the Yomiuri Giants responds to the crowd after cracking his 1,000th career hit in a game against the Seibu Lions in Tokorozawa, Japan, on May 20, 2014, at the age of 25 years and 5 months.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Seibu shareholders meeting

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Louis Foster, senior managing director of U.S. private equity fund Cerberus Capital Management LP, speaks with reporters after Seibu Holdings Inc.'s shareholders meeting in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on June 25, 2013. Seibu shareholders voted down a slate of directors proposed by Cerberus, its largest stakeholder.

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Seibu shareholders meeting

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Louis Foster, senior managing director of U.S. private equity fund Cerberus Capital Management LP, leaves after Seibu Holdings Inc.'s shareholders meeting in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on June 25, 2013. Seibu shareholders voted down a slate of directors proposed by Cerberus, its largest stakeholder.

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Seibu shareholders meeting

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Louis Foster, senior managing director of U.S. private equity fund Cerberus Capital Management LP, enters the venue for Seibu Holdings Inc.'s shareholders meeting in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on June 25, 2013. Seibu shareholders voted down a slate of directors proposed by Cerberus, its largest stakeholder.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Rookie pitcher Kikuchi starts pitching practice

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Yusei Kikuchi, the draft No. 1 pick of the Pacific League baseball club Seibu Lions, practices in a bullpen at Seibu Indoor Training Ground in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Jan. 15, 2010. The 18-year-old rookie pitcher entered the bullpen for the first time since his workout sessions with his teammates began on Jan. 9, prior to the formal start of the club's spring training.

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Rookie pitcher Kikuchi starts workout

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Yusei Kikuchi (L), the draft No. 1 pick of the Seibu Lions baseball club, kicks a soccer ball during a workout at the team's ballpark in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Jan. 9, 2010. The rookie pitcher began the workout prior to the formal start of the club's spring training.

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Rookie pitcher Kikuchi starts workout

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Yusei Kikuchi, the draft No. 1 pick of the Seibu Lions baseball club, throws a ball during a workout at the team's ballpark in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Jan. 9, 2010. The rookie pitcher began the workout prior to the formal start of the club's spring training.

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Rookie pitcher Kikuchi starts workout

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Yusei Kikuchi (17), the draft No. 1 pick of the Seibu Lions baseball club, and his teammates run during a workout at the team's ballpark in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Jan. 9, 2010. The rookie pitcher began the workout prior to the formal start of the club's spring training.

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Rookie pitcher Kikuchi starts workout

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Yusei Kikuchi, the draft No. 1 pick of the Seibu Lions baseball club, stretches during a workout at the team's ballpark in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Jan. 9, 2010. The rookie pitcher began the workout prior to the formal start of the club's spring training.

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Nakajima re-signs with Seibu Lions for 250 mil. yen

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Seibu Lions shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima speaks to reporters at Seibu Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Dec. 25, 2009, after re-signing with the Pacific League baseball club for 250 million yen, up 40 million yen from 2009.

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Orix beats Seibu

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - The Orix Buffaloes' Tuffy Rhodes hits a solo homer in the second inning of a game against the Seibu Lions at Seibu Dome on Sept. 12, 2009. Orix beat Seibu 3-2.

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Orix beats Seibu

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - The Orix Buffaloes' Shinji Shimoyama hits a tiebreaking single in the seventh inning of a game against the Seibu Lions at Seibu Dome on Sept. 12, 2009, helping the team to a 3-2 victory over the Lions.

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Orix slugger Kiyohara to retire

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Orix Buffaloes slugger Kazuhiro Kiyohara waves to fans at Seibu Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Aug. 18 before the start of a game against the Seibu Lions. Kiyohara, fifth on the all-time home run list in Japanese baseball with 525, said the same day that he will retire at the end of the season.

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Seibu pitcher T. Ishii to retire at season's end

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - This file photo shows Seibu Lions right-hander Takashi Ishii who will retire at the end of the season.

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Matsuzaka bids farewell to Seibu fans

TOKYO, Japan - Daisuke Matsuzaka, a right-hander on the Pacific League baseball club Seibu Lions, pitches in an exhibition game during a fans' gathering at Invoice Seibu Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Nov. 23. The Boston Red Sox won the negotiating rights for Matsuzaka with a $51 million bid.

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Matsuzaka bids farewell to Seibu fans

TOKYO, Japan - Daisuke Matsuzaka, a right-hander on the Pacific League baseball club Seibu Lions, is surrounded by fans during a fans' gathering at Invoice Seibu Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Nov. 23. The Boston Red Sox won the negotiating rights for Matsuzaka with a $51 million bid.

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Matsuzaka bids farewell to Seibu fans

TOKYO, Japan - Daisuke Matsuzaka, a right-hander on the Pacific League baseball club Seibu Lions, bids farewell to fans during a fans' gathering at Invoice Seibu Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Nov. 23. The Boston Red Sox won the negotiating rights for Matsuzaka with a $51 million bid.

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Matsuzaka bids farewell to Seibu fans

TOKYO, Japan - Daisuke Matsuzaka, a right-hander on the Pacific League baseball club Seibu Lions, is tossed into the air by his teammates during a fans' gathering at Invoice Seibu Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Nov. 23. The Boston Red Sox won the negotiating rights for Matsuzaka with a $51 million bid.

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Matsuzaka bids farewell to Seibu fans

TOKYO, Japan - Daisuke Matsuzaka, a right-hander on the Pacific League baseball club Seibu Lions, waves to fans during a fans' gathering at Invoice Seibu Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Nov. 23. The Boston Red Sox won the negotiating rights for Matsuzaka with a $51 million bid.

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Pro baseball season begins with PL games

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Turin Olympic figure skating gold medalist Shizuka Arakawa is about to throw the first ball at the start of a game between the Seibu Lions and the Orix BlueWave at Invoice Seibu Dome on March 25. Japan's 2006 pro baseball season began with three Pacific League games.

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(3)Business tycoon Tsutsumi arrested in Seibu share scam

TOKYO, Japan - Prosecutors raid the head office of Seibu Railway Co. (R) and the building that houses the headquarters of Kokudo Corp. in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture near Tokyo on March. 3. The two firms were raided over former Kokudo Chairman Yoshiaki Tsustumi's alleged involvement in falsifying financial statements on shareholdings in the railway operator and insider trading. Tsutsumi was arrested.

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(2)Business tycoon Tsutsumi arrested in Seibu share scam

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Prosecutors enter the headquarters of Kokudo Corp. in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture near Tokyo on March 3. The company was searched in connection with former Chairman Yoshiaki Tsutsumi's alleged involvement in falsifying financial statements on shareholdings in Seibu Railway Co. and insider trading. Tsutsumi was arrested.

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(1)Business tycoon Tsutsumi arrested in Seibu share scam

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - A vehicle believed to be carrying former Kokudo Corp. Chairman Yoshiaki Tsutsumi leaves a hotel in Tokyo on March 3 after prosecutors asked him to appear before them for questioning over allegations of making false statements about shareholdings in Seibu Railway Co. and insider trading. He was arrested later.

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(1)Cabrera grand slam gives Seibu Japan Series lead

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Alex Cabrera jumps in celebration after hit a tiebreaking outside-the-park grand slam off relief hurler Shinya Okamoto in the seventh inning as the Seibu Lions beat the Chunichi Dragons 10-8 in a seesaw battle in Game 3 of the Japan Series at Seibu Dome on Oct. 19.

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(2)Cabrera grand slam gives Seibu Japan Series lead

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Alex Cabrera shakes hands with fans in celebration after the Seibu Lions beat the Chunichi Dragons 10-8 in a seesaw battle in Game 3 of the Japan Series at Seibu Dome on Oct. 19. Cabrera hit a tiebreaking outside-the-park grand slam and had a record-tying six RBIs in the game.

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(3)Cabrera grand slam gives Seibu Japan Series lead

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Alex Cabrera (42) responds to fans after the Seibu Lions beat the Chunichi Dragons 10-8 in a seesaw battle in Game 3 of the Japan Series at Seibu Dome on Oct. 19.

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(1)LDP candidates win all 3 lower house by-elections

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Liberal Democratic Party candidate Masahiko Shibayama (top) at his election office in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on April 25 after winning a House of Representatives by-election in the Saitama No. 8 constituency.

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(2)Lower house by-election campaigns begin

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - A candidate for the April 25 House of Representatives by-election in Hiroshima Prefecture shakes hand with voters in Kure on April 13. By-elections will also be held in Saitama and Kagoshima prefectures.

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(4)Pacific league baseball tourney opens

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Chiba Lotte Marines players celebrate their 5-3 victory over the Seibu Lions in a Pacific League season opening game at Seibu Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on March 27.

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(4)Japanese preseason baseball games

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Lee Seung Yeop of the Chiba Lotte Marines is struck out twice by Seibu Lions ace hurler Daisuke Matsuzaka at Seibu Dome on March 14.

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(2) Seibu Railway execs held over illegal payments to racketeers

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Investigators search Seibu Railway Co.'s headquarters March 1 in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, as three senior company officials were arrested for allegedly paying off a corporate racketeer in violation of the Commercial Code.

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Seibu Railway exec arrested for paying off racketeer

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - An official in charge of public relations at Seibu Railway Co., briefs reporters in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on March 1 after police arrested the company's Senior Managing Director Seiichi Ikura on suspicion of paying off a ''sokaiya'' corporate racketeer.

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'Little Matsui' begins training

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Japanese shortstop Kazuo Matsui (C) begins training at a Seibu stadium in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Jan. 7 before joining the New York Mets for the new major league season. He signed a three-year, $20.1 million contract with the Mets.

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Yomiuri wins Japan Series

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Yomiuri Giants rookie manager Tatsunori Hara is tossed into the air by the team's players at Seibu Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Oct. 30 after the team won the Japan Series championship by beating the Seibu Lions 6-2 in Game 4 of the best-of-seven series.

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D-backs' Johnson joins baseball class in Saitama

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Cy Young award winner Randy Johnson (L) of the World Series champion Arizona Diamondbacks takes part in a special baseball instructional class on Nov. 18 at the Seibu baseball annex in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture.

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Cabrera nails 'sayonara' homer

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Seibu Lions slugger Alex Cabrera slams a game-ending upset three-run homer with two bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Chiba Lotte Marines at Seibu Dome on Sept. 23. Seibu beat Lotte 7-5.

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Cabrera launches No. 28 for Lions at Seibu Dome

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Seibu Lions slugger Alex Cabrera watches his 28th homer of the season and first in eight games leave the ballpark in the sixth inning at Seibu Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture on June 9. Seibu went on to win the game 3-0.

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New deal makes Matsuzaka youngest 100 mil. yen player

TOKYO, Japan - Seibu Lions right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka is surrounded by the media at a press conference on Dec. 26 in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture. Matsuzaka, 20, had just signed a new one-year, 100-million-yen contract with the Lions, making him the youngest 100 million yen player in Japanese baseball.