Baseball: Hara confirmed as new Yomiuri manager

Baseball: Hara confirmed as new Yomiuri manager

TOKYO, Japan - Tatsunori Hara (R) shakes hands with Takuo Takihana, owner of the Yomiuri Giants, at a news conference Oct. 5. The Giants announced the appointment of Hara as manager of the Central League club to take over from Tsuneo Horiuchi.

(1)Rakuten selected over Livedoor as new team

(1)Rakuten selected over Livedoor as new team

TOKYO, Japan - Takuo Takihana, owner of the Central League baseball club Yomiuri Giants who serves as chairman of a meeting of baseball team owners, announces at a press conference in Tokyo on Nov. 2 that they chose Internet shopping mall operator Rakuten Inc. as owner of the new team allowed to join Japanese professional baseball next season.

(3)Owners keep 2 leagues, OK Orix-Kintetsu merger

(3)Owners keep 2 leagues, OK Orix-Kintetsu merger

TOKYO, Japan - Kintetsu Buffaloes owner Wa Tashiro, Yomiuri Giants owner Takuo Takihana, Japanese pro baseball commissioner Yasuchika Negoro, Orix BluWave owner Yoshihiko Miyauchi (from left to right) attend a press conference in a Tokyo hotel Sept. 8 after the owners of Japan's 12 professional ballclubs approved the Orix-Kintestu merger and decided to keep the two-league system.

(2)Yomiuri Giants owner Watanabe steps down

(2)Yomiuri Giants owner Watanabe steps down

TOKYO, Japan - Takuo Takihana, president of the Tokyo headquarters of the Yomiuri Shimbun, speaks at a press conference at a Tokyo hotel on Aug. 13 after being named to take over Tsuneo Watanabe as owner of the Yomiuri Giants.

(2)Yomiuri Giants owner Watanabe steps down

(2)Yomiuri Giants owner Watanabe steps down

TOKYO, Japan - Takuo Takihana, president of the Tokyo headquarters of the Yomiuri Shimbun, speaks at a press conference at a Tokyo hotel on Aug. 13 after being named to take over Tsuneo Watanabe as owner of the Yomiuri Giants. (Kyodo)

(3)Owners keep 2 leagues, OK Orix-Kintetsu merger

(3)Owners keep 2 leagues, OK Orix-Kintetsu merger

TOKYO, Japan - Kintetsu Buffaloes owner Wa Tashiro, Yomiuri Giants owner Takuo Takihana, Japanese pro baseball commissioner Yasuchika Negoro, Orix BluWave owner Yoshihiko Miyauchi (from left to right) attend a press conference in a Tokyo hotel Sept. 8 after the owners of Japan's 12 professional ballclubs approved the Orix-Kintestu merger and decided to keep the two-league system. (Kyodo)

(1)Rakuten selected over Livedoor as new team

(1)Rakuten selected over Livedoor as new team

TOKYO, Japan - Takuo Takihana, owner of the Central League baseball club Yomiuri Giants who serves as chairman of a meeting of baseball team owners, announces at a press conference in Tokyo on Nov. 2 that they chose Internet shopping mall operator Rakuten Inc. as owner of the new team allowed to join Japanese professional baseball next season. (Kyodo)

Baseball: Hara confirmed as new Yomiuri manager

Baseball: Hara confirmed as new Yomiuri manager

TOKYO, Japan - Tatsunori Hara (R) shakes hands with Takuo Takihana, owner of the Yomiuri Giants, at a news conference Oct. 5. The Giants announced the appointment of Hara as manager of the Central League club to take over from Tsuneo Horiuchi. (Kyodo)