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Baseball: NPB spring training

Yomiuri Giants catcher Takuya Kai heads to the bullpen during the club's spring training on Feb. 1, 2025, in Miyazaki, southwestern Japan.

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World Baseball Classic

Members of Japan's World Baseball Classic team, (from R) Yu Darvish, Taisei Ota and Takuya Kai, connect online with children with special needs after practice at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on March 14, 2023.

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Tokyo Olympics: Baseball

Japanese players celebrate after the game-winning hit by Takuya Kai (2nd from L) in the 10th inning of their Tokyo Olympic second-round game against the United States at Yokohama baseball stadium near Tokyo on Aug. 2, 2021.

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Tokyo Olympics: Baseball

Japan's Takuya Kai reacts after hitting the game-winning hit against the United States in the 10th inning of their Tokyo Olympic second-round game at Yokohama baseball stadium near Tokyo on Aug. 2, 2021.

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Tokyo Olympics: Baseball

Japanese players celebrate after the game-winning hit by Takuya Kai (3rd from L) in the 10th inning of their Tokyo Olympic second-round game against the United States at Yokohama baseball stadium near Tokyo on Aug. 2, 2021.

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Tokyo Olympics: Baseball

Japan's Takuya Kai reacts after hitting the game-winning hit against the United States in the 10th inning of their Tokyo Olympic second-round game at Yokohama baseball stadium near Tokyo on Aug. 2, 2021.

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Tokyo Olympics: Baseball

Erick Mejia (6) and Juan Francisco (34) of the Dominican Republic celebrate after they scored against Japan during the seventh inning of the Tokyo Olympics baseball tournament's opener on July 28, 2021, at Fukushima Azuma stadium, northeastern Japan. Seen at the center is Japan catcher Takuya Kai.

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Baseball in Japan

Takuya Kai of the SoftBank Hawks hits a two-run home run in the second inning of a game against the Orix Buffaloes at PayPay Dome in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, on Aug. 27, 2020.

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Baseball: Japan Series

SoftBank Hawks catcher Takuya Kai (facing camera) and closer Yuito Mori hug each other after the Hawks completed a four-game Japan Series sweep of the Yomiuri Giants with a 4-1 win at PayPay Dome in Fukuoka on Nov. 25, 2020.

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Baseball: Japan Series

Fans of the SoftBank Hawks react after Takuya Kai hit a two-run home run to push the team's lead to 4-1 in the second inning in Game 4 of the Japan Series against the Yomiuri Giants at PayPay Dome in Fukuoka on Nov. 25, 2020.

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Baseball: Japan Series

Takuya Kai of the SoftBank Hawks rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the second inning in Game 4 of the Japan Series against the Yomiuri Giants at PayPay Dome in Fukuoka on Nov. 25, 2020.

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Baseball: Japan Series

Takuya Kai of the SoftBank Hawks hits a two-run home run in the second inning off Yomiuri Giants pitcher Seishu Hatake in Game 4 of the Japan Series at PayPay Dome in Fukuoka on Nov. 25, 2020.

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Baseball: Japan Series

Takuya Kai of the SoftBank Hawks hits a two-run home run in the second inning in Game 4 of the Japan Series against the Yomiuri Giants at PayPay Dome in Fukuoka on Nov. 25, 2020.

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Baseball: Japan Series

Takuya Kai of the SoftBank Hawks hits a two-run home run in the second inning in Game 4 of the Japan Series against the Yomiuri Giants at PayPay Dome in Fukuoka on Nov. 25, 2020.

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Baseball: Japan Series

Takuya Kai of the SoftBank Hawks hits a two-run home run in the second inning in Game 4 of the Japan Series against the Yomiuri Giants at PayPay Dome in Fukuoka on Nov. 25, 2020.

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Baseball: Japan Series

Takuya Kai of the SoftBank Hawks hits a solo home run in the second inning in Game 2 of the Japan Series against the Yomiuri Giants at Kyocera Dome in Osaka on Nov. 22, 2020.

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Baseball: Climax Series in Japan

Takuya Kai (L) of the SoftBank Hawks scores from first on a triple by Ukyo Shuto in the seventh inning in Game 2 of the Pacific League Climax Series against the Lotte Marines at PayPay Dome in Fukuoka, Japan, on Nov. 15, 2020.

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Baseball: Climax Series in Japan

SoftBank Hawks closer Yuito Mori and catcher Takuya Kai bumps fists after closing out the ninth inning in Game 1 of the Pacific League Climax Series against the Lotte Marines on Nov. 14, 2020, at PayPay Dome in Fukuoka, Japan.

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Baseball: Climax Series in Japan

Takuya Kai (L) of the SoftBank Hawks makes a head-first slide for an infield single with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth inning in Game 1 of the Pacific League Climax Series against the Lotte Marines on Nov. 14, 2020, at PayPay Dome in Fukuoka, Japan.

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Baseball: Climax Series in Japan

Takuya Kai of the SoftBank Hawks makes a head-first slide for an infield single with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth inning in Game 1 of the Pacific League Climax Series against the Lotte Marines on Nov. 14, 2020, at PayPay Dome in Fukuoka, Japan.

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Baseball: SoftBank Hawks win Pacific League title

Takuya Kai (R) of the SoftBank Hawks celebrates with teammates after hitting a two-run home run in the sixth inning of a regular-season game against the Lotte Marines at PayPay Dome in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, on Oct. 27, 2020. The Hawks went on to win 5-1 to clinch their first Pacific League title in three years.

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Baseball: SoftBank Hawks win Pacific League title

Takuya Kai of the SoftBank Hawks hits a two-run home run in the sixth inning of a regular-season game against the Lotte Marines at PayPay Dome in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, on Oct. 27, 2020. The Hawks went on to win 5-1 to clinch their first Pacific League title in three years.

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Baseball: SoftBank Hawks win Pacific League title

Takuya Kai of the SoftBank Hawks hits a two-run home run in the sixth inning of a regular-season game against the Lotte Marines at PayPay Dome in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, on Oct. 27, 2020. The Hawks went on to win 5-1 to clinch their first Pacific League title in three years.

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Baseball in Japan

Takuya Kai (yellow) of the SoftBank Hawks slides into home plate in the sixth inning of a game against the Rakuten Eagles at PayPay Dome in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, on Sept. 18, 2020.