Search｜Photos & Images & Videos｜KYODO NEWS IMAGES INC

(1)Pitcher Iwakuma gets wish on cash trade to Rakuten

KOBE, Japan - Orix Buffaloes club president Takashi Koizumi speaks at a press conference at Kobe Stadium on Dec. 22. He said that right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma was granted his wish in a cash trade to the newly formed Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.

E

Rakuten Eagles unveils new manager Okubo

SENDAI, Japan - Hiromoto Okubo (L), the new manager of the Japanese professional baseball team Tohoku Rakugen Golden Eagles, speaks at a press conference in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Oct. 14, 2014, as the club's president Yozo Tachibana looks on.

E

Rakuten's Tanaka earns 10th win of season

SAPPORO, Japan - Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles right hander Masahiro Tanaka pitches against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters at Sapporo Dome in Sapporo, Hokkaido, on Aug. 8, 2010. Tanaka struck out 11 in a 7-1 victory over the Fighters.

E

Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles to start training in Okinawa

KUMEJIMA, Japan - Yasushi Tao, manager of the newly formed Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles baseball team, speaks at Kumejima airport in Okinawa on Jan. 31. Tao and his team arrived on the island for training, which begins Feb. 1.

E

Scandal-rocked Ichiba aims high, eyeing rookie honors

TOKYO, Japan - Yasuhiro Ichiba, a highly touted pitcher who signed with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, speaks at a press conference in Sendai on Dec. 7 after being officially introduced by the team. ''My goal is to win the Rookie of the Year award,'' said Ichiba, who had his reputation tainted by violating draft eligibility rules and receiving money from several pro baseball clubs.

E

Rakuten signs Ichiba, 3 others to provisional deals

TOKYO, Japan - Yasuhiro Ichiba (L), reputed to be the No. 1 right-hander in collegiate baseball, is flanked by Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles manager Yasushi Tao after signing a provisional contract with the new professional baseball team in Tokyo on Nov. 24.

E

Rakuten owner encourages Golden Eagles players

OSAKA, Japan - Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles owner Hiroshi Mikitani (R) visits Fujiidera stadium in Osaka Prefecture on Nov. 20 to give words of encouragement to the members of the newly formed team at a practice session.

E

(2)Rakuten's new ballclub officially launched

SENDAI, Japan - Yasushi Tao (C), manager of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, is welcomed by people in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, on Nov. 11. Tao visited the city to attend a ceremony to officially launch the Pacific League team.

E

(1)Rakuten's new ballclub officially launched

SENDAI, Japan - Yasushi Tao (L), manager of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, greets people in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, on Nov. 11. Tao visited the city to attend a ceremony to officially launch the Pacific League team.

E

Ichiba inks informal contract with Rakuten

TOKYO, Japan - Former Meiji University right-hander Yasuhiro Ichiba (R), who received money from several pro baseball clubs in violation of draft eligibility rules, smiles with Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles general manager Marty Kuehnert after signing a provisional contract with the newly formed baseball club in Tokyo on Nov. 9. ''I've caused a lot of trouble for a lot of people but I want to repay my debt of gratitude by playing my best,'' said Ichiba. ''My goal is to win 15 games and receive the Rookie of the Year Award.''

E

(3)Rakuten selected over Livedoor as new team

TOKYO, Japan - Marty Kuehnert (L), general manager of Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, Hiroshi Mikitani (C), president of Internet shopping mall operator Rakuten Inc., and Yasushi Tao, manager of Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, attend a press conference in Tokyo on Nov. 2 after they were allowed by a meeting of baseball club owners to join Japanese professional baseball next season.

E

(2)Rakuten selected over Livedoor as new team

TOKYO, Japan - Hiroshi Mikitani, president of Internet shopping mall operator Rakuten Inc., speaks at a press conference in Tokyo on Nov. 2 after his company was allowed by a meeting of baseball owners to join Japanese professional baseball next season. At right is Yasushi Tao, manager of Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.

E

(2)Rakuten selected over Livedoor as new team

TOKYO, Japan - Hiroshi Mikitani, president of Internet shopping mall operator Rakuten Inc., speaks at a press conference in Tokyo on Nov. 2 after his company was allowed by a meeting of baseball owners to join Japanese professional baseball next season. At right is Yasushi Tao, manager of Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. (Kyodo)

E

(3)Rakuten selected over Livedoor as new team

TOKYO, Japan - Marty Kuehnert (L), general manager of Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, Hiroshi Mikitani (C), president of Internet shopping mall operator Rakuten Inc., and Yasushi Tao, manager of Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, attend a press conference in Tokyo on Nov. 2 after they were allowed by a meeting of baseball club owners to join Japanese professional baseball next season. (Kyodo)

E

(1)Rakuten's new ballclub officially launched

SENDAI, Japan - Yasushi Tao (L), manager of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, greets people in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, on Nov. 11. Tao visited the city to attend a ceremony to officially launch the Pacific League team. (Kyodo)

E

(2)Rakuten's new ballclub officially launched

SENDAI, Japan - Yasushi Tao (C), manager of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, is welcomed by people in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, on Nov. 11. Tao visited the city to attend a ceremony to officially launch the Pacific League team. (Kyodo)

E

Rakuten owner encourages Golden Eagles players

OSAKA, Japan - Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles owner Hiroshi Mikitani (R) visits Fujiidera stadium in Osaka Prefecture on Nov. 20 to give words of encouragement to the members of the newly formed team at a practice session. (Kyodo)

E

Rakuten signs Ichiba, 3 others to provisional deals

TOKYO, Japan - Yasuhiro Ichiba (L), reputed to be the No. 1 right-hander in collegiate baseball, is flanked by Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles manager Yasushi Tao after signing a provisional contract with the new professional baseball team in Tokyo on Nov. 24. (Kyodo)

E

Scandal-rocked Ichiba aims high, eyeing rookie honors

TOKYO, Japan - Yasuhiro Ichiba, a highly touted pitcher who signed with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, speaks at a press conference in Sendai on Dec. 7 after being officially introduced by the team. ''My goal is to win the Rookie of the Year award,'' said Ichiba, who had his reputation tainted by violating draft eligibility rules and receiving money from several pro baseball clubs. (Kyodo)

E

(1)Pitcher Iwakuma gets wish on cash trade to Rakuten

KOBE, Japan - Orix Buffaloes club president Takashi Koizumi speaks at a press conference at Kobe Stadium on Dec. 22. He said that right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma was granted his wish in a cash trade to the newly formed Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. (Kyodo)

E

Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles to start training in Okinawa

KUMEJIMA, Japan - Yasushi Tao, manager of the newly formed Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles baseball team, speaks at Kumejima airport in Okinawa on Jan. 31. Tao and his team arrived on the island for training, which begins Feb. 1. (Kyodo)

E

(2)Pitcher Iwakuma gets wish on cash trade to Rakuten

KOBE, Japan - Right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma (in file photo) was granted his wish in a cash trade to the newly formed Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, Orix Buffaloes club president Takashi Koizumi said on Dec. 22. (Kyodo)

E

Ichiba inks informal contract with Rakuten

TOKYO, Japan - Former Meiji University right-hander Yasuhiro Ichiba (R), who received money from several pro baseball clubs in violation of draft eligibility rules, smiles with Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles general manager Marty Kuehnert after signing a provisional contract with the newly formed baseball club in Tokyo on Nov. 9. ''I've caused a lot of trouble for a lot of people but I want to repay my debt of gratitude by playing my best,'' said Ichiba. ''My goal is to win 15 games and receive the Rookie of the Year Award.'' (Kyodo)

E

Support staff aiming at efficient money spending

FUJIIDERA, Japan - A support staff (R) for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles prepares for an autumn-season batting practice in Fujiidera Stadium in the city of Fujiidera, Osaka Prefecture, in November 2004. (Kyodo)

E

Baseball amateur becomes Rakuten's spokeswoman

SAPPORO, Japan - Yuko Shimoda, an official in charge of public relations at the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, talks with her staff after observing Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters events to thank fans at Sapporo Dome in Sapporo in November. (Kyodo)

E

Rakuten's sales from advertisements to top target

Sendai, Japan - Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles' No. 1 draft pitcher Yasuhiro Ichiba poses with the team's new logo at a hotel in Sendai's Aoba Ward on Dec. 7, 2004. (Kyodo)

E

Rakuten's Tanaka earns 10th win of season

SAPPORO, Japan - Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles right hander Masahiro Tanaka pitches against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters at Sapporo Dome in Sapporo, Hokkaido, on Aug. 8, 2010. Tanaka struck out 11 in a 7-1 victory over the Fighters. (Kyodo)