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Tao gets axe as Rakuten to end season in cellar

TOKYO, Japan - Rakuten Eagles manager Yasushi Tao (file photo) will be given his walking papers in a dismissal at the end of the season to take responsibility for the Pacific League club's dismal performance, team sources said Sept. 25. Tao signed a three-year contract to take the helm of Rakuten, which was the first team to be created in Japanese pro baseball in nearly half a century.

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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.

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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.

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(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.

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(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.

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(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.

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(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.

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Tao named manager of Rakuten team

TOKYO, Japan - Hiroshi Mikitani (L), president of Internet mall operator Rakuten Inc., and baseball commentator Yasushi Tao shake hands during a press conference at a hotel in Tokyo on Oct. 13. Rakuten, which has filed an application with Nippon Professional Baseball to enter the baseball world next season, named Tao as manager of its team with a three-year contract.

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(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)

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(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)

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(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)

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(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)

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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)

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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)

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Tao gets axe as Rakuten to end season in cellar

TOKYO, Japan - Rakuten Eagles manager Yasushi Tao (file photo) will be given his walking papers in a dismissal at the end of the season to take responsibility for the Pacific League club's dismal performance, team sources said Sept. 25. Tao signed a three-year contract to take the helm of Rakuten, which was the first team to be created in Japanese pro baseball in nearly half a century. (Kyodo)

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Tao named manager of Rakuten team

TOKYO, Japan - Hiroshi Mikitani (L), president of Internet mall operator Rakuten Inc., and baseball commentator Yasushi Tao shake hands during a press conference at a hotel in Tokyo on Oct. 13. Rakuten, which has filed an application with Nippon Professional Baseball to enter the baseball world next season, named Tao as manager of its team with a three-year contract. (Kyodo)