SoftBank

Seibu Lions right-hander Takahashi Mitsunari has obtained overseas free agency, and SoftBank Hawks franchise officer Koji Akiyama has already reached out, calling him an attractive pitcher. The quick approach is drawing attention as the offseason free agent market in Nippon Professional Baseball opens, with fans watching which clubs pursue him and whether he will consider staying in Japan or testing his value abroad.

SoftBank Hawks pitcher Toshiya Nakamichi, who joined the club as a development player, has been taken off the roster after just one season. Speaking about the decision, he said he had braced himself for it, and that he will take his time considering his future in baseball.

Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks have appointed Masafumi Hirai, a former Orix reliever, as their new pitching coach. The club also revealed it is preparing a staff position for veteran batter Akira Nakamura, who is expected to retire at the end of the season. The moves are part of the team's reshaping of its coaching and front-office structure.

The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks are drawing attention in Japan as the team prepares for the SMBC Japan Series 2026, where they face the Yokohama DeNA BayStars. Coverage highlights DeNA's Makoto Makishima's friendship with Hawks player Yamamoto despite facing each other in the championship. The Hawks performance team also announced auditions for its 2027 roster, adding to buzz around the club.

Ryoya Kurihara, catcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball, is a trending search topic in Japan. Interest in the infielder has spiked among baseball fans, with no major new development attached to the surge. Readers are discussing his recent form and role with the Hawks.

Japanese baseball figure Hirooka Tatsuro is drawing searches and attention as discussion grows over Kudo Kimiyasu potentially becoming Chunichi Dragons manager. SoftBank coach Kurano Shinji noted Kudo's career began under Hirooka's leadership, prompting fans to revisit the veteran manager's legacy and his historic ties to Kudo and the Hawks franchise.

SoftBank Group is among the most discussed stocks in Japan after being featured in evening market pick-up coverage alongside Mizuho Financial Group and Change Holdings. Investor interest also extends to its corporate bonds, which carry a 4.75 percent annual coupon, prompting commentary on what interest a 1 million yen investment would generate.

Former star pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, once dubbed the 'monster of the Heisei era', is taking on top professional golfer Riki Kawamoto in a serious golf match. The feature has drawn attention as baseball news dominates Japan, with the Japan Series third game between SoftBank and DeNA underway and Hideki Matsui's appointment as Giants manager also making headlines.

Tadahito Iguchi, the Chiba Lotte Marines manager, is a trending name in Japan as the Pacific League Climax Series gets underway. Coverage highlights the second game of the series, with SoftBank expected to start left-hander Moinelo as they chase a winning streak. Fans are closely watching Iguchi's decisions as his team battles through the postseason.

Hiroki Kokubo, the Yokohama DeNA BayStars manager, is drawing attention as his club enters the Japan Series, with ace Higashi Katsuki set to start the opener on the road. Sports coverage in Japan is also focused on draft meeting developments and SoftBank's Yanagita recovering from neck pain, keeping baseball at the centre of sports talk.

Nippon Professional Baseball has released the roster of eligible players for this year's Golden Glove Award, honoring the best defensive players. In the Central League, Hanshin's Kohei Sato is among the candidates, while the Pacific League list includes Seibu's Sosuke Genda and SoftBank's Kyoka Minami. Fans are now debating which fielders deserve the defensive honors this season.

China has blocked the Japanese group SoftBank's planned acquisition of the robotics division of Swiss engineering group ABB, according to Agenzia Nova. The move reportedly comes through Chinese regulatory channels and affects a major deal in the global industrial robotics sector. Observers are watching the decision as a sign of tightening Chinese scrutiny of foreign technology acquisitions amid ongoing tensions with the US and its allies.

Japanese baseball fans are searching for Makihara Taisei as the Pacific League Climax Series gets under way. Coverage highlights players to watch, including Kensuke Kondo, who hit two doubles in the opener, and Yuki Nomura, who has five hits in ten postseason at-bats. Interest in the Nippon-Ham Fighters versus SoftBank matchup is driving lookups of the players involved.

SoftBank Hawks pitcher Isamu Nomura has undergone surgery on his right elbow, according to Japanese sports news reports. The procedure raises questions about when the Nippon Professional Baseball player will be able to return to the mound, and fans are discussing what his absence means for the team's pitching rotation going forward.