On the 18th, Softbank Hawks announced that it had signed a new three-year contract with manager Hiroki Kokubo.
Manager Kokubo, who took over as manager in 2012, led the team to victory in his first year in the league, and in his second season this year led the team to consecutive league victories and their first Japan Series title in five years. Next season, the team is aiming to win its third consecutive league title, a first since the team moved to Fukuoka.
![[ Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks] President Yoshimitsu Goto declares that manager Hiroki Kokubo will continue in his position next season, saying, "Why should we change the manager who won the championship?"](https://hochi.news/images/2025/09/27/20250927-OHT1I51570-L.jpg)
![[Softbank] The league championship was decided! From a maximum deficit of 7, Ryoya Kurihara made a big comeback to the top with a two-run doble in the final game.](https://hochi.news/images/2025/09/27/20250927-OHT1I51531-L.jpg)
![[Softbank] Manager Hiroki Kokubo: "He is the real contributor to our two consecutive championships. I want to say thank you for your hard work." ... A Q&A session in a victory interview expressing gratitude](https://hochi.news/images/2025/09/27/20250927-OHT1I51562-L.jpg)
![[Softbank] Chairman Oh Sadaharu praises manager Kokubo, saying, "He has become a bigger manager than we expected."](https://hochi.news/images/2025/09/27/20250927-OHT1I51557-L.jpg)
![[Softbank Hawks] Kazuo Ono breaks his bat during batting practice, appealing for promotion to the third round: "That's the first step"](https://hochi.news/images/2026/02/07/20260207-OHT1I51575-L.jpg)
![[Camp Video] First-time WBC selection Yuki Matsumoto enters bullpen [Fukuoka Softbank, February 7th]](https://media.insight.pacificleague.com/webp/3mNsRwHNrBFUCaQEPIRm8cMA29gYuuTGz9KbkM2E.webp)
![[Softbank Hawks] Jeter Downs joins the team, "I hope I can get used to it gradually" and will play for the Nicaraguan national team in the WBC, aiming for their first win](https://hochi.news/images/2026/02/07/20260207-OHT1I51261-L.jpg)
![[Softbank Hawks] Manager Hiroki Kokubo's fan service today is a rock-paper-scissors tournament. If you win, you get a card, and if you draw or lose, you get a sticker.](https://hochi.news/images/2026/02/07/20260207-OHT1I51258-L.jpg)
