The start of training camp is just around the corner. Each team is heading to spring training camp in order to win the season. Many fans are paying close attention to how they will spend the time until the opening. We will introduce the managers of each Pacific League League team who are in charge of leading their teams, and their careers and playing days.

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo

Tsuyoshi Shinjo / Manager (4th year)
#1 / Born January 28, 1972, age 54
5th overall pick in the 1989 draft / Born in Fukuoka Prefecture

[Career History
Nishinippon Junior College High School -Hanshin Tigers (90-00) - New York Mets (01) - San Francisco Giants (02) - New York Mets (03) -Hokkaido Nippon-Ham (04-06) -Hokkaido Nippon-Ham- Manager (22-)

Major titles won.
Best Nine (93, 00, 04) Golden Glove Award (93, 94, 96-00, 04-06)

Now in his fifth year at the helm, Shinjo entered the Hanshin Tigers draft in the fifth round from Nishinippon Junior College High School, where he played for 11 years Hanshin Tigers and was a leading outfielder player in baseball, winning seven Golden Glove Awards with his solid defense power.

He exercised his FA rights and joined Major League Baseball in 2001. He played a total of three years with the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants. After returning to Japan, he joined Hokkaido Nippon-Ham and won three Golden Glove Awards in three years before retiring. He was a big hit not only for his play, but also for his fan service that made the whole Pacific League community excited.

After his retirement, he left the Japanese baseball world, but participated in a joint tryout with 12 teams in 2020. Although he did not make it back to active baseball, he has been the manager of Hokkaido Nippon-Ham since the 2022 season and continues to add new colors to the team.

Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles Manager Hajime Miki

Hajime Miki (Director) (3rd year)
#88 / Born April 25, 1977, 48 years old
1995 Draft No. 1 / Born in Osaka Prefecture

[Career]
Jogyo High School -Yakult, Tokyo Yakult (1996-2007) -Hokkaido Nippon-Ham (2008) -Hokkaido Nippon-Ham-Ham Fighters coach (2009-2013) - Tokyo Yakult coach (2014-2018) - Tohoku Rakuten Eagles Golden Eagles manager of the second team (2019), first team manager (2020), second team manager (2021-2024), first team manager (2025 onwards)

Manager Miki graduated from Jogyo High School in Osaka. He was selected first in the 1995 draft and joined Yakult. During his playing days, he supported the team as a super sub, and after playing for Yakult for 12 years, he was traded to Hokkaido Nippon-Ham. He only appeared in 17 games, completing his 13-year professional career.

After retiring from active play, he embarked on a career as a coach with Hokkaido Nippon-Ham, and later held several positions at his former team, the Tokyo Yakult, where he was involved in player development and team building.

In 2019, he was appointed manager of Tohoku Rakuten Eagles 's second team, and in 2020, he was promoted to first team manager. From 2021, he was again in charge of second team manager for four seasons, focusing on developing young players. From the 2025 season, he was appointed first team manager again, and is responsible for leading the team to a new stage.

Saitama Seibu Lions manager Fumiya Nishiguchi

Nishiguchi Fumiya / Director (2nd year)
#74 / Born September 26, 1972, 53 years old
1994 Draft 3rd pick / Born in Wakayama Prefecture

[Career]
Wakayama Commercial High School - Rissho University -Seibu Lions, Saitama Seibu Seibu Lions (1995-2015) - Saitama Seibu Lions, Organization Department (2016), Coach (2017-2021) - Second Team Manager (2022-2024) - First Team Manager (2025-)

[Major titles won]
Most Valuable Player (97), Sawamura Award (97), Most win (97, 98), Most strike out (97, 98), Highest Winning Percentage (97), Best Nine (97, 98), Golden Glove Award (97, 98, 02)

Now in his second year as manager, Nishiguchi is a graduate of Rissho University. He joined Seibu Lions after being selected third overall in the 1994 draft and has been a home-grown player ever since, playing jersey for 21 years.

He was a pillar of the team as starter and earned the Sawamura Award in 1997, his third year as a pro, leaving a solid track record as one of the league's leading right-handed pitchers. During his playing career, he experienced a phantom perfect game and two failed no hitter. In both cases, he allowed hit to the 28th hitter.

After retiring from active play in 2015, he worked as a coach, focusing on training pitcher. He was appointed first-team manager from the 2025 season. Will the team be able to reach Class A for the first time in four years since 2022?

Chiba Lotte Marines Manager Saburo

Saburo (Omura Saburo) / Director (1st year)
#86 / Born June 1, 1976, 49 years old
1994 Draft No. 1 / Born in Okayama Prefecture

[Career]
PL Gakuen High School -Chiba Lotte Marines (1995-mid-2011) -The Giants (mid-2011-2011) -Chiba Lotte Marines (2012-2016) - Tohoku Rakuten Eagles, farm director (2020-2021), scouting advisor (2022) -Chiba Lotte Marines, second team manager (2023-2025), first team head coach (mid-2025-2025), first team manager (2026-)

[Major titles won]
Golden Globe Awards (2005, 2007)

Manager Saburo, who will lead Chiba Lotte Marines from this season, joined Chiba Lotte Marines as the first draft pick in 1994 from PL Gakuen High School. In 2005, when the team won its first league championship and Japan Series title in 31 years, he led the Marine Gun batting line as the team's "connecting fourth batter." He also contributed to the team's Japan Series championship in 2010.

He was traded to The Giants in June 2011, but exercised his free agent rights during the offseason that same year and returned to his former team, the Chiba Chiba Lotte Marines. He only spent about five months with The Giants, before returning to Chiba Lotte Marines jersey.

After retiring in 2016, he pursued a career as a coach, serving as farm manager for Tohoku Rakuten Eagles. From 2023, he was appointed manager of Chiba Lotte Marines 's second team, responsible for developing young players, and this season he was appointed manager of the first team.

Orix Buffaloes The Buffaloes manager Mamoru Kishida

Mamoru Kishida / Director (2nd year)
#71 / Born on May 10, 1981, 44 years old
2005 University Student and Adult Draft 3rd Round / From Osaka Prefecture

[Career]
Riseisha High School - Tohoku Welfare University - NTT West Japan -Orix Buffaloes (06~19)-Orix Buffaloes ・Coach (20~24) First team coach (25~)

Coach Kishida will be in his second season as manager. After graduating, he went on to Tohoku University of Social Welfare from Riseisha High School, and after graduating, he experienced working baseball at NTT West Japan. He honed his skills from his amateur days, and was nominated by Orix Buffaloes in the third round of the 2005 college student and adult draft, and entered the professional ranks in 2006.

During his active career, he pitched a wide range of games from the starting lineup to reliever and closer. As a starter, he had double digits win, and as a reliever, he made 50 appearances five times, including 68 appearances and 33 saves in 2011. He made a total of 433 appearances and continued to swing his arms for the team.

Even after leaving the jersey, he did not leave the team and served as the pitcher coach of Orix Buffaloes, becoming the first-team manager in 2025. The commander, who knows the team that is loved by the nickname "Mamo-san", is also noteworthy for his second year.

Fukuoka Softbank manager Hiroki Kokubo

Hiroki Kokubo (Manager) (3rd year)
#90 / Born October 8, 1971, 54 years old
1993 Draft 2nd pick / Born in Wakayama Prefecture

[Career]
Seirin High School - Aoyama Gakuin University - Daiei (1994-2003) -The Giants (2004-2006) -Fukuoka Softbank (2007-2012) - Japan National Team Manager (2013-2017) -Fukuoka Softbank Hawks Coach (2021-2023) First Team Manager (2024-)

[Major titles won]
Home Run (95) RBI (97), Best Nine (95, 97, 11), Golden Glove (95, 10, 11)

This season marks Kokubo's third year as manager. He joined the Fukuoka Daiei FC through the reverse draft selection system from Aoyama Gakuin University. In his second year as a pro, he played in every game, established himself as a key player, and quickly established himself as a central Home Run in the batting lineup, winning the most home runs. He continued to support the team with his competitive hitting, winning the most RBI.

After the 2003 season, his transfer to The Giants was suddenly announced, and he joined the team the following season. During his three years with the team, he became the first right-handed hitter in the team's history to hit 40 Home Run in a season. He returned to Fukuoka Softbank in 2007, and again played as a key player, before retiring after six years with the team.

After retiring, he worked as a commentator before becoming the first manager of Samurai Japan, which was established as a permanent team in 2013. After stepping down as national team manager, he returned to Fukuoka Softbank, where he served as a coach and second-team manager. In 2024, he led the team as first-team manager, winning the league championship in his first year in office, and in the following season, achieving consecutive league championships and becoming Japan's number one. As a manager with both proven track record and experience, attention will be focused on how the team performs this season.


This season, I'd like to keep an eye on the tactics and progress of each manager to see what kind of character they will add to the team.

The managers of the six Pacific League teams have gathered together! The special edition of Pacific League TV FANS MEET UP, "Manager Roundtable Discussion," is now available.