[Captain Soto] Today's Pacific League [January 30th]

Pacific League Insight

2026.1.30(金) 18:05

Chiba Lotte Marines player Soto [Photo: provided by the team]

◇ Hokkaido Nippon-Ham' 2026 team slogan is "DOMI!"

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters have decided on "DOMI!" as their team slogan for 2026. This slogan was devised by Kotaro Kiyomiya, who was appointed as the players' association president this season, as his first order of business after taking on the role. "DOMI!" comes from "DOMINATE," and embodies their determination not just to challenge, but to take the lead with their honed skills and "win overwhelmingly." Hoping to share this feeling with their fans, they arrived at "DOMI!", which is easy for anyone to say.

▼ Comments from Kiyomiya ▼
"After the season ended, our boss told us that we had to win overwhelmingly. He spoke about this in front of the fans at FFES, and the keyword 'overwhelming' came to mind. It was something that players could say in their daily lives, and could also be used during matches. It was something that everyone, including the fans, could relate to, and that would bring everyone together. It was something that could be understood at a glance. With that image in mind, we consulted with many people and came up with the design, etc.
I've made a firm decision. This year, I'm going to win overwhelmingly! Let's all dominate!

Tohoku Rakuten Eagles will distribute second baseman jersey to visitors at the Tohoku Series Supported by Daito Trust Construction

Following on from last year, Rakuten Eagles will host official first-division games in Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture (May 12th), Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture (June 23rd), Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture (July 1st), Akita City, Akita Prefecture (September 1st), and Morioka City regular season Prefecture (September 2nd) as part of the "Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles Tohoku Series Supported by Daito Trust Construction." As a gift for attendees of this series, the first 5,000 attendees at each prefecture's games will receive a "second baseman jersey" featuring the six-line "Tohoku Stripe." A variety of other content, including events, gourmet food, and merchandise, is also planned.

▼Comment from Takero Okajima, Ambassador Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles ▼
"I'm excited that the Tohoku Series Supported by Daito Trust Construction will be held again in the 2026 season! I'm looking forward to meeting fans all over Tohoku, and as Rakuten Eagles ambassador, I want to help make this series even more exciting. Please support our players with your enthusiastic cheers!"

◇ Chiba Lotte Marines 's Soto becomes captain

Chiba Lotte Marines' Soto has been appointed team captain. Entering his ninth season in the NPB, Soto arrived in Japan yesterday and is scheduled to participate in spring training from the first day.

▼Soto's comment▼
"I want to contribute as much as I can to the team's win and have the best season ever. We all have the goal of winning as a team, and I want to make sure we prepare well from the start of training camp. We have no choice but to win, for the team and the fans. We will all work hard towards win and make this a season that everyone win."

Chiba Lotte Marines to take orders for merchandise featuring Atsuki Atsuki Taneichi in collaboration with Japan National baseball Team Samurai Japan

From 12 p.m. today to 23:59 on Sunday, February 8, the The Marines online store will be selling Atsuki Taneichi pitcher 's "baseball Japan Representative Samurai Japan" × The Marines collaboration goods and "Hinomaru Design Goods".

A total of 39 products will be available as related goods for Atsuki Taneichi pitcher, which will participate in the "Ragzas Samurai Japan Series 2026" starting on Sunday, February 22, mainly face towels with the motif of Samurai Japan's uniform design and T-shirts designed with the Japanese flag. The design incorporates the name and number of Taneichi pitcher, and combines elements of Samurai Japan and The Marines.

▼Taneichi pitcher Comment▼
"I am very honored to have you create collaboration goods between 'baseball Japan Representative Samurai Japan' and The Marines. The Samurai Japan uniform design and items with the Japanese flag motif are finished to remind you of the responsibility and pride of fighting for the Japan national team. I would be happy if both the fans of The Marines and everyone who supports the Japan national team could pick it up and fight together."

▼Product example▼
◎Samurai Japan uniform design
・Name & Number T-shirt (Color: White, Navy / Size: 130cm, S, M, L, XL): 130cm 3,500 yen / S~XL: 4,000 yen
◎Samurai Japan Visual Design
・Uniform (limited quantity/DTF processing/size: S, M, L, O): 17,000 yen
◎Hinomaru design
・Face towel (design: player visual, player name): 2,000 yen

*All prices include tax.
*Delivery will be made after March 20th (Friday) (some products are scheduled for late February).
*If you purchase multiple products at once, it will be shipped according to the latest delivery product.

Chiba Lotte Marines 's Kyuto Ueda announces his marriage

Chiba Chiba Lotte Marines' Kyuto Ueda registered his marriage today with a non-celebrity woman. Ueda commented, "I have registered my marriage with someone I have been dating for some time. I am once again reminded of how grateful I am to have someone who continues to support me in my daily life. I will continue to focus on each and every play so that I can contribute to the team's win. I would appreciate your continued warm support."

Orix Buffaloes to hold "Senoppi Presents the 23rd Orix Buffaloes The Buffaloes Cup 2026 Boys and Girls Rubber baseball Tournament"

Orix Buffaloes will be holding the "Senoppi Presents the 23rd Orix Buffaloes The Buffaloes Cup 2026 Boys and Girls baseball Tournament" with special sponsorship from LEFT-U Co., Ltd. Teams belonging to youth baseball organizations in Osaka and Hyogo prefectures can apply to participate in this tournament. After the representative teams for each block in Osaka and Hyogo are decided through a preliminary tournament, a final tournament will be held including teams recommended by the Kinki baseball Association to determine the No. 1 team in Kinki.

Additionally, players participating in the "The Buffaloes Junior Team" that will take part in the "NPB 12 Teams Junior Tournament" scheduled for December this year will be players participating in this tournament. Selection will be based on recommendations from each cooperating organization, and 16 players will be selected for The Buffaloes Junior Team.

◇Concluded jersey advertising sponsorship contract with Orix Buffaloes FWD Life Insurance Co., Ltd.

Orix Buffaloes has signed jersey advertising sponsorship contract with FWD Life Insurance Co., Ltd. for the 2026 season. As a result, the "FWD Life" logo will be displayed on the right sleeve of jersey worn by players, managers, and coaches, starting with the Miyazaki spring training camp that begins on Sunday, February 1st.