Tohoku Rakuten Eagles: Retirement press conference and retirement ceremony for Kazuki Tanaka to be held on Monday, November 23 (National Holiday)

The Rakuten Eagles will hold a retirement press conference and retirement ceremony for Kazuki Tanaka, who has announced his retirement from active play at the end of this season, during the "Rakuten Eagles Fan Appreciation Festival 2026" to be held on Monday, November 23 (National Holiday).

The retirement press conference will be streamed on the Rakuten Eagles official YouTube and Rakuten TV, and the retirement ceremony is scheduled to take place on the field at Rakuten Mobile Saikyo Park Miyagi starting around 2:00 PM.

Saitama Seibu Lions 'LIONS THANKS FESTA 2026 supported by Olive' viewing ticket sales have started

Seibu Lions will begin selling viewing tickets for "LIONS THANKS FESTA 2026 supported by Olive," to be held at Belluna Dome on Saturday, November 28, through The Lions ticket (web) starting today, Friday the 23rd, and has also launched the event special website.

The event will be held under the theme "Again this year! Let's connect at an overwhelmingly close distance." This year, many "overwhelmingly close distance" events will be held where fans can feel closer to the players. Anyone with a viewing ticket can participate in activities such as high-fives and original hand warmer distribution where players welcome fans, high-five base running, and "Look That Way!" games for children of junior high school age and younger. Furthermore, 2026 Fan Club members can participate in even more events through a pre-event lottery.

Additionally, on the ground, the player-versus-player baseball showdown "Overwhelming Entertainment Baseball!", which was very popular last year, will be held with the game time extended by one hour from last year, and a "2026 Draft New Player Unveiling Ceremony" is also scheduled to take place.

▼Comment from Player Association Chairman Shuta Tonosaki▼
"Thank you very much for all your support this season. This time, I want to make it a day where we players can express our gratitude. In last year's Entertainment Baseball, we had a great time, like having our senior player (Takeya) Nakamura sprint at full speed (laughs). I am looking forward to meeting all the fans at an overwhelmingly close distance again this year."

Fukuoka Softbank announces guests for the ceremonial first pitch and national anthem solo at the SMBC Japan Series 2026

Fukuoka Softbank has announced the guests who will perform the ceremonial first pitch for Games 3, 4, and 5, and the national anthem solo for Game 3 of the "SMBC Japan Series 2026" to be held at MIZUHO PayPay Dome FUKUOKA.

[Game 3]
Ceremonial First Pitch: Mitsuki Kondo (Judo Women's 48kg class Asian Games Gold Medalist)
National Anthem Solo: Masahiro Shimba (Tenor Singer)

▼Comment from Mitsuki Kondo▼
"I will aim for an Ippon victory on the mound!"

▼Comment from Masahiro Shimba▼
"As a tenor singer, it is a supreme honor to be entrusted with the important role of singing the national anthem solo for the third time in my life on the stage of the Japan Series, the pinnacle of the baseball world. With the hope that the singing voice echoing from the stadium and the moving plays will reach across the sea as a prayer for world peace, I will sing the national anthem with all my might, with a dignity befitting the Fukuoka opening of the Japan Series and in a way that lights up hope for the future."

[Game 4]
Ceremonial First Pitch: Yui Kamiji (Professional Wheelchair Tennis Player)

[Game 5]
Ceremonial First Pitch: Sanzo Tsutsumi (The Hawks Junior Captain)

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