On the 20th, Seibu Lions announced that they will hold a Japan-Taiwan exchange game, "SEIBU LIONS TAIWAN SERIES – LEGENDS GAME –," at the Taipei Dome in Taipei City, Taiwan, on February 27th (Sat) and 28th (Sun), 2027. On the same day, at the home stadium of the Uni-President The Lions of the Taiwan Professional baseball (CPBL), Kuo Tai-yuan, a Taiwanese native who was known as the "Oriental Express" during his time with Seibu Lions, Seibu Lions alumnus Hisanobu Watanabe, who also played in Taiwan, and Senior Advisor Tetsuya Shiozaki announced the holding of the exchange game.
This will be the first time The Lions play a game at the Taipei Dome, which opened in 2023 and has a capacity of approximately 40,000 people. On Saturday the 27th, they will play against the Uni-President The Lions, with whom they have close ties. The matchup for Sunday the 28th is still being finalized.
In addition, as a post-game event on Sunday, the 28th, a special game will be held featuring a match between Saitama Seibu Lions alumni and Taiwan national team alumni.In addition to Mr. Guo Taiyuan, a former Taiwan national team player and Seibu Lions alumnus, approximately 30 players are scheduled to participate, including Mr. Hisanobu Watanabe, who alongside Mr. Guo helped build the golden era of The Lions; Senior Advisor Tetsuya Shiozaki; and from Uni-President The Lions, Manager Lin Yueping and Coach Gao Zhigang. The roster of alumni players will be announced as soon as it is finalized.
Tickets are scheduled to go on sale around September, and details regarding sales and other event information will be announced as soon as they are finalized.
▼ An-Ko Lin
"I'm so happy that we can play a Saitama Seibu Lions vs. Uni-President The Lions game in my hometown. It's a special feeling to be able to play in Seibu Lions jersey in front of the fans who have supported us all this time. First and foremost, I want to focus on this season and contribute to the team's win and championship. Through this game, I hope that the charm of Saitama Seibu Lions and the fun of baseball will spread even further in Taiwan. People of Taiwan, please come to Taipei Dome!"
▼ Mr. Guo Taiyuan
"I'm really looking forward to playing in front of Saitama Seibu Lions fans and Taiwanese fans again after so long. When An-Ko Lin ke's signing press conference was held in January, I talked with the team staff about how great it would be to hold something like a legends game in Taiwan, and that's how it came to be. Please look forward to this precious opportunity to see all the former players together!"
▼ Hisanobu Watanabe
"Hello everyone in Taiwan, it's been a while! It's very encouraging to know that there are so many Saitama Seibu Lions fans in Taiwan. I'm really looking forward to the exchange game in February next year. I'll also be playing in the alumni game, so I need to start training now. Please look forward to this amazing event!"
▼ Tetsuya Shiozaki, Senior Advisor
"Saitama Seibu Lions have had many players from Taiwan in the past, and we have many fans in Taiwan. We are also very much looking forward to playing against the Uni-President The Lions, with whom we have close ties. I would love to say that I'd like to be the starting pitcher in the special alumni game, but I would like to pitch as much as possible."
▼ Uni-The Lions Manager Hayashi Takehira
"I am deeply honored to have been invited to this special match. It has been about 10 years since my retirement, and I am excited to put on spike again, stand on mound, and compete against all the star players. I can't wait for the day to arrive."
▼ Unified The Lions Coach Takashi Tsuna
"I still vividly remember watching Saitama Seibu Lions games with Mr. Guo on TV when I was a child. I never imagined that as an adult I would wear the same jersey as Mr. Guo, play professionally and for the national team, and even stand on the same stage as my idolized legends in this alumni game. I feel it's a strange twist of fate and a deep connection. I'm really looking forward to it."
