Saitama Seibu Lions starter Tatsuya Imai has been granted approval by the Pacific League club to seek a sports move to Major League Baseball via the posting system.
The Lions announced on Monday, November 10 that the three-time PL All-Star will be posted.
Under the posting system, MLB's arrangement with NPB states that a player can be posted from November 1 to December 15. What's more, a player has a 45-day window to finalize a contract with an MLB team once he's posted.
On October 10, Imai officially notified the Lions of his desire to move to the majors.
"I am extremely grateful for this decision," Imai said on Monday of the team's agreement to post him, according to Jiji Press.
He added, "I believe playing at the highest level (in MLB) will be my way of repaying the team, so I must work harder than ever before."
Imai, 27, had a 10-5 record with a career-low 1.92 ERA in 2025. He struck out 178 batters in 162⅔ innings, including a career-high 17 on June 17 against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars.
In 2024, the Tochigi Prefecture native led the PL with 187 strikeouts.
Becoming a Pro Sports Star
Imai made his NPB debut in 2018 and spent eight seasons with the Lions, compiling a 58-45 record with a 3.15 ERA. He won 10 games in both 2023 and '24, elevating his profile in the process.
Lions general manager Koji Hiroike believes Imai is ready for the challenge of playing for an MLB team.
"He has consistently expressed his desire to play in the majors for several years," Hiroike said at a news conference on Monday, Sankei Sports reported, adding, "he is that kind of pitcher. Especially these past two years, he has contributed tremendously in terms of numbers. As someone responsible for strengthening the team, it was a difficult decision [to let him leave]."
According to NPB protocol, a player becomes a free agent after their ninth season. Because Imai played eight seasons in NPB, he wasn't a free agent yet and was ineligible to be posted without the Lions' authorization.
Soccer
Samurai Blue's Suzuki Sidelined with Hand Injury
Japan national team goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, who is employed by Italian Serie A club Parma, will miss a pair of upcoming international friendlies after sustaining a hand injury.
During a match against AC Milan on November 8, Suzuki injured his left hand. He had medical scans on the same day to determine the severity of the injury.
Those scans "revealed a composite fracture in the middle finger of his left hand and in the scaphoid bone [in his wrist]," Parma said in a statement on November 9. "Suzuki will undergo further specialist consultation in the coming days, and he will also have to undergo an eventual surgery in order to help cure the injury."
Suzuki was the starting goalie for the Samurai Blue in a 3-2 comeback victory over Brazil on October 14. It was Japan's first-ever win over Brazil.
The 23-year-old has made 22 starts for the Japan national team since his debut in July 2022.
Japan plays host to Ghana on Friday, November 14 in Toyota, Aichi Prefecture. The national squad meets Bolivia on November 18 at Tokyo's National Stadium.
Ice Hockey
Smile Japan Goes Unbeaten at IIHF Women's Asia Championship
The Japan women's national team, aka Smile Japan, beat China 4-0 on Sunday, November 8, the final day of the IIHF Ice Hockey Women's Asia Championship.
In Oskemen, Kazakhstan, Yumeka Wajma scored a first-period goal at the 13:43 mark.
Captain Rui Ukita and Rio Noro extended the lead to 3-0 with goals in the second period.
Aoi Shiga completed the scoring in the third period.
Japan opened the four-nation round-robin tournament with a 6-0 triumph over Kazakhstan on November 5, then trounced South Korea 7-0 two days later.
Coach Yuji Iizuka's team also won the IIHF Women's Asia Championship in 2024.
Japan forward Haruka Toko led all players with six points (two goals, four assists) in the tournament.
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Golf
Yamashita Climbs to 3rd in World Rankings
Rising LPGA star Miyuu Yamashita moved up one spot in the latest Rolex Women's World Rankings from fourth to third. The rankings were released on Monday, November 10.
Nelly Korda of the United States is No 2, and Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul is the top-ranked player.
Also for Japan among the world's top 25-ranked players, Mao Saigo (ninth), Rio Takeda (14th), Akie Iwai (22nd), Ayaka Furue (24th) and Nasa Hataoka (25th).
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Sumo
Unbeaten Onosato Tied for the Lead at Kyushu Basho
Yokozuna Onosato improved to 3-0 with a victory over maegashira No 1 Wakatakakage at the Kyushu Basho on Tuesday, November 11 in Fukuoka.
Mongolian Hoshoryu, the other yokozuna, improved to 2-1 by beating second-ranked maegashira Kirishima on the same day.
Onosato is tied for the lead with sekiwake Aonishiki, maegashira No 12 Fujinokawa and maegashira No 17 Asakoryu.
The 15-day tournament runs through November 23.
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American Football
Hawaii's Matsuzawa Sets School Record for Field Goals in a Season
University of Hawaii senior placekicker Kansei Matsuzawa booted his 22nd field goal in as many attempts during the 2025 college football season on Saturday, November 8 in a game against San Diego State.
Matsuzawa set a school record for most field goals in a season in the Rainbow Warriors' 38-6 victory in Honolulu. In the same game, the Tokyo native also had five extra points.
Hawaii improved to 7-3, including 4-2 in the Mountain West Conference.
In mid-October, Matsuzawa was recognized for his kicking prowess, being chosen for several midseason All-America teams, including CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated and The Associated Press.
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Author: Ed Odeven
Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.
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