Yokohama DeNA’s defense chief and batting coach Ryuji Aikawa, who is expected to be promoted to the new manager (file photo)

It has been learned that Yokohama DeNA’s defense chief and batting coach Ryuji Aikawa (49) is expected to be promoted to the new manager. The announcement is expected to be made soon. Coach Aikawa has supported the team in achieving four consecutive A-class finishes as a key strategist for outgoing manager Daisuke Miura (51).

Coach Aikawa was drafted in the fifth round by Yokohama (now Yokohama DeNA) in 1995 from Chiba Tokyo Gakkan High School. He also played for the Yakult Swallows and Yomiuri Giants, recording 1,150 hits, 69 home runs, and 475 RBIs in 1,508 career games. He also played for the Japanese national team.

He retired as a player in 2017. He served as a coach for the Yomiuri Giants from 2019 and returned to Yokohama DeNA in 2022.

Following the team’s elimination in the Climax Series Final Stage on the 17th, the team owner stated regarding the new manager, “We want to build a system that can further develop the foundation.”

It has also been learned that the team president will concurrently serve as the head of baseball operations.

Yokohama DeNA

Yokohama DeNA is a professional baseball team in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league, based in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. The team was originally founded in 1950 as the Taiyo Whales and has undergone several ownership and naming changes, becoming the Yokohama BayStars in 1993. In 2012, the DeNA digital company purchased the team, leading to its current name, the Yokohama DeNA BayStars.

Chiba Tokyo Gakkan High School

Chiba Tokyo Gakkan High School is a private co-educational high school located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It was founded in 1983 as part of the Tokyo Gakkan educational institution, which operates several schools, with a focus on providing a comprehensive education that prepares students for university entrance and future careers.

Yakult Swallows

The Yakult Swallows are a professional baseball team based in Tokyo, Japan, originally founded in 1950. They are famous for their passionate fan base and their iconic cheering song, “Tokyo Ondo,” which is sung during the 7th inning stretch. The team plays its home games at Meiji Jingu Stadium and has won multiple Japan Series championships.

Yomiuri Giants

The Yomiuri Giants are a professional baseball team based in Tokyo, Japan, and are the oldest and one of the most successful clubs in Japanese professional baseball, founded in 1934. As the central franchise of Nippon Professional Baseball, they have won numerous Japan Series championships, establishing a deep-rooted legacy and a massive, dedicated fanbase often referred to as the “Giants Kingdom.”

Japanese national team

The Japanese national football team, nicknamed “Samurai Blue,” represents Japan in international men’s football. It is managed by the Japan Football Association and has grown into a major Asian football power, consistently qualifying for the FIFA World Cup since 1998. The team’s history reflects the sport’s rise in popularity in Japan, marked by significant achievements like winning the AFC Asian Cup four times.

Climax Series

The Climax Series is the postseason playoff system in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). It was introduced in 2004 to determine which team from each league (Central and Pacific) advances to the Japan Series. The format gives a significant advantage to the first-place team, including an automatic one-win advantage in the final stage.