Japan Sports Notebook: SoftBank's Hiroki Kokubo Wins Shoriki Award
SoftBank's Hiroki Kokubo, the title-winning skipper of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, has been honored for his contributions to Japanese baseball in 2025. During his two seasons as manager, Kokubo has led the team to two Pacific League pennants. The Hawks won the 2024 Japan Series with a five-game triumph over the Hanshin Tigers, capturing their first title since 2020. This success led to Kokubo being named the 2025 recipient of the Matsutaro Shoriki Award.
The Shoriki Award, named after the late owner of The Yomiuri Shimbun and founder of the Yomiuri Giants, is given to the title-winning skipper of the Japan Series. Previous recipients include Kimiyasu Kudo, Daisuke Miura, Shingo Takatsu, Satoshi Nakajima, Ichiro Suzuki, and Hideki Matsui. Kokubo's Hawks have compiled a 178-101-7 record in the regular season since his managerial debut.
The award committee praised Kokubo for his successful season as Hawks manager, highlighting his ability to break free from fixed notions and maximize players' abilities. They also noted his bold use of young players, who responded magnificently.
In addition to baseball, the notebook covers other sports events, including sumo, deaflympics, and figure skating. It also includes quotes from notable figures, such as boxer Tenshin Nasukawa and Crown Prince Fumihito.
The notebook is written by Ed Odeven and can be followed on social media for more updates.
