“Zombie Tobacco” Scandal Rocks Hiroshima Carp — Kanemoto and Nomura Emerge as Next Manager Favorites

The “Kikuchi Manager Plan” fades away

The Hiroshima Carp have been shaken by the “zombie tobacco” scandal, and manager Takahiro Arai (49) is struggling to rebuild a team that remains stuck in fifth place in the league. In Arai’s first year as manager, Hiroshima finished second in the league, but since then the team has gradually slipped, finishing fourth and then fifth.

“This season, the team was determined to reclaim the championship for the first time since 2018, but at the same time, a generational transition was underway. Just before the season opener, the front office instructed the coaching staff to prioritize the development of younger players. Rookies Ren Hirakawa (22) and Jo Katsuta (23), as well as second-year professional Tai Sasaki (23), were actively placed in the starting lineup from the beginning of the season. However, due in part to Hirakawa’s injury, they have not produced the major performances that were expected of them,” said a former team official.

Off the field, former player Ryūtarō Hatsuki (26) was sentenced in January this year to one year of imprisonment, suspended for three years, after being found guilty of violating the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act for using the designated substance

“Hatsuki stated that six people, including himself, were involved with ‘zombie tobacco.’ The team says it will conduct a re-investigation, but the results are expected to remain undisclosed. Manager Arai, who had high hopes for Hatsuki as a player, also feels a heavy sense of responsibility. In fact, last offseason he had privately expressed his intention to resign over the team’s performance, but the front office persuaded him by saying, ‘Don’t quit yet,’ and he continued. If the team continues to struggle like this, he will likely decide to take off the uniform this time,” said the same source.

The team is urgently moving forward with plans regarding its next manager. In fact, the name of a major current player had already been mentioned as a possible successor.

“That player is veteran infielder Ryōsuke Kikuchi (36). He has continued to perform as a starter even in his 15th professional season this year, but the team wants to develop his potential successor, Jo Katsuta. At the same time, owner Hajime Matsuda (75) is fond of Kikuchi, and he is considered a future front-office candidate.

There had been a behind-the-scenes plan for Kikuchi to make a surprise retirement announcement after this season and immediately become the first-team manager, similar to former Giants manager Yoshinobu Takahashi (51), who retired while still having plenty left in the tank and immediately took over as manager. However, under these chaotic circumstances, it appears the team decided it would be too harsh to hand over the reins at this time, and the possibility of him becoming manager next season has fallen close to zero,” said a baseball insider.

Instead, the names now being discussed are Kenjiro Nomura (59), who managed the team for five years from 2010 to 2014, and former team player Tomonori Kanemoto (58).

“During his previous managerial tenure, Nomura was credited with developing players such as Ryōsuke Kikuchi, Yoshihiro Maru (37), and Seiya Suzuki (31), laying the foundation for Hiroshima’s three consecutive league championships beginning in 2016.

Kanemoto managed the Hanshin Tigers’ first team for three years from 2016, shifting the club away from a reliance on free-agent signings and foreign players toward a player-development approach. He developed Yūsuke Ōyama (31) into a cleanup hitter, but he was effectively dismissed after taking responsibility for the team finishing last in his final season.

After leaving his uniform behind, Kanemoto has kept his distance from Hanshin, but he maintains a good relationship with Hiroshima owner Matsuda and participated in an alumni game last offseason. It is unclear whether he could receive treatment comparable to what he had with Hanshin, but compared with the past, he has begun returning to work. If he were to inherit the team from his younger-brother-like figure Arai, he would likely be able to demonstrate his abilities more comfortably,” said the same source.

It appears certain that Hiroshima will face a turbulent offseason.