After waiting six hours following the game… Giants left-handed reliever Yuhei Takanashi headed off to an overnight affair with a “ring on his left ring finger”
Perhaps because his team had won, he strode lightly toward a shisha bar… After parting ways with his friends, he headed to a hotel in Tokyo with a beautiful woman in a long dress
After parting ways with his friend, he was with the beautiful woman…
On a street corner as night fell, the ring on his left ring finger shone with a vivid brilliance—.
It was a weekend in mid-July, just past 9:30 p.m. Stepping out of a shuttle that had pulled up in front of a building in Ginza, Tokyo, was Yūhei Takanashi (34), the left-handed pitcher for the Yomiuri Giants, known for his imposing, muscular build.Although he hadn’t pitched in that day’s game against the Chunichi Dragons at their home stadium, the Tokyo Dome, perhaps buoyed by the team’s victory, he walked with a light step into the shisha bar inside the building.
“Takanashi joined the Rakuten Eagles in 2017 and was traded to the Giants in 2020. Since the trade, he has built a solid track record as a relief pitcher and setup man, and his estimated annual salary this year—his 10th season as a pro—is 150 million yen.“Although he started the season with the third team due to an injury, once he was registered with the first team on May 1, he showed signs of a comeback—including becoming the winning pitcher for the first time in 608 days in the game against the DeNA BayStars on May 16,” said a sports newspaper reporter.
Around 2:30 a.m., five hours after entering the shisha bar, Takanashi emerged from the building with four men who appeared to be friends. As if seeing them off, he waved goodbye to his friends and returned to the bar alone.
Another hour passed, and just after 3:30 a.m., Takanashi reappeared with a beautiful woman in a long dress by his side. Was he trying to hold her hand, or was he offering to carry her bag?Takanashi repeatedly held out and then withdrew his left hand, appearing in high spirits the entire time. The two hailed a taxi on the main street and headed to a hotel in Tokyo. Keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings, they entered the hotel separately and did not emerge until the following morning.
It’s all well and good to be so devoted that you’ll wait six hours after a game, but don’t forget about your work and family.
The “FRIDAY August 21 & 28 Combined Issue,” on sale August 7, and the paid version “FRIDAY GOLD” feature numerous photos of their secret rendezvous. They also provide detailed coverage, including a response from the Yomiuri Giants and an “explanatory statement” from Takanashi himself.
Click here to view the full details and multiple photos↓
From the August 21–28, 2026, combined issue of *FRIDAY*
PHOTO： Keisuke Nishi