Manager Arai Confesses, “I Want to Tear It All Down Before I Quit”… What’s Happening with the “Hiroshima Carp” Right Now?

One scandal after another…

“As a former player, I feel deeply sorry for having disappointed Carp fans and all baseball fans.”

Baseball commentator Takehiko Kobayakawa is disheartened by the scandal at his former team.

In January of this year, former player Ryutaro Hazuki (26), who was with the Hiroshima Carp at the time, was arrested by the Hiroshima Prefectural Police for using the controlled substance etomidate (commonly known as “zombie cigarettes”).

In July, the photo weekly magazine *FLASH* reported that Ryosuke Takiguchi (38)—who was arrested for supplying “zombie tobacco” to former player Ryutaro Hazuki—had been seen drinking with Hiroshima players Masaya Yano (27), Shunsuke Tamura (22),Kaito Kozono (26)—were reported by the photo weekly magazine *FLASH* to have been drinking together.

“Furthermore, on July 30, the team announced that the homes of Yano and Seita Maekawa (23) had been searched, and that as a result, Maekawa had been removed from the first-team roster (Yano had been removed on July 17).

On the same day, former owner Gen Matsuda (75) commented to reporters, ‘We’ve seen players we didn’t expect,’ but since Maekawa is known as Yano’s younger brother figure and they often dined together, few insiders are surprised.

“If anything, the owner’s remarks have raised suspicions that ‘the team is aware other players are involved but is covering it up,’” said a sports newspaper reporter covering the Carp.

What is currently happening with the Hiroshima Carp, a team reeling from the “zombie cigarette” scandal? A former team player, separate from Mr. Kobayakawa, said, “The person most shocked by this incident is Manager Takahiro Arai (49)…” and continued with concern:

“Arai, who used to be so cheerful, has had fewer opportunities to talk with players and former players lately. When I greet him on the field, he ushers me into the manager’s office behind the bench. Only after closing the door does he finally start speaking his mind. ‘I’m truly sorry.

I have to take responsibility. But before I quit, I want to beat the crap out of everyone involved in the ‘zombie cigarettes’ scandal and smash everything to pieces…’”

There’s no way the gentle Arai could hit his own players. It’s precisely because I know that it makes it all the more sad. In Hiroshima, where Owner Matsuda wields immense power, there’s little Arai can do off the field.

Sure, he has responsibilities as a manager. But having to take the heat after being betrayed by his own protégé, while having no recourse of his own volition—that’s just too pitiful,”

A Brawl Erupts Over a Hit-by-Pitch

Manager Arai’s worries extend to the field as well. On July 19, during a game against the Hanshin Tigers—who were in the thick of a race for first place—a series of hit-by-pitch incidents led to an emergency situation in which players from both teams stormed out of their benches.

“On July 17, Ukyo Maekawa (23) was hit by two pitches, resulting in a fractured right shoulder blade that sidelined him. On the 18th, Teruaki Sato (27) flew into a rage over a wild pitch thrown by Taylor Hahn (31) that grazed his chest.Then, on the 19th, Hahn hit Yusuke Oyama (31) again, leading to a standoff.

“Since Hiroshima also hit Koji Chikamoto (31) with a pitch on April 26, causing a fracture, it’s no wonder the Hanshin side is angry,” said the reporter mentioned earlier.

While Hiroshima’s season total of hit-by-pitches ranks fourth out of the six Central League teams—not particularly high—their aggressive inside pitching against Hanshin’s key players stands out. Why is that?

“It seems that pitching coach Yoshiyuki Ishihara (46) is pushing the catchers hard. Both Yasuki Mochimaru (24) and Takanori Ishihara (28) have gentle personalities and find it difficult to throw inside pitches, so he’s instructing them, ‘You can’t hold down a strong lineup unless you attack the inside.’

“That approach isn’t wrong in itself, but this string of hit-by-pitches is becoming a real problem. Even Manager Arai had his hands full trying to calm both teams down at Mazda Stadium, where things were on the verge of a brawl,” said a team staff member.

As the season enters the second half and the team has slipped to fifth place, the club executives’ attention is turning toward the offseason. Within the organization, concerns are being raised that “Yano might become a ‘second Hazuki.’”

“In some quarters, there’s even talk that he could be fired.On the other hand, Kozono and Tamura—who were reported to have ties to the defendant Takiguchi alongside Yano—are being treated as ‘in a gray area, so effectively without any disciplinary action.’ Even though he’s been subjected to a home search, it’s only natural for him to think, ‘Why am I the only one…?’

However, Kozono is in a tight spot, too. During contract negotiations last offseason, he used his batting title as leverage to wage a fierce ‘battle over money’ with the team, securing a 60 million yen raise to 150 million yen. But currently, his batting average is hovering around .240.“A major pay cut next season is inevitable,” said the former player mentioned earlier.

In response to this controversy, the team has decided to ban “side jobs” during the offseason, such as talk shows and TV appearances. They have also reportedly begun the process of selecting the next manager, with Kenjiro Nomura (59) as the leading candidate.

“The fact remains that we have betrayed our fans with this incident. I hope everyone will remember just how much effort each of them put in to become a professional, and that the entire team will pull themselves together and approach every single game with a desperate determination to win,” said Mr. Kobayakawa (mentioned earlier).

It is deeply saddening that the manager of the “Carp”—who, in the twilight of his playing career, basked in the glory of three consecutive league championships—should see his tenure end in this manner.

From the August 21–28, 2026, combined issue of *FRIDAY*