Society

Hideki Matsui elected to Baseball Hall of Fame

Jan 16 (NHK) - Former Japanese baseball star Hideki Matsui has become the youngest inductee into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame.

The 43-year-old Matsui, nicknamed "Godzilla," was elected on Monday. This is his first year of eligibility.

Before Matsui, Hideo Nomo was the youngest inductee. He was elected at the age of 45 in 2014.

After graduating from high school, Matsui spent 10 seasons in Japan's professional league playing outfield for the Yomiuri Giants.

During this time, he led the league in homeruns and runs-batted-in 3 times.

He then moved to the majors and played for the New York Yankees. In 2009, he became the first Japanese player to be named World Series MVP.

During his career in Japan and the US, he hit 507 homeruns. He retired from professional baseball in 2012.

78 Hours After Road Collapse, Bleak Weather Hampers Rescuers

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Tourists Flock to Hokkaido for Lunar New Year

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Mahoroba Hydrogen Fuel Cell Ship Debuts, Connecting Central Osaka and Expo Site in 60 Minutes

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Japanese Clinics Gaining Popularity Among Travelers

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Public Smoking Ban Across Osaka, Violators Fined 1,000 Yen

Starting January 27, Osaka City has implemented a citywide ban on smoking in public areas, including heated tobacco products, as part of preparations for the Osaka-Kansai Expo set to open in April.

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