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2 clusters · 23 sources · 3 days · First seen · Last updated

Death of Japanese baseball legend Isao Harimoto

Overview

Isao Harimoto, a legendary Japanese professional baseball player and Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor, died in Tokyo at the age of 86. The Nippon Professional Baseball Meikyukai reported his death occurred on the morning of September 9, 2026.

Known as the ‘Hit Machine,’ Harimoto holds the NPB record for the most career hits with 3,085. During his 23-season career from 1959 to 1981, he played for the Toei Flyers, Yomiuri Giants, and Lotte Orions, accumulating 504 home runs and 319 stolen bases.

Harimoto was a prominent commentator following his retirement, notably on TBS’s ‘Sunday Morning,’ where he was recognized for his blunt and passionate critiques, often using catchphrases such as ‘Katsu!’ (scold) and ‘Appare!’ (bravo). He was a vocal advocate for peace and nuclear disarmament.

His influence on the sport was noted by figures such as Hideki Matsui, who credited Harimoto with providing technical batting advice early in his career. Harimoto also provided technical guidance to MLB star Shohei Ohtani, specifically suggesting a shift from a single-leg batting stance to a sliding foot technique to better handle MLB pitching.

Entities

Yomiuri Giants · Isao Harimoto · Hideki Matsui · Sadaharu Oh · Shohei Ohtani

Timeline

  1. 2 days ago

    [SPORTS] 4 sources
    Isao Harimoto, legendary NPB hit record holder, passes away at 86

    Legendary Japanese baseball player and commentator Isao Harimoto has died at 86. Separately, Hideki Matsui and Yoshinobu Takahashi participated in a youth baseball event in Tokyo.

  2. 4 days ago

    [SPORTS] 21 sources
    Isao Harimoto, Japanese baseball legend and atomic bomb survivor, dies at 86

    Japanese baseball legend and Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor Isao Harimoto has died at 86. He held the NPB record for most career hits (3,085) and was a prominent peace advocate.

Sources

abola.pt · adnKronos.com · baseballchannel.jp · chosunonline.com · fnn.jp · full-count.jp · gamereactor.de · gamereactor.nl · glas-slavonije.hr · hochi.news · huffingtonpost.jp · j-cast.com · jugem.jp · news.cube-soft.jp · newsday.com · nishinippon.co.jp · notitarde.com.ve · smart-flash.jp · sportowefakty.wp.pl · theglittersonline.com.ng · tokyo-sports.co.jp · volksfreund.de · yomidr.yomiuri.co.jp

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history