# Hiroshima Carp season woes amid scandal, investigations

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/hiroshima-carp-season-struggles
> Updated: 2026-08-03T03:00:47.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 4.

After breaking a four‑game interleague losing streak in mid‑June, the Carp briefly lifted themselves out of last place with a 2‑0 win over the Rakuten Eagles on June 13, highlighted by early hits from Shogo Sakakura and a double by Monteiro. The victory was short‑lived; by late June the team’s offense had slipped to the league’s lowest total – 190 runs in 66 games, under three per game – and key hitters struggled to form a stable clean‑up spot. Concerns grew as ace pitcher Hiromu Tokuta, infielder Shogo Sakakura and reliever Sota Shimanai entered domestic free agency, prompting fears of a roster exodus. Attendance at Mazda Zoom‑Zoom Stadium continued to fall, with the June 24 game against the Giants drawing about 24,000 fans and noticeable empty sections.

In mid‑July the situation worsened when outfielder Yano Masaya, shortstop Koen Kaido and infielder Tamura Shunsuke were photographed with a dealer arrested for distributing the synthetic drug etomide, dubbed “zombie tobacco.” The club offered no comment; fan anger drove attendance at the July 14 home game versus the Yokohama DeNA BayStars to just over 10,000.

The scandal deepened in early August when police conducted home searches on two players and the club deregistered Masaya Yano. Owner Masao Matsuda apologized to supporters, while experts noted that etomidate is an unapproved anesthetic in Japan. The investigation has kept the Carp under intense media scrutiny and further eroded fan support as the season progresses.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-03: Hiroshima Carp players investigated over illegal “zombie tobacco” drug

Police raids on two Hiroshima Carp players' homes follow a former player's conviction for using the illegal drug etomidate (“zombie tobacco”), prompting team apologies, player deregistrations, and fan backlash.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/hiroshima-carp-players-investigated-over-illegal-zombie-tobacco-drug

### 2026-07-16: Hiroshima Toyo Carp scandal over “zombie‑tobacco” fuels fan anger and low attendance

Three Carp players were photographed with a “zombie‑tobacco” dealer; the club declined comment, fans reacted angrily and attendance fell sharply.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/hiroshima-toyo-carp-scandal-over-zombietobacco-fuels-fan-anger-and-low-attendance

### 2026-06-24: Hiroshima Carp slump leads to scoring woes, possible player exodus and dwindling stadium crowds

The Hiroshima Carp face the league’s worst scoring record, risk losing several pitchers to free agency, and see empty seats at Mazda Stadium after a recent loss, sparking concerns about the club’s future.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/hiroshima-carp-slump-leads-to-scoring-woes-possible-player-exodus-and-dwindling-stadium-crowds

### 2026-06-13: Hiroshima Carp end interleague losing streak with 2‑0 win over Rakuten, climb out of last place

Hiroshima Carp defeated Rakuten 2‑0 on June 13, snapping a four‑game interleague skid and lifting the team out of last place.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/hiroshima-carp-end-interleague-losing-streak-with-20-win-over-rakuten-climb-out-of-last-place

---
Cite as: Hiroshima Carp season woes amid scandal, investigations. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/hiroshima-carp-season-struggles