# Japanese professional baseball player retirements > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/japanese-professional-baseball-player-retirements > Updated: 2026-09-27T05:35:16.000Z. Sources: 11. Developments: 2. Several prominent professional baseball players in Japan have announced their retirements from the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league. On September 25, Orix Buffaloes pitcher Yoshitsugu Hirano held a retirement ceremony at Kyocera Dome, marking the end of a 21-year career that included 250 saves. Hanshin Tigers pitcher Yuki Nishi also announced his retirement following an 18-year career, and Orix infielder Shugi Yamada announced his departure after 17 years. By September 27, additional retirements were confirmed. SoftBank Hawks infielder Akira Nakamura played his final game, concluding a career that included 1,522 hits and four Golden Glove awards. Additionally, Orix Buffaloes pitcher Kazuki Hirano held a retirement ceremony during a game against SoftBank, concluding a career that included 250 saves across Japan and the United States. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-27: Japanese baseball players Akira Nakamura and Kazuki Hirano retire Japanese baseball veterans Akira Nakamura and Kazuki Hirano have retired. Nakamura concluded his 19-year career with the SoftBank Hawks, while Hirano held a retirement ceremony with the Orix Buffaloes. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sumo-wrestler-yago-announces-retirement-due-to-knee-injuries ### 2026-09-25: Japanese professional baseball players Yoshitsugu Hirano and Yuki Nishi announce retirement Multiple NPB players are retiring, including Orix Buffaloes pitcher Yoshitsugu Hirano, Hanshin Tigers pitcher Yuki Nishi, and infielder Shugi Yamada, marking the end of long professional careers. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/yuki-nishi-announces-retirement-from-professional-baseball --- Cite as: Japanese professional baseball player retirements. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/japanese-professional-baseball-player-retirements