Kudo Kimiyasu set to become Chunichi manager after Inoue resigns
In short
Former SoftBank manager Kudo Kimiyasu, 63, is set to become the new manager of Chunichi, Jiji Press, Tokyo Shimbun and Nishi-Nippon Shimbun reported on October 8, with Nishi-Nippon Shimbun citing people involved. He would replace Inoue Kazuki, who announced his resignation over poor results after Chunichi finished 60-81-2. Kudo led SoftBank to five Japan Series titles in seven seasons.
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Kudo Kimiyasu, 63, the former SoftBank manager, is set to become the new manager of Chunichi, Japanese outlets reported on October 8. Nishi-Nippon Shimbun said this was learned from people involved, and Jiji Press and Tokyo Shimbun also reported that he will take the post. Tokyo Shimbun's headline said the club is entrusting its rebuild to Kudo, who won five Japan Series titles with SoftBank. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
A report carried on Yahoo! News said the club has formally asked Kudo to take the job, citing club sources, and that people close to Kudo expect him to accept. It described the move as bringing in a manager who can win to rebuild a team that has not won a league title since 2011. Nishi-Nippon Shimbun's headline also said the club had asked Kudo to become manager. [ 2 , 5 ]
Kudo would replace Inoue Kazuki, 55, who announced his resignation in his second year in charge, citing poor results, after which the club began looking for a successor, Nishi-Nippon Shimbun reported. Chunichi finished the season 60-81-2, confirming a sixth consecutive finish in fourth place or lower. [ 5 ]
Kudo, who is from Aichi Prefecture, won 224 games as a pitcher with four clubs including Seibu before retiring in 2010, according to Nishi-Nippon Shimbun. He managed SoftBank for seven seasons from 2015, winning three league titles and five Japan Series, and left after 2021, later working as a baseball commentator. Both Nishi-Nippon Shimbun and the Yahoo! News report said he has never been with Chunichi as a player or coach, which the Yahoo! News report described as a complete outside appointment. [ 2 , 5 ]
Why it matters
Chunichi finished in fourth place or lower for a sixth straight year, according to Nishi-Nippon Shimbun, and Tokyo Shimbun and the report carried on Yahoo! News both framed the hire as entrusting the club's rebuild to a manager with a winning record. Kudo would be a complete outside appointment, having never played or coached for the club.
Key facts
- Kudo Kimiyasu is set to become the new manager of Chunichi. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Kudo, 63, managed SoftBank for seven seasons, winning three league titles and five Japan Series. [ 2 , 5 ]
- Manager Inoue Kazuki, 55, in his second year, announced his resignation citing poor results. [ 5 ]
- Chunichi finished the season 60-81-2, its sixth straight finish in fourth place or lower. [ 5 ]
- Kudo has never been with Chunichi as a player or coach. [ 2 , 5 ]
- Kudo, from Aichi Prefecture, won 224 games as a pitcher with four clubs including Seibu and retired in 2010. [ 5 ]
- Chunichi has not won a league title since 2011. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether Kudo has formally accepted the job. The Yahoo! News report says the club formally requested him and that people close to Kudo expect him to accept; no formal announcement is cited.
- Contract terms and the date of a formal announcement. None of the documents give contract details or an announcement date.
- Kudo managed SoftBank for seven seasons and won three league titles. Reported by a single source so far
- Kudo has never been with Chunichi as a player or coach. Reported by a single source so far
- The club has asked Kudo to become manager. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Tokyo Shimbun reports Kudo is to become Chunichi manager. [ 1 ]
- Yahoo! News carries a report that Kudo's appointment is all but certain after a formal request by the club. [ 2 ]
- Jiji Press reports Kudo will become Chunichi's new manager. [ 3 ]
- Nishi-Nippon Shimbun reports Kudo will succeed Inoue Kazuki. [ 5 ]