Mr. Kimiyasu Kudo, who boasts 224 career wins as a pitcher during his active career, led the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks to five Japan Series championships as manager, and has been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, has been appointed as an Advisor to SHAPE Partners.

By receiving various advice from Mr. Kudo, SHAPE Partners intends to further expand its business in the sports industry and baseball domain, and also aims to absorb a great deal regarding company management and leadership from the managerial skills that guided the SoftBank Hawks to five Japan Series titles, thereby contributing to the growth of our organization.

Background to the Appointment

After retiring as the SoftBank Hawks manager in 2021, Mr. Kudo has been active in various fields, including working as a baseball commentator and critic, preventing shoulder and elbow injuries in youth baseball, and promoting baseball both domestically and overseas.

Our company is also broadly engaged in initiatives within the sports and baseball communities, including providing consulting services to professional sports teams and sports-related companies, as well as supporting baseball promotion activities in Asia and Africa.

In order to further develop and accelerate the commitment of both parties to the sports/baseball domain, we have welcomed him to serve as an Advisor.

Comment from Mr. Kimiyasu Kudo on the Appointment

I am Kimiyasu Kudo, and I have the honor of serving as an Advisor for SHAPE Partners Co., Ltd.

For 29 years as a player, 3 years as a commentator, and 7 years as a manager, I have been supported by many people and received so much grace. I would not be who I am today without the people around me. I have been blessed, supported, and given strength. I want to fully commit myself to doing whatever I can for the future, by engaging and collaborating with many people from a wider range of perspectives, so that I can give back to the fans, companies, and local communities who support the baseball world, and so that they can continue to enjoy the sport of baseball.

I hope the entire baseball community continues to thrive. I hope children, who are the future of baseball, can enjoy the sport freely and without injury. And I hope to be a source of strength for children around the world—not just in Japan, but in Africa, the Middle East, South America, and beyond—who want to enjoy baseball.

I want to work together with SHAPE Partners on activities that transcend borders and touch the hearts of as many people as possible.

Thank you.

Kimiyasu Kudo Profile

Born in Aichi Prefecture in 1963.

After graduating from Nagoya Denki High School (now Aichi Institute of Technology Meiden High School) in 1982, he joined the Seibu Lions. Subsequently, he played for teams including the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks, Yomiuri Giants, and Yokohama BayStars, winning 14 league championships and 11 Japan Series titles during his active career, earning him the moniker "The Closer."

He remained on the mound as a professional baseball player for 29 active years, officially announcing his retirement in 2011.

He was appointed manager of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in 2015.

During his seven years as manager until his retirement in 2021, he won the Japan Series five times.

He was honored with numerous titles, including MVP twice, Best ERA four times, and Highest Winning Percentage four times, achieving 224 career wins.

He won the Shoriki Matsutaro Award five times, tying the all-time record, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016. While still managing, he completed his studies in the Department of Physical Education in the Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences at the University of Tsukuba in 2020, earning a Master's degree in Physical Education.

He advanced to the doctoral program at the same graduate school in April 2022 and is currently conducting research and screening activities toward obtaining a Ph.D. in Sports Medicine.