Kimiyasu Kudo, who recorded 224 career wins as a pitcher, led the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks to five Japan Series championships as manager, and was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame, has been appointed as an advisor to SHAPE Partners.

Through Kudo’s guidance, SHAPE Partners aims to further expand its business across the sports industry and the baseball domain. In addition, by learning from Kudo’s proven management capabilities demonstrated during his five championship-winning seasons as manager of the SoftBank Hawks, we seek to strengthen our approach to corporate management and organizational development.

Background of the Appointment

After stepping down as manager of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in 2021, Kudo has remained active as a baseball commentator while also engaging in a wide range of initiatives. These include injury prevention for young athletes, as well as baseball development activities both in Japan and overseas.

SHAPE Partners has also been actively involved in the sports and baseball sectors, providing consulting services to professional sports teams and sports-related companies, while supporting baseball development initiatives in regions such as Asia and Africa.

With a shared commitment to advancing the sports and baseball ecosystem, both parties agreed to collaborate more closely. This mutual alignment led to Kudo’s appointment as an advisor to SHAPE Partners.

Comment from Kimiyasu Kudo

I am pleased to take on the role of advisor to SHAPE Partners. Over 29 years as a player, three years as a commentator, and seven years as a manager, I have been supported by countless people and have received immense encouragement along the way. I am who I am today because of those around me.

I hope to give back to the fans, companies, and local communities that have supported the baseball world, and to help ensure that baseball continues to be enjoyed for generations to come. By engaging with people from many perspectives and working together, I would like to contribute as much as I can to the future of the sport.

I hope to help make baseball even more vibrant overall, to create an environment where children, who represent the future of baseball, can enjoy the game freely and without injury, and to support children around the world who wish to play baseball, not only in Japan but also in regions such as Africa, the Middle East, and South America.

Together with SHAPE Partners, I look forward to pursuing initiatives that reach the hearts of as many people as possible across borders.

Profile of Kimiyasu Kudo

Born in Aichi Prefecture in 1963. After graduating from Nagoya Denki High School, now Aichi Institute of Technology Meiden High School, in 1982, Kudo joined the Seibu Lions. He later played for teams including the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks, the Yomiuri Giants, and the Yokohama BayStars. During his playing career, he contributed to 14 league championships and 11 Japan Series titles, earning a reputation as a championship-winning pitcher.

Kudo played professionally for 29 seasons and officially announced his retirement in 2011. In 2015, he was appointed manager of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, leading the team to five Japan Series championships over seven seasons through 2021.

His individual honors include two MVP awards, four ERA titles, and four winning percentage titles, with a total of 224 career wins. He received the Shoriki Matsutaro Award five times, tying the all-time record, and was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016.

In 2020, while serving as manager, Kudo completed a master’s degree in physical education at the Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba. He entered the doctoral program in April 2022 and is currently conducting research and medical screening activities toward obtaining a doctorate in sports medicine.