Seibu Lions head coach Yusuke Torigoe, 54, updated his Instagram on the 12th, revealing his surprise at receiving gifts from a legendary actress.
Torigoe posted, “One thing that surprised me after coming to the Lions is receiving gifts from Sayuri Yoshinaga. Thank you!” He shared a photo of delicious-looking fruit, acknowledging the support from Yoshinaga, 81, known as a passionate fan of the Seibu Lions.
The Lions swept a three-game series against the Rakuten Golden Eagles at home in Belluna Dome from the 8th to the 10th. Torigoe expressed his gratitude, saying, “Thanks to her, we achieved a three-game sweep. Thank you, Sayuri Yoshinaga! #SayuriYoshinaga,” appreciating her warm support for the team.
Yoshinaga appeared on the TBS Radio program “Bakusho Mondai no Nichiyo Sunday” on November 9, 2025, where she discussed her support for the Lions. When a listener asked, “Have you watched the performances of Sasaki, Yamamoto, and Ohtani?” Yoshinaga replied, “I haven’t really watched them.” She added, “I’m actually a fan of Yusei Kikuchi,” noting that the former Lions pitcher, who attended the same high school as her, works hard. She also mentioned that although she hasn’t visited recently, she used to take the train to Belluna Dome.
The Seibu Lions, currently third in the Pacific League, will face the second-place SoftBank Hawks in a two-game series starting on the 12th at Mizuho PayPay Dome in Fukuoka.
