Kiwoom Japanese pitcher "blonde gyaru" shocking transformation → Japan in an uproar! "Is this the taste of KBO? He's doing well in Korea."

*This content was translated by AI.

The unique and cheerful performance culture of the Korean Professional Baseball (KBO) All-Star Game has stirred up even across the sea to Japan. The protagonist is Kanakubo Yuto (27), a Japanese Asian quota pitcher for Kiwoom Heroes.

During the KBO All-Star Game held at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul Songpa-gu on the 11th, Kanakubo appeared on the mound in the bottom of the 7th inning with a shocking "gyaru" costume featuring a blonde long-haired wig and a leopard-print pink shirt, electrifying the crowd. In particular, his pose as he prepared to pitch on the mound, striking a classic "gyaru" stance toward the broadcast cameras, quickly spread among baseball fans in both Korea and Japan, generating explosive buzz.

When this news was reported through Japanese media D&N, Japanese baseball fans could not hide their shock and amusement. According to D&N's report, Japanese fans who saw the scene poured out heated reactions on social media: "The video of Kanakubo in gyaru outfit was so funny," "I'm glad he seems to be having fun and doing well even in Korea," "I didn't expect Japan's gyaru culture to be used like this at the Korean All-Star Game," and "Is this the taste of KBO?"

While outwardly shocking, his performance on the mound was serious. After removing the costume, Kanakubo took the mound in the 7th inning that day. He allowed a double to leadoff batter Park Chan-ho that went over the center fielder's head but quickly regained composure. He then induced a groundout by second baseman Choi Won-jun, struck out Hwang Sung-bin, and recorded a groundout by shortstop Jung Jun-jae, cleanly shutting down the inning without allowing any runs.

After being released from Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) following the 2025 season, Yuto joined Kiwoom through the newly introduced "Asian quota" system in the KBO League ahead of this season. During the first half, he alternated between closer and setup man roles, recording a solid performance with 38 games played, 5 wins, 4 losses, 11 saves, 8 holds, and an ERA of 3.48.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.