'Wearing wedding ring, went to hotel with woman' Japanese pitcher admits affair and apologizes: "Woman in miniskirt in June was a friend" claims

*This content was translated by AI.

Takanaishi Yukihei (34), a veteran left-handed relief pitcher for the prestigious Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) team Yomiuri Giants, has finally bowed his head to an affair scandal.

On the 15th, Takanaishi issued an official apology regarding personal life controversies that surfaced through the Japanese weekly magazine 'Friday Digital.' In response to inquiries from the publication, he stated, "I deeply apologize for causing concern with this incident," and added, "I have already apologized to my family, and the matter has been resolved. I sincerely apologize to our fans and all those involved."

Previously, 'Friday Digital' reported on the 8th that it captured Takanaishi enjoying a secret meeting with a beautiful woman at a bar in Ginza, Tokyo, before moving to a nearby hotel.

According to the report, the incident occurred on a weekend night in mid-July. Shortly after a game against the Chunichi Dragons held at Tokyo Dome, Takanaishi got out of his car in front of a building in Ginza. Not having pitched that day, he seemed in good spirits due to his team's victory and walked lightly toward a bar. Clearly visible on his left ring finger was the wedding band he wore when he married in 2022.

After staying for about five hours, Takanaishi first sent away four male companions around 2:30 a.m., then emerged from the building an hour later at 3:30 a.m. with a woman dressed in a long dress. The media described the scene, noting that "Takanaishi repeatedly extended and retracted his left hand as if to hold the woman's hand or carry her luggage, unable to hide his excited demeanor." Having waited for six hours from right after the game until early morning to meet the woman, he took a taxi to a hotel within Tokyo, checked in at staggered times, and did not emerge until the following morning.

Furthermore, 'Friday Digital' also exposed footage of Takanaishi having drinks with a woman in a miniskirt at another bar within Tokyo last June, about a month before the July hotel secret meeting, and returning home together.

As the controversy spread, the Yomiuri Giants organization drew a line regarding the June encounter, stating, "The woman he met at the bar at that time was his friend." However, Takanaishi himself directly admitted to the affair with the woman he stayed with at the Ginza hotel in July and bowed his head.

Debuting professionally with the Rakuten Eagles in 2017, Takanaishi moved to Yomiuri via a trade in 2020. Playing as a one-point reliever and setup man, he entered his 10th professional season this year with an estimated annual salary of 150 million yen (approximately 1.4 billion won).

Starting the season on the third division due to injury, he was registered for the first division in May and recorded 1 win, no losses, and 5 holds in 18 games with a 2.70 ERA before being removed from the roster on July 19; he is currently staying with the second division. Following his declaration after welcoming his first child in 2024 that "I will do my best for my family," Japanese baseball fans continue to express shock and criticism over the veteran pitcher's misconduct.

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*This content was translated by AI.