Overview

• Kawabata announced at a Sept. 27 press conference that he will retire at the end of the 2025 season after a one-club, 20-year career.
• He will be registered for first-team games on Sept. 27–28 seeking one more hit, standing at 1,099 hits with a .293 average in 1,326 games as of Sept. 26.
• The club said his retirement ceremony is planned during next year’s openers.
• His peak season came in 2015, when he hit .336 with 195 hits to win the Central League batting title and most hits while helping Yakult capture the league crown.
• Transitioning to a pinch-hitting role by 2021, he delivered a decisive timely hit in Japan Series Game 6 that contributed to the team’s championship, after spending much of 2025 with the second team.