From our other sites
The story
It’s become a hot topic that veteran NPB home-plate umpire Kazuyuki Shirai (49) attended a photo-book handshake event for Karen Hara (25), a talent and former NMB48 member. Hara herself reported on social media that “umpire Mr. Shirai graced us with his presence,” and photos surfaced showing him responding with his signature “K-pose” — the gesture he makes for strike calls, which he says is inspired by the “K” in AKB48. Shirai has previously appeared in photos with other former NMB48 members like Sayaka Yamamoto and Chihiro Kawakami, and his die-hard NMB fandom has been known for some time. On 5ch, the thread was a mix of people surprised by this unexpected side of him and others criticizing it as unbecoming of an umpire.
“Wait, he’s into idols?!” — NPB’s famous umpire shows up at an event for an idol nicknamed “Ori-Hime” (lit. “princess”), stunning baseball fans
NPB umpire Kazuyuki Shirai visited an event for talent and former NMB48 member Karen Hara (25). Reactions like “Wait, he’s into idols?!” reveal an unexpected side of him that’s now trending online.
“No way, seriously?? lol” “What are you even doing lol” — Umpire Shirai strikes his “K-pose” at an idol event 【actual post】
Source: news.yahoo.co.jp / Original article here
What people said
And today, umpire Mr. Shirai showed up!!
He graced my photo handshake event with his presence — thank you so much!!
Congrats on your 2000th game umpired (congrats)! Your big voice always gives me energy too.
I'll keep cheering you on!
It's a strike, and also Karen's K
#TotalStrike (a pun on "dead-on strike" / "exactly my type") Aaaay!!!!☆
https://ohayua.cyou/twimg/HWCsIORbwAAgc3_.jpg
https://x.com/karen_hara315/status/2116881096348668165
This has gotta be mocking him, right?
is that really okay?
Is he broke or something?
That's basically the otaku uniform.
> When making a strike call, he forms a "K" shape with his fingers. He's said himself it's inspired by the "K" in AKB48.
LMAO
Is Shirai going around telling people himself, "I'm Shirai, the pro baseball umpire"?
Is he such a regular that he's actually gotten recognized?
If he had a wife and kids and pulled this, it'd be instant divorce.
If the kids are already grown and out of the house,
he's free to do as he likes.
There's no way his legs are actually that long…
Sayaka Yamamoto (former NMB48)
Chihiro Kawakami (former NMB48)
https://ohayua.cyou/twimg/HOMll6waUAESfqq.jpg
NMB48's Chihiro Kawakami with Shirai
https://ohayua.cyou/twimg/HUMVPDZasAANs13.jpg
So THAT'S why Shirai's been going easy on the Hanshin Tigers lately.
He's Roki Sasaki's nemesis.
In pro wrestling, referees like Red Shoes Dugan, Oki Shikina,
Joe Higuchi, Mr. Takahashi, and Tiger Hattori were well known,
but in pro baseball there aren't many umpires people actually recognize, I guess.
Background and Key Points of This Topic
Umpire Kazuyuki Shirai’s “K-pose” for strike calls is, as he himself has said, a reference to the “K” in AKB48, and it’s long been known as a rare public example of an NPB umpire being an openly avid idol fan. In fact, photos of him with former NMB48 members Sayaka Yamamoto and Chihiro Kawakami have circulated before, so his appearance at Karen Hara’s event looks less like an isolated incident and more like an extension of this ongoing personal pursuit. Where opinions on the thread diverged was over how much weight to give someone’s private behavior when judging them in a public role like an umpire. Comments ranged from “as long as it doesn’t affect his calls on the field, he should be free to do as he likes” to “unbecoming behavior for someone in his position at 49.” It’s also worth noting, as a reader, that Karen Hara is a 25-year-old adult talent, the event was reported on favorably by her own social media, and nothing in the thread actually substantiates any wrongdoing on Shirai’s part.
*This article is compiled as an excerpt/summary of the 5ch (Geisokuho+) thread “【Baseball】Home-Plate Umpire Kazuyuki Shirai (49) Attends Gravure Idol Karen Hara’s Event — Fans Stunned.”
Leave a Reply