Hiromi Shimada, renowned baseball player for the Rakuten baseball team, has received notice of his release from the club at the age of 35. In Japan, ith is commonplace for professional teams to notify players at the end of the season if they will not be offered a contract for the next year. Shimada will conclude a successful and storied career with the team.

Baseball is deeply ingrained in the Japanese culture and society. Thus, Shimada's release from Rakuten holds significant interest among the sports fans and the broader public. In Japan, careers often end quietly with a respectful send-off, symbolizing the end of an era.

In contrast, in the US or EU, a player's departure from a team usually is the source of much speculation and discussion, especially when it involves a revered veteran player. Updates about retirements or team changes are eagerly awaited by fans and are often highly public, with potential for big farewell events.