The iconic Japanese baseball team, the Hanshin Tigers, is gearing up to offer Kikuchi a groundbreaking five-year contract valued at 2.5 billion yen ($25M). This remarkable move in the world of Nippon Professional Baseball is expected to solidify their lineup and further bolster their competitive standing in the league.

Baseball is the most popular sport in Japan and player signings, especially of this magnitude, have significant impact on the public. As much as skill and talent, loyalty and commitment to the team and fans are highly valued in Japanese sports, making long-term contracts such as this pertinent a news point.

In the US or EU, long-term high-value contracts for both baseball and football athletes are common. This mirrors a global trend in attempting to secure top athletes for extended periods, ensuring athletic stability and competitiveness while benefiting the players financially. However, such significant contracts in Japanese baseball are less frequent, making this news notable.