Masahiro Tanaka, a key player for the Yomiuri Giants, is facing a "natural salary decrease", as implied by the recent headline. The ace pitcher was recently in contract renegotiations and this move suggests a strategic change in the club's investment in their star player. Although details are not specified in the headline, it's not uncommon in Japan's baseball scene for players to take pay cuts due to various factors such as performance, team budgets, and player age.

In Japan, professional athletes, especially those in baseball, are often willing to take salary decreases for the benefit of the team. Japanese society values the concept of 'wa' or harmony, which extends to the idea of placing the group's needs above the individual's. In addition, it's speculated that a decrease in salary might be due to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sport's industry.

Pay cuts in professional sports are also known in the US or EU but are generally less common. Players often negotiate for the highest possible salary, using agents and performance metrics. Such a move in the West would likely precipitate a thorough examination of the player's performance, as well as the team's financial health.