Taisei Makihara

1.1. Childhood and Education

Makihara was born in Tanushimaru-machi, Ukiha District, Fukuoka Prefecture, which is now part of Kurume, Fukuoka. During his time at Kurume Municipal Tanushimaru Junior High School, he played for the Kurume Boys, where he served as captain. He led his team to a runner-up finish in the Hawks Cup during his third year, earning recognition as an excellent player in the tournament.

He attended Johoku High School, a private school in Kumamoto Prefecture. In his first year, he did not make the team for the summer Koshien tournament. However, by the fall of his first year, he secured a spot on the bench. He became a regular at third base in the spring of his second year and transitioned to second base by the fall. During the fall tournament, he achieved a batting average of .429, contributing to his team's runner-up finish in the Kumamoto Prefectural Tournament. In his third year, he excelled as a lead-off hitter in the summer Kumamoto Prefectural Qualifiers, although his team was eventually defeated by Tokai University Second High School, with Makihara going hitless in the quarter-final.

1.2. Professional Draft

On October 28, 2010, Makihara was selected by the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in the 2010 Nippon Professional Baseball draft as a developmental player (developmental player #5). He was drafted in the same class as future prominent players Kodai Senga and Takuya Kai. Upon joining the Hawks, he was assigned uniform number 129.

2.1. Developmental Player and Early Career (2011-2015)

In his first professional season in 2011, Makihara played 31 games in the Western League, the minor league of NPB, achieving a batting average of .271. Following the season, he was dispatched to the Australian Baseball League, playing 14 games for the Brisbane Bandits from November 4 to December 2.

The 2012 season saw Makihara make significant progress. He recorded a .283 batting average with six stolen bases in 49 minor league games. On June 11, he was promoted to a registered player under control, a crucial step in his career, and his uniform number was changed to 69. His estimated annual salary was 4.40 M JPY. He was first promoted to the first team on June 13 and made his NPB debut on June 14 as a pinch runner against the Chunichi Dragons in Interleague play (NPB). In June, he was recognized as the Mizuno Corporation Monthly MVP in the Western League, boasting a .347 batting average and three stolen bases. He also started in the Fresh All-Star Game as the 9th batter and second baseman. Despite being removed from the roster three times, he appeared in five games in the first team, all as a pinch runner. In the minor league, he reached the required number of plate appearances, finishing with a .277 batting average (3rd in the Western League), six triples (1st), and 12 stolen bases in 82 games. From November 24 to December 22, he participated in the 2012 Asia Winter Baseball League in Taiwan as an NPB selection, where he hit .375 (21 hits in 56 at-bats) in 20 games and played error-free defense at second, third, and shortstop. His contract was renewed with an increase to an estimated 6.40 M JPY.

In 2013, on July 13, Makihara made his first professional start as the 7th batter and first baseman against the Orix Buffaloes, where he also had his first professional at-bat. He played only six games in the first team that season. In the minor league, he played 85 games, recording a .2957 batting average (4th in the Western League), 19 stolen bases (1st), and eight triples (1st). On November 26, he was honored at the Japan Professional Baseball Convention 2013 for leading the Western League in stolen bases.

On July 22, 2014, Makihara recorded his first career hit against the Chiba Lotte Marines. He played 11 games in the first team and had an exceptional season in the minor league, batting .374 and setting a new Western League record with 120 hits in 91 games. In November, he was selected as captain of the Japan national baseball team for the 2014 WBSC U-21 Baseball World Cup. He appeared in eight games, hitting .455 (15 hits in 33 at-bats) with four stolen bases. Initially batting lead-off in the first round, he moved to the third spot in the second round, recording multiple three-hit games against the Czech Republic and Chinese Taipei. In the final against Chinese Taipei, he had two hits off starting pitcher Kuo Chun-lin, though his team finished as runner-up. On November 16, he was named to the tournament's Best Nine as a shortstop and received the Best Defensive Player Award. He was also honored with the Western League Batting Champion title and the Western League Excellent Player Award at the NPB AWARDS 2014. His salary increased by 3.00 M JPY to an estimated 10.00 M JPY.

In 2015, Makihara began practicing outfield defense during spring training, expanding his versatility. This helped him secure a spot on the opening day roster for the first time in his career. On April 5, he made his first start as an outfielder, playing center field as the 2nd batter against the Saitama Seibu Lions. On April 17, he recorded his first career RBI with a squeeze bunt against the Chiba Lotte Marines. Despite two subsequent re-registrations and removals from the roster, he primarily served as a pinch runner and defensive replacement, appearing in 43 games. He finished the season with a .159 batting average, two stolen bases, and four RBIs. He was also selected for the 2015 Japan Series roster, where his team became champions. His contract was renewed with an increase of 3.00 M JPY to an estimated 13.00 M JPY.

2.2. Establishing Himself as a Starter (2016-2020)

In 2016, Makihara did not make the opening day roster but was called up to the first team on April 6 due to an injury to Keizo Kawashima. On April 10, he made his first start of the season as the 7th batter and left fielder at Fujisakidai Prefectural Baseball Stadium, a familiar ground from his high school days, where he recorded his first hit of the season. After being removed from the roster on April 27, he experienced two more re-registrations and removals. He played 41 games, batting .244, with four stolen bases and six RBIs. His salary remained at an estimated 13.00 M JPY. On December 14, it was announced that his uniform number would change from 69 to 36 for the 2017 season, a number previously worn by Kenji Akashi.

The 2017 season was significantly impacted by injury. After starting in the A-group for spring training and participating in exhibition games with the first team, he began the season in the minor league. On April 1, he was promoted to the first team as a replacement for the injured Kenji Akashi. However, on April 28, he was removed from the roster to make way for Munenori Kawasaki. He was re-promoted on June 3 due to a neck injury to Seiichi Uchikawa but was removed again on June 5. By the end of June, he suffered a right shoulder injury that sent him to rehabilitation, preventing him from returning to play for the remainder of the season. He was limited to only 10 games.

In 2018, Makihara's recovery from his right shoulder injury was protracted, keeping him in rehabilitation for over six months, leading to a start in the B-group for spring training and the minor leagues. He finally returned to the first team on July 8, making an immediate impact by starting as the 8th batter and second baseman against the Orix Buffaloes, where he recorded multiple hits. On July 16, he hit his first career home run off Tatsuya Oishi of the Saitama Seibu Lions. He continued to perform well as a starter, establishing himself as the lead-off batter and second baseman from August 10 onwards. However, on September 27, during a game against the Seibu Lions, he sustained a right anterior talofibular ligament injury after colliding with catcher Tomoya Mori while caught in a rundown. This injury led to his removal from the roster the next day, and despite aiming for an early return, he was unable to participate in the 2018 Japan Series. Despite the injury, his impactful play in 59 games, with a .317 batting average, three home runs, nine stolen bases, and 26 RBIs, marked a breakthrough season. His contract was renewed with an 8.00 M JPY increase, bringing his estimated salary to 20.00 M JPY.

The 2019 season saw Makihara make the opening day roster for the first time in four years, earning his first career opening day start as the lead-off batter and second baseman. However, his offense struggled, leading to his removal from the lead-off spot on April 22. On April 28, he left a game against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters due to hip discomfort and was benched the next day. His batting average remained low at .214 during interleague play, and he was removed from the roster on June 2. While in the minor leagues, he gained experience playing shortstop due to Kenta Imamiya's injury. He returned to the first team on July 2. Throughout the season, his versatility was highly valued by the team, which was facing numerous injuries to key players. He played a career-high 114 games, finishing the regular season with a .242 batting average, three home runs, nine stolen bases, and 27 RBIs. He showcased strong offensive and defensive presence in the postseason. In the 2019 Pacific League Climax Series, he hit .375, including a two-run home run off Tomi Kameyama in Game 3 of the final stage against the Saitama Seibu Lions. He also recorded a two-run double and a career-high four RBIs with three hits in that game. In Game 1 of the 2019 Japan Series against the Yomiuri Giants, he hit a two-run single off Kazuto Taguchi. His contributions helped the Hawks secure their third consecutive Japan Series championship. Following the season, his contract was renewed with a double increase, raising his estimated salary to 40.00 M JPY.

The 2020 season was shortened to 120 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the start of the season delayed until June. Makihara made his second consecutive opening day start as the 9th batter and second baseman. However, he struggled early, batting only .125 in his first 17 games, leading to more bench appearances. On July 15, he was removed from the roster due to right shoulder stiffness. He was re-registered on August 20 and demonstrated his utility by playing third base in addition to second base, shortstop, and outfield. He committed only one error all season, which was at the unfamiliar third base position. Despite his defensive versatility, his playing time decreased significantly from the previous year, participating in 77 games with 180 plate appearances. He finished with a .241 batting average, one home run, eight RBIs, and six stolen bases. On December 14, he held out on his contract renewal, expressing dissatisfaction with the team's proposed salary cut. During his second negotiation on December 21, he was told that his offensive performance (batting .241 with one home run and eight RBIs) needed to improve for a salary increase. He ultimately signed for an estimated 35.00 M JPY, a 5.00 M JPY reduction. In the 2020 Pacific League Climax Series against the Chiba Lotte Marines, he notably hit a rare double that landed in front of the shortstop. He played in all games of the 2020 Japan Series against the Yomiuri Giants, contributing to the team's fourth consecutive Japan Series championship.

2.3. Recent Seasons and Injuries (2021-present)

For the 2021 season, Makihara's scoreboard notation was changed to "Makihara Dai" due to the arrival of another player with the same surname, Kota Makihara. He was on the first team for opening day for the third consecutive year but did not start. He primarily served as a pinch runner and defensive replacement early in the season. However, he showed strong offensive performance from May 1 to May 23, batting .441, which led to increased starts during interleague play, especially with Ukyo Shuto's struggles. On June 3, during a game against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, he reported left thigh stiffness and left the game. He was removed from the first team roster on June 4. He returned to the first team on June 28, starting as the 2nd batter and designated hitter. However, on July 1, he was diagnosed with a muscle injury to his left biceps femoris and was removed from the first team roster again. Upon his return on August 24, he started as the 2nd batter and center fielder against the Seibu Lions, then recorded hits in eight consecutive games from that point. He continued to play as a regular center fielder in the second half of the season. Despite being limited to 98 games due to injuries, he showcased his utility by playing 20 games at second base, 15 at third base, 30 at shortstop, and 55 in the outfield. He finished the season with a .278 batting average, four home run, 21 RBIs, and a .377 batting average with runners in scoring position. He also stole 14 bases with only one caught stealing, contributing significantly in all aspects of the game. His contract was renewed with an increase of 10.00 M JPY, bringing his estimated salary to 45.00 M JPY.

Makihara had a strong start to the 2022 season, starting on March 27 in the third game of the opening series against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. He recorded his first three-hit game on April 7 and his first home run of the season on April 8 against the Orix Buffaloes. On May 24, during interleague play against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, he hit a timely single off Hiromu Ise, ending Ise's streak of 21 consecutive scoreless appearances since the start of the season. As of May 26, he was batting .308 with one home run and 12 RBIs in 37 games. By July 3, his batting average had risen to .332. In his 12th professional year, he was selected for the All-Star Game for the first time. On July 27, he started as the 6th batter and second baseman in Game 2 of the All-Star Game, recording multiple hits. On August 2, he hit his sixth home run of the season against the Nippon-Ham Fighters, setting a new personal high. However, on August 20, he was suspected of having COVID-19 and was removed from the first team roster under special regulations. He returned to the starting lineup on September 6 against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. On September 12, against the Saitama Seibu Lions, he achieved a new career high of 100 hits in a single season. He concluded the regular season with career bests in games played (120), batting average (.301), hits (123), home runs (6), and RBIs (42). Although his batting average was third in the league, he was two at-bats short of the qualifying number. On November 27, 2022, it was announced that his uniform number would change from 36 to 8 for the 2023 season, in deference to Kenji Akashi, who retired at the end of 2022 and had previously worn both number 36 and 8. His contract was renewed with a 35.00 M JPY increase, bringing his estimated salary to 80.00 M JPY.

In 2023, before the start of the regular season, Makihara was selected as a replacement for the injured Seiya Suzuki to join the Japan national baseball team on March 1. He appeared in six of the seven games, primarily as a pinch runner and defensive outfielder. Despite limited plate appearances, he recorded a timely hit in the game against the Czech Republic. He played a crucial role as a utility player, supporting the team. In the regular season, on April 27, he sustained a left thigh injury (left biceps femoris muscle strain) during a game against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles and was removed from the roster for a month of rehabilitation. He returned to the first team on May 27 and celebrated his comeback with his first home run of the season against the Chiba Lotte Marines. On June 6, during a game against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, he hit a walk-off double with two outs in the 9th inning, marking his first career walk-off hit. However, his season was cut short on August 30 when he was hit by a pitch from Orix Buffaloes pitcher Daiki Tajima, resulting in a fractured right wrist (right ulnar styloid process avulsion fracture and right ulnar styloid process bone bruise). He was removed from the roster and spent the rest of the season in rehabilitation, unable to return to play. He finished the season with 91 games played, a .259 batting average, two home run, and 32 RBIs.

In 2024, Makihara played 22 games with a .280 batting average before sustaining a right internal oblique muscle injury during practice before a game against the Seibu Lions on April 28, leading to his removal from the roster. He was diagnosed with a right internal oblique muscle injury, with a projected recovery time of one to two months. He returned to minor league games on June 22 and was re-registered to the first team on July 15. On August 1, during a game against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles at Tokyo Dome, he hit a double for his 574th career hit, surpassing Yukifumi Okada to set a new record for most career hits by a developmental player. Despite the impact of his early season injury, he played 78 games, finishing with a .283 batting average, two home run, and 13 RBIs, contributing to his team's league championship.

3.1. WBSC U-21 Baseball World Cup

On October 21, 2014, Makihara was selected to the Japan national baseball team for the 2014 WBSC U-21 Baseball World Cup. His performance in the tournament earned him the Best Nine award as a shortstop and the Best Defensive Player Award on November 16. The Japanese team secured a silver medal in the competition.

3.2. World Baseball Classic

On March 1, 2023, Makihara was chosen to participate in the 2023 World Baseball Classic as a replacement for Seiya Suzuki, who withdrew from the tournament due to injury. He appeared in six of Japan's seven games, primarily as a pinch runner and defensive outfielder. Although he had limited plate appearances, he recorded a timely hit in the game against the Czech Republic. Makihara's versatility and ability to contribute in various roles were instrumental in supporting the team throughout the tournament, culminating in Japan winning the gold medal. He was on the field at loanDepot Park for the final out, securing the championship for Japan.

4.1. Playing Style and Strengths

Makihara possesses exceptional speed, capable of running the 50-meter dash in 5.8 seconds. This speed is reflected in his play, as he led the Western League in triples in both 2012 and 2013. In the 2018 season, he hit four triples in the first team, achieving a home-to-third time of 10.66 seconds, the fastest in the Pacific League that year.

His batting form is distinctive, characterized by a slight, rhythmic body movement. He is known for his aggressive approach at the plate, often swinging at the first pitch. As of September 10, 2018, he boasted an astonishing .525 batting average on first pitches.

4.2. Defensive Versatility

Makihara is a highly valued utility player, capable of playing all infield positions, including first base, second base, third base, and shortstop, as well as all outfield positions. His high athleticism allows him to execute spectacular plays across the field. Notably, he played as a catcher during his middle school years. In late 2019, he even trained as a catcher to prepare for the postseason, showcasing his willingness to adapt to any team need.

5.1. Nicknames and Personality

He is commonly known by the nickname "Makki". An amusing anecdote related to this nickname occurred on April 10, 2019, when Zebra, a stationery company, a game sponsor, donated 500 "Hi-Makki" felt pens to the team. Makihara himself received the pens, leading to laughter in the stands due to the "Makki x Makki" collaboration. Additionally, Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks manager Hiroshi Fujimoto has given him the nickname "King JOKER" or simply "Joker," acknowledging his ability to play almost any defensive position and batting slot, making him a true trump card for the team.

5.2. Notable Anecdotes

Prior to the professional draft, Makihara, hoping to look good for the press conference, shaved his eyebrows. This act, however, was a violation of his high school's rules, leading to severe reprimand from his coach and a dejected appearance at the press conference.

During his high school dormitory life, instant cup noodles, snack foods, and carbonated drinks were prohibited. One day, Makihara was caught eating bagged instant ramen (Chicken Ramen) in his room. When a classmate confronted him, he argued that "bagged ramen is fine," almost leading to a physical altercation. An emergency team meeting was held, where Makihara initially faced criticism. However, the discussion shifted to "Makihara has a point," creating a split opinion. The next day, the coach, having heard of the incident, gathered the entire team and declared, "I never prohibited those things in the first place." As a result, Makihara's actions led to the realization that the rules were unspoken, and from that day forward, all previously prohibited items-cup noodles, snacks, and carbonated drinks-were officially allowed.

His high school junior by one year is Toru Sawa, a member of the comedy duo Carnegie.

5.3. Family and Relationships

Taisei Makihara married on March 16, 2015. His daughter was born on December 15, 2015. However, the couple divorced in 2017. He re-married in September 2019.

7.1. First Records

• First appearance: June 14, 2012, against the Chunichi Dragons at Fukuoka Yahoo! JAPAN Dome, as a pinch runner for Alex Cabrera in the 7th inning.
• First start: July 13, 2013, against the Orix Buffaloes at Fukuoka Yahoo! JAPAN Dome, as the 7th batter and first baseman.
• First at-bat: July 13, 2013, against Alessandro Maestri of the Orix Buffaloes in the 2nd inning, resulting in a groundout to second base.
• First hit: July 22, 2014, against the Chiba Lotte Marines at Kitakyushu Municipal Baseball Stadium, a ground single to second base off Takuya Furuya in the 2nd inning.
• First stolen base: April 7, 2015, against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles at Rakuten Kobo Stadium Miyagi, stealing second base in the 10th inning (pitcher: Rainel Rosario, catcher: Motohiro Shima).
• First RBI: April 17, 2015, against the Chiba Lotte Marines at QVC Marine Field, a squeeze bunt off Naoya Masuda in the 9th inning.
• First home run: July 16, 2018, against the Saitama Seibu Lions at Fukuoka Yafuoku! Dome, a two-run homer over the right field fence off Tatsuya Oishi in the 7th inning.

7.2. Career Milestones

• Most hits in Western League history (120 hits in 2014).
• Career high 100 hits in a season (achieved in 2022).
• Career high 6 home runs in a season (achieved in 2022).
• Most career hits by a developmental player (574 hits, surpassed Yukifumi Okada in 2024).
• 1-time All-Star Game appearance (2022).

7.3. Batting Statistics

• Statistics as of the end of the 2024 season.

7.4. WBC Batting Statistics

7.5. Defensive Statistics

;Infield Defense

;Outfield Defense

• Statistics as of the end of the 2024 season.
• Bold indicates league leader.

9.1. Current Walk-up Songs

• "BE THE ONE" by EXILE: 2022-present
• "Twilight Cinema" by EXILE THE SECOND: 2023-present
• "Love of History" by EXILE: 2023-present
• "Triangle" by SMAP: 2023-present
• "Shiawase ni Narou" by Mihimaru GT: 2023-present
• "Darling" by V6: 2023-present
• "Ao to Natsu" by Mrs. Green Apple: 2021-present
• "Magic" by Mrs. Green Apple: 2023-present

9.2. Past Walk-up Songs

• "Zukkoke Otokomichi" by Kanjani Eight: 2012
• "Garagarahebi ga Yattekuru" by Tunnels: 2013
• "In The Spotlight (TOKYO)" by Namie Amuro: 2014
• "GUTS!" by Arashi: 2015
• "Dan Dan Kokoro Hikarete 'ku" by Field of View: 2016
• "THE REVOLUTION" by Exile Tribe: 2016
• "24WORLD" by Exile Tribe: 2016
• "Kakusei Heroism" by An Cafe: 2016
• "Rival!" by Rika Matsumoto: 2016
• "ONLY YOU" by Namie Amuro: 2017
• "Flap Away" by Noa: 2017
• "Ikenai Taiyō" by Orange Range: 2018
• "GET UP" by Eikichi Yazawa: 2018
• "ff" by Hound Dog: 2018
• "Ichibanboshi" by Alice: 2018
• "drama" by AAA (Takahiro Nishijima x Misako Uno): 2018-2020
• "Sayonara no Mae ni" by AAA: 2018-present
• "Kōga Ninpōchō" by Onmyo-za: 2018-present
• "Grand Escape" by Radwimps: 2019-2020
• "GLORIA" by EXILE TAKAHIRO: 2019-present
• "Wonderful Days" by ONE☆DRAFT: 2019-2020
• "Love You Only" by TOKIO: 2019-present
• "My Place" by Beagle Crew: 2019-present
• "Ichibanboshi" by Alice: 2019-2020
• "Kaze no Rarara" by Mai Kuraki: 2019
• "AMAZING WORLD" by EXILE: 2019
• "Ai no Tame ni ~for love, for a child~" by EXILE: 2019
• "Boku no Koto" by Mrs. Green Apple: 2019
• "Victory" by EXILE: 2020
• "Grip!" by Every Little Thing: 2020
• "Touchin' On My" by 3OH!3: 2020
• "Homura" by LiSA: 2020
• "Inferno" by Mrs. Green Apple: 2020
• "Motto Tsuyoku Dakishimetanara" by Wands: 2020
• "Sakayume" by King Gnu: 2020
• "The Next Episode" by Dr. Dre: 2020
• "Heads or Tails" by EXILE: 2020
• "Answer: Love Myself" by BTS: 2020
• "Mikrokosmos" by BTS: 2020
• "RED PHOENIX" by EXILE: 2021
• "memories" by Maki Otsuki: 2021
• "DOPE" by BTS: 2021
• "Nandodemo" by Dreams Come True: 2021
• "Top Gun Anthem": 2022
• "Shin Jidai" by Ado: 2022