Softbank Corp. officially became a baseball club owner Friday when the Internet service provider obtained approval for its purchase of the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks from debt-ridden retail giant Daiei Inc.
Fukuoka -- Softbank BB President Masayoshi Son (right) shakes hands with Hawks manager Sadaharu Oh at
Fukuoka Dome on Friday.
The Japanese professional baseball club owners unanimously gave the green light to the transfer of the Hawks' ownership at an extraordinary meeting in which they also approved the new team name -- the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks.