Kodai Senga's 12-strikeout no-hitter on the night of Sept. 6 was more than just a historic moment — it was the first of his career and the first since the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks franchise relocated to Kyushu from Osaka in 1988 — for the ace pitcher.
Senga's gem might've also been a glimpse into the future of licensed merchandise in Japan.
If the latter is proven true, it might be the result of Fanatics, an American-based licensed merchandise company trying to change the way the game is played in Japan and already drawing attention from NPB clubs.
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