Stepping onto the diamond at the Taipei Dome for the March 28 opening game, Kunio Kiuchi began a distinct chapter in professional baseball.
Kiuchi joined the Chinese Professional Baseball League ahead of the season after retiring from Nippon Professional Baseball following a 28-year tenure, as reported. During his career in Japan, he officiated 1,914 games.
Discussions turned concrete during a spring training camp in Okinawa, Japan. When a former acquaintance asked if he would join as an instructor upon retirement, Kiuchi replied that he preferred to stand on the field alongside them.
The CPBL operates with six clubs playing a 120-game schedule split into first and second halves. The league employs roughly 30 umpires, about half the total staffing found in NPB.
Kiuchi noted that compensation structures remain under development, drawing only a handful of applicants during the recruitment cycle. This shortage created an immediate demand for his veteran expertise.
Across the regular season, Kiuchi appeared in 83 games, serving behind the plate as home plate umpire 29 times. That plate assignment total surpassed his usual single-season load in Japan.
All six CPBL clubs utilize outdoor venues featuring natural turf. Officials also schedule fixtures at the Taipei Dome, an indoor facility that does not serve as a single team’s exclusive home venue.
Addressing initial concerns regarding playing surfaces, Kiuchi found the dirt firmly packed and comparable to outdoor stadiums in Japan. Teams also featured two Japanese managers this season: Keiichi Hirano with CTBC Brothers and Takayuki Goto with Fubon Guardians.
Kiuchi observed a faster game tempo compared to Japan, though backup umpires shoulder a heavy workload operating the timing equipment.
Kiuchi encountered bench heckling and player dissatisfaction over ball-and-strike calls during his initial weeks.
“At the start, as a Japanese person, I was looked at with a sense of ‘Who is this person?'” Kiuchi said, as reported. Without automated ball-strike systems, advanced analytics increased scrutiny from dugouts.
He relied on his fundamental mechanics to stabilize his performance. “A good start wasn’t the case, which turned out to be a good thing,” Kiuchi said, adding that players warmed up after initial adjustments and offered concern when struck by batted balls.
Turning 60 on November 14, Kiuchi applies a strict routine to every contest. His approach centers on maintaining focus on the ball, stopping completely to square his shoulders, and taking time to confirm rulings rather than rushing.
“We must not become mere machines that hand down rulings,” Kiuchi stated, emphasizing collaboration with players to deliver a sound contest for fans. He has not finalized his contract status for next season, noting he intends to continue officiating as long as his physical and mental conditioning permit.
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