Ishikawa Million Stars
Corporate brand
UnclaimedIshikawa Million Stars is a Japanese independent professional baseball club based in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, founded in 2006 and named after the region's historic Kaga Million Koku domain.
Last updated September 28, 2026
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Overview
Ishikawa Million Stars (石川ミリオンスターズ) is a Japanese independent professional baseball club operated by Ishikawa Million Stars Co., Ltd., headquartered in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture. The team was founded in October 2006 and began play as a founding member of the Baseball Challenge League (BC League), a regional independent league. The club's name derives from the historic Kaga Million Koku (加賀百万石) domain associated with the Ishikawa region, and the team's stated wish is to carry the dreams and hopes of the prefecture's roughly one million residents and to produce future star players. The club's stated operating philosophy centers on turning its ballpark into an entertainment destination — a "ballpark-ization plan" combining player interaction, attractions, local food, and merchandise — as well as building a prefecture-wide fan and supporter association, running baseball clinics and a baseball school, and participating in regional promotion events and volunteer activities. The club positions itself as a community-based team contributing to local revitalization, drawing inspiration from the role that minor-league clubs play as civic symbols in small cities in the United States and Canada. On the field, the Million Stars won the inaugural BC League championship in 2007 and have won the independent-league national title twice, in 2011 and 2013. The club has also served as a stepping stone to Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), with players such as Kensuke Uchimura becoming the BC League's first NPB player in 2007, and later players being drafted or signed by NPB clubs including the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, Orix Buffaloes, Saitama Seibu Lions, Hanshin Tigers, Yomiuri Giants, Yokohama DeNA BayStars, Tokyo Yakult Swallows, and Chiba Lotte Marines. In 2014, a guest appearance by comedian Sanma Akashiya as a "one-day coach" drew 15,877 spectators, setting a domestic independent-league attendance record. The club has had a series of managers, including Eiji Kanamori (first), Shinji Mori (second), Julio Franco (third), Masato Watanabe (fourth), Masaru Takeda (fifth), Ryuji Taguchi (sixth), and Mitsutaka Goto (seventh, from 2022). For the 2022 season the club joined the newly formed Japan Sea Ocean League (日本海オセアンリーグ), a successor regional independent league. The club marked its 20th anniversary and continues to operate as a community-focused professional baseball brand in Ishikawa Prefecture.
History
Ishikawa Million Stars was founded in October 2006, with Eiji Kanamori appointed as the first manager. The club was established as a founding member of the Baseball Challenge League (BC League), a regional independent professional baseball league in Japan. In October 2007, the Million Stars won the inaugural BC League championship. In November 2007, Kensuke Uchimura was drafted by the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles as a developmental player, becoming the first BC League player to reach Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). In September 2009, the club achieved its first first-half and second-half league titles. In November 2009, Shinji Mori became the second manager. In October 2011, the Million Stars won their first independent-league national championship (独立リーグ日本一). In December 2012, Steve Hammond signed with the Orix Buffaloes, and Masao Kida joined the Million Stars. In June 2013, Chris Carter signed with the Saitama Seibu Lions. In October 2013, the club won its second independent-league national title. In September 2014, comedian Sanma Akashiya participated as a "one-day coach," drawing 15,877 spectators and setting a new record for attendance in a domestic independent league. In March 2015, Julio Franco became the third manager. In June 2015, Nelson Perez signed with the Hanshin Tigers. In October 2015, Masato Watanabe became the fourth manager, and Jun Hasegawa received an NPB developmental draft selection from the Yomiuri Giants — the club's first such selection since 2007. In September 2016, the club achieved its second complete first-half and second-half sweep in seven years. In October 2016, three players — Kazumasa Sakamoto (Orix Buffaloes), Takeshi Omura (Tokyo Yakult Swallows), and Yoshizumi Yasue (Chiba Lotte Marines) — received NPB developmental draft selections, the most in club history. In October 2016, Audy Ciriaco signed with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, and in December 2016, Kazuma Mikawa signed with the Chiba Lotte Marines. In October 2017, three players — Mitsuteru Terada (Yokohama DeNA BayStars, 6th round), Kanji Teraoka (Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, 7th round), and Takumi Numata (Tokyo Yakult Swallows, 8th round) — received NPB draft selections, the first time three players from the club were selected in the NPB draft proper. In January 2018, Masaru Takeda became the fifth manager. In March 2020, Ryuji Taguchi became the sixth manager. In September 2021, the club joined the newly established Japan Sea Ocean League (日本海オセアンリーグ), which began play in the 2022 season. In October 2021, Ryusei Takada received a developmental draft selection from the Yomiuri Giants, becoming the first Ishikawa-native player from the club to be selected by NPB in the club's 15th year. In January 2022, Mitsutaka Goto became the seventh manager. In March 2022, the club unveiled new uniforms for the inaugural Japan Sea Ocean League season. The club has since marked its 20th anniversary.
- 2022
Mitsutaka Goto became the seventh manager.
- 2022
Unveiled new uniforms for the inaugural Japan Sea Ocean League season.
- 2021
Joined the newly established Japan Sea Ocean League for the 2022 season.
- 2021
Ryusei Takada received developmental draft selection from Yomiuri Giants, first Ishikawa-native player from the club to be selected by NPB.
- 2020
Ryuji Taguchi became the sixth manager.
- 2018
Masaru Takeda became the fifth manager.
- 2017
Three players received NPB draft selections, the first time for the club.
- 2016
Achieved second complete first-half and second-half sweep in seven years.
- 2016
Three players received NPB developmental draft selections, the most in club history.
- 2016
Audy Ciriaco signed with Yokohama DeNA BayStars.
Products and positioning
Community-based independent professional baseball club aiming to contribute to regional revitalization and provide entertainment at the ballpark.
Independent professional baseball team
Team merchandise and support goods
Baseball clinics and baseball school
Stadium food and attractions
Sources3 sources
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