Statement by the Japan Professional Baseball Players Association

The following is an unofficial English translation of a statement issued by the Japan Professional Baseball Players Association (JPBPA) on April 9, 2025, regarding NPB’s new policy on photography and media sharing at professional baseball stadiums.

Given the importance of this issue, we are sharing this promptly as breaking news.

📝 Introduction

In 2025, a new regulation was introduced at professional baseball stadiums in Japan: spectators are prohibited from posting any photos or videos of players taken during “ball-in-play” moments—not only during the game itself but also afterward—on social media or other online platforms. This policy, enacted by Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), has sparked widespread concern and confusion among fans.

One team, the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, interpreted the regulation based on its literal wording—specifically, the clause stating that such posts are permitted “if approved by the organizer.” Acting in accordance with that clause, the Fighters continued to allow fans to share in-game content as they had done before.

However, NPB responded by penalizing the Fighters and announced that individual clubs would no longer be allowed to make independent decisions on the matter. As a result, the Fighters were forced to change their policy.

In response, the Japan Professional Baseball Players Association (JPBPA) issued the following official statement on April 9, 2025.

📎 Link to the Official Statement on the JPBPA Website

At the time of this post (April 9, 2025), no official English version of the statement had been provided. Given the urgency of this issue, I, Lili (TORA-NEKO), have translated the statement into English to help international fans and stakeholders better understand the situation. Please note that this is an unofficial, independently prepared translation and may include interpretive nuances. That said, I have done my best to remain faithful to the tone and intent of the original Japanese statement.

📄 Translation of the Official Press Release

Statement on the Regulation Concerning the Photography, Videography, and Distribution of Game Content

The Japan Professional Baseball Players Association (JPBPA) has taken note of the many voices raised by baseball fans—including members of the “Fan Tomo” community—regarding the “Regulation on Photography, Videography, and Distribution of Game Content” (hereafter, “the Regulation”) introduced by NPB on February 1, 2025. In light of this, we would like to formally express our position once again: we call on NPB to ease and revise this Regulation.

We believe that professional baseball has grown and thrived thanks to the passion and dedication of its fans. The ability to share moving moments through social media is not only a source of joy for fans—it also plays a vital role in spreading the appeal of professional baseball more broadly. Players themselves witness the emergence of new fans through these shared moments and are deeply grateful for it every day.

With this in mind, the JPBPA has repeatedly expressed to NPB—both in September 2024 and again in March 2025—that the content of this Regulation may impose excessively strict limitations compared to other sports. We have formally requested its revision and will continue to advocate for the easing and reassessment of the Regulation through ongoing discussions with NPB.

We also believe that the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters’ decision to continue their previous media policy—based on the Regulation’s wording that allows exceptions “with the organizer’s approval”—was a legally sound interpretation and a flexible, fan-centered approach. It is therefore deeply regrettable that the team was ultimately forced to reverse its policy. The vague wording of the Regulation has caused confusion for the teams, and we believe it is the NPB itself that should be held accountable from a governance perspective for creating such a situation.

Under the current Regulation, photos or videos of players taken during “ball-in-play” situations are strictly prohibited from being posted—not only during the game, but even after it has ended. We are deeply concerned that these excessive restrictions take away a vital part of the fan experience and may in fact harm efforts to promote professional baseball and expand its fan base. In reality, many fans have already raised their voices online, including through petition campaigns, and we strongly empathize with their sentiments.

We understand the importance of protecting the broadcasting and hosting rights of organizers. However, excessively strict regulations should not come at the expense of fan enjoyment. Instead, we believe it is time to explore a more flexible approach—one that embraces and utilizes the power of fan-driven content to help promote the game.

We sincerely hope to see a baseball culture where fans are free to express and share the emotions they feel at the ballpark—one that brings even greater energy and excitement to professional baseball. Once again, we strongly urge NPB to listen to the voices of both fans and players, and to engage in constructive discussions toward easing and revising these regulations. Professional baseball is not built by league officials alone—it is built together by the fans and the players.

April 9, 2025
Japan Professional Baseball Players Association