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| Why Masaya Yano, Kaito Kozono and Shunsuke Tamura Are Trending After FLASH's Latest Exposé. (Photo: FLASH) |
A new report published by FLASH has placed Hiroshima Toyo Carp back under intense public scrutiny after the magazine published photographs it says show current players Masaya Yano, Kaito Kozono and Shunsuke Tamura socialising with Ryosuke Takiguchi, a man who has been charged in connection with the alleged supply of illegal cartridges containing etomidate, commonly referred to in Japanese media as "zombie tobacco". The report has reignited debate over the club's previous internal investigation, although it is important to note that the publication does not present evidence that the current players named committed any offence.
According to the report, Takiguchi was arrested earlier this year following allegations that he supplied etomidate cartridges to former Carp player Ryutaro Hazuki, who was previously convicted over his use of the substance.
During a recent livestream, Hazuki claimed that six Hiroshima players, including himself, had obtained the product from the same individual. Those claims have attracted widespread attention but have not been independently verified.
The centrepiece of FLASH's latest story is a collection of private photographs allegedly showing Takiguchi alongside several Hiroshima players during social gatherings in 2025.
One group photograph reportedly includes Hazuki, Yano, Kozono, Tamura, Takiguchi, and businessman Yuji Mizoguchi. The magazine cites unnamed sources who describe the gathering as a private dinner rather than an official baseball-related event.
Another image published by the magazine allegedly shows Yano with Takiguchi and Mizoguchi inside a members-only lounge in Tokyo frequently visited by public figures. Sources quoted by the publication claim the venue was regularly used whenever Yano met Takiguchi in the capital. Those claims remain allegations reported by the magazine and have not been confirmed by the player.
Perhaps the most talked-about photograph is one the magazine says was taken inside a hotel room during a Hiroshima road trip in 2025. FLASH reports that the image appears to show Yano resting on a bed while Takiguchi takes the photograph.
The publication also notes that an unidentified red object visible near the bed resembles an illegal cartridge, but it does not establish what the item actually is. That detail has become one of the most debated parts of the report because, as many readers pointed out, photographs alone rarely tell the whole story. Sometimes a picture speaks a thousand words, and sometimes it simply starts a thousand arguments.
The report also explores how Takiguchi allegedly built relationships with professional athletes through business introductions, investment discussions and promotional activities.
It claims he introduced players to a sports equipment company whose products later became associated with the club before that relationship reportedly ended following Hazuki's legal case. The company reportedly did not respond to the magazine's request for comment before publication.
Hazuki, when approached by FLASH, reportedly acknowledged appearing in one of the published group photographs.
However, regarding the hotel-room image, he reportedly said he was not present and could not comment on the circumstances, while expressing surprise at how close Yano appeared to be with Takiguchi.
The magazine also reports that Hiroshima Toyo Carp declined to provide substantive answers to its questions before publication. According to FLASH, repeated requests for comment received no detailed response, while the publication characterised the club's silence as frustrating given the renewed public attention surrounding the case.
Separately, Yuji Mizoguchi's company issued a statement saying its representative had only met the accused at several large social gatherings and denied any involvement in purchasing, possessing, using or distributing illegal substances. The company added that it had no further comment on the matter.
The wider controversy has also returned attention to the club's earlier response following Hazuki's conviction. Hiroshima previously announced that it interviewed all players, encouraged anyone with relevant information to come forward and later conducted an additional internal review after further claims emerged.
However, the organisation has not publicly released the outcome of that follow-up process, saying it is not an investigative authority. Legal experts quoted by FLASH argue that professional sports organisations carry a responsibility to explain how they respond to issues that could affect public confidence, particularly when fresh allegations emerge.
At the same time, legal observers also stress that appearing in photographs or having a social relationship with someone accused of wrongdoing does not, by itself, establish involvement in illegal activity.
Reaction online has been sharply divided. Some supporters argue that social photographs should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of misconduct and have urged people not to rush to conclusions.
Others believe the newly published images justify further transparency from the club, particularly regarding the results of its internal review. Across social media, many fans have repeated the same message: speculation fills the gap whenever official answers remain limited.
For Hiroshima Toyo Carp, the latest report keeps uncomfortable questions in the spotlight even as no new allegations of criminal conduct have been established against the current players featured in the photographs.
Whether the club decides to address the renewed attention more directly could shape how supporters view the situation in the weeks ahead. What do you make of the latest report? Do you think the club should release more information, or should people avoid drawing conclusions until any official findings are made public?