Makoto Imaoka (今岡 真訪, Imaoka Makoto, real name: 今岡 誠, born September 11, 1974), nicknamed "Makochan",^[1] is a former Japanese professional baseball player from Takarazuka, Hyōgo, Japan.

Quick Facts Hanshin Tigers – No. 77, NPB debut ...

Makoto Imaoka 今岡 真訪
Hanshin Tigers – No. 77
Infielder / Coach
Born: (1974-09-11) September 11, 1974 (age 49) Takarazuka, Hyōgo, Japan
Batted: Right Threw: Right
NPB debut
April 8, 1997, for the Hanshin Tigers
Last NPB appearance
June 5, 2011, for the Chiba Lotte Marines
NPB statistics (through 2011 season)
Batting average	.279
Hits	1,284
RBIs	594
Home runs	122
Teams
As player Hanshin Tigers (1997–2009) Chiba Lotte Marines (2010–2012) As coach Chiba Lotte Marines (2012, 2018–2021) Hanshin Tigers (2016–2017, 2023-present)
Career highlights and awards
5× NPB All-Star (1998, 2002–2005) Golden Glove Award (2003) 3× Best Nine Award (2002–2003, 2005) Central League Batting Champion (2003) Central League RBI Champion (2005) Japan Series Champion (2010)
Medals Representing  Japan Men's Baseball Summer Olympics Atlanta 1996 Team Competition Intercontinental Cup Havana 1995 Team Competition

Close

Imaoka spent several uneventful seasons in the Japanese professional leagues before being chosen as the leadoff batter by Senichi Hoshino, who managed the Hanshin Tigers from 2002 to 2004. Imaoka won the batting title in 2003 with a .340 batting average, and his team won the Central League pennant the same year. He had previously played shortstop and second base, but was converted to third base in 2004. He continued his hitting prowess, and led the league with 147 RBIs in 2005. He fell into a huge slump in 2006, and missed half of the season due to injuries.

He won a silver medal playing for the Japanese national team in the 1996 Summer Olympics before entering the Japanese professional leagues.