Don Nomura NPB was no longer bound to their NPB team outside Japan and was free to sign overseas without violating the working agreement. After the 1994 season Nomura assisted star NPB pitcher Hideo Nomo in testing the loophole. After failing to reach a contract agreement with the Kintetsu Buffaloes, Nomo retired from NPB and signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1995. In 1998 he represented Hideki Irabu, whose contract was sold by the Chiba Lotte Marines to the San Diego Padres. Irabu stated that he would only play for the New York Yankees, and refused to sign with the Padres.
Hideo Haga Customs of Japan - Festivals & Performing Arts", (Creo, 1997, ) shows his B/W photos of festivals taken all over Japan since the 1950s. Hideo Haga Hideo Haga (芳賀 日出男 "Haga Hideo", October 10, 1921—) is known for his photography of traditional Japanese festivals and folk culture. Hideo Haga was born in 1921, Dalian, Manchuria on October 10, 1921. He took up the camera as a child, encouraged by his father, an engineer whose hobby was photography. In 1941 he enrolled in Literature at Keio University, where he also joined the camera club, often to the neglect of his studies.