Hiroshima Carp Release Four Players Amid Etomidate Controversy, Including Kaito Kozono and Masaya Yano

The Hiroshima Carp have informed four players that they will not be offered contracts for the 2027 season amid the controversy surrounding so-called “zombie tobacco,” a product associated with the designated drug etomidate.

The four players are Kaito Kozono, 26, Masaya Yano, 27, Shunsuke Tamura, 23, and Seita Maekawa, 23.

The Carp confirmed that all four had been the subject of suspicions in connection with the series of issues surrounding etomidate.

However, the club emphasized that it had not confirmed that any of the four players actually used the substance.

Club executive Hiroshi Suzuki addressed reporters about the decision and explained that the organization had reached a point where it needed to make a judgment despite the lack of confirmation that the players had used the substance.

“We have not been able to confirm any fact that they used zombie tobacco.”

Suzuki then explained the reasoning behind the decision.

“With suspicions surrounding them, we had to make a judgment at some point, and we made that judgment.”

The four players had been part of the Carp organization under very different circumstances.

Kozono, one of Hiroshima's established infielders, had been a regular presence at the first-team level. Yano had also become known for his defensive ability and contributions to the Carp's infield.

Tamura was a young left-handed hitter who had been viewed as a developing prospect, while Maekawa was another young player working to establish himself within the organization.

The decision therefore affects players at different stages of their careers, rather than simply representing the release of veteran players at the end of their careers.

The Carp's official online store also confirmed the contract endings, announcing that merchandise for Kozono, Yano, Tamura and Maekawa would no longer be available for mail-order purchase after October 2.

For the four players, the club's decision means that their future in professional baseball will now depend on what opportunities become available outside Hiroshima.

At the same time, the Carp's explanation makes an important distinction: the club says it has not confirmed that the players used etomidate, while also stating that it judged it necessary to end their contracts while suspicions remained.

That distinction is likely to remain an important part of the discussion surrounding the four players and the organization's handling of the controversy.