With spring training under way, fans in Osaka and Fukuoka are watching closely as their teams undergo a change.

In addition to the usual offseason shuffling, the Hanshin Tigers and Fukuoka Softbank Hawks are busy breaking in new managers before the start of the 2009 season.

Hanshin great Akinobu Mayumi takes the reigns for the Tigers this season while Koji Akiyama tries to follow in the footsteps of Sadaharu Oh for the Hawks.