Katsuya Nomura has accepted a request to take over as new manager of the Tohoku Rakuten Eagles next season, team president Toru Shimada said Thursday.

Nomura, 70, who is currently managing amateur corporate league team Shidax, is expected to be formally unveiled as the Pacific League club's new skipper in late November as Shidax will play in the national championships beginning Nov. 19.

Sendai-based Rakuten, which joined Japanese pro baseball following the merger between the Orix BlueWave and Kintetsu Buffaloes, fired manager Yasushi Tao after a disastrous first season in the Pacific League.