Hanshin Tigers outfielder Tomoaki Kanemoto and Softbank Hawks lefty Toshiya Sugiuchi were named the Most Valuable Players in their respective leagues for the 2005 season on Friday.

Both players received the accolade for the first time in their careers.

Kanemoto helped lead Hanshin to its first Central League title in two years after hitting .327 with a career-high 40 homers and 125 RBIs this past season and was named the CL MVP by a wide margin over teammates Kyuji Fujikawa and Makoto Imaoka.