Jason Coskrey - The Japan Times

February 22, 2025

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Jason Coskrey

Jason Coskrey is a sports writer for The Japan Times. His primary focus is Japanese baseball, but he has also covered soccer, American football, boxing and basketball. He previously worked for the Marietta Daily Journal in Marietta, Ga. A native of Detroit, he is a graduate of the University of Alabama-Birmingham.

Swallows mascot Tsubakuro performs during a game at Jingu Stadium in June 2023.

BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball

Feb 21, 2025

Swallows employee who portrayed popular mascot Tsubakuro dies

Tsubakuro became a ubiquitous presence at Jingu Stadium after his debut in 1994.

Masahiro Tanaka signed with the Giants in December.

BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / Sac Bunts

Feb 3, 2025

Star pitcher Masahiro Tanaka looking to revive glory days with Giants

Masahiro Tanaka is one of the most recognizable faces in Japanese baseball, but sightings of the new Giants pitcher were few and far between in 2024.

Kanoa Igarashi surfs in the Hurley Pro Sunset Beach competition in Oahu, Hawaii, on Feb. 18.

MORE SPORTS / Surfing

Jan 28, 2025

Kanoa Igarashi dreams big as surfing championship tour gets underway

With new tricks up his sleeve, the Olympic silver medalist is eyeing a world title.

Naoya Inoue throws a punch against Kim Ye-joon during their world super bantamweight title bout in Tokyo on Friday.

MORE SPORTS / Boxing

Jan 25, 2025

After racking up another KO, 'Monster' Inoue set for bright lights of Las Vegas

There may also be a big payday in Saudi Arabia on the horizon as Inoue takes his thrilling style overseas after a long run of bouts on home soil.

Undisputed super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue celebrates after defeating Kim Ye-joon in their title fight at Ariake Arena on Friday.

MORE SPORTS / Boxing

Jan 24, 2025

Naoya 'Monster' Inoue retains undisputed title with 4th-round knockout

Promoter Bob Arum announced after the fight that Inoue will fight in Las Vegas this spring.

Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki speaks during his introductory news conference with the team in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

BASEBALL / MLB

Jan 23, 2025

Dodgers introduce Japanese pitching phenom Roki Sasaki

A frenzied sweepstakes among MLB clubs officially came to an end with Sasaki's decision to join Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in LA.

Naoya Inoue at a news conference in Yokohama on Wednesday ahead of his world super bantamweight title bout against Kim Ye-joon, scheduled for Friday in Tokyo.

MORE SPORTS / Boxing

Jan 22, 2025

Inoue believes unusual leadup to Kim fight could be 'big plus'

Inoue was supposed to face Sam Goodman last month. Instead, he will defend his belts on Friday against Kim Ye-joon, who stepped in after Goodman was injured in training.

Ichiro Suzuki finished his career with 3,089 MLB hits and is one of 33 players in the 3,000-hit club.

BASEBALL / MLB

Jan 22, 2025

Iconic Japanese outfielder Ichiro Suzuki elected to Baseball Hall of Fame

Ichiro, who rose to global superstardom with the Mariners, was elected in his first year on the ballot, but fell one vote short of becoming the second player voted in unanimously.

Roki Sasaki pitches for Japan during the World Baseball Classic at Tokyo Dome on March 11, 2023.

BASEBALL / MLB

Jan 18, 2025

Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki signs with Dodgers

Sasaki is considered one of the most talented young pitchers on the planet.

Ichiro Suzuki had 1,278 hits and a .353 batting average in nine seasons with the BlueWave in NPB.

BASEBALL / MLB

Jan 16, 2025

Ichiro voted into Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame

Former players Hitoki Iwase and Masayuki Kakefu and former Central League umpire Hiroya Tomizawa were also voted into the Hall.

Shunsuke Nakamori pitches at Zozo Marine Stadium last season.

BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / Sac Bunts

Jan 13, 2025

Marines will need other pitchers to step up after Roki Sasaki departs for MLB

The Marines — if they have not already — will be forced to accept a new reality where their starting rotation is not headed by one of the best young pitchers in the world.

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, attend a Lakers game in Los Angeles on Dec. 8.

BASEBALL / MLB

Dec 29, 2024

Shohei Ohtani ends blockbuster year with baby announcement

Ohtani announced on Instagram on Saturday that he and his wife are expecting their first child, capping a huge year for the Dodgers star.

Dodgers announcers Stephen Nelson and Jessica Mendoza pose with Ichiro Suzuki before a game against the Mariners in Seattle in 2023.

BASEBALL / MLB

Dec 27, 2024

Dodgers voice Stephen Nelson paves way for Japanese Americans in media

Nelson strongly believes representation matters in media and is aware that he might be helping inspire the next generation of Asian Americans in sports media.

Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani reacts to a standing ovation from fans after hitting his 50th home run of the season, against the Marlins in Miami on Sept. 19.

BASEBALL / MLB

Dec 23, 2024

For baseball fans, 2024 brought The Summer of Shohei Ohtani

The superstar was the center of attention for almost a full calendar year during a season straight out of a Hollywood movie.

Roki Sasaki delivers a pitch during the first inning of the World Baseball Classic semifinal against Mexico in Miami in March 2023.

BASEBALL / MLB

Dec 10, 2024

45-day negotiation window set to begin as Marines post Roki Sasaki

The right-handed flamethrower has until 7 a.m. (JST) on Jan. 24 to sign with an MLB team.

Japan's players watch from the dugout after their loss against Taiwan in the Premier12 final at Tokyo Dome on Sunday.

BASEBALL / Sac Bunts

Nov 25, 2024

Japan exits Premier12 with no need to panic but with adjustments to make

Japan lost in an international tournament for the first time since the 2019 Premier12.

Japan starter Shosei Togo reacts after allowing a three-run home run against Taiwan in the fifth inning of the Premier12 final on Sunday.

BASEBALL

Nov 24, 2024

Taiwan stuns Samurai Japan to capture Premier12 title

Taiwan won the Premier12 crown for the first time.

Eagles pitcher Masahiro Tanaka announced on Sunday that he is leaving the team.

BASEBALL

Nov 24, 2024

Star pitcher Masahiro Tanaka to part ways with Eagles

Tanaka is one of the most famous players in Eagles history.

U.S. manager Mike Scioscia (right) and pitcher Casey Lawrence speak during a postgame news conference after the bronze medal game at the Premier12 at Tokyo Dome on Sunday.

BASEBALL

Nov 24, 2024

U.S. finishes Premier12 on high note with victory over Venezuela for bronze

The U.S. beat Venezuela for the second straight day behind a strong performance from Casey Lawrence.

Keita Sano celebrates with his teammates after scoring on Kotaro Kiyomiya's two-run triple against Taiwan during their Premier12 game at Tokyo Dome on Saturday.

BASEBALL

Nov 23, 2024

Japan beats Taiwan ahead of rematch in Premier12 final

Japan and Taiwan will meet for the Premier12 title.

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Tokyo Koon stands at the forefront of tackling the so-called 2025 issue, also known as the “Magnetic Tape Alert.”

The race to save 20th-century history

By Alex K.T. Martin

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SWCC keeps changing with keyword ‘new challenges’

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