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July 17, 2024
 

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Wayne Graczyk
Wayne Graczyk has written the "Baseball Bullet-In" column in The Japan Times since 1976. A native of New Jersey, he came to Japan in 1969 with the U.S. Air Force and is a 1977 graduate of Tokyo's Sophia University. Wayne was the long-time (1977-2004) sports editor of the Tokyo Weekender newspaper, he covers Yomiuri Giants baseball games for Nippon TV and, since 1976, he has compiled the Japan Pro Baseball Fan Handbook & Media Guide. He is a member of the Tokyo Sportswriters Club and the Foreign Sportswriters Association of Japan. Notice Wayne Graczyk, the baseball columnist for The Japan Times for the past 40 years, passed away at the age of 68 on April 19. His final column was posted on April 8. Readers can continue to access his coverage of Japanese baseball through the online archives.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Jul 19, 2009
Explaining a hold and a tale about 'Smokey' catching for the Carp
Checking out what is on the minds of fans and readers of the column this week as we go through the e-mail inbox, and Josh Barnett in Kobe wants to know, "What is a 'hold' and what does a pitcher need to do to be awarded one?"
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Jul 12, 2009
Carp hoping Phillips will provide offense with jolt
The Hiroshima Carp are hoping newly acquired infielder-outfielder Andy Phillips will spark a flame that will ignite the team's offensive attack and help get the club back into playoff contention in the Central League standings. Manager Marty Brown wasted no time in getting his new player into action...
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Jul 5, 2009
New Niigata stadium opens this week, could host expansion team someday
The Hiroshima Carp and Hanshin Tigers will play the first official games at the new Niigata Prefectural Stadium this week with consecutive nighters on July 7 and 8. If ever Japanese baseball was going to expand or a team was to be moved, Niigata would be the next obvious best place in the country to...
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Jun 28, 2009
International community signs on to help keep Bobby V. in Chiba
You heard where those dedicated fans of the Chiba Lotte Marines gathered more than 110,000 signatures on a petition opposed to the team's dropping of American manager Bobby Valentine at the end of the 2009 season. The document was delivered to the team's front office earlier this month for presentation...
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Jun 14, 2009
Brewers' Macha making most of second shot managing in majors
Take a look at the standings in the various divisions in Major League Baseball, and you will find the usual high-profile, big-market teams at or near the top.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Jun 7, 2009
NPB teams like foreign players with Japan experience
The 2009 season seems to be one where foreign players in Japanese baseball are getting a second — or third — chance to prove they can still produce.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
May 24, 2009
Explaining Oya's break for 'rest' and ban on balloons
Yokohama manager Tatsuhiko Oya took a "kyuyo" on Monday, the eve of opening day for Japan pro baseball's interleague season, replaced by Tomio Tashiro, previously manager of the BayStars farm club, the Shonan Searex.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
May 17, 2009
NPB commissioner wanted to ban foreign players 25 years ago
There are 66 foreign players currently registered in Japanese pro baseball, along with two foreign managers, a farm team manager and three coaches. But, 25 years ago this month, the commissioner of Japanese baseball wanted to ban non-Japanese from playing in the Central and Pacific Leagues.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
May 10, 2009
Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in Tokyo worth a visit
One of the items on my "bucket list" is a trip to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. Nope, despite being from the East Coast, I have never been there but hope to make the trek to (what I hear is) the picturesque village in upstate New York.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
May 3, 2009
Erratic play of Giants this season tough to figure out
The defending Central League champion Yomiuri Giants are playing what is so far a wacky season of up-and-down, hot-and-cold streaks as the first month of the 2009 campaign concludes.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Apr 26, 2009
Fans point way to watch NPB games online
There were several responses to the column of April 12 with information on how and where fans can find Japanese baseball games streamed via the Internet.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Apr 12, 2009
Veteran announcer Bickard calling NPB games on TV in English
Did you know there is English-language coverage (though very limited) of some Pacific League games in Japan?
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Apr 5, 2009
Ireland says values of Asian culture were key at WBC
Much has been written and said about the reasons two Asian teams played in the recent World Baseball Classic final and why Japan came out on top against South Korea.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Mar 29, 2009
Carp skipper Brown excited about team's chances
Hiroshima Carp manager Marty Brown says he expects his team to be much improved this season and does not feel any pressure to get the club into the Central League Climax Series.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Mar 15, 2009
Asian round of WBC produced some interesting notes
Japan and South Korea join Cuba and Mexico in Round 2, Pool 1, of the 2009 World Baseball Classic beginning Sunday in San Diego. As expected, the Asian rivals advanced after finishing as the winner (Korea) and runnerup (Japan) in the Asia Round completed at Tokyo Dome on March 9.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Mar 1, 2009
Japanese fans geared up for World Baseball Classic
It is the World Baseball Classic, but WBC here could stand for "Whopping Big Crowds" or "Wildly Boisterous Cheering." The Japanese fans are going bonkers over Team Samurai Japan, with the No. 1 attraction being Seattle Mariners star Ichiro Suzuki.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Feb 22, 2009
Sarasota seeking a Japanese team to fill training void
A wire story from The Associated Press dated Jan. 9 indicated the city of Tucson, Ariz., is looking for a Japanese club to play about 15 spring training games there in 2010, replacing the American League's Chicago White Sox who have moved their spring training base to the Phoenix area.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Feb 15, 2009
Foreign players find first training camp in Japan tough
The 12 Japanese pro ballclubs are about halfway through their spring training, having begun formal workouts on Feb. 1. The camps will close at the end of the month at which time exhibition games will begin in preparation for the regular-season openers on April 3.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Feb 8, 2009
World Baseball Classic's controversial 13th-inning rule problematic
The Steering Committee of World Baseball Classic, Inc., has approved a controversial rule to help break a potential tie in a long extra-inning game during next month's WBC tournament, and it does not sit well with at least one Italian fan.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Jan 25, 2009
Clock may be ticking for foreign managers in Japan
Hiroshima Carp manager Marty Brown is set for a return to Japan and his fourth season at the helm in what could be the final year for American managers here.
Who needs AI when you have Hatsune Miku?
Over the first six months of 2024, a handful of songs using Vocaloid singer Hatsune Miku’s voice have enjoyed widespread attention, underlining a global interest in the character and the technology she represents.
Yen’s woes seem too big for even a BOJ hike this month to solve
The Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo
China’s economic growth comes in worse than expected
Pedestrians in the Wangfujing shopping area in Beijing on July 11, 2024. China's economic growth in the second quarter was lower than forecast, adding pressure on Chinese leaders to lift confidence at the Chinese Communist Party's third plenum this week.
Kansai airports to increase takeoff and landing slots ahead of Osaka Expo
Kansai International Airport in Izumisano, Osaka Prefecture. The upper limit on the number of takeoff and landing slots at the airport as well as Kobe Airport in Hyogo Prefecture will be raised in spring next year ahead of the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka.
Shooter came within inches of killing Trump, but left few clues as to why
An aerial view shows the stage where Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump had been standing during an assassination attempt the day before, and the roof of a nearby building where a gunman was shot dead by law enforcement, in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Sunday.
The neurological disorder that 'kills culture'
Akiko Trush says her experience with the neurological disorder dystonia left her feeling like she wanted to chop her own hand off.
How to beat Japan’s summer heat in ways better for the planet
Tenugui towels hang up to dry at a dyeing company in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, on May 8. The durable and versatile tenugui, which many people have in their homes, can be used in many ways to cool one’s body.
After Trump shooting, U.S. presidential race might take a violent turn
United States Secret Service Counter Snipers stand guard on a rooftop during a campaign rally for U.S. President Donald Trump in Avoca, Pennsylvania, in 2020.
No AC this summer? No problem (for me).
Think air conditioning is a requirement for a Tokyo summer? Think again.
She’s paying ¥1 million to help behind the scenes at the Paris Olympics
Mai Tarumi, who previously volunteered at the postponed Tokyo Olympics in 2021, has a travel budget of ¥1 million for her trip to volunteer at the Paris Games.

Podcast

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Longform

Akiko Trush says her experience with the neurological disorder dystonia left her feeling like she wanted to chop her own hand off.
The neurological disorder that 'kills culture'
By Tomoko Otake

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