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July 16, 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
May 15, 2005
Long overdue interleague action playing to good reviews
The concept of the koryu-sen (interleague play) in Japanese baseball is getting great reviews so far from players, fans and media members. Typical comments from participants are, "We should have been doing this 10 years ago" and "It's great to see some different ballparks and towns for a change."
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
May 8, 2005
Nearly all agree Kuehnert wasn't given fair shot by Eagles
The week of April 25-30 was not a good one for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles or Marty Kuehnert.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
May 1, 2005
History set to be made with first interleague games in Japan
By the time you read the next offering of the "Baseball Bullet-In" on Sunday, May 8, Golden Week 2005 will be over, and Japan pro baseball's first session of interleague play will have begun.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Apr 24, 2005
Miceli's career here lasted slightly longer a than cup of coffee
The April 19 edition of the Tokyo Chunichi Sports paper ran a headline that read, "Miceli fired by Giants."
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Apr 17, 2005
'Blazer' leaves behind legion of fans, friends in Japan
Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles General Manager Marty Kuehnert called on the morning of April 14 to give me the sad news that Don Blasingame died of apparent heart failure in his sleep at home in Arizona the previous night. He was 73.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Apr 10, 2005
Early showing by Carp raises hope for repeat of 1975 glory
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the first Central League championship won by the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. It was in 1975 when the "Aka-Heru" (Red Helmets) played in their first Japan Series.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Apr 3, 2005
Giants no longer packing 'em in at the Big Egg
Perhaps this is a sign of the times indicating the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants, the once-almighty Kyojin team, does not have the overwhelming popularity it once had.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Mar 27, 2005
Free tickets for Diamondbacks Day on April 17 at Tokyo Dome
The Pacific League Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters will continue their tradition of holding Arizona Diamondbacks Day at one of their home-away-from-home games at Tokyo Dome.
BASEBALL / MLB
Mar 26, 2005
Iwakuma determined to help Eagles soar in Sendai
Hisashi Iwakuma started playing baseball as an elementary school first grader at the age of 6, by throwing a ball against a wall in a game of catch with himself and dreaming of becoming a professional. Now, at age 24, he is arguably the best pitcher in Japanese pro baseball.
BASEBALL / MLB
Mar 26, 2005
Dragons favored to book return trip to Japan Series
The following is a team-by-team analysis of the 12 teams in Japanese pro baseball this season:
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Mar 20, 2005
Who says you can't teach old baseball teams new tricks?
"New" is the watchword for Japanese baseball in 2005.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Mar 13, 2005
Acceptance of foreign managers reflects yet another change in Japanese baseball
It is obvious Japanese baseball is changing. It was not all that long ago when such terms as free agency, posting, expansion, inter-league games and post-season playoffs were unheard of. Now, everyone here knows them.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Mar 9, 2005
Can Lions stay focused in midst of scandal?
This could be the final season for the Seibu Lions, at least as we know the ball club by that name.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Mar 2, 2005
Mail bag questions on Bunch, Kiyohara and the minor leagues
Dear Wayne: I read what you posted from Melvin Bunch's e-mail (Feb. 23).
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Feb 23, 2005
Foreign stars to battle Japan stars in March 14 charity game
Kudos: To Bobby Valentine, Trey Hillman, Tsutomu Ito, Kazuhiko Ushijima and all the players who will participate in the Pro Yakyu Charity Game at Tokyo Dome on Monday, March 14.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Feb 16, 2005
Golden Eagles inspire look back at MLB expansion teams
Much of the excitement building toward the opening of the 2005 Japan pro baseball season centers around the new Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. The Pacific League expansion team will, weather permitting, play its inaugural game Saturday, March 26, against the Chiba Lotte Marines at Chiba Marine Stadium....
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Feb 9, 2005
Red Sox boosting association with Japanese baseball
The 2004 World Series champion Boston Red Sox are one of the major league teams becoming increasingly involved with Japanese baseball as evidenced by the recent signing of Japanese pitcher Denney Tomori and an agreement to send two coaches and two players from the BoSox organization to join the Fukuoka...
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Feb 2, 2005
1995: A tumultuous year for Japan, a great one for baseball
Ten years have passed since one of the most unforgettable times in Japan's history.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Jan 26, 2005
Baseball luminaries give Eagles GM Kuehnert big send off
More than 200 people attended the "Marty Kuehnert-Shi Iwai GM Shunin to Saranaru Nippon Yakyu Kai no Hatten o Negau Kai" (Party to Congratulate Mr. Marty Kuehnert on His Appointment as General Manager and Praying for the Success of Japanese Baseball) at a Tokyo hotel on Friday, Jan. 21, in honor of the...
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Jan 19, 2005
With spring training near, end of line for George, Peta here?
With just 13 days remaining until the start of spring training, it appears George Arias and Roberto Petagine may have reached the end of the line in their productive careers in Japanese pro baseball.
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.
Bloodied Trump survives assassination attempt at political rally
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is surrounded and evacuated by Secret Service agents at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. Trump was rushed off stage at the rally after shots rang out.
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.
Yen’s woes seem too big for even a BOJ hike this month to solve
The Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo
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.
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

You can often see generations of families enjoying performances together at Fuji Rock Festival.
Japan’s summer music festivals are feeling the heat in more ways than one

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

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Exploring Japanese culturevia Tohoku’s festivals
Exploring Japanese culturevia Tohoku’s festivals

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