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November 21, 2024
 

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Rob Smaal
BASEBALL / MLB
Nov 23, 2002
Dodgers closer Gagne would rather be chasing a hockey puck in NHL
Eric Gagne is a 25-year-old pitcher with the Los Angeles Dodgers. After three rather unspectacular years as a starting pitcher with the Dodgers, the Montreal native was converted to a closer prior to this past season.
BASEBALL / MLB
Nov 17, 2002
Move north paid off for Blue Jays' Hinske
Funny how things work out sometimes.
BASEBALL / MLB
Nov 12, 2002
Japan draws first blood
The fans may have come out to see major-league stars like Ichiro Suzuki, Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi, but it was a local boy who stole the show.
BASEBALL / MLB
Nov 8, 2002
Lil' Angel packs big league punch
The knock on Japanese players used to be that they were too small and underpowered to make it in North America's big leagues. But with the recent success of the Seattle Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki, that argument has been laid to rest.
BASEBALL / MLB
Oct 27, 2002
Giants upstage Lions' Matsuzaka
The Koji Uehara Show took center stage Saturday night, playing to a packed house at the Tokyo Dome in Game 1 of the 2002 Japan Series.
MORE SPORTS
Oct 5, 2002
Thai challenger Srichaphan boots Hewitt at Japan Open
Lleyton Hewitt may be the No. 1 tennis player in the world, but Friday afternoon at Tokyo's Ariake Colosseum he played second fiddle to a little-known slugger from Thailand.
MORE SPORTS
Sep 20, 2002
Life is good in Serena's world
Closing in on her 21st birthday, Serena Williams seems to have it all: No. 1 in the world in women's tennis, four Grand Slam singles titles to her credit, 17 victories on the WTA Tour, an Olympic gold medal (in doubles with sister Venus), over $9 million in prize money (plus who knows how much in lucrative...
MORE SPORTS
Sep 19, 2002
Serena blasts out of blocks
The Serena Williams traveling tennis clinic rolled into Tokyo on Wednesday and, in this land of sushi, it was doughnuts that Williams had on her mind.
BASEBALL / MLB
Aug 1, 2002
'Rami' has Swallows fans squealing with delight
Call him the Shigeki Maruyama of Japanese baseball, with a little Tony Robbins thrown in for good measure.
SPORTS / SPORTS SCOPE
Jul 21, 2002
The Cro pipes off on juiced players, bad-karma Bud
Just wind him up and watch him go! Warren Cromartie, who thrilled Yomiuri Giants fans from 1984-1990 not only with his stellar play but also with his banzai-inducing antics in the outfield, was back in Japan recently over the All-Star break.
BASEBALL / MLB
Jul 14, 2002
Another stop on All-Star circuit for Powell
Jeremy Powell took the mound Saturday for the Pacific Leaguers in the second installment of the 2002 All-Star Series, it marked the first time in 41 years that a foreign pitcher from the Kintetsu Buffaloes had taken part in Japan's annual midsummer classic.
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 28, 2002
Brazil's Ronaldo hopes to cap comeback with World Cup title
SAITAMA -- "I had two years of suffering," Brazil striker Ronaldo said Wednesday evening after putting his side into the World Cup final. "Every time I score a goal is a victory, every time I enter the pitch is a joy and an honor."
SPORTS / SPORTS SCOPE EXTRA
Jun 27, 2002
Observations from the other side
It's almost over now, and I have to admit it's been a lot less painful than anticipated.
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 9, 2002
Croatians stun Italy to stay alive
IBARAKI -- After an opening match loss to Mexico, it looked like the Croatian soccer team would be here just long enough to sample a little sushi, maybe check out Tokyo Tower and then jet off back to Europe.
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 6, 2002
Ireland holds Germany to 1-1 draw
IBARAKI -- Once again the opposition wore green, but this time they actually put up a fight.
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 3, 2002
England thwarted by Swedish jinx as teams draw 1-1
SAITAMA -- Thirty-four years and counting.
BASEBALL / MLB
Apr 27, 2002
Trey bien! Hanshin hurler Moore off to hot start
Don't be fooled by the menacing fu-manchu and the pitcher's glare. Hanshin Tigers left-hander Trey Moore is actually a friendly, down-to-earth family man from Texas, but don't tell opposing hitters that.
MORE SPORTS
Mar 28, 2002
Bunnies slip past Bears in final
It may be a Canadian game, and it was being played in Japan, but when all was said and done, it was the Swedish connection that came through at crunch time.
MORE SPORTS
Mar 25, 2002
Kokudo squares series, sets up deciding Game 5
It's down to one more game for all the marbles, the whole ball of wax, the big enchilada (* insert own cliche here).
MORE SPORTS
Mar 22, 2002
Revenge time: Bunnies jump all over Seibu
It was time for a little payback.
Ishiba delays meeting with Trump, citing legal restrictions
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba waves upon arrival for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, in Callao, Peru, on Friday.
Two of America’s biggest debt holders are dumping Treasurys
The U.S. Treasury building in Washington. Investors in Japan and China sold a pile of U.S. debt in the last quarter, just before the U.S. presidential election.
Rising sex tourism exposes loopholes in Japan's anti-prostitution law
While financial misfortunes during the COVID-19 pandemic may have driven some women to work the streets, others simply want more money to spend — or want to pay off their debts — at host clubs.
Japan ranks last in romance satisfaction for second straight year
In a survey of 31 countries, Japan ranked last in terms of those who felt loved, with just 51% of respondents saying so.
Ruling coalition and DPP strike last-minute deal over economic policy
DPP policy chief Makoto Mahaguchi speaks at the party's policy gathering in Tokyo on Wednesday.
Japan, U.K. and Italy discuss inviting more countries to joint fighter project
A new concept model of a next-generation fighter jet to be jointly developed by Japan, Britain and Italy is on display in Farnborough, Hampshire, in July.
Haruki Murakami's 'The City and Its Uncertain Walls' gives deep deja vu
For “The City and Its Uncertain Walls,” translated into English by Philip Gabriel, Haruki Murakami confronts the ghosts who won't leave him alone.
Japanese expats in Asia find community through rugby
The Taiwan Fivewoods celebrate their victory at the 2023 Asian Japanese Rugby Cup in December of last year.
In Fukushima, a weekend of prose, poetry and translation
Aomori-based writer JJ Carter presented on tabletop gaming as creative inspiration for building characters and narratives.
For Dr. Nakamats, aging is just experience in action
Though he didn't win the recent gubernatorial election in Tokyo, the 96-year-old Dr. Nakamats' run was seen as inspirational in Japan's aging society.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?
By Kathryn Wortley

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