author

 
 
 Jason Coskrey

Meta

Twitter

@JCoskrey

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.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 28, 2015
Yamada stakes claim as top player
There are many who already think the Tokyo Yakult Swallows' Tetsuto Yamada is the best all-around player in Japan.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 27, 2015
Yamada slugs three homers in historic performance as Swallows overcome Hawks in Game 3
It was probably only a matter of time before Tetsuto Yamada made his presence felt. When he did, he produced one of the greatest performances in the history of the Japan Series.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 27, 2015
Veteran catcher Takaya plays pivotal role for Hawks
When asked about Jingu Stadium a few weeks ago, Tokyo Yakult Swallows closer Tony Barnette gave a wry smile and said, "Jingu can play games with you as a pitcher."
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 26, 2015
Sugiura confident Swallows can bounce back
The Tokyo Yakult Swallows are down, but pitcher Toshihiro Sugiura doesn't think it's time to count the Central League champions out just yet.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 26, 2015
Carp hurler Maeda wins Sawamura Award for second time
Four famed former pitchers went to a Tokyo hotel for the purpose of sitting down together and identifying the best pitcher in Japan in 2015.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 26, 2015
Hawks' pitcher van den Hurk continues his winning ways
Fukuoka Softbank Hawks pitcher Rick van den Hurk and Tokyo Yakult Swallows third baseman Shingo Kawabata had a consistent rhythm going in the top of the first inning in Game 2 of the Japan Series on Sunday night.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 25, 2015
Hawks silence Swallows, take 2-0 lead in Japan Series
The second game of the Japan Series played out almost like a carbon copy of the first. Right down to the part where the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks were celebrating another victory.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 25, 2015
Yafuoku Dome's shortened fences help Hawks, foes
Shota Takeda might've opened the Japan Series with a three-hit shutout had the game been played in 2014. It wasn't, so instead of a shutout, the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks pitcher gave up a two-out two-run home run to Tokyo Yakult Swallows slugger Kazuhiro Hatakeyama in the ninth inning of a 4-2 victory...
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 25, 2015
Matsuda, Takeda spark Hawks to victory in Game 1
Nobuhiro Matsuda bounced on one leg across the batter's box after missing a pitch, something he's become known for doing, during the fourth inning. He made a name for himself as a home run hitter this season, and unfortunately for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, that's something else he did in the fourth...
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 24, 2015
Hawks' Igarashi relishes chance to face former team in Japanese Fall Classic
Before Ryota Igarashi was a star reliever for the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks, and even prior to his time in the major leagues, he was very good arm out of the bullpen for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 23, 2015
Easygoing Swallows skipper Manaka guides club's climb from worst to first
Mitsuru Manaka is still playing it cool. Nothing, not even a banner season in which he's already won two titles and stands four wins away from a third, can shake the Tokyo Yakult Swallows manager's calm, cool demeanor it seems.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 23, 2015
Led by first-year managers, Hawks, Swallows chasing Japan Series title
The Fukuoka Softbank Hawks and Tokyo Yakult Swallows have already proven themselves to be the top teams in the Pacific and Central Leagues.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / NPB NOTEBOOK
Oct 20, 2015
After Hara's exit, Tanishige becomes longest-serving CL skipper
Continuity in Japanese dugouts took a hit when now-former Yomiuri Giants manager Tatsunori Hara sat down for his retirement news conference on Monday.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / HIT AND RUN
Oct 19, 2015
Hara leaves big shoes for next Giants manager to fill
Other than the timing, the news of Tatsunori Hara's decision to step down as manager of the Yomiuri Giants didn't exactly come out of left field.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 17, 2015
Swallows advance to Japan Series for first time since 2001
The Tokyo Yakult Swallows gathered near the mound at Jingu Stadium, grabbed Mitsuru Manaka and tossed their first-year manager into the air as the cheers of their exuberant fans rang out into the night sky.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 16, 2015
Swallows persevere, capitalize on key opportunities in Game 3 triumph over Giants
Tokyo Yakult Swallows fans were singing in the rain on Friday night at Jingu Stadium. If their club can come up with one more win, the Yakult faithful will carry their tune all the way to Fukuoka.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 15, 2015
Swallows blank Giants in Game 2 of CLCS
The Tokyo Yakult Swallows finally landed a knockout blow against Yomiuri Giants pitcher Miles Mikolas. The fact they got some of their own stars going in the process has them sizing up the rest of the Giants for a similar knockdown before everything is said and done.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / HIT AND RUN
Oct 15, 2015
Time for NPB to rethink senseless playoff format
Where else but Japanese baseball can a team lose Game 1 of a playoff series and show up at the ballpark the next day down 0-2?
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 14, 2015
Giants wipe out deficit with Game 1 win
The Yomiuri Giants were at a one-game disadvantage before the first pitch was even thrown in the Central League Climax Series final stage.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 14, 2015
Balentien ready to go after fine-tuning game
The Tokyo Yakult Swallows had a lengthy break between the end of the regular season (Oct. 4) and the beginning of the Central League Climax Series final stage on Wednesday night.

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'