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 Jason Coskrey

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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.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / 2015 JAPANESE BASEBALL PREVIEW
Mar 26, 2015
Buffaloes, Hawks best in PL
The second of a two-part NPB Preview.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / 2015 JAPANESE BASEBALL PREVIEW
Mar 25, 2015
Carp hoping Kuroda can be final piece in title puzzle
Part of the Carp's slogan for 2015 is 'Red Rising,' and that's exactly what the club has been doing the past few years. Hiroshima has increased its win total in each of the past four seasons.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / NPB NOTEBOOK
Mar 23, 2015
Cepeda hoping hard work pays off in second year in Japan
While much of the media horde tasked with covering the Yomiuri Giants has spent the spring either breathlessly reporting on every nuance of Shinnosuke Abe's transition from catcher to first base or peppering manager Tatsunori Hara about what's wrong with the club, Frederich Cepeda has been off to the...
Japan Times
BASEBALL
Mar 21, 2015
Jeter, Matsui bring star power to charity event
Hideki Matsui stepped into the batter's box for old times' sake and, with former New York Yankees teammate Derek Jeter watching, capped a special day by sending a ball over the fence and into the right-field seats at Tokyo Dome. One more home run for Godzilla on a day full of them for Tohoku.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / HIT AND RUN
Mar 21, 2015
Fighters' Hermida excited about new challenge
Jeremy Hermida hit a grand slam the very first time he stepped in the batter's box in the major leagues, becoming the first player since Bill Duggleby in 1898 to achieve that particular feat. That day, Aug. 31, 2005, has been followed by a series of ups and downs, a winding career path that has led the...
Japan Times
BASEBALL
Mar 18, 2015
Jeter, Matsui team up for good cause
When Derek Jeter was asked whom he idolized growing up, he immediately mentioned Dave Winfield, saying the former Yankees player was "larger than life," and that he had a poster of Winfield in his room as a child. Then a wry smile flashed across his face.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / HIT AND RUN
Mar 14, 2015
Japan still building for Premier 12, WBC
Atsunori Inaba knows a thing or two about the highs and lows of international competition.
Japan Times
BASEBALL
Mar 12, 2015
Baseball may slowly be on rise among Czechs
Among the over 100 or so media credentials issued for the two-game Global Baseball Match 2015 between Samurai Japan and Team Europe on Tuesday and Wednesday were two for Jakub Starik and David Agner, a pair of journalists from the Czech Republic. Baseball is pretty far down the pecking order in the Central...
BASEBALL
Mar 11, 2015
Team Europe jumps out to early lead, earns series split against Japan
This time Team Europe shut the door on one of the world's best.
BASEBALL
Mar 10, 2015
Samurai Japan stages comeback victory over Team Europe
Samurai Japan was on the ropes against a team of European stars hungry for a marquee win in its first game together as Team Europe.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / NPB NOTEBOOK
Mar 9, 2015
Substance matters more than results during spring season
The exhibition season is well under way in Japanese baseball, with most teams already five or more games into spring training games.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / HIT AND RUN
Mar 7, 2015
Tigers' Fujinami may be ready to roar
Shintaro Fujinami was included on Samurai Japan's roster for next week's games against Europe probably because the Hanshin Tigers can give the ball to Randy Messenger, coming off an excellent 2014, or stalwart Atsushi Nomi on opening day. Fujinami is probably the biggest name on the Japan pitching staff,...
MORE SPORTS
Mar 2, 2015
Yamamoto bout ends in no contest
Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto is still looking for his first victory in UFC.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / HIT AND RUN
Mar 2, 2015
Milledge on comeback trail after losing most of 2014 season to injury
Lastings Milledge wasn't looking for results this past weekend at Tokyo Dome, though he did have a booming home run, a double and two walks in two spring games against the Yomiuri Giants. More importantly, it was a step forward on the long road back from the injury that cost him virtually the entire...
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Feb 28, 2015
'Kid' Yamamoto ready to rumble
Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto still gets asked about the time he knocked out an opponent in four seconds with a flying knee to the head.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / NPB NOTEBOOK
Feb 23, 2015
Pena alone can't lift Rakuten's power profile
If the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles seal the deal with Wily Mo Pena, as reported on Monday by Daily Sports Online, it will help the Eagles avoid taking a step back in the power department, but it won't solve all the team's problems.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / HIT AND RUN
Feb 21, 2015
Iwase, Dragons may be in tough spot
Every athlete in every sport eventually declines with age. It's just more noticeable in the greats. For the stars who have reached amazing heights, the fall from grace can be long and painful to watch — or as in the case of slugger Michihiro Ogasawara, sudden and confusing.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / HIT AND RUN
Feb 14, 2015
Eagles need young duo to soar in '15
Earlier this year, 24-year-old Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles pitcher Wataru Karashima said he'd retire if he failed to reach 10 wins this season. Karashima has pitched in NPB for five seasons, and was used out of the bullpen over the first two, making 14 appearances as a reliever. Since becoming a starter...
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Feb 10, 2015
Horiguchi lands UFC flyweight title shot against Johnson
Several years ago, Kyoji Horiguchi went basically straight from high school to the gym, where he began training with the Krazy Bees MMA team, soon finding himself under the wing of Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto, one of Japan's biggest MMA stars. In a few weeks' time, Horiguchi will get the chance of the lifetime,...
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / NPB NOTEBOOK
Feb 9, 2015
Media spotlight will continue to shine on Otani
Hideki Kuriyama was a television commentator for 10 years before becoming manager of the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters in 2012.

Longform

An ongoing shortage of rice has resulted in rising prices for Japan's main food staple.
Why Japan is running out of rice — and farmers to grow it