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Japan Times
BASEBALL / MLB
Aug 22, 2015

D-Backs trying to set up roots in Japan

Takashi Saito, a former major leaguer and currently a reliever for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, announced his intention to retire from baseball at the end of the year on Monday in Sendai. It was a happy coincidence Saito's news conference was the same day members from the front office of the Arizona...
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Apr 20, 2015

'Sacred' but aging Tokyo sports district faces major redevelopment

Jingu Gaien, a historic sports venue in Tokyo, will undergo a major transformation in about a decade, in a move driven by the city's plan to host the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / HIT AND RUN
Jul 2, 2013

Former Dodgers owner reflects on Nomo, friendships

The paths of former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Hideo Nomo and former owner and team president Peter O'Malley didn't cross during the latter's recent trip to Japan.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Apr 28, 2013

Seibu's Spilborghs relishing life experience of playing in NPB

The first thing the hero, or heroes, of a Seibu Lions home victory does is stand on a makeshift podium near the Lions dugout and conduct an interview that is broadcast on the Seibu Dome P.A. system for fans to hear.
BASEBALL
Nov 25, 2012

Samurai Japan fans will miss nation's MLB players in upcoming WBC

They are dropping like flies. Talking here about Japanese players in the major leagues who have decided they will not play in the World Baseball Classic in March. Yu Darvish, Hisashi Iwakuma, Norichika Aoki, Ichiro Suzuki and Hiroki Kuroda, members of their country's championship teams in 2006 and 2009,...
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Jun 10, 2012

Taking a look at positives, negatives of NPB

A friend recently brought up the subject of the appeal of Japanese baseball.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Apr 1, 2012

Yomiuri vs. Asahi in war over Giants' broken paycap agreement 'scoop'

On March 15, the Asahi Shimbun reported that the Yomiuri Giants baseball team paid huge amounts of money in contract-signing bonuses to several rookies, in violation of an agreement signed by all 12 Japan Professional Baseball teams. The payouts took place from 1997 to 2004, and involved six players...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Mar 18, 2012

Yu Darvish under the magnifying glass

Barring a major natural catastrophe, war or government upheaval, the vernacular news headlines for the next several months are almost certain to be dominated by baseball. Specifically, former Nippon Ham Fighters hurler, Yu Darvish, who on April 8 is scheduled take the mound in his first start for the...
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WHEN EAST MARRIES WEST
Oct 8, 2011

Where have all the heroes gone?

Sound cannot travel in a vacuum and perhaps that explains the growing silence in the Japanese spirit.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Dec 19, 2010

Sadaharu Oh Museum worth a visit when in Fukuoka

If you ever get to Fukuoka, during the baseball season or in the winter, be sure to go to Yahoo Dome and pay a visit to the Sadaharu Oh Museum. Opened in July of this year, it is a tribute to baseball's all-time home run king, loaded with history and nostalgia.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Feb 7, 2010

Female knuckleballer Yoshida plugging away despite the odds

I have never met Eri Yoshida, so I do not have her meishi (name card) but wonder if it reads, "Eri Yoshida, Female Knuckleballer."
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Jan 17, 2010

Clandestine campaign led to Valentine's demise

First in a four-part series
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Sep 7, 2008

Hoshino still getting skewered over Olympic failure

The Beijing Olympics is history, but the debate continues over Japan's showing. Last week, Fuji TV's Sunday night newsmagazine, "Sakiyomi," held a discussion on whether or not the government should increase its budget for Olympic athletes. Three of the four celebrity guests in the studio thought that...
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Sep 6, 2008

Valentine ready to lead Japan's WBC team if asked

CHIBA — Chiba Lotte Marines manger Bobby Valentine has won a Japan Series and managed in a World Series.
BASEBALL
Jan 20, 2008

Whiting pays tribute to Boyer, Halberstam

In an exclusive piece, best-selling author Robert Whiting reminisces about two men, Clete Boyer and David Halberstam, both of whom died in 2007, who had a profound impact on his distinguished career.
EDITORIALS
Jul 27, 2007

Fight over preferential treatment

A panel of knowledgeable people organized by the Japan High School Baseball Association has begun discussions on what to do about preferential treatment — such as exemptions of admission and dormitory fees and tuition — offered to talented baseball players. It is hoped that the panel will find a...
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Mar 12, 2006

Lefebvre has Team China improving

A few paragraphs to start off this week's column about Jim Lefebvre, manager of the China National Team which competed last weekend against Japan, Korea and Taiwan in the Asia Round of the World Baseball Classic at Tokyo Dome.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Apr 1, 2005

Valentine has heart set on majors expanding to Japan

Former New York Mets manager Bobby Valentine likes to think big and says Major League Baseball should be eyeing expansion to Japan.
BASEBALL / MLB
Oct 6, 2004

Kuehnert to head Rakuten team

Internet services company Rakuten on Tuesday introduced American Marty Kuehnert as the general manager of the company's new professional baseball club.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Mar 21, 2004

'Mister' is a god, but he's not immortal

Former Village Voice media critic Tom Carson once wrote an essay in which he blasted the style imperative subscribed to by American men's magazines. These publications had invested so heavily in a certain male image that they couldn't imagine anything else. "You want to strike terror in the hearts of...
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
May 16, 2002

Expansion in Japan unlikely

Dear Wayne Graczyk: I'm writing to express support for the move of the Nippon Ham Fighters to Sapporo. I think this would be good not just for the Fighters and the city of Sapporo, but for all of Japanese baseball.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Nov 7, 2001

MLB contraction: Say it ain't so, Bud

Just about the time you are reading this, officials of Major League Baseball should be discussing an issue that has never come up before in our lifetime: contraction. You know the story; MLB commissioner Bud Selig has said folding two franchises, rolling back the majors from 30 to 28 teams, may be a...
SPORTS / SPORTS SCOPE
May 25, 2001

Contribution to game will put Nomo into the Hall of Fame

"When he tossed his second career no-hitter on April 4 against the Baltimore Orioles, Nomo assured his entrance to the Baseball Hall of Fame."
SPORTS / SPORTS SCOPE
Mar 29, 2001

The ABCs of Japanese sportsu

As I'll be heading back to Canada next month, this will be my last Sports Scope. I thought I'd write some sort of reflection on what covering sports in Japan has meant to me, but all I kept coming up with were buzzwords and catchphrases.
BASEBALL / MLB
Oct 18, 2000

Oh-Nagashima showdown highlights Japan Series

The final Japan Series of the 20th century promises to be a trip down memory lane, oozing with nostalgia, as two of baseball's brightest stars square off as managers for the championship of professional baseball.
BASEBALL / MLB
Mar 30, 2000

Aaron says time is right for 'real' World Series

It's been more than a quarter of a century now since he surpassed baseball's most hallowed record, but Hank Aaron still carries a big stick when it comes to his thoughts on the future of the game.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Apr 15, 2021

Samurai Japan manager Atsunori Inaba feels excitement building as Tokyo Olympics draw near

With the countdown to the Summer Games now below 100 days, the spotlight on one of the world's premier baseball powers will only grow brighter by the day.
Japan Times
BASEBALL
Jan 17, 2021

With an eye toward Japan, fans call on MLB to protect crowds from dangerous foul balls

One activist believes the methods used by NPB teams to prevent injuries in the stands could easily be applied to the majors.

Longform

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