Entering its ninth season, which tips off in October, the bj-league has never been in worse shape. It has grown too big, too quickly and its overall mismanagement — especially at the league office, but also with many teams — has reached epic proportions. ...

Osaka Evessa president Motofumi Iguchi has been forced to resign without ever presiding over a game, The Japan Times has learned. An announcement is expected after the Bon holiday period. The Evessa team offices are closed this week. Iguchi’s unprecedented departure due to “philosophical ...

Fencer Yuki Ota, a two-time Olympic silver medalist, was selected as one of six members of the International Fencing Federation (FIE) Athletes Commission, it was announced on Tuesday. The term is for four years for the Shiga Prefecture native and the other commission members. ...

High-scoring forward Michael Parker, a bj-league star for six seasons, has reunited with ex-Shimane Susanoo Magic bench boss Zeljko Pavlicevic, the new Wakayama Trians head coach. Wakayama, previously called the Panasonic Trians during the team’s JBL days, has joined the National Basketball League, the ...

The Shinshu Brave Warriors endured back-to-back losing seasons in 2011-12 and 2012-13 as the franchise got established. There were growing pains, coaching changes (Motofumi Aoki, Takatoshi Ishibashi), injury setbacks (Wayne Marshall) and a lot of ups and downs. Now, under new coach Ryuji Kawai, ...

Power forward Joe Werner, one of the top newcomers in the bj-league last season, will return for another go-round in Japan. But the Chiba Jets, the team he helped carry into the playoffs while averaging 19.8 points and 11.4 rebounds per game, are no ...