Economy | ANALYSIS
Households to take hit from tax hike
by Tomoko Otake
The consumption tax increase will hit every household in Japan hard, with many people’s financial future hanging on whether their wages rise enough to offset the hike's impact.
BJ-League | BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK Sep 12, 2013
Long-term imports still rare in ever-changing league
by Ed Odeven
With each passing season, perpetual change on team rosters means dozens of foreign players come and go. And it’s become quite rare for foreign players to spend a large chunk of their careers in the bj-league. Sure, the league has expanded rapidly — from ...
BJ-League | BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK Sep 5, 2013
New coaches, players make debuts as preseason begins
by Ed Odeven
Preseason action will be in full swing over the next few weeks as teams get the opportunity to measure themselves — strengths, weaknesses, individual matchups — against opposing teams. And that’s where coaches will have their first real chance to evaluate what adjustments to ...
BJ-League | BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK Aug 29, 2013
Nakamura's coaching tree stretches throughout league
by Ed Odeven
Now entering his third season in charge of the Akita Northern Happinets, septuagenarian sideline supervisor Kazuo Nakamura’s influence goes far beyond his current team. Nakamura’s proteges are working throughout the bj-league, with three of them serving as head coaches in the 21-team circuit: Ryuji ...
BJ-League | BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK Aug 22, 2013
Davis, Singleton teaming up in Shimane
by Ed Odeven
The Houston Rockets’ Twin Towers — Ralph Sampson and Hakeem Olajuwon — helped pave the way for the team’s trip to the 1986 NBA Finals. The Boston Celtics, the superior squad, won the series, but the big men were instrumental in Houston’s success that ...
BJ-League | BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK Aug 15, 2013
Osaka president Iguchi forced out after three months
by Ed Odeven
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 ...
BJ-League | BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK Aug 8, 2013
Shinshu signs former MVP Parmer; Aomori adds three
by Ed Odeven
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, ...
BJ-League | BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK Aug 1, 2013
Hannaryz sign Werner; Aoki heads home to Fukuoka
by Ed Odeven
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 ...
BJ-League | BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK Jul 25, 2013
Ishizaki planning to continue playing career in Europe
by Ed Odeven
Contrary to some speculative chatter in recent days that guard Takumi Ishizaki is on the verge of retirement, the word out of Germany is that the Fukui Prefecture native has his sights set on extending his overseas career. A German basketball expert contacted by ...
BJ-League | BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK Jul 18, 2013
Yokohama's title defense already in serious trouble
by Ed Odeven
It’s been nearly two months since the Yokohama B-Corsairs were crowned champions in their second season. It was a marvelous achievement. And now it appears the team’s demise may be equally dramatic. No coach has yet been hired to replace Reggie Geary. What’s more, ...
BJ-League | BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK Jul 12, 2013
Source says Kyoto set to join NBL for 2014-15 season
by Ed Odeven
The Kyoto Hannaryz’s history will mark a landmark change in 2014. That’s when the team will officially become a member of the NBL, the renamed JBL, departing the bj-league after its fifth season of existence, three more than the Chiba Jets, who bowed out ...
BJ-League | BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK Jul 5, 2013
Akita asks fans to vote for All-Star logo
by Ed Odeven
Usually, All-Star voting is focused on selecting players. The Akita Northern Happinets, however, are taking the unusual step of inviting fans to cast their ballot for which logo will be used for the 2013-14 All-Star Game in Akita. Four logos are in the mix. ...
BJ-League | BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK Jul 4, 2013
Former Tokyo players train with ex-coach Hill in Texas
by Ed Odeven
Former members of the Tokyo Apache have strengthened their friendship in recent days in Texas. In two days last week, Ex-Apache coach Bob Hill worked with guards Cohey Aoki, Jumpei Nakama and Minoru Kimura at Trinity University in San Antonio, and the members of ...