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.
Basketball Topics
Basketball Aug 27, 2013
Casey Hill named Santa Cruz head coach
by Ed Odeven
Casey Hill, a former Tokyo Apache assistant coach, has been appointed as the new head coach of the Santa Cruz Warriors, the NBA Development League team announced over the weekend. Hill, 30, was the franchise’s assistant coach for two seasons, including the 2011-12 campaign ...
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 | HOOP SCOOP Aug 20, 2013
Constant change, lack of plan hurt bj-league's viability
by Ed Odeven
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. ...
Basketball Aug 17, 2013
Knicks sign ex-Tokyo Apache big man Tyler
by Ed Odeven
Jeremy Tyler made a positive impression during the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas last month, playing for the New York Knicks. That prompted Knicks general manager Glen Grunwald to offer Tyler, a former Tokyo Apache forward/center, a contract for the 2013-14 season. The ...
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 ...
Basketball Aug 9, 2013
All-around star Parker joins Wakayama Trians
by Ed Odeven
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 ...
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, ...
Basketball Aug 7, 2013
Japan fails to advance at FIBA Asia Championship
by Ed Odeven
Jordan controlled the tempo and kept Japan in catch-up mode en route to a 65-56 win in the teams’ Final Group E game at the FIBA Asia Championship on Wednesday in Manila. Japan fell to 1-4 in the continental competition and failed to advance ...
Basketball Aug 6, 2013
Japan falls to 1-3 in FIBA Asia Championship
by Ed Odeven
Former Osaka Evessa center Tseng Wen-ting scored a game-high 19 points and Lin Chih-chieh poured in 16 as Taiwan edged Japan 79-76 in Group E action at the FIBA Asia Championship on Tuesday in Manila. Japan slipped to 1-3 in the tournament, which serves ...
Basketball Aug 6, 2013
Kawamura joins Wakayama Trians
Veteran guard/forward Takuya Kawamura will play for the Wakayama Trians during the 2013-14 season, giving the squad a star presence under new coach Zeljko Pavlicevic. The move was announced on Monday by the National Basketball League (relaunched JBL) squad. Kawamura played for Pavlicevic on ...
Basketball Aug 6, 2013
Philippines pounds Japan cagers
The Philippines dominated the second and third quarters en route to a 90-71 victory Japan in a FIBA Asia Championship second-round game on Monday in Manila. Marcus Eugene Douthit paced the hosts with 19 points on 7-for-14 shooting. For Japan, J.R. Sakuragi had 19 ...
BJ-League Aug 3, 2013
Center Davis decides to remain with Shimane
by Ed Odeven
Big man Jeral Davis, who led the bj-league in blocked shots in each of the past three seasons, recently finalized a deal to return to the Shimane Susanoo Magic for the upcoming season, the team has announced. The 216-cm Talladega (Alabama) State product was ...