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
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 ...
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 Jul 26, 2013
Fukuoka hires Tuck
by Ed Odeven
Former Chinese Basketball Association star Mack Tuck has been hired as the Rizing Fukuoka’s new head coach, a source close to the situation confirmed Friday morning. The team made an announcement later in the day. “It’s a great honor for me to be named ...
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 Jul 20, 2013
Yokohama to name Katsuhisa coach
by Ed Odeven
A familiar face will be on the sideline for the Yokohama B-Corsairs next season. Multiple league insiders have told The Japan Times that Michael Katsuhisa will be named the second coach in team history. Katsuhisa served as assistant coach under Reggie Geary during the ...
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 Jul 13, 2013
Fukuoka targeting Tuck as next coach
by Ed Odeven
The Rizing Fukuoka are in pursuit of a former Chinese Basketball Association star to fill their coaching vacancy, The Japan Times has learned. Mack Tuck, a high scoring guard for Shandong during his playing days, is a leading candidate to replace the departed Atsushi ...
BJ-League Jul 12, 2013
Boettcher named Shiga's new coach
by Ed Odeven
Chris Boettcher, a longtime women’s college basketball assistant coach, has been hired as the Shiga Lakestars’ new bench boss, the bj-league team announced on Friday. Boettcher, 44, replaces Al Westover, who guided the Lakestars to back-to-back playoff appearances in his two seasons at the ...
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 ...
BJ-League Jul 3, 2013
Geary done with Yokohama, poised to take over in Chiba
by Ed Odeven
In a major announcement that was expected for weeks, Reggie Geary told The Japan Times on Monday evening that he won’t return to coach the defending champion Yokohama B-Corsairs. The 2011-12 bj-league Coach of the Year has been linked to the Chiba Jets’ head ...