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.
Japanese Baseball | NPB NOTEBOOK Oct 31, 2012
Giants on both sides of Pacific stand tall together
by Kaz Nagatsuka
You could call it a coincidence, but going into Game 3 of the Japan Series on Tuesday there was a chance something uncanny could happen in baseball on both sides of the Pacific. Both the Giants of the United States and Japan had the ...
Japanese Baseball | NPB NOTEBOOK Oct 29, 2012
Fighters skipper Kuriyama maintains light mood after opening setback
by Kaz Nagatsuka
Despite a lopsided 8-1 loss to the Yomiuri Giants in Game 1 of the Japan Series, Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters manager Hideki Kuriyama came out in front of the media throng in a cheerful mode before Sunday’s Game 2 at Tokyo Dome. And the ...
Japanese Baseball | NPB NOTEBOOK Oct 28, 2012
Murata enjoying first playoff appearance
by Kaz Nagatsuka
Perhaps Shuichi Murata is the one who’s psyched up the most on the 21-time NPB champion Yomiuri Giants in the Japan Series. The 31-year-old slugger joined the club via free agency before this season after playing for nine years with the always-struggling Yokohama BayStars. ...
Japanese Baseball | NPB NOTEBOOK Sep 24, 2012
Race for Pacific League crown likely going down to wire
by Jason Coskrey
The Yomiuri Giants wrapped up the Central League pennant last week. Now the spotlight shifts to the Pacific League race, which is getting tighter by the day. Entering this week, there are three teams — the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, Seibu Lions and Fukuoka ...
Japanese Baseball | NPB NOTEBOOK Jul 8, 2012
Balentien having a blast during second season in Japan
by Jason Coskrey
Wladimir Balentien’s cousins began calling him “Coco” when he was 4-years old, because it was easier to say than his name, and the moniker stuck. The way he’s swinging the bat, opposing pitchers are now probably busy trying to come up with easier methods ...
Japanese Baseball | NPB NOTEBOOK Jul 2, 2012
Blanco has last laugh, garners CL All-Star nod
by Jason Coskrey
After last season’s Japan Series, there were questions about whether or not Tony Blanco would be back with the Chunichi Dragons this year. When the club signed veteran first baseman Takeshi Yamasaki, who spent years starring for other teams after coming up in the ...
Japanese Baseball | NPB NOTEBOOK Jun 2, 2012
Sugiuchi usually at his best in month of May
by Jason Coskrey
Toshiya Sugiuchi is a former Pacific League MVP and Sawamura award winner and has been among NPB’s elite pitchers for years. As good as he is under normal circumstances — and a 110-56 record with a 2.84 ERA and 1,677 career strikeouts say that’s ...
Japanese Baseball | NPB NOTEBOOK May 12, 2012
Overuse could be a factor in Asao's drop in efficiency this season
by Jason Coskrey
Chunichi Dragons reliever Takuya Asao gave up an earned run against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows during the eighth inning of Thursday’s game at Nagoya Dome. After allowing four all of last season, Asao has given up four earned runs — five overall — this ...
Japanese Baseball | NPB NOTEBOOK Apr 16, 2012
No changes to draft, posting system forthcoming says NPB commissioner
by Jason Coskrey
In October the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters pulled off a minor shocker by drafting highly-touted Tokai University pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano. Sugano had previously stated it was his dream to play for the Yomiuri Giants, managed by his uncle Tatsunori Hara. With this known, most ...
Japanese Baseball | NPB NOTEBOOK Apr 1, 2012
Aggressive Ishikawa impressive in opener
by Jason Coskrey
The 2012 NPB season opened Friday and it wasn’t bereft of a little bit drama on Opening Day. The fans at Tokyo Dome nearly saw a bit of history as Tokyo Yakult Swallows pitcher Masanori Ishikawa flirted with the first no-hitter in Opening Day ...
Japanese Baseball | NPB NOTEBOOK Dec 24, 2011
Iwakuma, Chen intriguing options for major league clubs
by Jason Coskrey
Yu Darvish and Tsuyoshi Wada have been spoken for, but there are still two high-profile NPB pitchers looking to make the jump to the majors next season. With the majority of the baseball world caught up in the hoopla surrounding Darvish’s posting, and the ...
Japanese Baseball | NPB NOTEBOOK Aug 29, 2011
Eagles soar into race for final playoff spot
by Jason Coskrey
The gauntlet the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles faced the past 11 games, could’ve all-but ended their season. Instead, it might have been just the push they needed. Once in fifth place and all but left for dead in the playoff race with nine consecutive ...