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.
Baseball | SPORTS SCOPE Sep 30, 2013
Another challenge awaits Rakuten
by Jason Coskrey
Clinching the Pacific League pennant a little early gave the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles a chance to really enjoy the moment. Ace Masahiro Tanaka, 22-0 this season, was on the mound for the last inning of the PL pennant race on Sept. 26 at ...
Baseball | SPORTS SCOPE Sep 24, 2013
Kato's attempt to change NPB doomed by lack of power
by Jason Coskrey
Ryozo Kato had the ideas to be the commissioner Japanese baseball needed, but not the muscle. Early in his tenure, you could hear the sincerity with which he spoke of trying to make NPB better for both fans and players. It is somewhat ironic ...
Baseball | SPORTS SCOPE Aug 22, 2013
Time to salute Ichiro's amazing feat, leave debate aside
by Jason Coskrey
Ichiro Suzuki took off his helmet to reveal a head a little more salt than pepper as he bowed in appreciation of the reception he was receiving after joining an exclusive club with the 4,000th professional hit of his career between Japan and the ...
Baseball | SPORTS SCOPE Aug 19, 2013
German giving master class in fine art of stealing bases
by Jason Coskrey
Esteban German is looking for a sign. Not one of a divine nature, but something — anything from the movement of a shoulder to the shifting of weight — that can serve as his cue to leave the safe haven of first base and ...
Baseball | SPORTS SCOPE Aug 12, 2013
MLB chatter sure to increase as Tanaka dominates in NPB
by Jason Coskrey
It was Friday morning in Japan when Detroit Tigers pitcher Max Scherzer earned his 17th win of the MLB season. As the visiting Tigers were wrapping up a 10-3 road drubbing of the Cleveland Indians, Masahiro Tanaka was an ocean away in Sendai, perhaps ...
Baseball | SPORTS SCOPE Aug 5, 2013
Balentien, Ogawa keep Swallows in spotlight
by Jason Coskrey
There normally wouldn’t be many reasons to keep close tabs on a 35-57-1 team that’s 22½ games out of first place. Then again, most teams in that position don’t have a pair of players as worthy of the spotlight as the Tokyo Yakult Swallows’ ...
Japanese Baseball | SPORTS SCOPE Jul 22, 2013
Otani's presence hard to ignore during NPB All-Star Series
by Jason Coskrey
If this year’s NPB All-Star Series was about anything, it was about Shohei Otani. Media and fans couldn’t get enough of the 19-year-old Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters rookie, and it was a good thing too, because he was everywhere. He pitched, he hit, and ...
Baseball | SPORTS SCOPE Jul 15, 2013
Itoi trade not yet paying off for either Fighters or Buffaloes
by Jason Coskrey
The Orix Buffaloes hit their first home run of the year long before any games were played, or at least that was the common refrain. Orix fleeced the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters before the season by sending pitcher Hiroshi Kisanuki and infielder Keiji Obiki ...
Japanese Baseball | SPORTS SCOPE Jul 8, 2013
Tanaka hitting his stride as season progresses
by Jason Coskrey
The next time Masahiro Tanaka takes the mound for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles he'll be trying to win his 12th consecutive decision since opening day.
Baseball | SPORTS SCOPE Jul 2, 2013
Former Dodgers owner reflects on Nomo, friendships
by Jason Coskrey
The paths of former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Hideo Nomo and former owner and team president Peter O’Malley didn’t cross during the latter’s recent trip to Japan. O’Malley was in Tokyo on Saturday to open an exhibit in the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame ...
Baseball | SPORTS SCOPE Jun 25, 2013
Marines need power bat to aid chase for Pa League crown
by Jason Coskrey
The Chiba Lotte Marines have done just fine without a real power hitter in their lineup for most of the season. With slugger Josh Whitesell limited to just 24 games, manager Tsutomu Ito’s squad has come up with clutch hits, scraped together just enough ...
Baseball | SPORTS SCOPE Jun 18, 2013
Ramirez keeps focus, waits for next opportunity to contribute
by Jason Coskrey
It’s the waiting that’s the hardest part for Alex Ramirez. The wait for the next at-bat, for the next opportunity to contribute to the Yokohama BayStars, for another chance to show there is still life in his bat. The BayStars’ final interleague series of ...