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 Sep 27, 2013
Third-party report on ball scandal critical of commissioner
An investigating body looking into the turmoil surrounding the secret modification of Nippon Professional Baseball’s official ball, indicated Friday that commissioner Ryozo Kato is ultimately responsible. Kato, who had insisted since the start that he would not resign over the flap caused when his ...
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 ...
Japanese Baseball Sep 19, 2013
Baseball chief Kato to step down in October
Nippon Professional Baseball commissioner Ryozo Kato announced Thursday his resignation to take the fall for the uproar over the secretly altered baseball. The 72-year-old Kato, who was elected to a third two-year term in July last year, said he will quit after the regular ...
Japanese Baseball Sep 2, 2013
Commissioner Kato denies Balentien's homers related to altered ball
Embattled Nippon Professional Baseball commissioner Ryozo Kato says the baseball secretly altered by the Japanese league this season has nothing to do with the record-chasing 52 home runs hit by Tokyo Yakult Swallows outfielder Wladimir Balentien. “I doubt the ball really has anything to ...
Japanese Baseball Jul 3, 2013
NPB boss Kato reiterates intent to stay on job
Nippon Professional Baseball commissioner Ryozo Kato, who has come under fire after the league secretly altered its baseball, insisted anew on Monday he has no plans of stepping down in the wake of the scandal. “Let history be the ultimate judge in evaluating me,” ...
Japanese Baseball Jun 28, 2013
Players union pressuring NPB commissioner Kato to resign
Japan’s players union on Thursday called on Nippon Professional Baseball to select a new commissioner who can carry out reform following the revelation that this year’s ball was secretly altered. Toru Matsubara, the secretary general of the Japan Professional Baseball Players Association, submitted a ...
Baseball | SPORTS SCOPE Jun 14, 2013
Lack of transparency on ball changes causes NPB grief
by Jason Coskrey
Nippon Professional Baseball did not err when it introduced a standardized baseball two seasons ago. The change was needed. The league was also right to alter that ball after players noticed the game had changed too much. That was a problem, and NPB fixed ...