author

 
Menu
Search
 
May 22, 2024
 

Today's print edition

Home Delivery
Subscribe for more access

Meta

Wayne Graczyk
Wayne Graczyk has written the "Baseball Bullet-In" column in The Japan Times since 1976. A native of New Jersey, he came to Japan in 1969 with the U.S. Air Force and is a 1977 graduate of Tokyo's Sophia University. Wayne was the long-time (1977-2004) sports editor of the Tokyo Weekender newspaper, he covers Yomiuri Giants baseball games for Nippon TV and, since 1976, he has compiled the Japan Pro Baseball Fan Handbook & Media Guide. He is a member of the Tokyo Sportswriters Club and the Foreign Sportswriters Association of Japan. Notice Wayne Graczyk, the baseball columnist for The Japan Times for the past 40 years, passed away at the age of 68 on April 19. His final column was posted on April 8. Readers can continue to access his coverage of Japanese baseball through the online archives.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Jul 8, 2004
2004 season is a honeymoon for Carp second baseman LaRocca
You might call Greg LaRocca's first year in Japanese baseball a "honeymoon season" for two reasons, and the first is obvious.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Jun 23, 2004
Many questions remain over merger of Buffaloes, BlueWave
July 7 is the date for the big meeting in Japanese baseball. Owners of the 12 Central and Pacific League teams are to get together to decide what will happen with regard to the proposed merger of two PL clubs, the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes and the Orix BlueWave.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Jun 9, 2004
'Sugoi' Seguignol showing his stuff in rare second chance
Rarely does a foreign player get a second chance at Japanese baseball. If a gaikokujin does not do well and is let go by a Central or Pacific League team, it is not likely he will be picked up by another club in Japan.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
May 19, 2004
Hanshin's relief trio has Tigers in hunt for repeat in CL
The Hanshin Tigers have a reputation of winning the Central League pennant once every other decade. Their last three titles came in 1964, 1985 and 2003, and their fans surely do not want to wait until 22-something for the next championship.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
May 12, 2004
Lions no lock for Pacific League pennant with playoff system
Letters from Kyushu
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Apr 28, 2004
Young stars filling shoes of those who left for major leagues
Proof positive Japanese baseball is not "doomed," as some critics have suggested with regard to star players leaving for the major leagues, is the emergence of young phenoms coming seemingly out of nowhere to take the places of Ichiro (Suzuki), Hideki and Kazuo Matsui, Hideo Nomo, Kazuhisa Ishii, Shingo...
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Apr 14, 2004
Tale of two trips: 1955 Yankees here weeks, 2004 team days
It has been two weeks since the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Devil Rays cleared out of Japan following that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Japanese fans to see the Bronx Bombers play official games right here in Tokyo.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Mar 31, 2004
Diamondbacks Day still a feature at Tokyo Dome
The Pacific League Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters will hold their third annual Arizona Diamondbacks Day promotion on Sunday, April 18, at the Tokyo Dome. Diamondbacks Day is held so the Nippon Ham team can honor the National League club (its working partner), and the Fighters ball club is inviting 3,000...
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Mar 17, 2004
Fans should decide if Japan pro ball has interleague play
A couple of interesting articles appeared in The Japan Times during the first week of this month, both mentioning interleague play, and it would appear Japanese baseball may finally be moving toward the scheduling of regular-season games between Central and Pacific League teams.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Mar 3, 2004
Giants' Latham aiming for big season after 'nice camp'
Every baseball fan knows the term "nice catch." But in Japanese sports, the use of the word "nice" to praise just about any fine play has become common.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Feb 18, 2004
Yankees-Devil Rays tickets sold out; try 'Kids Day'
On Sunday, Feb. 15, at 2 p.m., I telephoned the number to call for information about getting tickets to the six professional baseball games involving the American League's New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Tokyo Dome from March 28-31.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Feb 4, 2004
It's now or never for new Giants catcher
The story made headlines on the front page of several Japanese sports newspapers Jan. 25: The Yomiuri Giants in a money trade bought the contract of catcher Katsunori Nomura from the Hanshin Tigers, and just why would the transfer of a back-up backstop who, in fact, did not play a game at the varsity...
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Jan 21, 2004
A 'who's who' of foreign players for the 2004 season
With only 11 days now until the 12 Japanese pro baseball teams begin spring training for the 2004 season and, by my unofficial count, the Central and Pacific League clubs have so far, through Jan. 19, signed up 62 non-Japanese personnel, including 54 players, two managers and six coaches.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Jan 7, 2004
Yankees tickets and the foreign player 'scrap heap'
Happy New Year, and expect announcement real soon of details concerning the New York Yankees-Tampa Bay Devil Rays American League openers at Tokyo Dome on March 30-31. You know, who will be the sponsor? How much will the ticket prices be? Stuff like that.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Dec 24, 2003
Kazuo Matsui dropped the Big Egg for the Big Apple
Kazuo "Little" Matsui is set to be the next Japanese star to make a huge splash in the major leagues and become the latest toast of the town in New York.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Dec 10, 2003
Pacific League holds much promise for 2004 season
The Pacific League has lost 10-year veteran Seibu Lions all-star Kazuo Matsui, one of its best performers, to the major leagues and the New York Mets. Tuffy Rhodes, having been released by the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes, will probably be gone as well, moving to the Yomiuri Giants or another Central League...
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Nov 26, 2003
Matsui, the Yankees and the PL's new free-agent trend
Hot stove league time, fans. Or should that be the hot hibachi league here in Japan? Lots going on during the off-season, so let's take a look at a few interesting happenings from last week.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Nov 12, 2003
Gift-giving season came early for the Hawks and Giants
"Kokubo dealt to Giants" read our headline above the story reporting the transfer of infielder Hiroki Kokubo from the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks to the Yomiuri Giants on Nov. 4. But how would this appear in the sports transactions columns listed in many newspapers in North America and around the world?
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Oct 29, 2003
Japan Series: Should have known better with those Tigers fans
I should have known better than to predict the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks would win the 2003 Japan Series in five games over the Hanshin Tigers.
BASEBALL / MLB
Oct 28, 2003
This year's Japan Series best since 1989
FUKUOKA -- It doesn't get any better than this. Seventh game of the Japan Series with the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks and the Hanshin Tigers.
Why half of Japan's cities are at risk of disappearing in 100 years
A couple looks out onto the Fukuoka nightscape. Due to its distance from Tokyo and its close proximity to South Korea and China, professor Tomoya Mori believes that Fukuoka is one of the few metropolitan regions of Japan that will see some form of growth in the decades to come.
Fuchu Prison adapting to foreign prisoners
From the outside, the light-brown complex that is Fuchu Prison in western Tokyo could easily be mistaken for a city hall.
America wasn’t made for walking, and it’s killing them
A 2010 study found that U.S. adults averaged 5,117 steps daily and that this was lower than the averages found in similar studies in Switzerland, western Australia and Japan.
Japan concerned over U.S. officials' remarks on atomic bombings
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham speaks to reporters during a news conference in Washington on Thursday.
Japan's revised immigration bill clears Lower House
Justice Minister Ryuji Koizumi speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Fuchu Prison adapting to foreign prisoners
From the outside, the light-brown complex that is Fuchu Prison in western Tokyo could easily be mistaken for a city hall.
The politicians moving Japan forward on climate
While not the most outspoken politician on the issue, digital minister Taro Kono has a track record of being serious in his commitment to addressing the climate crisis.
Morning-after pill buyers back prescription-free sales following trial
Some 2,181 morning-after pills were sold at 145 pharmacies across the nation, with Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture recording over 200 sales each.
Want to be a voice actor? Stay 'true to the character'
SungWon Cho is a veteran with more than 10 years of experience portraying characters in anime, cartoons and video games.
Local theater in Japan is more than a hobby — it’s a community
Japan Times contributor Laura Pollacco (front right) was offered the role of one of her all-time favorite heroines, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Bennet, in the Tokyo International Players’ production of “Pride and Prejudice.”

Podcast

From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers.
[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

Longform

Things may look perfect to the outside world, but today's mom is fine with some imperfection at home.
How 'Reiwa moms' are reshaping motherhood in Japan
By Mai Yoshikawa

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Spotlighting a Niigata castle town through sushi
Spotlighting a Niigata castle town through sushi

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS note

Read more

SUPPLEMENTS BINDER