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May 22, 2024
 

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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 / MLB
Oct 27, 2003
Tigers, Hawks have beer on ice
FUKUOKA -- The Hanshin Tigers had the beer on ice in anticipation of a wild victory celebration, while the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks' "Japan Champions 2003" logo T-shirts were stacked up next to a Fukuoka Dome dumpster in case they had to be thrown away.
BASEBALL / MLB
Oct 25, 2003
Southpaws strut their stuff at this year's Japan Series
NISHINOMIYA, Hyogo Pref. -- The Hanshin Tigers and the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks are playing what could be called the Japan Series of southpaws and sayonaras.
BASEBALL / MLB
Oct 24, 2003
Fans come out for 'Public Viewing'
NISHINOMIYA, Hyogo Pref. -- One of the new elements in this year's Japan Series is the "Public Viewing." While games are being played in Fukuoka Dome, fans of the Hanshin Tigers gather at Koshien Stadium, all decked out in their oendan (cheering group) garb.
BASEBALL / MLB
Oct 23, 2003
Hoping rain stays away
Rain played a factor in Game 3 of both the Japan Series and the World Series on Tuesday in Osaka and Miami, respectively. The Fukuoka Daiei Hawks-Hanshin Tigers matchup was postponed until Wednesday, while the New York Yankees and Florida Marlins were delayed 38 minutes by a squall.
BASEBALL / MLB
Oct 20, 2003
Zuleta's bat adds volume to Fukuoka Dome noise
FUKUOKA -- Game 2 of the Japan Series at the Fukuoka Decibel Dome.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Oct 19, 2003
Tigers players hope to win one for the skipper
I knew I was on my way to a special Japan Series Saturday when several people on my jam-packed Japan Airlines flight were wearing Hanshin Tigers jerseys. There was one Hiyama 24, a couple of Imaoka 7s and several Igawa 29s.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Oct 16, 2003
Jojima best choice for PL MVP
In my Sept. 17 column, I asked the question: Who will be the Hanshin Tigers (and Central League) MVP for 2003?
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Oct 1, 2003
Tigers' pennant forced Giants skipper to fall on his sword
That was a shocker. Talking here about the resignation of Yomiuri Giants manager Tatsunori Hara on Sept. 26. Sure, it had been rumored for days, but I for one did not expect it would really happen.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Sep 18, 2003
Who will be the CL (and Tigers) MVP?
Congratulations to the Hanshin Tigers for winning the 2003 Central League pennant. It took a while to wrap it up, but it's always better when a team clinches the flag at home as the Tigers did on Sept. 15, a full one month and three days prior to the Oct. 18 start of the only post-season play in this...
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Sep 3, 2003
Will Valentine return to manage Marines?
The Nikkan Sports, on the front page of its Aug. 23 edition, ran a speculative but spectacular story with a headline saying Bobby Valentine would return to Japan in 2004 for a second tenure as manager of the Chiba Lotte Marines.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Aug 20, 2003
Hawks looking good for one last pennant under Daiei banner
Hanshin. Hanshin. Hanshin. That's all we've been hearing during most of the 2003 Japan pro baseball season.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Aug 6, 2003
Hanshin's magical season brings back memories of 1985
Sometimes history repeats itself. Eighteen years ago, in 1985, the Hanshin Tigers entered the month of August with a healthy lead in the Central League standings. The weather was as scorching as the Tigers who then, as now, played their home games at historic Koshien Stadium.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Jul 23, 2003
Dodgers fan scores in 'Hideki Matsui Sweepstakes'
Former Tokyo attorney Russ Roten has won the Baseball Bullet-In "Hideki Matsui Sweepstakes" by coming the closest to guessing Matsui's home run, runs batted in and batting average statistics at the Major League All-Star break on July 14.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Jul 9, 2003
Did sports rags hire students to stuff ballot box for Godzilla?
A couple of selections from the mail bag this week.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Jun 25, 2003
Cap color change may help BlueWave win on Sunday
Never on Sunday do the Orix BlueWave win.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Jun 11, 2003
Three newcomers key to Tigers' bid for elusive CL pennant
Is this truly the Year of the Tigers? Here we are, about 43 percent of the way through the 2003 Japan pro baseball season, and the Hanshin Tigers are in the driver's seat in their attempt to win their first Central League pennant in 18 years, and only their third since the two-league system was established...
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
May 28, 2003
Giants' Latham finds it rough adjusting to Japanese baseball
Chris Latham's entrance to Japan and the world of Japanese pro baseball was supposed to go smoothly.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
May 14, 2003
Get your tickets for Diamondbacks Day
The Pacific League Nippon Ham Fighters will hold their second annual Arizona Diamondbacks Day promotion on Sunday, June 15, at Tokyo Dome.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
May 4, 2003
New skipper Lee hopes to change fortunes of BlueWave
It was obvious some big news was coming when the Orix BlueWave indicated during their April 23 "nighter" against the Seibu Lions at Sapporo Dome there would be a press conference after that game. It came as little surprise when manager Hiromichi Ishige was fired, and a lot of eyes were opened when Californian...
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Apr 16, 2003
Hardcore Moore a tough customer on the mound and at bat
One of the goals of Hanshin Tigers left-handed pitcher Trey Moore is to keep his batting average higher than his earned run average. You have to take out the decimal points, of course, and so far, he's done a great job both on the mound and in the batter's box in getting off to a brilliant start in the...
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.”

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