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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 / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Oct 14, 2012
Kakunaka's fortunes change in a hurry
We are establishing a new "prize" here. It is the Baseball Bullet-In "Out of the Blue Award" with recognition given to the player in Japanese pro baseball who has the best season among those virtually unheard of and who came from seemingly nowhere to become a star.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Oct 7, 2012
Gruff Ochiai needs to change if return is in cards
The Pacific League's Orix Buffaloes announced on Sept. 25 manager Akinobu Okada will not return to run the club next season, and speculation about his replacement indicates Japanese baseball Hall of Famer and former Chunichi Dragons skipper Hiromitsu Ochiai is one of the candidates who might be appointed...
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Sep 23, 2012
Niigata doesn't appear ready for pro baseball franchise
Two years ago, I wrote a column about how I thought the city of Niigata appeared ready to support a Japanese baseball franchise team, should there ever be another expansion (as in the case of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in 2004) or if an existing Central or Pacific League club decided to move. Now,...
Japan Times
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Sep 16, 2012
BayStars need major upgrades to roster
The Yokohama BayStars lost their 69th game of the 2012 season on Sept. 5, dropping a 3-1 decision to the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. The BayStars thus sealed their 11th consecutive losing season, and it is safe to say the team's performance this year has been nothing short of disappointing.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Sep 9, 2012
Final countdown under way for Ishii, Kokubo
Infielder Takuro Ishii of the Hiroshima Carp has announced his retirement as an active player effective at the end of the 2012 season. Ishii joins infielder Hiroki Kokubo of the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks who will also hang up his spikes when his club concludes its schedule in October or November.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Sep 2, 2012
Doctoring the baseball a tactic as old as the game itself
This column is about "the ball," but it is not what you think.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Aug 26, 2012
Stalling tactics being abused in time-limit games
Japanese pro baseball has stayed with the three-and-a-half-hour game time limit rule in 2012 and, while this may be helping to save energy and shorten the length of games, there are signs teams are abusing the rule, playing for a tie rather than a win. This is disappointing.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Aug 19, 2012
Lack of offensive firepower continues to hamper Hanshin
What is wrong with the Hanshin Tigers?
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Aug 12, 2012
Close call for Aizawa brings phrase into question
The Japanese translation of HBP, where a batter gets hit by a pitch, is "dead ball." I wish they would change that, eliminate the word "dead" and adopt the English phrase "hit by pitch."
Japan Times
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Aug 5, 2012
MLB's trade deadline frenzy has yet to take hold among Japanese teams
One of the potential game-changers in Major League Baseball is the annual late-July trade activity of quality players from teams lower in the standings with little or no chance to make the postseason. Every year, these guys are dealt to playoff-contending clubs for young prospects, supposedly stars of...
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Jul 29, 2012
No need for NPB to push back start times
As mentioned in this column last week, the July 25 Central League game between the Yomiuri Giants and Yokohama DeNA Baystars at Tokyo Dome had a starting time of 7 p.m., an hour later than usual for weekday night games in Japanese baseball. It was a "test" to see if fans would turn out for a game...
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Jul 22, 2012
Nomura has Carp in playoff picture
How does this grab you?
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Jul 15, 2012
Catchers lacking offensive punch a concern
Why don't we have more catchers in Japan with better offensive skills?
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Jul 8, 2012
Give Kato four more years at NPB helm
A Kyodo News item came out of the blue on July 3, indicating Nippon Professional Baseball commissioner Ryozo Kato's term was to have expired June 30, and he is now in limbo, awaiting word about whether he will be extended.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Jun 24, 2012
Fans provide insight on good, bad of Japanese baseball
Two readers checked in with responses to the June 10 column to state what they like and do not like about Japanese baseball.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Jun 17, 2012
Watanabe working to steer Lions in right directions
The Saitama Seibu Lions, often seen in the Pacific League Climax Series in recent years, are currently struggling to move out of the second division in the PL.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Jun 10, 2012
Taking a look at positives, negatives of NPB
A friend recently brought up the subject of the appeal of Japanese baseball.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Jun 3, 2012
Fighters pleased with choice of Kuriyama as manager
There are three men managing teams for the first time in Japanese baseball this season. Two Central League skippers have had problems getting their teams on track, but another has done an outstanding job keeping his club at or near the top of the Pacific League standings.
BASEBALL
May 27, 2012
Injuries, departed players present challenges for Hawks early in season
The Fukuoka Softbank Hawks had hoped to absorb the loss of three top pitchers and their starting shortstop to free agency and maintain their high standards, but it appears the defending Japan Series champions may be sinking into mediocrity as the 2012 season approaches its one-third mark.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Mar 25, 2012
Aoki's departure leaves big void for Swallows
One of the big questions to be answered this year in Japanese baseball is, how will the Tokyo Yakult Swallows fare without All-Star center fielder Norichika Aoki, posted for major league service during the offseason and now with the Milwaukee Brewers.
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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