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Junji Noda
For Junji Noda's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
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Feb 3, 2003
Davenport outlasts Seles
All it took was losing one set point for Lindsay Davenport to rejuvenate from a disgruntled player returning from injury to a former No. 1 player ready to send a loud message to the women's tennis world.
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Feb 2, 2003
Seles, Davenport reach final
After a dozen of unforced errors, several racket flicks and countless mumblings to herself, Lindsay Davenport could only stare down at her feet as the Toray Pan Pacific Open semifinals came to an end on Saturday.
BASEBALL / MLB
Jan 17, 2003
M's, A's matched up in Tokyo
"Godzilla" is now a New Yorker, but Japan will have plenty to cheer about when the baseball season arrives in the spring.
BASEBALL / MLB
Nov 20, 2002
Giambi sees big things ahead for 'Godzilla'
As hard as it is to imagine a Japanese ballplayer batting in the heart of the order for the New York Yankees, Jason Giambi won't second-guess Hideki Matsui's potential.
BASEBALL / MLB
Nov 18, 2002
Matsui exits on low note
"Godzilla" left his old stomping grounds with more of a whimper than a bang Sunday afternoon.
BASEBALL / MLB
Nov 17, 2002
Big leaguers knot series
The big boys found a new way to win, and it had nothing to do with anyone's power.
BASEBALL / MLB
Nov 13, 2002
Cabrera stealing Matsui's thunder so far
OSAKA -- Seibu Lions slugger Alex Cabrera tied the Japanese record for home runs in a single season, and next season, he thinks he'll reach No. 56.
BASEBALL / MLB
Nov 13, 2002
Locals make it three in a row
OSAKA -- It's probably about time someone came up with another nickname for Seibu Lions shortstop Kazuo Matsui.
BASEBALL / MLB
Nov 12, 2002
Young 'weed' Uehara has grown into ace
The Yomiuri Giants pitcher who once compared himself to a "weed" took his game to another high.
BASEBALL / MLB
Nov 10, 2002
Bonds, MLB All-Stars teach Giants a lesson
On a night when Hideki Matsui was the focus of attention, it was the major league's most dominant hitters who showed the Yomiuri Giants center fielder what the term "slugger" really means.
BASEBALL / MLB
Nov 9, 2002
Big leaguers wary of Giants
The Japanese channel was one of many shows Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins tuned into as a kid in his hometown of Oakland, Calif. He remembers watching scores and highlights of baseball games played in Japan.
BASEBALL / MLB
Nov 8, 2002
Matsui the hot topic for MLB All-Stars
Ichiro Suzuki doesn't want him to listen to the naysayers. Jason Giambi and Bernie Williams showed immense interest in the possibility of him in pinstripes. And Barry Bonds didn't bite, saying, "You probably want to ask the Yankee players."
BASEBALL / MLB
Oct 31, 2002
Giants complete Series sweep
TOKOROZAWA, Saitama Pref. -- Respect your elders, as the Japanese say. Seibu Lions ace Daisuke Matsuzaka and Giants outfielder Takayuki Saito went to the same Yokohama High School, four years apart.
BASEBALL / MLB
Oct 19, 2002
Future uncertain for Petagine, Ramirez,
After almost all of his home runs, Roberto Petagine praises his Lord for giving him faith.
Japan Times
SUMO
Oct 17, 2002
Ozeki Asashoryu a quick study
One of the most gut-wrenching experiences Asashoryu has had to bear in his 22-year life didn't happen anywhere close to the sumo ring. It had nothing to do with adjusting to the hierarchical life of a sumo beya either.
BASEBALL / MLB
Oct 12, 2002
Matsui hits 49th, 50th HRs
For a decade, Hideki Matsui has lived up to his name and fame. In what could have been his last regular-season game at the Tokyo Dome, the Giants' slugger made sure the sea of orange witnessed the very best of him.
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Oct 10, 2002
Suzuka special for Sato
Expectations are blooming each day for the rookie at the Japan Grand Prix. But don't remind Takuma Sato of Jordan Honda that his Japanese fans expect more than his sub-par performance so far during the 2002 season.
Japan Times
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Oct 7, 2002
Carlsen, Craybas end big week with AIG Japan Open titles
For 19 months, Kenneth Carlsen wasn't aching to pick up a racket. From September 1999, the Dane was cherishing his time off the rigid schedules of the tour after two major shoulder surgeries.
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Oct 6, 2002
Srichaphan bows out of AIG Japan Open
One day, Paradon Srichaphan was being hailed as a future star. The next, he came crashing down to mother earth with a bump.
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Oct 4, 2002
Classy Chang leaves Japan smiling
As Michael Chang vividly recalls each memory of Japan, he sounds more like a grandfather telling family tales than the former No. 2 tennis player in the world. The good old days of the past flashed back to him, piece by piece, as Chang began talking as if this were his curtain call on this Asian island.

Longform

Later this month, author Shogo Imamura will open Honmaru, a bookstore that allows other businesses to rent its shelves. It's part of a wave of ideas Japanese booksellers are trying to compete with online spaces.
The story isn't over for Japan's bookstores