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BASKETBALL
Mar 2, 2014

Streaking Grouses maintain momentum with win over Broncos

Basketball fans are witnessing a classic dogfight in the bj-league's Eastern Conference as the Akita Northern Happinets and Toyama Grouses vie for the regular-season conference crown.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / NBL NOTEBOOK
Feb 25, 2014

Geary, Jets hoping to overcome NBL turbulence

The Chiba Jets have been hit with a severe reality — that much is certain. But that's something they expected when they defected from the bj-league to the NBL before this season.
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Feb 19, 2014

Shiga's Gomez provides steady veteran leadership, productivity

The Shiga Lakestars are one of five Western Conference teams with a win total ranging between 15 and 17 through Sunday. And that means half of the West's teams are in that position. Parity it is, but also a dogfight for a ticket to the playoffs.
BASKETBALL
Feb 15, 2014

Nara's Suzuki delivers 14 assists, timely defense in victory over Fukuoka

The Bambitious Nara reached double figures in victories on Saturday, a small milestone for the first-year franchise. But in doing so, the bj-league team provided a glimpse of how coach Koto Toyama wants the squad to play.
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Feb 5, 2014

East power Akita decides to make roster move: source

Despite the Akita Northern Happinets' 28-4 record and 11-game winning streak, coach Kazuo Nakamura's club is tinkering with its chemistry.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 31, 2014

Japan and China's great African game

It's no longer Western powers vying for African land and the continent's wealth as they had until the outbreak of World War I. The power struggle now is among Asian nations, most notably China and Japan.
BASKETBALL
Jan 30, 2014

Evessa, Crane Thunders inadvertently help each other address needs

The Osaka Evessa and Gunma Crane Thunders acted quickly to fill frontcourt vacancies, swooping up released big men Darko Cohadarevic and Dillion Sneed, respectively, this week.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Jan 29, 2014

Wholesale changes continue slow decline of Evessa

The Osaka Evessa were in dire straits at this time a season ago, losers of 19 of 24 games before the All-Star break. Then Bill Cartwright arrived and did a remarkable job leading the team's reclamation project. The ex-Chicago Bulls bench boss went 17-11 in a short, memorable stint in charge.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Jan 22, 2014

Akita, Ryukyu a cut above at halfway point of season

With the eighth annual All-Star Game slated for Sunday afternoon in Akita, it's an appropriate time to take a look at highs and lows of the season's first half.
Japan Times
CARTOONS / DAHL'S JAPAN
Jan 19, 2014

Econ Basketball

BASKETBALL
Jan 12, 2014

Sunflowers reign supreme in Empress' Cup

The JX-Eneos Sunflowers captured the Empress' Cup, which, according to their veteran point guard Asami Yoshida, had always belonged to them.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Jan 11, 2014

Alvark roar back to reach All-Japan Championship final

The Alvark looked dead and buried early on in the game. But still they found a way to survive.
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Jan 8, 2014

Shimane struggling after departure of coach, top star

The Shimane Susanoo Magic have dropped out of playoff contention this season, but big man Jeral Davis remains a bright spot for the fourth-year franchise.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Jan 4, 2014

Aisin routs Tsukuba, books spot in Emperor's Cup semifinals

Former UConn player Gavin Edwards and NBL rookie Makoto Hiejima scored 22 points apiece to help the Aisin SeaHorses advance to the semifinals of the 89th All-Japan Championship with a 96-79 win over the Tsukuba Robots on Saturday.
Events / Events In Tokyo
Jan 2, 2014

Get kids in shape for New Year's

It's never too early to get potential Olympic stars into shape, so why not take your children to Kodomo-no-shiro (National Children's Castle) in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward, which will be hosting various events for a kids' mini Olympic Games.
EDITORIALS
Dec 28, 2013

Year of ups and downs for Japan

Japan in 2013 was besieged by problems in politics, business and society even while several key events helped to rekindle a sense of confidence in Japan.
BASKETBALL
Dec 28, 2013

Oka Gakuen captures back-to-back Winter Cup titles

Oka Gakuen didn't repeat its nearly miserable state of the previous day.
BASKETBALL / NBA / NBA REPORT
Dec 24, 2013

Blazers look for real with Aldridge, Lillard, 'flow' offense

It's no surprise that going into the final week of December, the Portland Trailblazers had the best record in the NBA.
BASKETBALL
Dec 21, 2013

Aomori slams door on Ryukyu's 12-game winning streak

The Aomori Wat's recorded the biggest victory in franchise history on Saturday night, beating the Ryukyu Golden Kings 72-70 and ending the Western Conference powerhouse's 12-game winning streak.
Japan Times
MULTIMEDIA / HOOP SCOOP
Dec 21, 2013

Major coaching changes defined 2013

Taking a (recent) trip down memory lane. . . .
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Dec 21, 2013

Making their wishes come true

If you were granted one wish this Christmas, what would you wish for? For 17-year-old Mostafa Horie, the choice was simple: to see a Ferrari race car in action.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Dec 18, 2013

Parmer helping Shinshu emerge as force in third season

The Akita Northern Happinets (18-4) have presided atop the Eastern Conference standings for the entire season. The Toyama Grouses have catapulted to championship-caliber status with 16 victories in their first 20 games.
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Dec 4, 2013

Aomori building solid foundation as expansion team

First-year franchises are expected to have their share of ups and downs. In that regard, the Aomori Wat's fit that description.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / NOTES ON A SCORECARD
Dec 3, 2013

Delay in agreement on new posting system just latest black eye for NPB

Pretty sad to see the negotiations over the new posting system between NPB and MLB continue to drag on. It's already December now and MLB teams are trying to set their rotations for next season.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Dec 1, 2013

Who is Xi? Chinese leader enigma to world

In early November, China's most powerful man, Xi Jinping, stepped into a rustic farmhouse while on an inspection tour in far-flung Hunan province. The occupants' sole electrical appliance, a fluorescent light bulb, burned overhead. Shi Pazhuan, the family matriarch, was confused. "What should I call...
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Nov 26, 2013

Chiba Jets to acquire power forward Burrell: source

The Chiba Jets, looking to snap a 14-game losing streak, are on the verge of signing former bj-league MVP Justin Burrell, a basketball insider told The Japan Times on Tuesday evening.
BASKETBALL
Nov 24, 2013

Cinq Reves mix it up to beat Lakestars

Pawns and kings can both make key moves in chess. Similarly, centers and guards can be just as important for a basketball team.
BASKETBALL
Nov 19, 2013

Sano appointed Fukuoka head coach

When Mack Tuck was hired this summer to coach the Rizing Fukuoka, he took over a team that had reached the bj-league championship game in May but fell one victory short of its ultimate goal. The Rizing, then coached by Atsushi Kanazawa, lost to the Yokohama B-Corsairs in the title match.
BASKETBALL
Nov 18, 2013

Kennedy set to join NBL's Jets

Forward Thomas Kennedy left one struggling bj-league team last week and is getting ready to join another struggling squad, this time in the NBL, The Japan Times has learned.
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Nov 13, 2013

Iwate's Blackledge thriving as important contributor

Blessed with a 218-cm wingspan and a motor that's always ticking, forward Lawrence "Trend" Blackledge is a game-changing presence for the Iwate Big Bulls.

Longform

Ichiro Suzuki, one of the most iconic players in NPB and MLB history, was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame with 99.7% of the vote.
With Hall of Fame induction, Ichiro makes himself heard loud and clear