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BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Mar 22, 2016

Gomes expands horizons with Japan move

Yomiuri Giants reliever Tetsuya Yamaguchi, for some reason, thought he could get away with a first-pitch, 128-kph slider over the outside of the plate against Jonny Gomes.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 21, 2016

Obama's historic Cuba visit

Without a strong economic impact, America's opening to Cuba will not make even a small contribution to political liberalization on the island.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Mar 11, 2016

Fighters phenom Otani keeping calm in eye of storm

Shohei Otani might as well be stepping into the swirling winds of a tempest each time he takes the mound for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 26, 2016

Undergoing the third degree in prewar Japan

A New Zealander who was taken into custody by prewar Japanese police provides a haunting account of jailhouse torture.
Rugby
Feb 5, 2016

Goromaru embraces opportunity with Queensland Reds

Though he received widespread media exposure following his success at last fall's Rugby World Cup, Ayumu Goromaru is a man of few words, at least publicly.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / NPB NOTEBOOK
Jan 31, 2016

Fighters head west for spring camp

While most Japanese teams headed south to begin "spring" camp and ride out the final few weeks of winter, the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters took a distinctly different track and flew west instead.
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
Jan 23, 2016

Hiroko Kuniya's ouster deals another blow to quality journalism in Japan

Hiroko Kuniya, the widely respected anchor for NHK's stellar "Close-up Gendai" news analysis program, has been ousted from her position after 23 years with the show. She now joins a growing list of prominent news presenters and commentators who have discovered the apparent perils of not kowtowing to...
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Dec 26, 2015

Protecting fans from batted balls presents an ongoing challenge

The recent recommendation by Major League Baseball that its teams expand protective netting between the playing field and stands at the ball parks is a good one. Too many fans have been injured by foul balls and bats flung into the stands, and the wise move is to follow the standard in Japanese stadiums....
Japan Times
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Dec 12, 2015

Can upgraded home stadiums give boost to BayStars, Eagles?

Going from worst to first — last place to a pennant — is difficult for any professional baseball team. The Tokyo Yakult Swallows managed to do it this past season in the Central League, and the two clubs that finished at the bottom of the league standings in 2015 are hoping to rise to the top during...
JAPAN
Dec 1, 2015

'Bakugai,' 'toripuru suri' share top honors as year's most memorable buzzwords in Japan

This year's most memorable buzzwords in Japan were announced Tuesday, with the words bakugai (explosive shopping spree carried out by Chinese tourists) and toripuru suri ("Triple Three" achievements in baseball) jointly taking home the top honors.
Japan Times
BASEBALL
Nov 21, 2015

MLB scouts cast eye over Samurai Japan stars at Premier 12

Just like the World Baseball Classic, the Premier 12 served as a stage for major league scouts to get the measure of players.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Nov 21, 2015

Keys to success as a foreign ballplayer in Japan

The Hanshin Tigers are apparently going to sign a new foreign player who will be facing one of the most difficult adjustments in the pro baseball world. Japanese sports newspaper reports have indicated the Tigers are talking to Matt Hague, a third baseman with the Toronto Blue Jays organization.
Japan Times
BASEBALL
Nov 21, 2015

U.S. manager Randolph finding recipe for success at Premier 12

Willie Randolph won two World Series titles as a player for the New York Yankees and earned four more rings as a coach with the club. The U.S. squad he's led to the Premier 12 final doesn't have nearly the pedigree of those teams, but the 61-year-old skipper is as proud of this group, made up of minor...
Japan Times
BASEBALL
Nov 19, 2015

Legendary scout Brito steers Mexico into Premier 12 semifinals

There was some speculation that Mexico might pull out of the Premier 12 before it began.

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji