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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.
BASEBALL
Nov 17, 2015

Japan shuts down Puerto Rico to make Premier 12 semifinals

Samurai Japan is returning home with no problem.
Japan Times
BASEBALL
Nov 16, 2015

Venezuelan veteran Garcia still going strong

On the final day of the preliminary round of the Premier 12 on Sunday, some teams wound up jumping for joy and some left with a bitter taste in their mouths.
BASEBALL
Nov 16, 2015

Nakamura's sayonara single keeps Japan unbeaten

Samurai Japan, which had already secured a quarterfinal berth and first place in Group B at the Premier 12, ended the preliminary stage with an unbeaten record after a 6-5 win over Venezuela at Taoyuan International Stadium on Sunday night.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Nov 7, 2015

New Giants skipper Takahashi faces major challenge replacing Hara

Not sure what to think about the Yomiuri Giants choosing Yoshinobu Takahashi as the team's new manager. He is just 40 and did not even get a chance to retire as an active player before being selected to lead the club as its field boss in 2016.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 17, 2015

Swallows advance to Japan Series for first time since 2001

The Tokyo Yakult Swallows gathered near the mound at Jingu Stadium, grabbed Mitsuru Manaka and tossed their first-year manager into the air as the cheers of their exuberant fans rang out into the night sky.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 15, 2015

IOC brass gives thumbs up to Tokyo's 2020 efforts

Olympic chiefs have given Tokyo 2020 organizers a vote of confidence, despite a series of missteps that have mired the upcoming games in controversy.
Japan Times
BASEBALL
Oct 9, 2015

Kokubo revals Japan's 28-man squad for Premier 12 tournament

Samurai Japan skipper Hiroki Kokubo announced his 28-man final squad for next month's WSBC Premier 12 on Friday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 9, 2015

Tigers, Giants make final preparations for playoffs

The Hanshin Tigers had their bags packed earlier in the week, they just didn't know if they were headed for the playoffs or the offseason.

Longform

Growing families are being priced out of Tokyo’s condo market, forced to choose between downtown convenience and suburban space.
Is living in central Tokyo still affordable?