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Japan Times
BASEBALL / MAN ABOUT SPORTS
Nov 3, 2015

Visit to Cooperstown brings back memories of youth

Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Mar 11, 2007

Signing of Matsuzaka likely helping interest in Japanese baseball grow overseas

I thought there was going to be an increased interest in Japanese baseball in other countries, particularly in North America, after Hideo Nomo made it big with the Los Angeles Dodgers 12 years ago in 1995.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Jun 5, 2005

MLB Japan tries to reassure NPB on World Baseball Classic

Disturbed by repeated media reports saying Nippon Professional Baseball is dissatisfied with the organization and conditions of next year's proposed World Baseball Classic, Major League Baseball's Managing Director in Japan Jim Small invited the media to a coffee session in his Tokyo office on May 30...
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Jan 26, 2005

Baseball luminaries give Eagles GM Kuehnert big send off

More than 200 people attended the "Marty Kuehnert-Shi Iwai GM Shunin to Saranaru Nippon Yakyu Kai no Hatten o Negau Kai" (Party to Congratulate Mr. Marty Kuehnert on His Appointment as General Manager and Praying for the Success of Japanese Baseball) at a Tokyo hotel on Friday, Jan. 21, in honor of the...
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 14, 2022

Japan must find better ways to nurture its future superstars

Japanese baseball star Roki Sasaki threw a perfect game, but the old ways of doing things could have ruined him before he started.
OLYMPICS
Aug 8, 2021

Atsunori Inaba finishes job as Japan claims long-awaited baseball gold

Japan manager Atsunori Inaba doesn't officially get a medal from the Tokyo Games, but one hung around his neck anyway as Japan celebrated its first Olympic baseball gold.
BASEBALL / Heisei Icons,HEISEI ICONS
Apr 23, 2019

Ichiro Suzuki: A virtuoso on the diamond

Ichiro Suzuki would become one of the most important players of the Heisei Era, which is slated to end at the end of this month, in Japan as well as in the United States.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / NPB NOTEBOOK
Dec 17, 2017

Japanese players stay in swing of things even during winter

While it might be the time of year when temperatures are a little cooler and the regular season for almost every major baseball league is weeks in the rearview mirror, that doesn't mean there aren't a host of players still darting around a diamond somewhere.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Mar 25, 2017

MLB Network’s Martinez, Waltz inform and entertain during WBC telecasts

Good show put on by Major League Baseball and the organizers of the 2017 World Baseball Classic Asia rounds held in Seoul and Tokyo earlier this month.
Japan Times
BASEBALL
Mar 21, 2017

Players encouraged by growing interest in WBC

Adam Jones on Saturday night in San Diego made the catch heard 'round the World Baseball Classic when he leapt against the wall to rob Manny Machado of a home run.
Japan Times
BASEBALL
Mar 9, 2017

Panamanian-born Chen returns to mound to honor Chinese ancestors

This isn't the first time that ex-major league pitcher Bruce Chen has donned a national team jersey to play in the World Baseball Classic. The left-hander competed for his native Panama in the first two tournaments in 2006 and 2009.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Oct 27, 2015

Japan-Korea dramas shine

Festival/Tokyo, which bills itself as "Japan's leading performing-arts event," is notable this year for its international collaborations — especially between Japanese and Korean dramatists, whose works comprise three of the 12 main programs in its Oct. 31-Dec. 6 span.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Oct 1, 2014

Million Dollar Arm: 'Even Disney can't completely botch a baseball tale'

There's something about baseball that truly gels with movies. My secret conviction is that it's impossible to make a really terrible baseball movie. Even Disney can't botch it up completely, which is why their new true-to-life baseball tale "Million Dollar Arm" will wind up making you cry and glad to...
BASEBALL / MLB
Dec 21, 2013

Cromartie hungry to bring baseball back to Montreal

Warren Cromartie's energy can be infectious. When the former Montreal Expos and Yomiuri Giants star gets going on a topic, his voice rises, his words drip with conviction and even over the phone, you can imagine him flashing that familiar, toothy, megawatt smile.
Japan Times
BASEBALL
Apr 15, 2013

Baseball, softball join forces in hopes of returning to Olympics

The international federations that govern baseball and softball stood united Sunday afternoon with one goal in mind: getting their sports back on the Olympic program.
BASEBALL / MLB
Dec 29, 2012

Matsui praised for impact on baseball

Kyodo, AFP-Jiji Fans in Japan were saddened Friday by the news of power-hitter Hideki Matsui's retirement from baseball at the age of 38, many wishing he would resume his career in the country.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Aug 1, 2009

Baseball expert lines up new book on mobsters in Japan

Robert Whiting is best known as an expert on baseball. But he's much more than that. He's also an expert on mobsters in Japan and the sound a radar site makes when it is "spotted" by a U2 spy plane.
Roki Sasaki pitches for Japan during the World Baseball Classic at Tokyo Dome on March 11, 2023.
BASEBALL / MLB
Jan 18, 2025

Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki signs with Dodgers

Sasaki is considered one of the most talented young pitchers on the planet. 
Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki speaks during his introductory news conference with the team in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
BASEBALL / MLB
Jan 23, 2025

Dodgers introduce Japanese pitching phenom Roki Sasaki

A frenzied sweepstakes among MLB clubs officially came to an end with Sasaki's decision to join Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in LA.
Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga warms up before a workout in Mesa, Arizona, on Feb. 9.
BASEBALL / MLB
Feb 20, 2025

Shota Imanaga honored to be named Cubs' opening day starter for Tokyo Series

Imanaga is expected to oppose countryman Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Dodgers in the first of a two-game series at Tokyo Dome.
Dodgers stars (from left) Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki disembark at Haneda Airport after arriving on Thursday for the upcoming MLB Tokyo Series games at Tokyo Dome.
BASEBALL
Mar 13, 2025

Hundreds of fans vie for glimpse of homecoming MLB hero Ohtani

The roughly 500 fans who waited at Tokyo's Haneda airport did not get a chance to welcome their hero, with strict security measures in place.
Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani arrives for practice on Friday at Tokyo Dome.
BASEBALL / MLB
Mar 14, 2025

Hype reaches fever pitch as Ohtani and the Dodgers get set for games in Tokyo

Shohei Ohtani talked about getting over jet lag and his excitement for the Tokyo Series as the Dodgers prepare to put on a show for Japanese fans.
BayStars pitcher Andre Jackson throws during Game 1 of the Japan Series on Oct. 26 last year.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Apr 16, 2025

Baystars pitcher Jackson 'honored' to wear No. 42 on Jackie Robinson Day

The stars almost aligned perfectly on Tuesday night for the American, who pitched six strong innings on the day that the baseball world celebrates the Dodgers legend.
People walk past an advertisement featuring Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani outside Tokyo Dome on March 18.
BASEBALL / MLB
Apr 18, 2025

Nothing sells like Shohei Ohtani, MLB’s marketing megastar

The Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player is at the peak of his stardom, and brands are rushing to cash in with huge sponsorship deals.
Shohei Ohtani and Mamiko Tanaka announced the birth of their first child on April 19.
BASEBALL
Apr 28, 2025

Shohei Ohtani's example could change Japan's views on paternity leave

The Dodgers star went on MLB’s paternity list for the birth of his daughter. MLB is the only major North American sports league that guarantees paternity leave to its players.
Carp pitcher Hiroki Tokoda has seven hits this season, including a double.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / Sac Bunts
May 20, 2025

Can the Central League hold out against designated hitters?

There have been plenty of calls for the league to adopt the DH over the years. But some prefer the status quo.
The Japan Fair Trade Commission said that moves by Nippon Professional Baseball could violate the antimonopoly law, and urged the organization to prevent any recurrence.
JAPAN
Jun 11, 2025

Japan Fair Trade Commission warns NPB over Fuji TV media pass denial

The antitrust watchdog said that such moves could violate the antimonopoly law, urging NPB to prevent any recurrence.
Ichiro speaks during a ceremony to retire his number a T-Mobile Park in Seattle on Sunday.
BASEBALL / MLB
Aug 11, 2025

Mariners to honor Ichiro with statue at T-Mobile Park in 2026

The Seattle Mariners will unveil a statue of franchise legend Ichiro Suzuki at T-Mobile Park during the 2026 season.

Longform

Tetsuzo Shiraishi, speaking at The Center of the Tokyo Raids and War Damage, uses a thermos to explain how he experienced the U.S. firebombing of March 1945, when he was just 7 years old.
From ashes to high-rises: A survivor’s account of Tokyo’s postwar past