Gambling, drugs, bullets in luggage, gambling again. More current and former players in Japanese baseball are being tagged with the yogisha (crime suspect) label following their names, and team officials are making the deep bows of apology and "There's nothing we can say" speeches. Some have stepped down "to take responsibility" for the actions of their players.
Three Yomiuri Giants players were fired last year for betting on games, and now a fourth, left-hander Kyosuke Takagi, will probably meet the same fate. Ex-Seibu, Yomiuri and Orix player Kazuhiro Kiyohara was nailed for drug possession and use, and Chiba Lotte Marines infielder Yamaico Navarro was arrested after two bullets were found in his backpack at Naha Airport in Okinawa.
Navarro's punishment, given by the team, is a four-week suspension and a fine of ¥500,000, but the penalties seem to be much harsher than they would be In the U.S. where a player might be given a reprimand and a slap on the wrist. After all, Navarro was not carrying a gun.