Tag - baseball

 
 

BASEBALL

Prime Minister Yoshio Mori declared in September 2000 that Japan must “grab the historic opportunity of the IT revolution."
JAPAN / History / Japan Times Gone By
Sep 6, 2025
Japan Times 2000: Prime minister pitches ‘e-Japan’ as way of life
Japan must “grab the historic opportunity of the IT revolution,” Prime Minister Yoshio Mori declared as the final Diet session of the century opened in September 2000.
The Betsukai Pilot Spirits welcomed new players (left to right) Yuta Yamanaka, Roman Guthrie, Scott Bellina and Leo Jiminian this year, pictured here with Yassir Lachkar of the Ishikari Red Phoenix.
COMMUNITY / Issues / The Foreign Element
Sep 1, 2025
Overseas sluggers step up to bat in small-town Hokkaido
The residents of Betsukai, Hokkaido — where cows outnumber people 7-to-1 — have extended a warm welcome to five players from overseas who joined the Pilot Spirits.
Japan's Shohei Ohtani delivers a pitch against the USA during the World Baseball Classic final at LoanDepot Park in Miami on March 21, 2023.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Aug 26, 2025
Baseball-hungry Netflix to carry World Baseball Classic in Japan
The news comes as Netflix is reportedly on the verge of entering the MLB fray by picking up the U.S. rights for the Home Run Derby
Okinawa Shogaku High School players celebrate after clinching the National High School Baseball Championship on Saturday at Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture.
BASEBALL
Aug 24, 2025
Naha celebrates as Okinawa Shogaku clinches first Summer Koshien title
Having already claimed the spring invitational tournament on two occasions, the victory was the first summer championship for a team representing Okinawa since 2010.
Kenta Maeda delivers a pitch for the Tigers during the eighth inning against the Astros at Daikin Park in Houston on April 29.
BASEBALL / MLB
Aug 5, 2025
Yankees sign pitcher Kenta Maeda to minor league deal
Maeda, 37, was released by the Detroit Tigers after a rough opening month to the season.
“Yakyu / Baseball: The Transpacific Exchange of the Game” is set to remain on display in Cooperstown for at least five to 10 years — and possibly indefinitely.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Jul 29, 2025
Behind the scenes at the Baseball Hall of Fame's new Yakyu/Baseball exhibit
The exhibit tells a sweeping, richly visual story about the deep and evolving connection between Japan and America’s shared national pastime.
Hajime Kawano and his family traveled from Japan to see Ichiro Suzuki be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, on Sunday.
BASEBALL / MLB
Jul 28, 2025
Ichiro's Hall of Fame induction becomes family affair for some fans
Some traveled from Japan to the United States to be part of Ichiro's big moment.
Ichiro Suzuki speaks during the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cooperstown, New York, on Sunday.
BASEBALL
Jul 28, 2025
Ichiro leads latest class into Baseball Hall of Fame with humor and grace
Ichiro mixed a sharp sense of humor with a serious tone in discussing what made him a Hall of Famer.
Reporters and photographers, including long-time baseball beat writer Keizo Konishi, swarm around Ichiro Suzuki during the World Baseball Classic in San Diego in 2009.
BASEBALL / MLB
Jul 27, 2025
Three decades and a pile of notebooks: The beat writer who chronicled Ichiro’s career
For nearly three decades, this journalist's job revolved around one man — Ichiro Suzuki. But covering the baseball legend was never boring.
The numbers and accolades are only part of what made Ichiro Suzuki great. His devotion to his craft, idiosyncratic methods and dry sense of humor made him a transformational figure.
BASEBALL / MLB
Jul 27, 2025
Four lessons to learn from Ichiro's greatness
The numbers and accolades are only part of what made Ichiro great. His devotion to his craft, idiosyncratic methods and dry sense of humor made him a transformational figure.
CC Sabathia plays in a celebrity softball game during MLB All-Star festivities in Atlanta on July 12.
BASEBALL / MLB
Jul 26, 2025
Sabathia and Ichiro lead intriguing Hall of Fame class into Cooperstown
While the presence of Ichiro will lend an international flavor to the festivities, the enshrinement of classic era candidates Allen and Parker will add layers of poignancy.
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.
BASEBALL / Longform
Jul 26, 2025
With Hall of Fame induction, Ichiro makes himself heard loud and clear
Across his 28 seasons of professional baseball, Ichiro grew to become a superstar — first in Japan and then in North America — and then an icon.
Ichiro presents then-Hall of Fame President Jeff Idelson with the bat he used to break the single-season hits record in 2004.
BASEBALL / MLB
Jul 24, 2025
Hall of Fame always held deeper meaning for Ichiro
Ichiro, who will be inducted into the Hall on Sunday, is so familiar with the storied museum that he could probably lead the tour that new inductees receive.
Ichiro Suzuki will soon become the first Japanese player to be enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
BASEBALL
Jul 22, 2025
Induction of Ichiro has Cooperstown fretfully preparing
The star's entry into baseball's Hall of Fame could bring an influx of fans from far away.
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.
A special manhole cover featuring Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani
JAPAN
Jun 11, 2025
Japanese MLB stars to be featured on manhole covers
Each manhole cover will have an illustration of a Japanese player and be located at a place associated with his roots in baseball.
Japan's Shohei Ohtani carries the Japanese flag onto the field before the start of the World Baseball Classic final against the United States in Miami on March 21, 2023.
BASEBALL
May 15, 2025
Historian Rob Fitts discovers earliest ever reference to baseball in Japan
The widely held belief is that American Horace Wilson introduced the sport to Japan in 1872. Fitts' discovery revises the timeline to 1869.
New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga delivers a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Citi Field in New York on Saturday.
BASEBALL / MLB
Apr 20, 2025
Kodai Senga and Pete Alonso lead Mets past Cardinals
Senga (3-1) allowed just three hits, walked two and fanned four in an 89-pitch performance.
Yankees center fielder Aaron Judge in action against the Diamondbacks in New York on April 3
BASEBALL
Apr 15, 2025
Aaron Judge to captain United States in World Baseball Classic
Judge will be playing in the international team event for the first time.
Katsuhiko Nakamura, secretary-general of the NPB, speaks at a news conference in Tokyo on Monday.
JAPAN
Mar 25, 2025
NPB teams to fine 16 players for using online casinos
The fines will be donated to organizations working to combat gambling addiction.

Longform

Sumadori Bar on Shibuya Ward's main Center Gai street targets young customers who prefer low-alcohol drinks or abstain altogether.
Rethinking that second drink: Japan’s Gen Z gets ‘sober curious’