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November 08, 2025
 

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HIROKI KOKUBO

The Hawks players throw manager Hiroki Kokubo into the air as they celebrate after defeating the Tigers in Game 5 of the Japan Series to clinch the title.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 30, 2025
Hawks rally past Tigers in 11th to win Japan Series
The Hawks won the final four games of the series after losing Game 1.
SoftBank pitcher Ryosuke Otsu is greeted by teammates at the bench in the fifth inning of Game 4 of the Japan Series at Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, on Wednesday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 30, 2025
SoftBank pitcher's Japan Series hit may be one of the last ever
Next year’s Japan Series will mark the final time a pitcher, at least according to the rules, will have to bat in an NPB game.
Hawks starter Ryosuke Otsu pitches against the Tigers during Game 4 of the Japan Series at Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, on Wednesday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 29, 2025
Hiroki Kokubo pushes right buttons as Hawks move to brink of Japan Series title
The Hawks are one win away from clinching the title.
Hawks players celebrate victory over the Tigers at Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka on Sunday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / NPB NOTEBOOK
Oct 27, 2025
Hawks aim to bring energy from Japan Series blowout to Koshien
The Hanshin Tigers' famously fervent supporters will likely kick it up another few levels as the Japan Series shifts to their home park.
Hikaru Kawase and the Hawks will try to finish the job in this year's Japan Series after falling short in 2025.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 24, 2025
Hawks motivated to take down Tigers after last year's Japan Series collapse
Fukuoka hosts Hanshin Tigers in Game 1 of the Japan Series on Saturday night — and is determined to finish the job this time.
The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks' Ryoya Kurihara hits a two-run double against the Seibu Lions in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Saturday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / Sac Bunts
Sep 29, 2025
Hawks take step toward Japan Series redo with Pacific League title
Unlike last year, this team is battle-tested, with injuries being the source of much of the adversity the Hawks have faced.
Hawks infielder Hotaka Yamakawa celebrates after hitting a two-run home run against the BayStars in Game 2 of the Japan Series in Yokohama on Sunday.
BASEBALL
Oct 28, 2024
Hawks halfway to third straight Japan Series sweep as series heads to Fukuoka
The Hawks have won 14 straight Japan Series games.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / HIT AND RUN
Mar 18, 2017
Backstop Kobayashi plays big role for Japan
There's a thanklessness to catching in baseball. Catchers do a lot of the dirty work, and their efforts end up being both extremely challenging and easy for the casual observer to accidentally overlook.
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
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / HIT AND RUN
Feb 2, 2017
Otani better off skipping World Baseball Classic than risking injury
There is no reason for Shohei Otani to participate in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
Japan Times
BASEBALL
Jan 24, 2017
Japan fills out team for World Baseball Classic
Samurai Japan mostly filled out its roster for the 2017 World Baseball Classic on Tuesday, adding eight players, but no major leaguers, to the 19 names released in December.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / HIT AND RUN
Dec 22, 2016
Tanaka, Iwakuma the dream ticket for Japan's WBC roster
Samurai Japan added the first major league player to its roster for the World Baseball Classic on Wednesday, when Houston Astros outfielder Norichika Aoki signed up for his third WBC.
BASEBALL
Nov 14, 2016
Exhibitions shine light on Samurai Japan's deficiencies
Samurai Japan wrapped up its series of exhibition games on Sunday at Tokyo Dome, finishing with a 3-1 record against Mexico (1-1) and the Netherlands. But Japan's top team couldn't care less about the result from each game. The team understands there are still issues that have to be resolved and improvements...
BASEBALL
Nov 12, 2016
Otani, Akiyama shine as Samurai Japan trounces Mexico in rematch
Shohei Otani has already shown what he can do on the international level with his arm. On Friday night at Tokyo Dome, he got the opportunity to take his cuts at the plate.
BASEBALL
Nov 10, 2016
Japan, Cuba to square off on first day of 2017 WBC
Japan's quest to recapture the title at next March's World Baseball Classic will begin against Cuba at Tokyo Dome.
BASEBALL
Nov 9, 2016
Japan, Mexico, Netherlands look to take advantage of exhibition series ahead of WBC
The skippers for Japan, Mexico and the Netherlands said they were taking a serious attitude into the upcoming three-team exhibition series at Tokyo Dome, since next spring's World Baseball Classic is right around the corner.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Nov 6, 2016
Samurai Japan has first practice ahead of four-game series
Despite some of its members having just completed a long season, Japan's men's national baseball team donned their Samurai Japan uniforms and took the field with a lot of energy for their first practice ahead of this week's four-game exhibition series against Mexico and the Netherlands.
Japan Times
BASEBALL
Oct 18, 2016
Otani headlines squad for WBC warmup tilts
Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters ace/designated hitter Shohei Otani highlighted the list of players announced to the Samurai Japan roster on Tuesday for World Baseball Classic warmup games against Mexico and the Netherlands.
BASEBALL
Sep 23, 2016
Samurai Japan skipper Kokubo promotes team's new uniforms for WBC, stays mum about roster
Hiroki Kokubo didn't drop any hints about who would be on the Samurai Japan team for the 2017 World Baseball Classic. He did, however, help reveal what they would be wearing.
Japan Times
BASEBALL
Aug 2, 2016
Tokyo will host two rounds of 2017 WBC
Samurai Japan's quest to reclaim the World Baseball Classic title will begin in the nation's capital.
The Toyota buyout is a major test for Japan’s reforms
Akio Toyoda, chairman of Toyota Motor, speaks during a media preview at the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo on Oct. 29. Minority investors are challenging the carmaker's bid to take affiliate Toyota Industries Corp. private.
From France to Mali, a deportee's struggle far from home
Moussa Sacko, a Malian deported from France — where he had lived since he was a young child — stands on a street in Bamako, Mali, in December. Compared with his home in France, Bamako feels like a different planet, Sacko said.
New satellite images suggest 'mass graves' in Sudan's El-Fasher
A general view of a berm construction in Kinin Village near El-Fasher.
High-speed rail is expensive and difficult, but seen as a key to growth
Achal Khare, former managing director at India’s National High Speed Rail Corporation, gives a presentation during the IHRA Forum 2025 in Tokyo on Oct. 23.
SoftBank is said to have explored potential takeover of Marvell
SoftBank explored a potential takeover of U.S. chipmaker Marvell Technology earlier this year, in what would have been the semiconductor industry's largest-ever deal.
These are the hottest lower-division rikishi to watch right now
Fukazaki (right) grapples with Enho at the IG Arena in Nagoya on July 13.
Across borders and screens, Tokyo film festival finds humanity in migration
“Mother Bhumi” takes place in a multiethnic rice-farming community where Chinese, Thai and Malay lineages intertwine.
Takaichi’s balancing act: Supporting Taiwan and stabilizing China ties
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi shakes hands with Lin Hsin-i, Taiwan’s presidential adviser, on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit meeting in Gyeongju, South Korea, on Saturday in this image posted to Takaichi's official X account.
From 1973 to 2025: A Japanese American skater’s long ride to recognition
Judi Oyama at Winchester Skatepark in San Jose, California, in January 1979. The Skateboarding Hall of Fame inductee and Guinness World Record holder still skates and hopes to inspire older women.
More Japanese universities pushing toward teaching in English
Waseda University in Tokyo

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