Tag - munetaka-murakami

 
 

MUNETAKA MURAKAMI

Swallows slugger Munetaka Murakami takes a swing during batting practice earlier this month.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Feb 11, 2024
Swallows' Murakami aims for second Triple Crown and team rebound
The young slugger struggled last year and the Swallows followed suit by sinking to fifth place in the Central League.
The Marines' Roki Sasaki pitches in the bullpen during spring camp in Okinawa on Thursday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / NPB NOTEBOOK
Feb 9, 2024
Roki Sasaki gets back to business after weeks of speculation about future
After weeks of rampant rumors, the "Monster of the Reiwa Era" is back to the business of baseball, and the MLB questions are back on the shelf for now.
Starting pitcher Roki Sasaki is among the next wave of Japanese stars in NPB who are likely to make the jump to MLB in the coming years.
BASEBALL
Dec 28, 2023
These Japanese stars could be next in line for huge MLB deals
Roki Sasaki, Munetaka Murakami and Shumpeita Yamashita could be the next NPB stars to follow in the footsteps of Ohtani and Yamamoto.
Yakult's Munetaka Murakami after finalizing contract negotiations, in Tokyo on Tuesday
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Dec 13, 2023
Yakult slugger Murakami to earn ¥600 million again next year
The annual salary, one of the highest reported in Nippon Professional Baseball, remains unchanged from the last year.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / Sac Bunts
May 1, 2023
Swallows star Munetaka Murakami mired in prolonged slump early in NPB season
Any thoughts that Murakami’s clutch hits in the two biggest games of the WBC would get him going have been quickly dispelled.
Japan Times
BASEBALL
Mar 8, 2023
Murakami and Yoshida power Japan to final WBC warmup victory
Munetaka Murakami blasted a three-run first-inning homer and Masataka Yoshida drove in four runs as Samurai Japan cruised to a 9-1 win over the Orix Buffaloes.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Feb 1, 2023
Nippon Professional Baseball training camps open in upbeat mood
With the government classification of the coronavirus set to be relaxed from May 8, teams are moving to reopen some access to players and camps for fans.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Dec 28, 2022
Images of 2022: Sports
From the wintry slopes of the Beijing Games to the heat on the pitches of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Japan has had plenty to celebrate in the world of sports over the past 12 months.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 2, 2022
Yakult Swallows slugger 'Murakami-sama' tops Japan 2022 buzzword list
Another word that made the list was 'kokusu014dgi' (state funeral) after such a funeral was held in September for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Nov 14, 2022
Munetaka Murakami sets his sights on bigger things — including MLB
There are probably many in MLB who feel the 22-year-old is ready for the challenge after putting the baseball world on notice with his performance this past season.
Japan Times
BASEBALL
Nov 10, 2022
Munetaka Murakami homers as Japan routs Australia in WBC warmup
The game was the first of two ahead of March's WBC, when Japan and Australia will square off in their first-round pool at Tokyo Dome.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Nov 9, 2022
Buffaloes manager Satoshi Nakajima wins Shoriki Award
The award is given annually to the manager or player who makes the greatest contribution to Japanese professional baseball.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Nov 6, 2022
Munetaka Murakami homers as Japan's WBC team edges Fighters
Japan is aiming for its third World Baseball Classic title next March, having won the first two of the four previous editions.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 19, 2022
Familiar faces set to highlight Yakult-Orix rematch at Japan Series
Most of last year's cast are set to play starring roles again on Japanese baseball's biggest stage, offering another treat to fans who enjoyed their tightly contested 2021 encounter.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 18, 2022
Samurai Japan skipper's hopes high for Munetaka Murakami and Roki Sasaki
Kuriyama sugggested Lotte ace Sasaki, who will turn 21 on Nov. 3, might not pitch in November, but that he expects Swallows slugger Murakami to rise to the occasion in the autumn friendlies.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 14, 2022
Swallows sweep Tigers to reach second straight Japan Series
The Swallows won the final stage 4-0 at Jingu Stadium after entering the series with a one-win advantage as the pennant winner.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 14, 2022
Munetaka Murakami and Jose Osuna homer as Swallows close in on Japan Series
Both the Swallows and the Buffaloes have taken a 3-0 lead in their respective Climax Series final stage matchups.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 10, 2022
Munetaka Murakami's choice of bat unique among Japan's past slugging greats
Munetaka Murakami, the youngest man to win a batting Triple Crown while mashing a historic number of home runs, has opened eyes and shattered the stereotypical perceptions of how sluggers attack baseballs and put them in the seats.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 4, 2022
Roki Sasaki and Munetaka Murakami highlight Samurai Japan's November squad
Manager Hideki Kuriyama's men will face the Fighters and Giants at Sapporo Dome on Nov. 5 and 7, respectively, before a pair of games against Australia on Nov. 9 and 10.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / Sac Bunts
Oct 4, 2022
Munetaka Murakami earns place in NPB history with dominant season
The Swallows slugger broke new ground for a Japan-born player on Monday when he finished the regular season with his 56th home run, wrapping up the Triple Crown in the process.

Longform

Historically, kabuki was considered the entertainment of the merchant and peasant classes, a far cry from how it is regarded today.
For Japan's oldest kabuki theater, the show must go on