Japanese baseball: A 150-year journey of transformation
Over the years, Japan's changing political goals, and economic and social circumstances, have all left their imprint on the game that became known as yakyū, or "field ball."
Last year, fans were shut out during spring training because of COVID-19 precautions, but this year teams are allowing fans to return under new safety protocols.
NPB teams prepare to start camp amid wave of COVID-19 infections
With the spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant, the sense of unease surrounding baseball's spring is mounting as one player after another has become infected.
NPB and J. League aim to complete COVID-19 vaccinations during Olympic break
Japan's professional baseball and soccer leagues are aiming to complete COVID-19 vaccinations of all willing players and officials by the end of their Tokyo Olympic hiatus, their joint COVID-19 task force said Monday. According to NPB Commissioner Atsushi Saito, some baseball teams will conduct vaccination ...
NPB strikes out with move to eliminate extra innings
Just before the Yomiuri Giants and Yokohama BayStars went into the bottom of the ninth tied 7-7 on March 26, the first night of the season, there was an announcement over the PA system at Tokyo Dome. It was a reminder there would not be ...
NPB and J. League hope to lead by example with Tokyo Games on horizon
The members of the joint task force established by Nippon Professional Baseball and the J. League hope to set a positive example for this summer’s Olympics and Paralympics by safely holding large-scale sporting events. The latest meeting of the task force took place on Monday, ...
J. League and NPB considering on-site virus testing for quicker results
A contest between Gamba Osaka and Nagoya Grampus was postponed two hours before kickoff last week after players and staff tested positive for COVID-19.
J. League and NPB hopeful current attendance limits will be eased
The members of the Nippon Professional Baseball and J. League joint COVD-19 task force feel their knowledge about the virus and the data they’ve collected has grown exponentially as they enter the body's second year. This wealth of information has led both leagues to ask ...
One week after rejecting a big-league contract, ace right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano re-signed with the Yomiuri Giants on a one-year deal reported as the highest in Japanese baseball history. Tomoyuki Sugano speaks to reporters after signing a reported ¥800 million, one-year contract with the Giants on ...
Japan to ban entry of foreign athletes during virus emergency
The decision will impact those preparing for the Tokyo Olympics as well as new players and coaches set to join professional soccer and baseball clubs.
J. League, NPB meet with task force medical panel to discuss plans for spring camps
Some J. League teams are set to begin their training camps later this month while NPB camps are scheduled to start Feb. 1.
NPB and J. League to explore raising current attendance limits
Nippon Professional Baseball and the J. League will explore the possibility of raising the current caps on attendance, a process that will include consultations with an epidemiologist, among others, the two leagues announced following the latest meeting of their joint COVID-19 task force on ...
