J. League, NPB to maintain restrictions on crowd size in order to help limit spread of virus
The task force met one day after several positive tests for COVID-19 forced the postponement of a J. League first-division game.
Pro athletes with underlying conditions remain extra cautious of COVID-19 threat
Professional athletes may seem invincible, but like anyone else they can suffer from serious conditions that make them vulnerable to the coronavirus.
Japan's baseball, soccer leagues give up on April restarts as COVID-19 cases increase
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and with athletes in both leagues having been infected, Nippon Professional Baseball and the J. League will start and resume their seasons, respectively, even later than currently scheduled. The joint task force formed by the two biggest professional ...
Upon further review, NPB's replay system winning over doubters
Those who doubted the value of Nippon Professional Baseball's video review system a year ago have officially left the building. On Tuesday, NPB announced a few tweaks to a system that got some negative press last year, but was — on the whole — considered ...
In Shohei Ohtani, Japan finally has its world-beater
It must take a considerable amount of willpower for Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters manager Hideki Kuriyama not to respond to questions about his former player Shohei Ohtani with a simple, "I told you so." Although the sly smile he lets slip on occasion more ...
Japanese baseball community reacts to Shohei Ohtani's first MLB homer
The Japanese baseball community was celebrating on Wednesday after former Pacific League MVP Shohei Ohtani followed up his first pitching win in the majors with a stellar batting effort in his home debut with the Los Angeles Angels. His first pro skipper, Hideki Kuriyama, who ...
NPB names former Tokyo Stock Exchange boss Atsushi Saito next commissioner
Former securities exchange executive Atsushi Saito was approved as the next commissioner of Nippon Professional Baseball on Monday. Saito, formerly the CEO of the Japan Exchange Group Inc. that oversees the operations of the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the Osaka Exchange, will take over from ...
Starting next season, managers in Japan will be able to request video reviews of calls on the field of play following a decision on Monday by Nippon Professional Baseball. Until now, video reviews were restricted to three plays, balls caught against an outfield wall or ...
Time has come for NPB to address system for makeup games
On Sunday, the MLB season ended with all 30 teams in action, wrapping up the year in a nice and tidy 15-game bow as focus shifts to the playoffs. Sunday in Japan marked the final day all 12 NPB teams took the field on the ...
New posting system discussed by MLB, NPB as Otani eyes majors
Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball are discussing two proposals to replace the current posting system that would eliminate Japanese teams' ability to set a negotiating price for posted players. Speaking at Wednesday's NPB owners meeting, Giants owner Shoichi Oikawa said two proposals are ...
Batting, not money, could be key factor in race to land Fighters star Otani
Should Shohei Otani move to the majors via the posting system, as informed sources said Tuesday he expects to do, it will be a rare case where money will not be a primary factor in negotiations. Now 23, a fifth-year pro, and the Pacific League's ...
NPB eyes 'meaningful' international games to bolster national team in run-up to 2020 Olympics
Nippon Professional Baseball is working to line up November exhibition games in order to strengthen its national team before the 2020 Olympics, commissioner Katsuhiko Kumazaki said Thursday. "We are currently planning meaningful international games for November," Kumazaki said. With the exception of the 2019 Premier 12, ...
