Tag - npb

 
 

NPB

BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 26, 2017
Fighters land rights to prized slugger Kotaro Kiyomiya
The most celebrated high school slugger in recent memory will don the colors of the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters in 2018.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / HIT AND RUN
Jul 17, 2017
NPB should do more to spice up All-Star experience
The final round of the Home Run Derby that preceded Game 1 of the NPB All-Star Series on Friday ended with a 4-4 tie and the player declared as the winner, via tiebreaker, looking around in confusion. It was yet another example that Japanese baseball needs to head back to the drawing board in its approach...
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Jul 15, 2017
Despaigne, Akiyama, Suzuki supply big hits as PL tops CL in All-Star Series finale
For one night, it was just like old times for Alfredo Despaigne in Chiba. A monstrous home run, a celebration with Chiba Lotte Marines catcher Tatsuhiro Tamura, and a celebratory "Despa-iine" call-and-response with the fans in right field after the game.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / NPB NOTEBOOK
Jul 15, 2017
Rookie shortstop Genda capitalizes on opportunity to replace injured Mogi on PL All-Star squad
Sosuke Genda was an almost last-minute addition for this year's All-Star Series. But that hasn't taken any of the fun out of it for the 24-year old Seibu Lions rookie.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / NPB NOTEBOOK
Jul 7, 2017
SoftBank's Sarfate joins exclusive club with 200th career save
It's been a week of benchmarks in NPB, with a few players reaching nice, round numbers.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Apr 6, 2017
Marines rookie Sasaki triumphs in first start
Chihaya Sasaki said he was nervous before the first pro start of his career. It was hard to tell in the fifth inning, when nursing a one-run lead with a runner on base, the Chiba Lotte Marines rookie struck out Shohei Otani with a sinker that left the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters star flailing at air....
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / 2017 NPB PREVIEW
Mar 29, 2017
Hawks looking to redress balance of Pacific League power
The following is the first of a two-part NPB preview beginning with the 2016 Pacific League.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / HIT AND RUN
Feb 27, 2017
Fujinami hoping to see hard work pay off in new season
Shintaro Fujinami is no old dog, but the 22-year-old Hanshin Tigers pitcher may have some new tricks.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Nov 30, 2016
Resurgent Carp veteran Arai turned back clock during MVP season
Many fans might have thought Takahiro Arai was heading to the Hiroshima Carp to retire.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 20, 2016
Hawks win draft lottery rights for Soka University pitching phenom Tanaka
The talent pool for pitchers in this year's draft class was deep. What's more, he hurt his right shoulder during this year's spring season. So there were good reasons for NPB clubs to pass on Soka University right-hander Seigi Tanaka in Thursday's NPB draft.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / HIT AND RUN
Aug 29, 2016
Finally, Carp looking like real deal
The Hiroshima Carp, it seems, have arrived. After a long stretch of bad years and recent seasons of being a few pieces short of a whole, the Carp are finally in the thick of a pennant race again.
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.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Jul 16, 2016
Fellow All-Stars rave about Otani's special talents
A blister kept Shohei Otani from pitching in the NPB All-Star Series. So the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters' two-way star took part in the festivities as a hitter instead.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Jul 9, 2016
A primer on evolution of pro sports' All-Star events
Next week, Japan professional baseball will play its annual two-game All-Star series with contests scheduled at Fukuoka Yafuoku Dome on July 15, and Yokohama Stadium on July 16. The All-Star games are like a festival in Japan, and the series will most likely draw capacity crowds, but has the idea of...

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’