Aoki’s streak lost in Japan’s Opening Day myopia
If you're lucky you learn something everyday. On Monday, Norichika Aoki hit safely in his 16th straight game, with eight of those coming this season for the San Francisco Giants…
Norihiro Nakamura & the Fab Four
First a little question. When Norihiro Nakamura announced his retirement on Tuesday, it left Ichiro Suzuki as the only active member of a very exclusive club. Any guesses as to what…
Atsuya Furuta & Japan’s Hall of Fame catchers
Let’s begin with a disclaimer. Atsuya Furuta, who was recently voted into Japan’s Baseball Hall of Fame, was my favorite player in Nippon Professional Baseball. He was a superb defensive…
Japan’s Hall & Sadao Kondo’s claim to Fame
On Friday, Japan’s baseball Hall of Fame will announce its class of 2015. There are currently 184 members enshrined. Of those 184, roughly 73 are there because of their pro…
How times have changed
It is quite surprising to those of us who weren't in Japan in the 1970s how different the ballpark experience is now compared to 40 years ago. Combing through newspaper clippings from…
Japan's first professional team
Pro baseball’s anniversary amnesia
There seems to be something about organized baseball and the habit of fudging on the truth about the past. Major League Baseball long stuck to a ridiculous story that the sport was…
There and back again: Kuroda returns to the Carp
Hiroki Kuroda agreed to return to the Hiroshima Carp, the Central League club announced Saturday. Their former ace, who left after the 2007 season, posted a 79-79 record in the…
Hawks, home runs and the balance of power
Japanese baseball is full of paradoxes. A nation schooled in the righteousness of the sacrifice bunt lusts after the long ball, while the less popular Pacific League has clearly become the best of…
Junichi Tazawa & culture of denial
Boston Red Sox reliever Junichi Tazawa is hardly a man without a country, but he is a man without a national team to play for. Although he would have been…
Blue is the new red
On Thursday, Dec. 18, Chunichi Dragons center fielder Yohei Oshima caved in and agreed to a contract for ¥74 million for the 2015 season in the third meeting in which the…
