51勛圖厙

Tag - npb

 
Menu
Search
 
July 24, 2026
 

Home Delivery
Subscribe for more access

NPB

Tigers players Seiya Kinami (left), Shota Morishita (center) and Seishiro Sakamoto pose for a selfie with Hanshin mascot To-Lucky following a win at Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, on May 20.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Jun 2, 2026
Rob Fitts explores the hidden figures behind Japan＊s baseball culture
A new book by Rob Fitts shines a light on the overlooked people behind NPB games, showing how Japanese baseball＊s atmosphere is built as much off the field as on it.
Ayuri Shimano is a two-way player for the Giants' women's team.
BASEBALL
Dec 25, 2025
Girls inspired by Shohei Ohtani leading Japan＊s next wave of two-way players
Against the odds, players such as Ayuri Shimano and Aika Morimoto are forging a new path for women＊s baseball.
The Swallows' Munetaka Murakami has 246 career home runs in eight NPB seasons.
BASEBALL / MLB
Nov 20, 2025
Munetaka Murakami headlines quartet looking to move to MLB via posting system
Tokyo Yakult Swallows＊ elite power hitter will be only 26 when he celebrates his next birthday on Feb. 2.
Major League Baseball's paternity list system drew attention when Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani used it for his wife's childbirth in April this year.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 15, 2025
Japanese pro baseball to introduce paternity leave
※Such a system is commonplace in society, and we are finally getting it,§ said Tadahito Mori, head of the Japan Professional Baseball Players Association＊s secretariat.
The Carp's Sandro Fabian hits an RBI single against the Swallows during the first inning at Jingu Stadium in Tokyo on July 21.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Aug 5, 2025
Central League votes to adopt designated hitter rule from 2027
The change means NPB＊s two leagues will operate under the same set of rules for the first time since the Pacific League adopted the designated hitter in 1975.
※Yakyu / Baseball: The Transpacific Exchange of the Game§ is set to remain on display in Cooperstown for at least five to 10 years 〞 and possibly indefinitely.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Jul 29, 2025
Behind the scenes at the Baseball Hall of Fame＊s new Yakyu/Baseball exhibit
The exhibit tells a sweeping, richly visual story about the deep and evolving connection between Japan and America＊s shared national pastime.
Tigers pitcher Jon Duplantier eats <i>umeboshi</i> pickled plums to replenish sodium.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Jul 23, 2025
NPB teams trying to fight off Japan＊s torrid summer heat
On June 27, Seibu Lions pitcher Tatsuya Imai was replaced after suffering heatstroke while pitching during a game held at the team＊s Belluna Dome.
The Japan Fair Trade Commission said that moves by Nippon Professional Baseball could violate the antimonopoly law, and urged the organization to prevent any recurrence.
51勛圖厙
Jun 11, 2025
Japan Fair Trade Commission warns NPB over Fuji TV media pass denial
The antitrust watchdog said that such moves could violate the antimonopoly law, urging NPB to prevent any recurrence.
The Fighters' Ryota Isobata reacts after a hit during a game against the DeNA BayStars in Yokohama on Saturday. The Fighters had announced a policy of allowing spectators to post videos and photos to social media at games, but backtracked after opposition from NPB.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Jun 10, 2025
Japan＊s baseball world divided on fans＊ social media use
NPB introduced a ban in February on posting photos and videos of players on the field during play to social media sites.
Shigeo Nagashima (left), then the manager of the Tokyo Giants, waves to fans with players and coaches during a victory parade in central Tokyo in 2000. Nagashima died at the age of 89 on Tuesday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Jun 3, 2025
Japanese baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima dies at 89
Long before the rise of Shohei Ohtani and Ichiro Suzuki, Nagashima was arguably the most famous player in Japanese baseball history.
Carp pitcher Hiroki Tokoda has seven hits this season, including a double.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / Sac Bunts
May 20, 2025
Can the Central League hold out against designated hitters?
There have been plenty of calls for the league to adopt the DH over the years. But some prefer the status quo.
Katsuhiko Nakamura, secretary-general of the NPB, speaks at a news conference in Tokyo on Monday.
51勛圖厙
Mar 25, 2025
NPB teams to fine 16 players for using online casinos
The fines will be donated to organizations working to combat gambling addiction.
The Tigers Teruaki Sato (center) celebrates with his teammates after their win over the Dodgers.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Mar 17, 2025
NPB clubs show there＊s more to Japanese baseball than MLB stars
The four exhibition games between the MLB and NPB clubs showed that the well of talent in Japan runs deeper than the nation＊s big leaguers.
The BayStars used data analytics to inform the decision to have Hayato Horioka pitch against the Giants last fall. The bet paid off, with Horioka helping to seal the game and Yokohama advancing to the championship.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Mar 17, 2025
＆Moneyball＊ disciples aim to upend Japanese baseball for second year
Yokohama is honing its indicators that predict how well a pitcher will perform at any given moment.
The Nippon Professional Baseball Organization revealed on Thursday that 14 people from seven teams had patronized online casinos after February 2022.
51勛圖厙 / Crime & Legal
Feb 28, 2025
14 people from seven NPB teams admit to patronizing online casinos
The voluntary admission of the 14, who include players and team officials, follows an announcement by Orix Buffaloes that its pitcher took part in an online poker tournament.
Masayoshi Son (front, center) poses with the members of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks after the team won the Pacific League championship at Kyocera Dome Osaka on Sept. 23.
51勛圖厙 / Society / Regional Voices: Kyushu
Nov 18, 2024
Masayoshi Son＊s aim for SoftBank Hawks remains, 20 years after buyout
This year, the team became Pacific League champions for the first time in four years. But its owner has loftier goals.
The Fair Trade Commission says rules preventing pro baseball players from freely choosing their agents for contract negotiations could violate the antimonopoly law.
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 20, 2024
Japan FTC warns pro baseball body over agent rules
The body＊s rules have limited agents for players to lawyers and prohibited players from choosing lawyers who had already been picked by other players.
Lions players celebrate after a win over the Buffaloes on Wednesday at Belluna Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Aug 25, 2024
A fight over free agency in NPB, with help from an American union
The union representing players in NPB is fighting to secure rights over players＊ images and give them the opportunity to make the jump to MLB sooner.
Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike speaks to reporters in June.
51勛圖厙 / Politics
Aug 7, 2024
Koike to work remotely after suffering knee injury at baseball game
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government said that the governor＊s injury 〞 an avulsion fracture 〞 would take around two months to heal.
Tokyo police have arrested a 27-year-old woman for posting online personal information of a professional baseball player along with violent messages.
51勛圖厙 / Crime & Legal
Jul 10, 2024
Ex-Nippon Life staffer arrested over leak of Giants player＊s information
The suspect, Satomi Amano, has denied the charges, claiming she doesn＊t remember her actions due to having made ※so many posts.§
Japan scientists identify clusters of protein believed to trigger Alzheimer＊s disease
A team of researchers said they found a ※seed§ that accelerates the amyloid beta accumulation process in the brain, naming it ※Peak 1 amyloid beta,§ as seen in a mouse&#039;s brain.
Indian brothers make manga debut in Japan
Two Indian brothers made their manga debut in Japan with "Kung Fu Kung Fool" 〞 an action-comedy series that follows the adventures of a notorious thief and a young boy.
Japan weighs regulating Pokemon cards amid trading mania
A Pokemon event is held in Jakarta on July 11
Low-income families in Japan cut food and air conditioning during summer break
Yumiko Watanabe, the chairperson of nonprofit Kidsdoor, explains the results of a survey in Tokyo&#039;s Chiyoda Ward on July 1.
Iran strikes on CIA facilities prompt questions about possible Russian role
Iranian drones are displayed in an undisclosed location in Iran, in this handout image obtained on Jan. 13, 2025.U.S. officials have acknowledged that Russia has ?provided targeting ?and other support for Iran in its drone strikes on U.S. targets in the Persian Gulf region.
The sci-fi sensibilities of electronic trio Black Boboi
Black Boboi was formed in 2018 when solo artists Julia Shortreed, Utena Kobayashi and Ermhoi came together under Kobayashi＊s newly founded label, Bindividual.
A perfect storm: Kaze Fujii fans flock to Fuji Rock
Okayama-born singer-songwriter Kaze Fujii has carved out a distinctive place in Japanese pop since his major-label debut in 2019.
Can Japanese comedy get laughs in English? Yoshimoto Kogyo lets the jokes rip
Wes-P has millions of followers and his viral clips made him recognizable out of Japan.
The 180-day locals: Life on Japan＊s digital nomad visa
Christopher Flinn works remotely from Tokyo earlier this month. Japan issued 646 digital nomad visas in 2025, but tourism officials are hoping to increase that figure in the coming years, with Japan&#039;s relatively cheap cost of living and the weak yen seen as potential draws for young professionals.
Japan reveals hint of new defense spending target in fiscal blueprint
The Self-Defense Forces&#039; Type 16 mobile combat vehicle fires during a joint live-fire drill with U.S. Marines as part of the annual Resolute Dragon exercises in Yufu, Oita Prefecture, on June 28.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo＊s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo＊s ＆stadium of desire＊

Longform

For many people, utility poles and power lines have become such a familiar part of Japan＊s landscape that they often go unnoticed.
Why Japan＊s utility poles won＊t be disappearing anytime soon
By Alex K.T. Martin

SUSTAINABLE 51勛圖厙

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS note

SUPPLEMENTS BINDER