Some updates from July 23 (post will be updated throughout the day, as needed):

The teams arrived in Iwate on a chartered flight out of Matsuyama Airport.  A welcoming ceremony was held at Hanamaki Airport.  Source: Sanspo 7/23/2012

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Pre-game ceremony will include: Thelma Aoyama will sing the national anthem; the Japan Self-Defence Force will fly two F-2 fighters over Iwate Stadium; and haiku baseballs made by kids in Matsuyama will be presented to kids in Iwate.  Source: Sanspo 7/23/2012

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Daisuke Miura (Yokohama) wants to throw a slow curve at least once during his start -- he is shooting for something in the 80km/h range.  Source: Sanspo 7/23/2012

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Hideki Kuriyama told reporters, perhaps jokingly, that he expects Sho Nakata (Nippon Ham) to win the HR Derby and that if he will fine him if he does not.  Source: Sanspo 7/23/2012

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Takayuki Kishi (Seibu), Takahiro Shiomi (Rakuten), Koji Aoyama (Rakuten), and Hisashi Takeda (Nippon Ham) will likely get chances to pitch today.  Source: Sanspo 7/23/2012

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Hitoki Iwase (Chunichi) will not be available to pitch tonight because his left elbow is not feeling well.  He apparently missed Game 2 for the same reason.

Source: Sanspo 7/23/2012, Nikkan Sports 7/23/2012

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Masahiro Araki (Chunichi) could get a chance to test his left hamstring during an appearance in tonight's game.  Source: Nikkan Sports 7/23/2012

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Kyuji Fujikawa (Hanshin) will most likely not pitch today.  Source: Sanspo 7/23/2012

Fujikawa also approached Tony Barnette (Yakult) for some tips on how to throw the cutter.  Source: Sanspo 7/23/2012, Nikkan Sports 7/23/2012

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If Nobuhiro Matsuda (Softbank) gets the start at third base tonight, he has the chance of becoming the only player on either roster to play every inning of this year's All-Star Series.  Source: Nikkan Sports 7/23/2012