The NPB and the Baseball Federation of Japan (BFJ) held a press conference in Tokyo today to announce the establishment of the Japan Baseball Marketing Committee (JBMC - Yakyu Nihon Daihyo Marketing Iinkai).

In an effort to strengthen ties between professional and amateur baseball organizations, improve the level of competition, and expand marketing potential, all national baseball teams (including university, Industrial League, and women's baseball) will wear the Samurai Japan uniform.  The JBMC's first job will be to find sponsors for the Japan-USA University Baseball Championship Series that takes place later this year in July.

Source: Sponichi 5/16/2013

IBAF members arrived in Japan today for the meetings that will be taking place at the Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa in Tokyo over the weekend.

April 13

• IBAF Executive Meeting at 8:30am
• Continental Confederations at 10:30am
• Afternoon meetings - Development, Women's Baseball, Tournaments

April 14

• XXVII Ordinary Congress (agenda)
• Press conference / World Baseball Softball Confederation (Olympic Reinstatement) / Premium 12

Source: official announcement, official announcement

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IBAF president Riccardo Fraccari visited NPB offices today and met NPB commissioner Ryozo Kato and NPB secretary general Kunio Shimoda for about an hour.

Source: Nikkan Sports 4/12/2013

Yomiuri Giants

The Giants will likely start Ryosuke Miyaguni, Toshiya Sugiuchi, and Hirokazu Sawamura against Hanshin.  They will also carry seven relievers instead of the usual six (thirteen pitchers in all) because the coaches are confident about their eight starting position players.

Source: Daily Sports 4/9/2013, Sponichi 4/9/2013

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General pitching coach Kazuhisa Kawaguchi worked with Sugiuchi on his pitching mechanics during workouts at Giants Stadium on Monday.  He threw forty-four pitches in the bullpen.

Source: Daily Sports 4/9/2013, Sponichi 4/9/2013

Chunichi Dragons

Ryoji Nakata worked out in right during fielding practice at Nagoya Stadium on Monday.

Source: Nikkan Sports 4/9/2013

Yakult Swallows

Wladimir Balentien played in his first rehab game today -- exhibition Ni-gun game vs the Niigata Albirex Baseball Club, designated hitter batting third, three trips to the plate: single to right, ground out to first, walk.  He is slated to start a game against the Futures in right on Wednesday and could make the active roster as early as the 12th (vs Yomiuri).

Source: Sponichi 4/9/2013, Sanspo 4/9/2013

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The Swallows will sell special limited Ni-gun weekend tickets that include a chance to take fielding practice with coaches, or play catch with a player, for 1,500 yen.  Other options include a free drink plus a chance to run the bases for 500 yen and an autographed board plus a beer coupon for 1,000 yen.  Additional information can be found at the official team site.

Source: official announcement via Sanspo 4/9/2013

Hanshin Tigers

Matt Murton plans to donate fifty kilograms of rice to areas affected by the Tohoku earthquake for every victory the team records this season.

Source: official blog entry 4/6/2013, Daily Sports 4/9/2013

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New player lunch boxes were released by Koshien Stadium today.

Source: official announcement

Yokohama Bay Stars

The uniform Alex Ramirez wore when he recorded his 2,000th hit is on display at a museum located underneath Rami-chan Cage.

Source: Sponichi 4/9/2013

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Kiyoshi Nakahata will be a special guest at the third game of the All-Star Series this year (at Iwaki).

Source: Sponichi 4/9/2013

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The Bay Stars will sell special Women Seat Plus ticket packs for two games against Seibu (May 28, 29) at Yokohama Stadium.  The tickets will cost 4,000 yen and will include two seats (one for the ticket holder and one for her bags) and a katsu sandwich.  Tickets will be limited to 100 for each day.

Source: Daily Sports 4/9/2013

The Japan Women's Baseball League started running a "second career" program in 2010 that aimed to provide players with other work options for when they retire from baseball.  The league announced on Friday that eight players failed to earn certifications as judo therapists because they did not graduate from their vocational school.  The players have been issued partial suspensions from games this season.

Tiara Cup

• Cannot be named to the starting line-up on the first day of the first ten tournaments.
• They will be allowed to play on the first day of the tournament, but not until the 5th inning.
• They can be named to the starting line-up on the second game.

Victoria Series

• Cannot play until the fifth game of the series.

The eight players that were suspended:

Konishi, Mika (West Flora)
Matsumoto, Ikuyo (West Flora)
Atsugase, Miki (South Dione)
Nihara, Chie (South Dione)
Kawaho, Maya (East Astraia)
Iwaya, Miri (North Reia)
Kokubo, Shino (North Reia)
Takizawa, Aya (North Reia)

Players that graduated from their vocational school were not issued suspensions, regardless of whether or not they passed the state examinations.

Source: official announcement

UPDATE @ 8:45pm -

Daily Sports notes that all eight players were Hyogo members when they first started the "second career" program and that there may have been problems with the vocational school they attended.

Source: Daily Sports 3/31/2013

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The JWBL season began on Saturday with the Tiara Cup Kyoto Tournament.

Dione 3 - Flora 7
Reia 4 - Astraia 4*

Fiora will play Astraia in the Finals on Sunday.  Dione and Reia will play for third place.

* captains from each team drew lots to determine winner

Nippon Ham Fighters vs Seibu Lions @ Seibu Dome - 18:00
Starters: Takeda, Masaru (HAM) - Kishi, Takayuki (SEI)

Attendance: 26750 | Time: 3h27m

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The Japan Women's Baseball League announced today that Tokyo MX will broadcast thirty games and KBS Kyoto ten games.

The 2013 Tiara Cup begins in Kyoto on March 30.

Source: Daily Sports 3/28/2013

The Japan Women's Baseball League (JWBL) donated team uniforms to the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Tokyo on Saturday.  Miri Iwaya (North Reia), Chihiro Sato (North Reia), Mika Konishi (West Flora), and Yasuko Ozawa (East Astraia) took part in the presentation ceremony at the museum.

The uniforms will be on display in the main hall through the weekend and will move to a JWBL section on Monday.

Source: official announcement (JWBL), official announcement (HoF)

Nippon Ham Fighters

Atsuori Inaba and Sho Nakata will likely play in one exhibition game before the start of the regular season: on the 24th vs Yakult at Sapporo Dome.

Source: Nikkan Sports 3/19/2013

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1st round draft pick Shohei Otani threw twenty to thirty pitches in the bullpen before today's exhibition game against Lotte.  He also played in the game: pinch-hitter with none on and one out in the 9th and flied out to right.

Source: Sponichi 3/19/2013

The Fighters are not planning to pitch Otani at Ichi-gun after his outing against Rakuten on the 21st.  After the 21st, he will pitch in Ni-gun games.  For all intents and purposes, it seems the Fighters see Ichi-gun as a place where Otani can work on his hitting and Ni-gun as a place where he can work on his pitching.

Source: Sports Hochi 3/19/2013

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Otani could join other players on the subway wrapping for the Toho line in Sapporo.  The 2013 wrapping will be unveiled on the 23rd.

The design for 2013 has already been finalized, but there is an open space next to Masaru Takeda that has been reserved for up-and-coming players during the season.

Source: official announcment, Nikkan Sports 3/19/2013

Seibu Lions

WBC members are scheduled to rejoin the team on the 21st.

Source: Nikkan Sports 3/19/2013

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Women's ice hockey player Chiho Osawa is scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch on opening day (29th vs Nippon Ham).

Source: Sanspo 3/19/2013

Softbank Hawks

If Tadashi Settsu does not need extra time to rest, he will likely pitch in one of three exhibition games against Hiroshima that begins on the 22nd before making the opening day start on the 29th vs Rakuten at YafuOku Dome.

Source: Sponichi 3/19/2013

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A Shota Takeda fan club will be launched on April 3.  Over 10,000 fans from Miyazaki have already enrolled.

Takeda is scheduled to pitch in an exhibition game against Lotte on the 20th.  He threw forty-four pitches in the bullpen at Jingu on Monday.

Source: official site, Nikkan Sports 3/19/2013

Rakuten Eagles

The six hole in the starting rotation is still open.  Kenji Tomura, Yasunori Kikuchi, Satoshi Nagai, and Manabu Mima are candidates.

Source: Nikkan Sports 3/19/2013

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Senichi Hoshino might pitch Masahiro Tanaka on the 23rd against Yomiuri at Tokyo Dome.  Hoshino could then use that outing to determine if Tanaka can make the opening day start on the 29th against Softbank at YafuOku Dome.

Wataru Karashima and Yoshinao Kamata are opening day starter candidates if Tanaka is not ready.

Source: Sanspo 3/19/2013, Sponichi 3/19/2013, Sports Hochi 3/19/2013

Chiba Lotte Marines

Yuki Karakawa joined the Ichi-gun team today.  He is currently slated to pitch in an exhibition game against Chunichi at Nagoya Dome on the 24th.

Source: Sponichi 3/19/2013

Orix Buffaloes

Brandon Dickson may have moved one step closer to a spot in the starting rotation with his outing today: two runs on four hits over six innings of work.

Source: Nikkan Sports 3/19/2013

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Yoshihisa Hirano may end up as the only reliever in the bullpen with a set role (closer).

Source: Nikkan Sports 3/19/2013

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Hayato Terahara's back is feeling better -- he was able to participate in practice at Jingu on Monday and is slated to toss a bullpen session soon.  If there are no setback, he should be ok to make the opening day starting rotation.

Source: Sports Hochi 3/19/2013

The Japan Women's Baseball League (JWBL) added thirteen new players during the off-season.  However, expansion has left each of the four teams with fourteen to fifteen players.  Concerned about injuries, the league announced earlier this month that they were going to hold tryouts to find new talent that can play right away.

The tryouts took place on Saturday at Toyonaka Rose Stadium.  Only one person showed up -- a twenty-two-year-old junior Olympic javelin thrower with no baseball experience.

The league will continue to actively pursue new talent by holding regular tryouts throughout the year.

Source: Daily Sports 3/18/2013

The Japan Women's Baseball League posted schedules for the Tiara Cup and the Victoria Series.

Source: official announcement

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