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Kazuhiro Hatakeyama has been working on shifting the strike zone in his head a little further out because he realized it had moved inward.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/14/2013

Katsuya Nomura visited Ichi-gun camp today and was pleased to see Hatakayama with a clean-shaven face.

Nomura spoke in front of the team again in the evening.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/14/2013, Sanspo 2/14/2013, Sanspo 2/14/2013

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Akinori Iwamura is scheduled to play in a practice game against KIA (KBO) on the 16th.

Source: Sponichi 2/14/2013

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Samurai Japan candidate Ryoji Aikawa cut his practices short today and headed to Miyazaki for the start of WBC mini-camp.

Source: Sports Hochi 2/14/2013

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Wladimir Balentien felt discomfort in his right shoulder today and played it safe by making adjustments to his workout schedule.

Source: Sanspo 2/13/2013

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Akinori Iwamura took about fifty minutes of extra fielding practice at third base after general workouts today.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/13/2013, Sports Hochi 2/13/2013

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Ryosuke Morioka returned to workouts today after recovering from the flu.  He worked out separately from the main group since it was his first day back.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/13/2013

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Kenichi Matsuoka could get a look as a starter.

Source: Sanspo 2/13/2013

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Kentaro Kyuko spent about an hour and a half throwing a baseball into net during his day-off on Tuesday.

Kyuko was supposed to pitch in an intra-squad game on the 11th, but could not because the game was called early.  He is now scheduled to pitch in a practice game against KIA (KBO) on the 16th.

Source: Sanspo 2/13/2013

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1st round draft pick Taichi Ishiyama will likely make his "debut" during a practice game against Yomiuri on the 21st.  He is also slated to toss batting practice on Thursday.

Source: Sanspo 2/13/2013

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All nineteen pitchers at Ichi-gun camp tossed bullpen sessions today.  Masanori Ishikawa was the first in line.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/1/2013

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Akinori Iwamura stayed back after general workouts for extra batting practice.

Source: Sanspo 2/1/2013

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Tsubakuro "cut his workouts short" after feeling pain in both of his hamstrings while running dashes.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/1/2013, Sports Hochi 2/1/2013

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The Swallows held a two-hour meeting at the team hotel on Thursday.

Source: Sanspo 2/1/2013

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The opening day start will likely come down to the following three candidates: Kyohei Muranaka, Ishikawa, and Shohei Tateyama.

Muranaka was named a pitcher captain during Thursday's team meeting.

Source: Sanspo 2/1/2013, Sports Hochi 2/1/2013

The Yakult Swallows held a press conference for Akinori Iwamura (33) at their teams offices in Tokyo today.  Iwamura will be returning to the Swallows for the first time since 2006.  He has been assigned the number forty-eight.

Iwamura reportedly signed a deal that will pay him 15 million yen plus incentives in 2013.  Junji Ogawa has already spoken to the veteran and told him to be ready to play some first base.

Source: official announcement, Nikkan Sports 12/11/2012, Sanspo 12/11/2012

The Yakult Swallows announced today that they agreed to basic terms with Akinori Iwamura.  A press conference is scheduled for Tuesday.  No other details are currently known.

Source: Daily Sports 12/10/2012

Akinori Iwamura was cut by the Rakuten Eagles and now the Yakult Swallows appear to be the only team interested in the thirty-three-year-old veteran.

Iwamura is currently working out in Sendai.  According to an unnamed source close to him, he is willing to play any position if it means he can continue his career.  He also does not appear to be too concerned about how much he signs for -- he made 150M yen this past season and may end up signing a deal with incentives and a base worth of around 20M yen.

The Swallows are looking to improve their hitting from the left-side and Iwamura could help fill that need.  However, he may end up being a back-up player/bat off the bench depending on how the left-side of the infield shapes up next season.

Source: Sanspo 11/1/2012

According to Nikkan Sports, there is a good chance the Yakult Swallows will offer Akinori Iwamura (33) a contract after the twelve-team tryouts.

Yakult is also planning to bring Wladimir Balentien, Lastings Milledge, Tony Barnette, and Orlando Roman back next season.  Things do not look quite as good for Chang-Yong Lim (coming back from right elbow surgery in July).

Source: Nikkan Sports 10/16/2012

The media learned on Sunday that the Yakult Swallows are looking into Akinori Iwamura (33).

Said Swallows' official Junsei Atarashi, "We need to look into [Iwamura].  We will listen to what the people on the field have to say before making a decision.  After all, he did once play for our team."

I should note that depending on the source, Atarashi's quote changes slightly.  For example, the above is from Daily Sports and they make it sound like they "need" to look into Iwamura while many of the other articles make it sound like they "probably will" look into the veteran.

** I forgot to add that it was reportedly Junji Ogawa that asked the front office to look into Iwamura.

Source: Sanspo 10/8/2012, Daily Sports 10/8/2012, Sports Hochi 10/8/2012, Sponichi 10/8/2012, Nikkan Sports 10/8/2012

Akinori Iwamura updated his blog with a message about his release from the Rakuten Eagles:

I think many may already know, but my contract with the Rakuten Eagles is over after the year.

I feel very disappointed/frustrated at how things turned out.

I am full of regret for not being able to perform at the level I was hoping to during my two years in Sendai.  But it was a good experience because I was able to learn a lot over my two-year stay.

Even though I will be leaving Sendai with unfinished business, thank you for all your support.

I feel strongly that I can not let things end like this.  I do not know what will happen next year, but in order to make another strong impression on everyone again...

This will not be the end of me!

I will take that thought and push myself forward.

According to Nikkan Sports, the Eagles could inform Akinori Iwamura (33) today that he is no longer a part of the team's plans for the 2013 season. Iwamura believes he can still play and will continue his training as he waits for another offer.  Source: Nikkan Sports 10/7/2012

UPDATE @ 10:53pm - The Eagles announced today that they will not offer Iwamura a contract for the 2013 season.  Source: official announcement

UPDATE @ 11:32pm - Iwamura will wait for domestic offers.  He may also consider heading back to the US.  Source: Daily Sports 10/7/2012

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The Buffaloes informed  Cha-Seung Baek (32) on Friday that he is not a part of the team's plans for the 2013 season.  An official announcement has yet to be made.  Source: Nikkan Sports 10/6/2012