The NPB announced that the 2016 Fresh All-Star Game will take place at Muscat Stadium in Kurashiki, Okayama on July 24, 2016. The 2015 Fresh All-Star Game was scheduled to take place at Muscat Stadium this year, but it was canceled due to bad worth caused by a typhoon.

The 2015 Premier 12 is expected to finish in the black by about 120 million yen.

The NPB decided on a number of preventative measures to educate players about damaging activities. Workshops will be held at all spring camp locations in February; teams will educate players and staff on damaging activities using posters and pamphlets; and the NPB commissioner will announce that transfer of money between players dealing with baseball and gambling with large amounts of money will not be allowed. A committee made up of disciplinary representatives from each of the twelve NPB teams will also be established to discuss and exchange opinions.

Source: Sports Hochi 12/14/2015, Daily Sports 12/14/2015, Sponichi 12/14/2015

[UPDATE 12/17 @ 1:29am]

Recap of preventative measures:

1. workshops for all players during Ni-gun spring camp
2. educational tools to help educate players -- informative posters and pamphlets about damaging activities
3. commissioner's statement that money exchanges connected to baseball between players and gambling with large amounts of money is prohibited.
4. all teams must be involved.
5. information and opinions can be exchanged and shared through a committee

Source: Sponichi 12/15/2015, Daily Sports 12/15/2015

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The Student Baseball Coaching License progam took place at Waseda University in Shinjuku, Tokyo over the weekend (December 12, 13). The two-day program was attended by 119 former professional players. Another session will be held in Osaka next weekend (December 19, 20).

Among the attendees:

Source: Daily Sports 12/12/2015, Daily Sports 12/13/2015, Nikkan Sports 12/13/2015, Sanspo 12/14/2015

Premier 12 All-World Team

Titles/Awards

Attendance: - |  Time: 2h26m

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Attendance: - |  Time: 3h50m

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Samurai Japan updates:

• Shota Takeda and Tomoyuki Sugano are candidates to start the possible Finals game on November 21. Source: Daily Sports 11/18/2015 ... Sugano threw twenty-eight pitches in the bullpen on November 17 and made adjustments to his pitches on the outside corner against left-handed hitters. Source: Sports Hochi 11/18/2015
• Shohei Otani threw thirty-two pitches in the bullpen on November 17. Source: Daily Sports 11/18/2015
• Hiroki Kokubo will set the starting line-up against Korea on November 19 based on Takeya Nakamura's condition (right hamstring). If the slugger can play, he will most likely bat clean-up. Source: Daily Sports 11/18/2015 ... If Nakamura is not able to play, Yoshitomo Tsutsugo could bat fourth again, with Sho Nakata in the five hole. Source: Sponichi 11/18/2015
• All non-pitchers, other than the three catchers on the roster, got the day off on November 17. Source: Sponichi 11/18/2015

Other Samurai Japan news:

• The U-15 Asia Challenge Match 2015 is scheduled to take place at Botchan Stadium in Matsuyama between November 21 and 23. Three teams will be competing in the tournament: Japan, Chinese Taipei, and a team from Matsuyama. Sadaaki Yoshimura was named manager of the U-15 on November 12. Rosters were unveiled on November 18. Source: official announcement, Nikkan Sports 11/12/2015, Sponichi 11/18/2015
• The top Samurai Japan team could play another exhibition series in March 2016 (there are ongoing talks with Taiwan). If they do, they might turn to younger prospects to fill the roster, like Soka University's Seigi Tanaka and Rakuten's first round draft pick Louis Okoye. Source: Sports 11/18/2015

[UPDATE @ 4:32pm]

Samurai Japan updates:

• For tonight's game against Korea: Takahiro Norimoto could relieve Shohei Otani. Hiroki Kokubo is expected to use Yuki Matsui as closer. Source: Sponichi 11/19/2015
• It will either be Shota Takeda or Tomoyuki Sugano for the the possible Finals game start on Novemer 21. Source: Nikkan Sports 11/19/2015, Sponichi 11/19/2015
• The Hublot Aerofusion Premier 12 will be presented to the Hublot Player of the Day during the Semifinals and to the winner of the MVP. Source: PR Times, Sponichi 11/19/2015
• According to Tokyo Sports, if Samurai Japan wins the tournament, the one million dollar prize money will be used as follows: half will go to the NPB and the other half to the players. The money going to the players will be used to purchase thirty-five championship rings (twenty-eight players, one manager, six coaches) at about one million yen a piece. Anything left over will be handed out to players based on performance. Source: Tokyo Sports 11/19/2015

Premier 12 Schedule and Results

Finals & Bronze Medal Game

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Samurai Japan updates:

• Shohei Otani is scheduled to start the semifinals game against Korea on November 19. Source: Daily Sports 11/17/2015
• If Japan makes it to the Finals, Tomoyuki Sugano is a candidate to get the start. Source: Sports Hochi 11/16/2015, Nikkan Sports 11/16/2015 ... Shota Takeda and Yudai Ono could also be candidates for the start. Source: Sponichi 11/17/2015
• Takeya Nakamura missed the Puerto Rico game on November 16 with tightness in his right hamstring. Source: Daily Sports 11/17/2015, Sponichi 11/17/2015
• Yoshitomo Tsutsugo stayed back after the Venezuela game on November 15 for some extra fielding practice. Source: Sponichi 11/16/2015
• Scouts from at least fifteen MLB baseball teams were at the Puerto Rico game on November 16. Source: Daily Sports 11/17/2015, Sponichi 11/17/2015

Attendance: - |  Time: 3h14m

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Samurai Japan updates:

• Kenta Maeda is set to start the quarterfinals game on November 16 on four days of rest. Source: Sponichi 11/15/2015 ... Shohei Otani could start the Semifinals game with Maeda returning to the mound the Finals game on November 21. Source: Nikkan Sports 11/14/2015
• Maeda threw about thirty pitches in the bullpen on November 14. Source: Daily Sports 11/15/2015
• Otani threw twenty-six pitches in the bullpen on November 14. Source: Daily Sports 11/15/2015
• Samurai Japan is thinking about giving players a championship ring if they manage to win the Premier 12. Money from winning the tournament would be used to help pay for the rings. Source: Sports Hochi 11/10/2015

Attendance: - |  Time: 3h21m

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