FromJapan

Stassi and Ohtani exchanged greetings during the Dodgers vs. White Sox game on February 27th. This game was broadcast live in Japan.

Dbacks again?

The affiliations of Japanese players for 2024 season have been confirmed. Since teams with two Japanese players are concentrated in the National League, it is expected that the National League will be the primary source of game broadcasts in Japan. Ohtani and Yamamoto (Dodgers)　 Darvish and Matsui (Padres) Suzuki and Imanaga (Cubs) Senga and Fujinami (Mets) The American League includes Kikuchi (Blue Jays), Yoshida (Red Sox), and Maeda (Tigers). Uwasawa (Rays) and Tsutsugo (Giants) have minor league deals.

Yokohama DeNA BayStars manager Miura made the following comments regarding Trevor Bauer's future on Japanese sports news TV programs on January 23rd. "First of all, his top priority is currently negotiations with Major League teams," Miura said. "Once those possibilities are exhausted, I believe he will re-engage with us, so we're currently in a holding pattern." "Our team has made an offer," Miura continued. "However, Bauer's primary focus is on the Major Leagues. His agents are currently exploring potential transfer destinations there." (Reference in Japanese) Baseball King on January 23

Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks is a team in the NPB Pacific League that Senga (Mets) belonged to until 2022.

The Yomiuri Giants belong to the NPB Central League and are based in Tokyo. The parent company is Yomiuri Shimbun, a Japanese newspaper.

In Japan, there is a game of transferring soybeans from one plate to another, which is derived from practicing how to use chopsticks. In addition, this "bean picking test" using chopsticks is sometimes conducted as one of the indicators for examining aging and motor function.

English explanation of how to use chopsticks, written on a disposable chopstick paper wrapper at a restaurant in Tokyo International Airport.

Yokohama DeNA BayStars (NPB) are likely to be without two reliable starting pitchers, as Imanaga transferred to the Cubs and Bauer's future is currently unknown. On January 12th, they landed Andre Jackson, who was a DFA from the Pirates. They have already acquired two pitchers, Rowan Wick (31), who was of the Buffalo Bisons and became a free agent, and Anthony Kay (28) from the Las Vegas Aviators. The Baystars' stove is still hot.

I sometimes watched Nippon-Ham's games on TV when Ohtani was there, but I don't have much of an impression of Uwasawa. I think it is unlikely that he will be able to play a sufficient role as a starting rotation pitcher in MLB. On October 1, 2023, when Uwasawa got his ninth win in an official NPB game, manager Shinjo* commented, "Based on his performance so far, I don't think we can send him to MLB using the posting system." "But (it's his dream, so) I want to support him." (Reference in Japanese) Daily Sports on October 1, 2023 *, In 2002, Shinjo of the Giants played against the Angels in the World Series. In the top of the 9th inning of Game 7, pinch hitter Shinjo was struck out by Percival.

Uwasawa's injury history in NPB - The seasons he got injured, his stats weren't good. (March 23, 2016) Right elbow joint synovial fold removal surgery (June 18, 2019) Left patella fracture (a complete recovery after 5 months) (June 19, 2019) Left knee reduction and fixation (July 16, 2022) Right third toe proximal phalanx fracture (July 19, 2022) Osteosynthesis ------ (NPB official page) His stats

This post was also introduced in Japan. (Link in Japanese) Is Bauer alternative to Ohtani? GM refuses to comment...will the tide change? - Full-Count on Janunary 7. (Quotaion of the last sentence) "The Angels are also considered a candidate team to acquire Imanaga, so will Bauer ever fill the hole left by Ohtani?"

(Link in English) Comparison of Uwasawa, Yamamoto, and Imanaga - Breaking Down the Arsenal of Free Agent Naoyuki Uwasawa ------ Uwasawa (29, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters), who is hoping to transfer to the Major Leagues through the posting system, visited a Japanese pub (izakaya) "HACHI", where Ippei's father Hidemasa works, in Costa Mesa. When the Fighters came to Arizona for spring training from 2016 to 2018, Hidemasa was a chef for them. (Link in Japanese) Sponichi Annex on January 7th, 2024 (JST)

Another Japanese sports media has reported that the Giants may withdraw from the competition for acquiring Imanaga, citing X (Twitter) below.

I slightly summarized and translated the second page of the Sanspo article. Sanspo operates the news media for a Japanese newspaper company, Sankei Shimbun. The Giants are in high demand considering the team's pitching staff. They acquired 2021 Cy Young Award LHP Robbie Ray (32) in a trade, but he is expected to miss the first half of 2024 season after undergoing TJ surgery last April. The starting LHP prospect, Kyle Harrison (22), made his Major League debut last season and pitched in only seven games. At the start of 2024 season, there is no left-hander among the starting pitchers who can consistently set up games and pitch in many games. Imanaga fits the needs of the Giants. IF Yoshitomo Tsutsugo (32), who was his teammate at Yokohama DeNA BayStars (NPB), has signed a minor league contract with the Giants and will participate in the spring training and games in February as an invited player. For Imanaga, he will be a reassuring presence. The Angels are also a candidate. The mild climate of the West Coast is an attractive environment where Imanaga can easily demonstrate his abilities. The team is rebuilding and he will be able to adjust to the Major Leagues with the mental burden is light. However, three LHPs, Suarez, Detmers, and Anderson, are already expected to be in the starting rotation.

Communication from the air traffic controller (Tokyo TOWER) to Japan Coast Guard plane, JA722A, before the accident. Tokyo TOWER said, "JA722A Tokyo TOWER good evening, No.1, taxi to holding point C5." JA722A repeated, "Taxi to holding point C5 JA722A No.1, Thank you." JA722A had to wait at a holding point in front of the runway. Although JA722A was reading back, it is suspected that it mistakenly entered the runway. (Link in English) Tokyo air traffic control transcript - ABC NEWS Australia (Reference in Japanese) TBS NEWS on January 3rd (JST) Japan Airlines suffered approximately $100 million in damage, which is expected to be covered by aviation insurance.

At 17:47 on January 2nd (JST), a Japan Airlines plane and a Japan Coast Guard plane collided at Haneda Airport (Tokyo). A fire broke out on a JAL plane and it was completely burnt out. All 367 passengers and 12 crew members escaped. Meanwhile, only one of the six crew members of a Japan Coast Guard plane survived.

At 16:10 on January 1st (JST), a M7.6 earthquake occurred along the coast of the Sea of Japan. Tsunami warning issued (up to 16 feet expected) too.