Sumo: Asashoryu arrives back in Japan full of remorse
November 30, 2007Grand champion Asashoryu returned to Japan full of remorse Friday and apologized for playing soccer in Mongolia when he was supposedly carrying injuries that allowed him to sit out a regional sumo tournament. The Japan Sumo Association banned the yokozuna from the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament in September and the Kyushu meet in November after it was discovered he had played in a charity match in his homeland, even though he had asked to be excused from the summer tournament because of injury.
Soccer: Okada picked as Japan national coach to replace Osim
November 30, 2007The Japan Football Association decided Friday to recommend Takeshi Okada as national coach to take over from Ivica Osim, who suffered a stroke two weeks ago. The JFA technical committee approved the recommendation of Okada, 51, who guided Japan to their debut at the World Cup finals in 1998 in France. The association is expected to finalize the matter at an executive board meeting on Dec. 7.
Baseball: Astros set to sign K. Matsui: report
November 30, 2007Barring some unforeseen developments, the Houston Astros will beat out the Chicago Cubs and Colorado Rockies to sign free-agent second baseman Kazuo Matsui, the Houston Chronicle reported Friday. Without addressing Matsui, Astros general manager Ed Wade reportedly stuck to his policy of not commenting on specific players until a contract is done.
Volleyball: Russia handed 1st defeat, Japan loses again at World Cup
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Figure Skating: Ando 2nd after SP at NHK Trophy, Kostner in lead
November 30, 2007Reigning world champion Miki Ando made a hesitant start to her campaign at the NHK Trophy, placing second to Italy's Carolina Kostner after the short program on Friday. Ando, aiming to go one better than her runner-up finish at Skate America a month ago, reduced a triple-triple combination to a triple-double early in her routine and had a shaky spiral en route to collecting 60.52 points. European champion Kostner received 61.24 and Switzerland's Sarah Meier was third with 59.16.
Baseball: Chunichi wins Central League title with extra-inning win
October 10, 2006Kosuke Fukudome drove in the go-ahead run and Tyrone Woods hit a grand slam in the top of the 12th inning Tuesday as the Chunichi Dragons clinched the Central League title with a 9-3 victory over the Yomiuri Giants. Fukudome lined a single to center field to break a 3-3 tie after Motonobu Tanishige, Masahiro Araki and Hirokazu Ibata singled off Hisanori Takahashi (2-6) to load the bases with one out.
Boxing: Kameda shows injury, stays confident about rematch
October 10, 2006WBA light flyweight champion Koki Kameda showed the injury he suffered late last month Tuesday and said he is confident as ever about the rematch against Venezuelan Juan Landaeta. ''I've been recovering quicker than I first thought, making it look like I can have a sparring session next month,'' Kameda said at a press conference at his Kyoei Gym, explaining about the cut above his left eye for the first time.
Baseball: Macha named manager for MLB exhibition trip to Japan
October 10, 2006Oakland Athletics manager Ken Macha has been named manager for the team of major leaguers visiting Japan for next month's exhibition series against players selected from the 12 clubs in Japanese baseball, organizers said Tuesday. Macha, who played in Japan with the Chunichi Dragons for four seasons from 1982, will head the team featuring Japanese players Kenji Jojima and Tadahito Iguchi in the five-game series beginning at Tokyo Dome on Nov. 3.
Sumo: Asashoryu rolls over Miyabiyama at Autumn sumo
September 20, 2006Mongolian yokozuna Asashoryu moved a step closer to winning his 18th career Emperor's Cup with a sumo clinic of sekiwake Miyabiyama on the 11th day of action at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament on Wednesday. Asashoryu improved to 10-1 to stay on course in a share of the lead with countryman Ama as the 15-day meet winds down at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Baseball: Jojima hits 17th homer, Ichiro gets 3 hits
September 20, 2006Seattle Mariners catcher Kenji Jojima hit his 17th home run of the season and Ichiro Suzuki went 3-for-7 with two RBIs and two stolen bases in a 9-7 win in 10 innings over the Texas Rangers on Tuesday. Jojima topped the Japanese rookie home run record in the major leagues of 16 held by New York Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui in 2003, blasting a solo homer to left off Edison Volquez in the first inning at Ameriquest Field.