Olympic champion Tani gives birth to boy
December 31, 2005Two-time Olympic judo champion Ryoko Tani gave birth to a boy at a hospital in Hyogo Prefecture on Saturday. The Orix Buffaloes, for whom her baseball player husband Yoshitomo Tani plays, made the announcement. Tani, 30, who won the women's 48-kil...
Lack of firepower a worry for Zico ahead of World Cup
December 31, 2005Coach Zico has admitted Japan must demonstrate more of a killer instinct in front of goal ahead of the World Cup finals and is hoping the return of injury-weary striker Tatsuhiko Kubo will provide a solution to his side's problems in attack. In Ce...
Nakata says switch from Marseille possible
December 31, 2005Japanese international defender Koji Nakata, who is having an unhappy spell at Marseille, has suggested the possibility of his leaving the French first-division club. "It's possible that I'll move to another team in January, although nothing has been...
Ishii to decide new team around Jan 20
December 31, 2005Kazuhisa Ishii said Friday he plans to decide around Jan. 20 which team to pitch for in 2006. "I want to make a decision after having some talks in Japan," said Ishii, who was released by the New York Mets earlier this month. A total of seven Japa...
Omiya's Miura to stay at helm
December 31, 2005Omiya Ardija have reached a contract agreement to retain the services of manager Toshiya Miura next season, team officials said Friday. Miura, 42, guided Omiya to a 13th place finish to remain in the J-League first division in their first challeng...