Sumo: Tochiazuma wins 3rd career title at New Year sumo
January 22, 2006Ozeki Tochiazuma captured his third career title after overpowering yokozuna Asashoryu on the final day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday. Tochiazuma, who won his first Emperor's Cup in 13 meets, quickly got a left-handed grip on Asashoryu's belt after the face-off and dumped the yokozuna to the dirt in the day's final bout to finish with an outstanding 14-1 mark at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Ski jumping: Norway's Ljoekelsoey wins World Cup meet
January 22, 2006Norwegian ski jumper Roar Ljoekelsoey edged Japan's Daiki Ito to claim his first victory this season on the World Cup circuit Sunday, while veteran Japanese Takanobu Okabe finished third for the second straight day. Ljoekelsoey went one better than his runner-up finish Saturday with leaps of 140 and 125.5 meters at the K-120 Okurayama hill for a winning total of 281.4 points, 0.5 clear of Ito, who traveled 137.5 and 128 meters for his career-best World Cup showing.
Baseball: Japanese catcher Jojima arrives in Seattle for rookie year
January 22, 2006Newly signed Seattle Mariners catcher Kenji Jojima arrived in the United States on Saturday evening ahead of spring training for his rookie season in the major leagues. Jojima, a former Softbank Hawks player who spent 11 years in Japanese baseball, arrived in Seattle after heavy snow in Japan delayed his flight for more than eight hours.