Soccer: Kashima striker Suzuki to join Red Star
January 25, 2006Japan and Kashima Antlers striker Takayuki Suzuki is set to join former European champions Red Star Belgrade on a two-year contract, soccer sources said Wednesday. Suzuki left Japan for Belgrade the same day to undergo a medical examination before completing the signing. Kashima had received an offer earlier this month for the 29-year-old from the club in the Serbia and Montenegro league.
Baseball: Mariners introduce Japanese catcher Jojima
January 25, 2006New Japanese import Kenji Jojima said Tuesday he is ready to gear up for his rookie season in the major leagues and eager to break the language barrier as he was officially introduced by the Seattle Mariners. ''Hello, everybody! How are you doing?'' Jojima said in English at the outset of his press conference at Safeco Field. ''Thank you for coming today. My name is Kenji Jojima. I am from Sasebo, Japan.''
Skiing: Sasaki places 2nd in World Cup slalom
January 25, 2006Japan's Akira Sasaki barely missed victory in the World Cup men's slalom on Tuesday, finishing a career-high second for the first time in two years. Sasaki came in second after clocking a combined time of 1:43.13. He last came in second on the World Cup circuit in January 2003.