Japan Times (Free subscription) | 11/21/2009
After being in Japan for a while, you get to know a place by its festivals. See a gaggle of folk in a TV clip freezing their extremities off while gawping at vast, whimsical sculptures carved from snow and ice, and you recognize immediately they're in Sapporo.
Japan Probe (Free subscription) | 11/14/2009
Having reported on eyebrow cat, eyebrow dog, and wig cat, “Nanikore Chin Hakkei” moves on to a cat in Sapporo with the Chinese character for “8″ [八] on its forehead: The cat is, of course, named Hachi. He’s had that mark on his forehead since he was a kitten. The owners bought him at [...]
Japan Times (Free subscription) | 11/10/2009
Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters ace Yu Darvish has been diagnosed with a stress fracture in the index finger of his right hand, the Pacific League club said Tuesday. A small fracture in the joint was discovered when the 15-game winner visited a Sapporo hospital late on Monday. Darvish will have the joint immobilized for two to three weeks.
Japan Times (Free subscription) | 11/10/2009
SAPPORO — Marc Kroon sank to his knees after the final out of the Japan Series. Overcome with emotion, there was nothing more the Yomiuri Giants closer could do after earning a save in the 2-0 series-clinching win in Game 6 at Sapporo Dome on Saturday.
Japan Times (Free subscription) | 11/09/2009
SAPPORO — For one last time, the entire Sapporo Dome was shaking as the crowd was trying to give energy to the Hokkaido Nippon Fighters with perhaps their most symbolic way of cheering. But Atsunori Inaba's tank was almost empty.
Japan Times (Free subscription) | 11/07/2009
SAPPORO — Tetsuya Utsumi didn't expect to get a second chance to redeem himself in the Japan Series. But when opportunity came knocking in Game 6, he responded like a champion.
Japan Times (Free subscription) | 11/06/2009
SAPPORO — It was almost like a nightmare for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters and their loyal fans on this northern island. Yet the supporters presented a warm welcome to their beloved team as it returned home on Friday, one day after the Yomiuri Giants handed it a disastrous sayonara defeat at Tokyo Dome.
Japan Times (Free subscription) | 11/06/2009
SAPPORO — The Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters mostly took the day off on Friday but there's no hiding from the situation they find themselves in as the Japan Series returns to Hokkaido. The Fighters lost a gut-wrenching 3-2 contest to the Yomiuri Giants in Game 5 of the Japan Series. Now they find themselves on a brink of elimination against a squad riding high after an improbable victory.
Japan Times (Free subscription) | 11/04/2009
The Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters already knew they'd be heading back to Sapporo on Friday. Shinji Takahashi helped make sure they'd have some company.
Japan Times (Free subscription) | 11/02/2009
Yu Darvish went into the game in his worst shape, but left one of the best impressions of his legend-in-the-making career. The Fighters ace electrified fans by making an unexpected comeback to the mound in Sunday's Game 2 of the ongoing Japan Series, helping the Hokkaido Nippon Ham tied the series with a 4-2 victory over the Yomiuri Giants at Sapporo Dome.
Japan Times (Free subscription) | 11/01/2009
SAPPORO — Thanks to a Central League rule, Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters manager Masataka Nashida was able to play coy until the very end. Everybody knew the secret he was keeping. But at the same time, nobody knew for sure. Yu Darvish was definitely going to start Game 2 of the Japan Series. Wasn't he?
Japan Times (Free subscription) | 11/01/2009
SAPPORO — One of the traits of the Fighters' games at Sapporo Dome is the sincere fans' warm, enthusiastic cheering, perhaps more so than at any other ballpark. While their opponent Yomiuri Giants are considered to be the favorite to win in the ongoing Japan Series, Hokkaido Nippon Ham doesn't shrink from the challenge, partly because it feels like it has an edge with its fans.
Japan Times (Free subscription) | 11/01/2009
SAPPORO — Yu Darvish and Tsuyoshi Shinjo had Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters fans worked up into a frenzy before the second game of the Japan Series had even started. There was a whole lot more to cheer about once things really got going.
Japan Probe (Free subscription) | 11/01/2009
Earlier this week, a couple deer somehow found their way into Sapporo and police tried to stop them: As you can see from the video, attempts to capture the deer were unsuccessful and authorities lost sight of these particular animals sometime in the evening. — Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe) dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)
Japan Times (Free subscription) | 10/31/2009
SAPPORO — The Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters had the tying run at second, the winning run at first and visions of another walk-off win in the playoffs dancing in their heads. Except that closer Marc Kroon and the Yomiuri Giants said sayonara to those plans.
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