Articles – Tokyo Junkie

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Asia Magazine

(1982) “Japan’s passionate affair with baseball“, September 25

Asia Times

(2022) “Japan right-wingers target foreign journalists, newsmakers“, December 19
(2022) “Reds: Russian and Chinese spies under every rock“, February 4
(2022) “Recalling lunch with nationalist Shintaro Ishihara“, February 3
(2022) “Monitoring ’62 missile crisis as a US spook in Tokyo“, January 31
(2022) “The U-2 spy plane: white knuckles from the get-go“, January 22
(2021) “New role for Japan baseball’s eccentric ‘Spaceman’”, November 13
(2021) “Yakuza death sentence won’t stop organized crime“, October 11
(2021) “Japan counts the cost as Olympic hangover sets in“, October 5
(2021) “The meaning of Ichiro 20 years after his MLB debut“, September 27
(2020) “Inside story of US black ops in post-war Japan“, August 19

Foreign Policy

(2016) “Are the 2020 Olympics in trouble?”, February 19
(2013) “Saying UnSorry“, January 30

The Japan Times

(2018) “Koshien: Annual event has provided a century of thrills“, August 3
(2014) “Negative impact of 1964 Olympics profound“, October 24
(2014) “‘Witches of the Orient’ symbolized Japan’s fortitude“, October 21
(2014) “Schollander, Hayes were spectacular at Tokyo Games“, October 17
(2014) “Opening Ceremony ushered in new era for Japan“, October 14
(2014) “Olympic construction transformed Tokyo“, October 10
(2014) “Holding 2020 Games in August dangerous“, June 19
(2013) “Kawakami’s players impressed MLB counterparts“, November 29
(2013) “Kawakami’s philosophy as manager never wavered“, November 27
(2013) “Kawakami was Japanese baseball’s first Zen master“, November 26
(2013) “Examining nexus of sports, international relations“, July 27
(2013) “Severe sports training methods became taibatsu in time“, June 2 – Part 2 of 2
(2013) “Corporal punishment has long history in Japanese sports“, May 26 – Part 1 of 2
(2013) “High honor for Nagashima, Matsui“, April 7
(2011) “Irabu spent final days lost, without purpose“, October 30
(2011) “Attitude, lifestyle contributed to Irabu’s demise“, October 23
(2011) “Irabu’s impact on MLB-NPB relations profound“, October 16
(2010) “Nomo’s legacy should land him in Hall of Fame“, October 2010
(2010) “Tireless work ethic earned Nomo respect in majors“, October 17
(2010) “Contract loophole opened door for Nomo’s jump“, October 10
(2010) “Nomo blazed trail, helped mend fences with move“, October 3
(2010) “Enatsu’s feats resonate years later“, August 15
(2010) “History, tradition helped to undermine Valentine“, February 27 – Part 4 of 4, Bobby Valentine
(2010) “Resentment of Valentine’s power factored in downfall“, January 31 – Part 3 of 4, Bobby Valentine
(2010) “Valentine’s philosophy brought Marines glory, money“, January 24 – Part 2 of 4, Bobby Valentine
(2010) “Clandestine campaign led to Valentine’s demise“, January 17 – Part 1 of 4, Bobby Valentine
(2009) “Hillman relied on intensity, goofball antics during time with Fighters“, June 1
(2009) “Open mind key to Hillman’s success“, May 31
(2008) “Equaling Oh’s HR record proved difficult (Part 3 of 3)“, October 31
(2008) “Oh’s career sparkled with achievements as player, manager (Part 2 of 3)“, October 30
(2008) “Devoted to the game: Looking back at Oh’s career (Part 1 of 3)“, October 29
(2008) “Whiting pays tribute to Boyer, Halberstam“, January 20
(2007) “NPB players in need of strong union like MLBPA”, April 14 – Part 4 of 4, the MLB’s effect on Japan
(2007) “NPB needs major reform, vision to prosper like MLB“, April 13 – Part 3 of 4, the MLB’s effect on Japan
(2007) “Foreign managers change face of Japanese game“, April 12 – Part 2 of 4, the MLB’s effect on Japan
(2007) “Is the MLB destroying Japan’s national pastime?“, April 11 – Part 1 of 4, the MLB’s effect on Japan

The New York Times

(2008) “Season Opens as Surely as Day Follows Night“, March 26
(1994) “Japan’s No-Strike Zone“, October 10
(1992) “The Land of the Rising Fastball“, October 7

Nikkei Asia

(2024) “Wall to wall coverage of Ohtani is more than justified“, October 28
(2017) “Big in Asia but World Baseball Classic still seeks US home run“, February 24

The San Francisco Chronicle

(1983) “Besuboru Booming in Japan”, March

Slate

(2011) “Pitching from behind: the sad road of Japanese pitcher Hideki Irabu“, August 1
(2004) “Fans in Japan: why they’re happy when baseball players go on strike“, September 29

Smithsonian

(1986) “East meets West in the Japanese game of bēsubōru“, September edition

Sports Illustrated

(2011) “After quake and tsunami, public split on baseball’s return to Japan“, April 11
(2005) “Lost in Translation (II)“, June 6 issue
(2004) “Lost in Translation“, May 22 issue
(1989) “The Pain of Perfection“, May 15 issue
(1979) “You Gotta Have ‘Wa’“, September 29 issue
(1976) “Bowed But Never Bloodied“, May 17 issue

Tokyo Junkie

(2022) “Tokyo Blowhard“, January 6

Time Magazine

(2003) “Godzilla vs. the Americans“, April 28 issue
(2002) “Around the Horn“, November 18 issue

U.S. News & World Report

(1997) “The Umpire Strikes Out”, June 23

The Wall Street Journal

(2024) “‘In the Service of the Shogun’ Review: An Englishman in Japan“, July 19

Yukan Fuji

(2022) “150th Anniversary of Baseball in Japan“, previously unpublished in English
(2021) “Shohei Ohtani, MVP 2021“, previously unpublished in English
(2021) “Spaceman Shinjo Kantoku“, previously unpublished in English
(2021) “Valentine’s Way: book review“, previously unpublished in English
(2020) “2020 MLB season postponed“, previously unpublished in English
(2020) “Baseball cheaters“, previously unpublished in English
(2020) “Oh in The Athletic’s top 100“, previously unpublished in English
(2020) “Coronavirus and the the Olympics“, previously unpublished in English
(2019) “The 100 pitch limit mistake“, previously unpublished in English
(2018) “Shohei, Boog and Big Mac“, previously unpublished in English
(2015) “Tobaku”, October 21
(2012) “Ohtani and Nippon Ham”, December 9
(2012) “Billion Dollar Blueprint”, May 8
(2010) “MLB Japanese – Why so bad? Pt. I, II, III” – previously unpublished in English
(2010) “Platelets for Breakfast” – previously unpublished in English
(2010) “Advice column – letter to Ichiro Suzuki” – previously unpublished in English
(2010) “Can you speak English?” – previously unpublished in English
(2010) “Sayonara Hillman-san” – previously unpublished in English
4)
(2008) “Unfair Trade Advantage: Anti-Trust Exemption” (Part 4 of 4) – previously unpublished in English
(2008) “Unfair Trade Advantage: Salary Deprecation Allowance” (Part 3 of 4) – previously unpublished in English
(2008) “Unfair Trade Advantage: Marlins Stadium, Public Extortion” (Part 2 of 4) – previously unpublished in English
(2008) “Unfair Trade Advantage: Stadium Subsidies” (Part 1 of 4) – previously unpublished in English