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July 12, 2026
 

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Jason Coskrey

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Jason Coskrey
Jason Coskrey is a sports writer for The Japan Times. His primary focus is Japanese baseball, but he has also covered soccer, American football, boxing and basketball. He previously worked for the Marietta Daily Journal in Marietta, Ga. A native of Detroit, he is a graduate of the University of Alabama-Birmingham.
Venezuela's players celebrate after defeating the U.S. in the championship game of the World Baseball Classic on Tuesday in Miami.
BASEBALL
Mar 18, 2026
Venezuela beats U.S. to win first World Baseball Classic title
Eugenio Suarez broke a ninth-inning tie with an RBI double that sent Venezuela’s fans into hysterics even before the team held on for a 3-2 win.
Italy third baseman Andrew Fischer hits a broken-bat single in the fourth inning against Venezuela during their World Baseball Classic semifinal game at loanDepot Park in Miami on Monday.
BASEBALL
Mar 17, 2026
Italy falls short of WBC final but leaves lasting mark
The team’s espresso-fueled surge captured attention back home, with millions watching late into the night.
Venezuela pitcher Jose Butto (center) and teammates celebrate after defeating Italy in their World Baseball Classic semifinal game at loanDepot Park in Miami.
BASEBALL
Mar 17, 2026
Venezuela reaches first WBC final with comeback win over Italy
The Venezuelans, who previously eliminated Japan, will face the United States for the title on Tuesday night.
United States pitcher Paul Skenes delivers a pitch against the Dominican Republic during their semifinal game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic at loanDepot Park in Miami on Sunday.
BASEBALL
Mar 16, 2026
Skenes’ decision to pitch in WBC rewarded with semifinal glory
Paul Skenes’ gamble paid off in a big way as he led the U.S. past a stacked Dominican Republic lineup.
United States pitcher Paul Skenes delivers a pitch against the Dominican Republic during their semifinal game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic at loanDepot Park in Miami on Sunday.
BASEBALL
Mar 16, 2026
Skenes leads U.S. past Dominican Republic into WBC final
A dominant U.S. pitching staff held the Dominican Republic’s explosive lineup to one run.
Japan baseball players acknowledge the fans after the quarterfinal game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic against Venezuela at loanDepot Park in Miami on Saturday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Mar 16, 2026
Ohtani and Japan left searching for answers after WBC exit
Samurai Japan’s title defense ended in Miami as Venezuela erased a three-run deficit to knock out the defending champions.
Shohei Ohtani returns to the bench after striking out against Venezuela during the WBC quarterfinals in Miami on Saturday.
BASEBALL
Mar 15, 2026
Samurai Japan comes up short against Venezuela in WBC quarterfinals
Japan failed to reach the semifinals for the first time at the World Baseball Classic.
The Dominican Republic's Austin Wells (28) is greeted by his teammates after hitting a three-run home run against South Korea during the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals in Miami on Friday.
BASEBALL
Mar 14, 2026
Dominican Republic’s star-studded lineup living up to hype at WBC
The Dominican Republic leads the World Baseball Classic in many offensive categories
Dominican Republic catcher Agustin Ramirez (right) congratulates pitcher Christopher Sanchez during the team's game against South Korea at the World Baseball Classic on Friday in Miami.
BASEBALL
Mar 14, 2026
Powerful Dominican Republic routs South Korea to reach WBC semifinals
Austin Wells ended the game with a three-run home run.
Ondrej Satoria walks on the field during his final match for the Czech Republic national baseball team against Japan at Tokyo Dome on Tuesday.
BASEBALL
Mar 11, 2026
WBC fan favorite Satoria retires with pride and applause
The electrician who once struck out Shohei Ohtani ended his national team career with a stirring farewell at the World Baseball Classic in Tokyo.
Shota Morishita (left), Kazuma Okamoto (center) and Munetaka Murakami celebrate after the match against the Czech Republic at Tokyo Dome on Tuesday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Mar 11, 2026
Japan sweeps Pool C at the WBC, but tougher tests await in Miami
Samurai Japan will next face either Venezuela, which has a strong roster, or a Dominican Republic team that could double as an MLB All-Star squad.
Munetaka Murakami celebrates with his teammates after hitting a grand slam against the Czech Republic during the World Baseball Classic at Tokyo Dome on Tuesday.
BASEBALL
Mar 10, 2026
Samurai Japan explodes late to survive unlikely upset bid from Czech Republic at WBC
Japan’s next game will be in the WBC quarterfinals against either the Dominican Republic or Venezuela.
South Korea celebrates after beating Australia to clinch a spot in the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic at Tokyo Dome on Monday.
BASEBALL
Mar 9, 2026
South Korea punches ticket to World Baseball Classic quarterfinals
South Korea won a three-way tiebreaker to advance.
Taiwan fans celebrate after winning the World Baseball Classic game against South Korea at Tokyo Dome on Sunday.
BASEBALL
Mar 9, 2026
Pride and passion take center stage at the World Baseball Classic
Taiwan’s dramatic win over South Korea highlighted the passion, pride and community that make the World Baseball Classic unique for smaller powers in the sport.
Masataka Yoshida salutes the crowd after the game against Australia at Tokyo Dome on Sunday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Mar 9, 2026
Yoshida adds another chapter to his World Baseball Classic legend
Masataka Yoshida delivered again for Samurai Japan, blasting a go-ahead homer against Australia to clinch Pool C.
Masataka Yoshida homers in the seventh inning at Tokyo Dome.
BASEBALL
Mar 8, 2026
Masataka Yoshida lifts quarterfinal-bound Japan to victory with late two-run homer
Japan reached the quarterfinals of the WBC for the sixth straight time.
Seiya Suzuki, who missed the 2023 World Baseball Classic with an injury, has been a key cog of Samurai Japan's offense through two games of the 2026 tournament.
BASEBALL
Mar 8, 2026
After missing the 2023 tournament, Seiya Suzuki is having his WBC moment
Three years after an injury kept him on the sidelines, Suzuki powered Samurai Japan to a comeback win over South Korea on Saturday.
Seiya Suzuki rounds the bases after hitting his second home run against South Korea during the World Baseball Classic at Tokyo Dome on Saturday.
BASEBALL
Mar 7, 2026
Samurai Japan outlasts South Korea in back-and-forth thriller at WBC
Japan improved to 2-0 in the 2026 WBC.
Shohei Ohtani connects on a grand slam against Taiwan during the second inning of their Pool C game at the World Baseball Classic at Tokyo Dome on Friday.
BASEBALL
Mar 7, 2026
Shohei Ohtani lights up social media with viral grand slam at World Baseball Classic
Ohtani drove in five runs during Japan’s first game of the 2026 WBC.
Shohei Ohtani celebrates after hitting a grand slam against Taiwan during the World Baseball Classic at Tokyo Dome on Friday night.
BASEBALL
Mar 6, 2026
Shohei Ohtani hits grand slam to power Samurai Japan in rout of Taiwan at WBC
Japan, led by Shohei Ohtani, got its campaign at the World Baseball Classic off to a winning start.
China’s demand for Soviet-style apartments shows limits to revival
Apartments built during a Soviet Union-inspired construction drive in the 1970s and 1980s tend to suffer from poor insulation and outdated plumbing, but they are seeing a revival in interest due to their attractive locations.
Japanese scientists identify neural mechanism that may explain why we dislike people
The aggressive mouse (left) used in the experiment and a mouse defending itself
Japanese payment processor’s collapse hits banks and restaurants
Zentoshin served around 200,000 shops, many of which rely on early payments to maintain cash flow, raising concerns over their financial stability following the disruption.
Over 70% of accommodations in Japan say they are understaffed amid tourism influx
The number of foreign visitors to Japan reached a high of 42.68 million in 2025.
Lenders seek $700 million after Japanese payments firm’s collapse
The financial failure of Osaka-based Zentoshin has left 63 creditors with claims totaling ¥115.16 billion, according to Tokyo Shoko Research.
Japan’s largest exhibition of women photographers rights a wrong in cultural history
Miwa Yanagi’s “Elevator Girl House” series skewers the superficiality of gender roles through staged images.
Over 70% of accommodations in Japan say they are understaffed amid tourism influx
The number of foreign visitors to Japan reached a high of 42.68 million in 2025.
‘Princess Mononoke’ comes alive in Super Kabuki staging
The “Princess Mononoke” adaptation was created under Shochiku’s Super Kabuki initiative, a modern form of kabuki with more technology in staging and open to pop culture collaborations.
The beating heart inside ‘Human Vapor’
Different forms of love and connection form the emotional backbone of Netflix’s “Human Vapor,” says actor Shun Oguri, who plays troubled detective Kenji Okamoto.
Japan bets on character IP to drive global growth
Born on social media platforms in 2022, Opanchu Usagi has become a major hit, especially among Generation Z.

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