Sports tabloid Daily Sports to offer digital edition

The newspaper industry in Japan appears to be readying itself for the electronic era . Tabloid Daily Sports reported last week that it would begin a special digital newspaper service today.

The sports paper said that most Japanese newspapers rely on advertising for revenue, a contrast to the U.S. model that is based on subscription fees. However, the global wave of readers accessing written publications online is forcing Japanese newspaper companies to make a move before it is too late.

A part of the Kobe Shimbun group, the paper is known for its extensive coverage of the Hanshin Tigers. This new service, in which readers will be charged 1,890 yen per month, coincides with the commencement of spring training activities for all 12 professional ball clubs. The content of the digital edition will duplicate that of the conventional paper.

The paper is offering a one-month trial period that is accessible at this link. Use the following access information. ユーザーID: “dailysports” and パスワード Password – “denshi” (K.N.)

Hanshin Tigers ready to roar in 2010

With the Year of Tiger now underway, the owner of Kansai’s Hanshin ball club, conveniently bearing the same nickname, is already on the prowl for the Central League crown, reports tabloid Daily Sports (Jan. 4).

Shinya Sakai, the 61-year-old president of Hanshin Electric Railway, the team’s parent, said that on his first day of work this year (Jan. 4) that he visited shrines in the Kobe area on January 1, during what is referred to as hatsumode, or first visit, to pray for a Tiger title.

“Nagata, Ikuta, Minatogawa — I took the train to visit all of them, situated along the rail line,” said the club’s “general” in charge. [Read more]

Hideki Matsui museum drawing crowds on heels of World Series MVP

The museum dedicated to former New York Yankees star Hideki Matsui attracted an unprecedented number of visitors over the New Year holiday as a result of the designated hitter winning the Most Valuable Player award during last year’s World Series, reports tabloid Daily Sports (Jan. 4).

The Matsui Hideki Baseball Museum, located in his hometown of Nomi City, Ishikawa Prefecture, welcomed 650 fans on January 3, this year’s first day of operation. That attendance figure is triple the number of an average day.

Heavy snow was not a deterrent. Masai Matsui, the ballplayer’s father, who is the managing director of the museum, was delighted. “I saw cars lined up 20 minutes prior to the opening,” the elder Matsui beamed. “Did the MVP have an effect? I believe so.” [Read more]

Williams’ return to Tigers possible at midseason

Sports tabloid Daily Sports reports that the Hanshin Tigers are investigating the possibility of bringing back left-handed reliever Jeff Williams at mid-season next year.

A fan favorite since joining the Tigers in 2003, Williams, who hails from Australia, had arm surgery after the 2008 campaign and returned this year in a limited role before another operation at midseason. Should the club determine that it will be difficult for him to return as a player, they are also looking at offering him a position as U.S.-based scout.

Williams shared indicated to the tabloid in November that his doctor believed that he should be able to pitch again in May. A senior manager from the Tigers office explains: “We want him to contribute to Hanshin one way or the other. While the language barrier may exist, he has been a role model in our bullpen.” (K.N.)

Gas Panic in Roppongi raided, president arrested

TOKYO (TR) – Two establishments within the popular Gas Panic chain of nightclubs were cited by police last month for violation of a national ordinance, reports the Sankei Shimbun (Dec. 1).

Police raided club GP Bar and Club 99 in the Roppongi entertainment district of Tokyo on November 29 for operating a nightclub where patrons were allowed to dance, drink and eat in a manner that violated the Law Regulating Adult Entertainment Businesses — a nationwide code with sections regarding nightlife activities, one of which prohibits dancing after 1 a.m. without special authorization.

Six arrests were made, including the president, 34-year-old Hidenori Wakita.

Frequented by young people and foreigners, the clubs had been under surveillance for several years, the report says. [Read more]

Sports tabloid Nagai Times goes from boobs to bust

TOKYO (TR) – Media outlets are reporting that tabloid Naigai Times filed for bankruptcy yesterday. Over its 60-year run, the sports paper became known for its coverage of adult entertainment, celebrity news, gambling and gravure idols. In its most recent incarnation, it was known as Real Sports, which employed 50 people and distributed 260,000 copies daily.

After being purchased by a real estate company last year, the paper adopted a “no-sleaze” policy — as reported in these pages here — in April of this year. But the following month, with advertising revenue falling, it reverted back to smut content. In September, the sheet adopted the Real Sports title. Attempts were also made to focus on its Web site.

At its peak, in 1964, the paper boasted a daily circulation of between 700,000 and 800,000 copies. Publication ceased with the November 30 issue.

Credit research company Teikoku Databank lists the company as having an accumulated debt of 2.677 billion yen. (A.T.)

Gangster film star Hiroki Matsukata reels in giant tuna

TOKYO (TR) – TV personality and yakuza gangster pic star Hiroki Matsukata (“Yakuza Tai G-Men” and “The Yakuza Papers” series) snagged a 2.73-meter-long, 325-kilogram black tuna in a tuna fishing contest off the coast of Yamaguchi Prefecture in southern Japan on Monday.

Sold at auction at the famed Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo on Wednesday, the tuna netted Matsukata 4.37 million yen, which he split with the captain of the boat. That day he also brought sashimi samples for the guests on a Fuji TV variety show, who pronounced it delicious.

Matsukata, 67, fought the big fish for an hour and a half before landing it — far longer than any of his on-screen battles with bad guys. He looks likely to win the contest, which runs to November 27. The first prize is an unspecified quantity of two local specialties: rice and sea urchin eggs. [Read more]

Female knuckleballer Eri Yoshida battles Carp, wants to join NPB

The top of the order for the Central League’s Hiroshima Toyo Carp could not contain right-handed knuckleballer Eri Yoshida, Japan’s first female professional baseball player, during an exhibition game in Hiroshima on Wednesday, reports Daily Sports (Nov. 23).

The seventeen-year-old Yoshida, nicknamed “Eri-chan,” who recently left the Kobe 9 Cruise of the Kansai Independent League, was on the mound against the “best lineup” the Hiroshima Carp were capable of fielding during the club’s “Fan Festival” on Monday at Mazda Stadium.

The exhibition was played under a special rule in which Yoshida would be declared the winner if she was able to hold the Carp to two or fewer runs in one inning. [Read more]

Dynamic duo? Yan and Vogelsong possible saviors for the Hanshin Tigers

Following their failure to acquire fireballing lefty Juan Morillo from the Minnesota Twins, the Central League’s Hanshin Tigers may turn to a couple of former foreign players to fill out gaping holes in their bullpen, reports Tokyo Sports (Nov. 20).

The team’s skipper, Akinobu Mayumi, has requested action by the front office in replacing the roles served last year by middle relievers Jeff Williams and Scott Atchinson. Right-handers Esteban Yan, who was a starter for the Tigers in 2007, and Ryan Vogelsong, also a member of the rotation that year, are considered to be strong candidates.

An individual close to the team speculates: “There must be some kind of hidden issue with Juan, as he does not compete at the major-league level while being able to throw at 167 kilometers an hour. Foreign players with unknown elements leave us with a lot of anxiety. So the chances of success by those who used to play for us is higher.” [Read more]

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