Japan

4/7/2008 -- NORFOLK (NNS) -- The aircraft carrier USS George Washington (GW) (CVN 73) with its crew of approximately 3,200 Sailors departed Norfolk, April 7, to begin its journey to Yokosuka, Japan to replace USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) as the United States' only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier.

Aircraft carrier USS George Washington: Photo courtesy U.S. Navy    » read more »

RHP Terumasa Matsuo from Shikoku Island League in Japan

BOSTON, 03/30/2008 -- The Boston Red Sox have signed free agent righthanded pitcher Terumasa Matsuo from the Independent Shikoku Island League in Japan.

The announcement was made by Boston Red Sox Vice President of International Scouting Craig Shipley and Pacific Rim Coordinator Jon Deeble in Shikoku, Japan.    » read more »

31 March 2008 -- Japan's jobless rate has risen for the first time in five months, and Chevron Corporation has discovered large offshore natural gas deposits in Vietnam. Naomi Martig in Hong Kong has more on these and other business stories from the region.

Japan's unemployment rate has risen for the first time in five months, partly because exports to the United States fell. Japanese officials say the jobless rate rose to 3.9 percent in February, up from the 3.8 percent recorded the previous month.

Analysts say the increase is not worrisome, but that it does indicate that companies are concerned about hiring workers as they deal with rising costs and slower U.S. consumer spending.    » read more »

03/25/2008, TOKYO, JAPAN -- The Boston Red Sox today set their 2008 opening day roster with the following moves:

--Placed righthanded pitcher Josh Beckett on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 19 with a lower back strain.

--Optioned catcher Dusty Brown to Triple-A Pawtucket of the International League.

--Purchased the contact of catcher Kevin Cash from Triple-A Pawtucket.

The three moves put the Red Sox' roster at 27 players, one under the allowable limit for the Ricoh Opening Series Japan 2008. Of that number, 25 players will be active for the two games in Japan versus the Oakland A's.

The two inactive players for this two-game series are righthanded pitchers Mike Timlin (cut on right ring finger), and Tim Wakefield (started Sunday's game versus Yomiuri).    » read more »

Daisuke Matsuzaka and Jon Lester to start for the Boston Red Sox versus Oakland A's in Ricoh Opening Series 2008 in Japan

03/17/2008, FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Righthander Daisuke Matsuzaka will start for the Boston Red Sox in the 2008 regular season opener against the Oakland A's on Tuesday, March 25 in Tokyo, Japan.

Lefthander Jon Lester will be Boston's starting pitcher in the second game of the Ricoh Opening Series 2008 on Wednesday, March 26. Manager Terry Francona made the announcement on Monday.    » read more »

03/17/2008, PHOENIX -- The Oakland A's today reassigned non-roster invitee pitchers Gio Gonzalez and Greg Smith to their Minor League camp.

The Oakland A's now have a total of 36 players in camp, which includes 32 players on the 40-man roster and four non-roster invitees. The breakdown includes:
-15 pitchers,
- three catchers,
- 10 infielders, and
- eight outfielders.    » read more »

Number of tournament teams to expand through qualifying rounds in 2013

02/19/2008 -- World Baseball Classic, Inc. (WBCI) today announced the final eight teams that will be invited to participate in the 2009 World Baseball Classic next March, as endorsed by the tournament's Steering Committee.    » read more »

After three years of incremental growth, 2008 set to be a JV boom year

01/29/08 -- The next twelve months are set to be characterized by a major increase in Joint Venture (JV) activity claims one UK-based dealmaker today.

With the global economic outlook continuing to weaken but with numerous corporates still keen to do business, the idea of a JV will now be rocketing up many Board agendas, claims professional services firm KPMG in the U.K.    » read more »

Davos, Switzerland, 26 January 2008 – Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda today unveiled a five-year, US$ 10 billion fund to support efforts in developing countries to combat global warming a move that ensures top priority be given to climate change at this year’s G8 Summit.

In addition, Japan aims to create a new multilateral fund with the US and the UK to mitigate changes in the earth’s climate as a result of global warming, Fukuda told business leaders at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2008.    » read more »

December 21, 2007 -- Washington, DC -- U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) said they were encouraged by Japan’s decision to suspend its hunt of humpback whales at the request of the United States.

“I am pleased that Japan has responded to international pressure and suspended part of what its Fisheries Agency calls its largest whale hunt ever,” Boxer said. “While I am glad that the Japanese have called off their hunt of humpback whales, I remain concerned that they are still hunting over 1,000 whales, including the endangered fin whale.”    » read more »

01/16/2008 5:27 PM ET

Game information for the 2008 Ricoh Japan Opening Series was announced at a press conference featuring Boston Red Sox pitcher Hideki Okajima on Wednesday (Tuesday night ET) in Tokyo.

The Boston Red Sox schedule in Japan will be as follows:

Saturday, March 22: Exhibition game with Hanshin Tigers at Tokyo Dome, 12:07 p.m. Japan Time (11:07 p.m. March 21 ET)

Sunday, March 23: Exhibition game with Yomiuri Giants at Tokyo Dome, 7:07 p.m. Japan Time (6:07 a.m. ET)    » read more »

Also add 17-year-old Taiwanese pitcher

01/16/2008 -- Seattle Mariners Vice President of International Operations Bob Engle announced today that the Seattle Mariners have signed right-handed pitcher Kenta Suda to a Minor League contract.

Kenta Suda, 18, was signed as a non-drafted free agent by Mariners scouts Yasushi Yamamoto, Hide Sueyoshi and Pat Kelly.    » read more »

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling Invades Japan for Groundbreaking 'Global Impact' Special on Spike TV

NEW YORK, Jan. 15 -- Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling will defend its reputation as the best pro-wrestling action in the world when it travels halfway around the globe to invade the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan as TNA presents "Global iMPACT!," a one-hour television event this Thursday, January 17 at 11:00 PM, ET/PT, following "TNA iMPACT!" (9:00 - 11:00 PM, ET/PT) only on Spike TV.    » read more »

15 January 2008 -- Australia's foreign minister says Japan has agreed to free two anti-whaling activists being held aboard a Japanese whaling vessel in Antarctic waters.

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith told Australia's national radio early Wednesday that Japan has not yet handed the men back to their own ship.

Smith added that Australian police are investigating whether there had been any unlawful activity.    » read more »

TOKYO, 29 NOVEMBER 2007 - EMI Music Japan is establishing a new talent management division, EMI Entertainment Japan, as part of the company’s mission to enhance and broaden the services it offers to artists.    » read more »