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Jim Allen

@tokyojimallen.bsky.social

Writing about Japanese baseball since 1993, lover of history and language. Kindness and forgiveness are super powers available to all of us.

133 Followers  |  35 Following  |  124 Posts  |  Joined: 15.11.2024  |  1.6784

Latest posts by tokyojimallen.bsky.social on Bluesky

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Teruyo and I stanning at the stage door with Amanda Reid, who is making her broadway debut starring in the musical โ€œHellโ€™s Kitchen.โ€

26.10.2025 13:44 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Finding a baseball MAGAT is like finding a haystack hidden behind a needle.

04.10.2025 09:32 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I have three tickets tomorrow for the Swallows and Dragons at Jingu Stadium.

08.09.2025 06:46 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Japan and NPB share a dilemma With Japanโ€™s All-Star games coming up on Wednesday and Thursday, it is worth mentioning that the Central League will field four non-domestic signings on its roster, one short of the five playโ€ฆ

NPB's all-star game and Sunday's election both highlight a huge problem: How should Japan best accommodate the imported talent it so badly needs?

jballallen.com/japan-and-np...

21.07.2025 14:46 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Tough times for Bauer The Japan Series champion DeNA BayStars lost 4-3 in Hiroshima to the Carp Wednesday. Trevor Bauer (4-8) allowed all four Hiroshima runs on six hits including a pair of doubles and his Central Leaguโ€ฆ

Trevor Bauer's struggles continued Wednesday, but at least he didn't murder anyone, unlike two NPB pitchers I've known...

jballallen.com/tough-times-...

16.07.2025 13:19 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Photo of fans on a Japanese baseball field during the pandemic

Photo of fans on a Japanese baseball field during the pandemic

A story Kyodo News did not want published: how NPB teams have used their COVID 19 emergency powers to drastically reduce and control press access to this day.

jballallen.com/japans-white...

16.07.2025 00:12 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Japanโ€™s white lies In Japan, one becomes accustomed to people saying things that are patently false. The hero interviewee who jacked a fat pitch into the third deck at Osaka Dome for a decisive home run will typicallโ€ฆ

A story Kyodo News did not want published: how NPB teams have used their COVID 19 emergency powers to drastically reduce press access to this day.

jballallen.com/japans-white...

15.07.2025 17:04 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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Inside out On Sunday, I wrote about how my sudden shift from Japanese baseball insider to outsider taught me about Japanโ€™s group dynamics and its media in โ€œJapanโ€™s Sound of Silence.โ€ Bโ€ฆ

After 26 years inside the world of Japanese baseball, I am finally finally free โ€” and it feels good.

In a country where most fight to stay on the inside, Iโ€™m now on the outside, where truth is permitted and sometimes even welcomed.

jballallen.com/inside-out/

10.07.2025 14:52 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Japanโ€™s sound of silence In 26 years as a credentialed member of Japanโ€™s baseball media, I never quite came to grips with how companies, political parties and public figures have generally managed to prevent or delayโ€ฆ

There are powerful forces behind the Japanese media's spineless reporting -- as I learned the hard way this spring when trying to continue reporting on baseball as an independent after being mandatorily retired.

jballallen.com/japans-sound...

06.07.2025 14:41 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Japanโ€™s most dominant Who has been the most dominant pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball history, and how would one go about answering this question? Itโ€™s not an easy answer, since baseball careers represent mโ€ฆ

How would you go about identifying the most dominant pitching seasons in NPB history? I gave it a shot as I try to identify Japan's most dominant seasons and stretches?

The best three-year stretch in history might be a surprise...

jballallen.com/japans-most-...

01.07.2025 11:10 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Have 2 tickets to the July 1 Hawks-Fighters game at Tokyo Dome if anyone Is interested.

27.06.2025 12:51 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Ike was hated by Republicans who wanted a president who believed that some people were born to rule and others were born to be exploited.

15.06.2025 12:17 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Baseball thinking, neurodiversity and Japan Itโ€™s often said one can learn a lot about societies by observing how it treats its most vulnerable members. Are they exploited, shunned, persecuted, or neglected? Or are they welcomed and allโ€ฆ

Baseball has difficulty dealing with people who think differently, and Japan shares this handicap.

My experience as a neurodivergent member of Japan's baseball media.

jballallen.com/baseball-thi...

14.06.2025 13:10 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Nagashima: A giant among Giants Japanese baseballโ€™s most popular player ever, Shigeo Nagashima, passed away last week at the age of 89, and across Japan, ballparks began flying their flags and observing moments of silence fโ€ฆ

I've thought long and hard about the late Shigeo Nagashima and his place in the baseball cosmos, not as the ultimate player or manager, but as the ultimate showman in a nation that badly needed him.

jballallen.com/nagashima-a-...

10.06.2025 12:00 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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At the ballpark with Jim You can attend a Japanese baseball game with Jim, the only foreign journalist to ever cast votes for the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame, by appointment. To arrange a date, contact Jim Allen at: guiโ€ฆ

Interested in attending an NPB game with the only foreign journalist to cast votes in the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame?

jballallen.com/at-the-ballp...

02.06.2025 12:52 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

In addition to private ballpark tours, I am offering guided historic private and group tours of Tokyo, making use of my 40-plus years experience in Japan.

17.05.2025 12:53 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Since being put out to pasture by Kyodo News, I have found an interesting new side gig, giving tours of Tokyo for a local company, where I put my 40 years of fascination with Japan to good use.

I am, however, now hosting private tours--including trips to ballparks--for those visiting Japan.

13.05.2025 13:31 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Marines look at new base The Lotte Marines, in cooperation with the city of Chiba and Chiba Prefecture are looking at relocating across the street from their current digs, city-owned and Lotte-operated Chiba Marine Stadiumโ€ฆ

Lotte Marines looking to abandon Chiba Marine Stadium and move across the street.

jballallen.com/marines-look...

13.05.2025 13:28 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
https://jballallen.com/takahashi-opens-up/

With a win finally under his belt, Seibu Lions pitcher Kona Takahashi opens up a bit about his disastrous, winless 2024 season that interrupted his smooth progress toward MLB.

t.co/ue1C7ewlE5

02.05.2025 02:36 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Photo of Kona Takahashi

Photo of Kona Takahashi

With a win finally under his belt, Seibu Lions pitcher Kona Takahashi opens up a bit about his disastrous, winless 2024 season that interrupted his smooth progress toward a move to MLB.

jballallen.com/takahashi-op...

01.05.2025 14:56 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Prime time Former Yomiuri Giants star Warren Cromartie and I had an argument the other day about when ballplayers reach their prime, and since I tend to be a know-it-all, I looked to see what the evidence sugโ€ฆ

A recent disagreement with Warren Cromartie led me down a research rabbit hole, asking when exactly do Japanese players reach their prime?

jballallen.com/prime-time/

21.04.2025 12:49 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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NPB news: April 5, 2025 โ€œIt canโ€™t get worse than thisโ€ Thatโ€™s what Hawks manager Hiroki Kokubo said Saturday after SoftBankโ€™s second straight loss to the Seibu Lions, the Hawksโ€™ fifth straight at home. Of course, there are many thingsโ€ฆ

DeNA and Hiroshima played a game of closer Russian Roulette, three Swallows had a memorable game, and Hawks manager Hiroki Kokubo thinks things "can't get worse."

jballallen.com/npb-news-apr...

05.04.2025 14:17 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
When publicizing your product is a bad thing

"When publicizing your product is a bad thing" -- my subscribers newsletter is now out.

mailchi.mp/00bd4009e82c...

05.04.2025 06:06 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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NPB news: April 3, 2025 Masahiro Tanaka made his first start as a Giant Thursday, when we had a Maddux and an entertaining pitchersโ€™ duel in Osaka. Yesterday, I spoke too soon about how the winless had all won, forgโ€ฆ

Masahiro Tanaka is back as a Giant, there was a Maddux and a spiffy pitchers' duel between Anthony Kay and Jon Duplantier, while Seibu remains winless regardless of what I wrote Wednesday.

jballallen.com/npb-news-apr...

03.04.2025 14:02 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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NPBโ€™s fear of fan video a telling sign Japanese pro baseball showed its true colors this week, when the Nippon Ham Fighters revealed Monday that they were smacked down for asserting the individual team rights that NPB trumpets as the foโ€ฆ

As promised: The fight over letting fans share video of games, and NPB's refusal to sell its marquee products and games overseas reveal Japanese pro baseball's hypocritical heart of darkness, how team independence masks their true subservient status.

jballallen.com/npbs-fear-of...

03.04.2025 04:36 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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NPB news: April 2, 2025 Nobodyโ€™s perfect in Japanese pro baseball, not the Lotte Marines dropped their home opener Wednesday following their weekend sweep of the SoftBank Hawks, and not the Yomiuri Giantsโ€™ Hayโ€ฆ

Japan's winless have won, and nobody's perfect, not the Lotte Marines, who finally lost, and not Hayato Sakamoto, who faces a taxing situation...

jballallen.com/npb-news-apr...

02.04.2025 14:04 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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NPB news: April 1, 2025 Only one team remained undefeated in Japanese pro baseball Tuesday, when three teams entered with 3-0 records. The Lotte Marines, unbeaten on the field, were however, beaten by the rainy weather inโ€ฆ

New Dragon Kyle Muller had a nifty nine-strikeout NPB debut, DeNA's Andre Jackson kept rolling, and Livan Moinelo gave SoftBank some good news on a dark day.

jballallen.com/npb-news-apr...

01.04.2025 12:59 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Photo of Jay Jackson and Jim Allen

Photo of Jay Jackson and Jim Allen

Pitcher Jay Jackson is finally leaving pro baseball. As a player, he won a legion of fans, suffered serious heartbreak, and was entrapped in a bizarre legal entanglement. He also helped me learn how one part of Japanese baseball is not like the others'.

jballallen.com/jay-jackson-...

01.04.2025 12:10 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Register Visit the post for more.

Offer ending soon:

New paid subscriptions to jballallendotcom by midnight April 1 get 2 free months of unfettered access to my NPB databases, live zoom chats with former players, coaches, and managers, and all paid content.

jballallen.com/register/?le...

01.04.2025 06:18 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
็ฆ็•™ๅญไป‹ใฎๅ†™็œŸ

็ฆ็•™ๅญไป‹ใฎๅ†™็œŸ

็ฆ็•™ๅญไป‹๏ผšไปŠๆฐธ้ธๆ‰‹ใฏใ€็งใŒ่ถŠใˆใ‚‰ใ‚Œใชใ‹ใฃใŸMLBใฎๅฃใ‚’่ถ…ใˆใฆใ„ใ‚‹.ใ€€ใ€Œใ‚‚ใฃใจใ‚‚ใฃใจ็ฉๆฅต็š„ใซใชใ‚ŒใฆใŸใ‚‰่‰ฏใ‹ใฃใŸใจๆ€ใ†ใ€‚ใ€
t.co/tiSdsr859f

01.04.2025 06:16 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

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