The Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to terms with [Yoshinobu] Yamamoto on a 12-year, $325 million contract, major-league sources confirmed Thursday. The deal — which features a signing bonus of $50 million and does not include deferrals — smashes the record for the largest sum guaranteed to a Japanese arrival and beats New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole’s contract (nine years, $324 million) for the largest deal ever awarded to a pitcher. (NY Times) With both Ohtani and Yamamoto, they should be Japan's favorite major league team.
Dodgers also have the legacy of Hideo Nomo. Nomo wasn't the first Japanese player to sign with MLB but he was the most hyped
Personally, it's quite interesting and it makes the Dodgers the front runner for next year. They still have to play the games though, and if you know the Dodgers and their recent playoff history, then you know being the best on paper doesn't always translate to being champions.
It's so sad that he had to have a divorce in order to protect his ex-wife and family from the pestering media. He had tried to keep it all as low-key as possible, he is a very private person. To someone who is being termed as Treasure of Japan or something along that line, the media sure don't treasure him or respect his privacy at all. And that is after all the hardship and dedication he went through to bring glory to Japan, winning Olympics two-times back to back. Ugh. I guess for Mariko, the surprise and buzz is more due to the circumstances that causes the divorce.
For those who live in SoCal, Japan Hollywood Network wii have special programing for New Year's Day https://jhollywoodnet.com/
CDJapan is now offering an overseas forwarding service for Mercari: https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/feature/mercari_request
26 men squad of Japan national team for Asian Cup Kaoru Mitoma is in the squad though he's yet to be recovered from injury. Mitoma is regarded as Japan's best football player of today
Belated news: Kishin Shinoyama passed away on January 5, 2024. Known to the rest of the world as the John Lennon/Yoko Ono photographer, he also did work for AKB48 in its early years, mainly Team Kishin and Jump & Cry photobooks.)
A new stage musical production of 'The Bodyguard' with J-MELO host May J: if the video does not show watch the video here if the video does not show watch the video here Google translation:
