Japan Olympic Team?

The combination of veteran professionals allowed to participate in the Olympics and the Olympic Committee coming down hard on bloggers in the past has led me to boycott the Games.

The Olympics used to be about youth and the future. Now it's only about earning more money for large corporate sponsors (and vacation homes for the Committee members). If Japan does well, I'll be happy. But I won't actively watch or report on them. The Olympic Committee made it clear four years ago that only paying news outlets were to be permitted to report. Since it's become nothing more than a large scale commercial venture, as opposed to a showcase of future talent, that's fine with me.

The members of the 2004 Olympic team haven't been realeased yet. The team of 24 is to be announced on the 25th of June. The coaches are Shigeo "Mister" Nagashima, batting coach is Kiyoshi Nakahata, pitching coach is Yutaka Ohno, fielding and running coach is Yutaka Takagi.

The official site is japanese-baseball.jp. However, it is only in Japanese.

I am also interested in Japan's Olympic team and would really like to see them play. Is there any chance that they would invite the players in America (Matsuis and Ichiro), or will they only invite the NPB players?

There is no chance that Matsui or Ichiro would play on the Olympic teams, because the MLB teams are in the middle of their season.

The only players that are eligible to play in the Olympics are players that are not in the major leagues.

Dave Nilsson is a good example, he's playing with Braves' AAA team in Richmond, and is more focused on keeping himself in shape than actually making the Braves' squad.

Hi,

Is There any pre seleccion for the Japanese Olympic team? Or news about this topic?

Thanks,
JCLedon

Baseball sources said Hanshin Tigers' pitcher Yuya Andoh and infielder Atsushi Fujimoto had been selected to the Olympic team. [Link - The Japan Times]

Seibu Lions' pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, Buffaloes' third baseman Norihiro Nakamura, Buffaloes' pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma, Giants' pitcher Koji Uehara, and Hawks' catcher Kenji Johjima have been selected to the Olympic team.

[Link - The Japan Times]

Can you please send me pictures[*] of the players to tscho20 at eq d0t edu d0t au.

[Editor's note: Original post said "pitches oif the playes" - but think he/she means "pictures of the players."]

Hi,

Do you know that there will be two games in July between the Olympics teams of Cuba and Japan? Also, Cuba will play againt others Japanese teams. Does anybody know? What are they?

Thanks,

JCLedon

Hi.

What do you think about Japan Olympic National team? Can it defeat Cuba? Also, has to called the top Japanese players?

Thanks,
jcledon

Japan couldn't make the best team, so a lot of fans are disappointed. But I think it is strong enough to win a gold medal.

Carp pitcher Hiroki Kuroda has been removed from the Olympic team due to discomfort in his right shoulder. [Link - The Japan Times]

Will reliever Kaz Sasaki be part of Japan's Olympic team this August? I've not seen a full team roster in English anywhere. Thanks.

According to this list at Gary Garland's site [Link] Sasaki is not on the roster.

Jim Albright

I was hoping some of the former Japanese MLB players would be in the Olympics, such as Shinjo, Irabu, etc.

Shinjo made a "home-steal" at the Japanese All-Star Game! And he was named MVP as he predicted.

Sasaki is having a not-so-bad season (20 saves or so), but won't go to Athens - probably too old.

Masa Kobayashi will be the closer of Japan Squad. I think he is the third best closer, tying Ohtsuka and Toyoda in active and even all-time pitchers of Japan (#1 Sasaki, #2 Takatsu).