
Japanese former baseball star coaches kids in Jakarta
Many Indonesian children love soccer, leaving baseball with plenty of room for growth. Help recently came from a former Japanese pro pitcher, who knows a thing or two about throwing fast balls.
Kudo Kimiyasu recorded 224 wins and later managed the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. He was seen on Saturday teaching kids in Jakarta.
About 100 junior high and high school students took part. A boy who attended the class said he was very happy to learn directly from Kudo.
Another boy said Kudo taught him how to practice at home, and he wants to do it every day.
Kudo said: "I hope more Indonesian children play baseball. I want people around the world to know how wonderful this sport can be."
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Japan Times
11 hours ago
- Japan Times
Junto Nakatani remains on collision course with Naoya Inoue after latest win
When Junto Nakatani stepped into the ring to face Ryosuke Nishida with each man's bantamweight world title hanging in the balance, he also had to contend with an unseen force whose presence was felt almost as heavily as the punches the boxers traded for six rounds. Naoya Inoue was not in the ring at Ariake Coliseum on Sunday night — although he was in the front row watching from behind a pair of sunglasses — but he might as well have been. The specter of the 'Monster' clings to Nakatani these days, lurking behind every corner and lingering over every sparring session, every fight and every meeting with the media. Nakatani does not only carry the weight of world titles on his shoulders but also the pressure to hold up his end of the bargain on the road to a blockbuster showdown against Inoue that looms larger each time one of them steps in the ring. Nakatani took another step toward what could be the biggest fight in Japanese boxing history by defeating Nishida via sixth-round TKO in an entertaining bout that saw him successfully defend his WBC bantamweight world title and take the IBF belt off Nishida to unify the title. After it was over, Nakatani, who improved to 31-0 with 24 knockouts, had a message for Inoue, the undisputed super bantamweight champion. 'I'll be there soon, so please wait for me,' said a smiling Nakatani, who would have to move to a higher weight class to face Inoue. Inoue responded later Sunday night. 'Welcome to the super bantamweight division,' he wrote on his X account. 'I would be excited to see such a strong Japanese fighter.' Junto Nakatani punches Ryosuke Nishida during the second round of their title fight. | JIJI There is still a long way to go and hurdles to clear before the superstars can meet — both say a fight could happen in May 2026 — but Nakatani cleared a potentially tricky hurdle with his victory over the previously unbeaten Nishida. Nakatani and Nishida (10-1) went at each other from the opening bell as the crowd roared in approval. Nakatani said later his strategy was to surprise Nishida by closing the distance between them and taking the fight to him early. 'We decided as a team to try and inflict damage on him from the first round,' Nakatani said. Nakatani is known as 'Big Bang,' and true to his name he landed some big blows early with sweeping overhand lefts and uppercuts. Nishida, though, was up for the fight and found success with some counterpunches. 'We're exceptionally proud of his fighting spirit and the skills he exhibited last night against a truly elite operator in this era,' Mike Altamura told The Japan Times. Altamura is a well-respected boxing manager and adviser who has brought many international fighters to Japan and sometimes works with Muto Boxing Gym, which serves as Nishida's base. Nakatani's fusillade of heavy punches caused Nishida's right eye to swell early, and the WBC champion started to focus his attacks there. During the fifth round, the ringside doctor examined Nishida's eye, which was heavily swollen by that point. The fight did not last much longer, as Nishida also suffered a dislocated shoulder and could not continue after the sixth round. Inoue watched it all unfold from his ringside seat. 'I knew he was in the crowd,' Nakatani said. 'It's important to take one fight at a time, and if I perform well, the expectations for bigger fights will grow. I want to do my best.' Naoya Inoue walks to the mound to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before a game between the Cubs and Dodgers at Tokyo Dome on March 18. | Imagn Images / VIA REUTERS A potential showdown between Inoue, No. 2 in Ring Magazine's pound-for-pound rankings, and Nakatani, who is No. 7, is one of the most highly anticipated fights on the horizon. Inoue is 30-0 with 27 KOs and has left a trail of destruction and battered boxers in his wake. He is the complete package of skills, brains and overwhelming power. No one has been able to stand against him, and only three of his fights have gone the distance. Some think Nakatani can be the man who finally slays the 'Monster.' The left-handed knockout artist has 24 KOs on his resume, including his win over Nishida. He is a three-weight champion and has defended his WBC belt four times since winning it in February 2024. 'Nakatani is an outstanding talent,' Altamura said. 'He has evolved and developed so many layers to his fighting craft throughout the years. He's a fast, smooth boxing technician but also possesses a savage streak and an adaptability to change tempos and commit to taking educated risks if he senses potential openings in opponents. 'I think the Inoue-Nakatani contest has to be considered one of the best current showdowns in world boxing, and it's challenging to think of a more high-stakes all-Japanese contest in history.' Rather than shy away from talk of a potential bout against Inoue, Nakatani has embraced it. Noting the way Inoue thundered back after being knocked down for the first time in his career by Luis Nery in May 2024 and then by Ramon Cardenas last month, Nakatani told Ring Magazine that if he knocks down Inoue, 'I have to make sure that he doesn't get back up.' Nakatani also agreed with his trainer that it would be better to fight Inoue sooner than later, while the superstar boxer is still at the height of his powers, and Nakatani could receive full credit for beating him. Inoue, by far the more high-profile fighter in terms of star power, also has Nakatani in his sights. "If we can come through this year strongly, I believe it will be the most exciting bout between Japanese in the country's boxing history," Inoue said during an awards ceremony both attended in March, according to Kyodo News. Fans can only hope both fighters keep winning until they inevitably meet. 'Nakatani took some risks early last night that I couldn't imagine him taking offensively against Inoue,' Altamura said. 'I perceive that fight may be highly technical, watchful in the initial stages as both men figure out the potential openings and adapt to one another's movements. "But both combatants possess very offensive-minded mentalities, and there will be fireworks eventually. Inoue, I feel, adjusts exceptionally well to each opponent. He figures out the punch selection and range which suits his artillery, then gradually will increase his punching output and intent. Inoue is the heavier handed between the two, and so Nakatani will need to be tactically aware to not stand too long in exchanges. "Currently, I favor Inoue, though I am genuinely curious to see how Nakatani may potentially level up and make tactical defensive adjustments against somebody as strong and technically adept as Inoue. It's a mouthwatering contest, truly.'


Japan Times
11 hours ago
- Japan Times
Hakuho vows to grow sumo globally after exiting local sports body
Former yokozuna Hakuho, who assumed the name Miyagino when he took over the stable of the same name and became a sumo elder, left the Japan Sumo Association Monday, saying later in the day that his distrust for the body led him to quit and start a new international project aimed at amateur sumo wrestlers. The impetus for the decision, Hakuho said, was the failure of the JSA to provide a clear timeline about the restoration of Miyagino stable, which was shut down in late March 2024 amid a bullying scandal involving one of its wrestlers. 'April marked a full year after the stable shut down, but there was no specific date (on when the stable will resume) which was a big reason for me to quit,' said Hakuho, who returned to Japan from Mongolia, his home country, on Saturday. In a statement last week , the JSA said there had been discussions with Hakuho and other board members about restoring the stable after the next November Basho, trying to persuade him to stay on but without success. Isegahama oyakata, better known as former yokozuna Asahifuji, was quoted as saying in the statement that Hakuho seemed to be 'less passionate' in training junior wrestlers, apparently because his mind was elsewhere, with him considering his resignation. 'I had wavered, and it may have shown in my words and actions since March,' Hakuho said. The Miyagino stable shut down after one of its wrestlers, Hokuseiho, was found to have been regularly beating two junior wrestlers in the stable. In February 2024, Hakuho was demoted two ranks and received a pay cut for failing to prevent the abuse. When Miyagino stable was closed, its wrestlers joined Isegahama stable with the hope that the JSA would restore their original home in the future. Media reports said the Isegahama stable's decision to allow former yokozuna Terunofuji, Hakuho's junior, to become its oyakata was the final nail in the coffin for the former sumo great. Hakuho denied those reports, saying, 'I have no bad feelings about being under Terunofuji.' Hakuho also received proposals for him and his wrestlers to join Asakayama stable during the last phase of the Summer Basho, which ran for two weeks through May 25, but nothing was certain, he said. The JSA's rigid rules, such as allowing only one foreign sumo wrestler per stable, also led Hakuho to seek a different, more flexible platform to spread sumo around the world. 'There are many young sumo wrestlers (overseas) who want to join stables in Japan,' he said. 'I want to support them.' What Hakuho has in mind is to host international amateur sumo matches based on his experience of hosting the Hakuho Cup for junior wrestlers for the past 15 years. 'An annual international sumo match has wrestlers from around 25 to 30 countries participating,' he said. 'There are also yokozuna in 150 countries. So there's already a base. 'I will do my best to develop sumo from outside of the JSA,' Hakuho said. The project has already attracted at least one prospective major sponsor — Toyota, with Toyota Motor Chairman Akio Toyoda expressing interest, he said. Details of the plan will be revealed at a later date. Born as Davaajargal Monkhbatyn, Hakuho became the 69th yokozuna in 2007 at the age of 22. He became a naturalized citizen of Japan in 2019 and retired as a wrestler in 2021 . 'The past 25 years were years I've loved sumo and have been loved by sumo,' he said. 'I have no regrets.' But in his last words before he wrapped up the news conference, Hakuho appeared to show a painful reluctance to leave the young wrestlers he took under his wing. 'I wanted to see my wrestlers become yokozuna and ōzeki,' he said. 'I'll cheer them on from outside once Miyagino stable resumes.'


NHK
21 hours ago
- NHK
Farewell held for Japanese baseball legend Nagashima Shigeo
Baseball stars have gathered to pay tribute to the late Japanese legend Nagashima Shigeo. Nicknamed "Mr. Pro Baseball," the charismatic former player and manager of the Yomiuri Giants passed away Tuesday at the age of 89. Nagashima's former teammates, and those who played for him when he was a manager, gathered in Tokyo on Sunday in front of an altar decorated with his portrait. Oh Sadaharu, who hit a record 868 home runs, was a former teammate. The two sluggers were touted as the "ON combo" during the height of their careers. Oh became a member of the Yomiuri Giants one year after Nagashima joined the team. The Giants won the Japan Series championship for 9 consecutive years from 1965, with Oh third and Nagashima fourth in the batting lineup. In a speech at Nagashima's funeral, Oh said: "I remember that pro baseball fans across Japan were eager to watch your every move. You were like the sun that shined on the field. I spent more than 60 years with you. That is unforgettable and so valuable. I have no choice but to say thank you." Nagashima retired as a player in 1974 with a total of 444 home runs. It was also the year when another baseball slugger Matsui Hideki was born. In the 1992 baseball draft, then Giants' manager Nagashima took part in a lottery and gained the right to negotiate with Matsui, who eventually became the team's cleanup hitter. The slugger later played on US Major League teams including the New York Yankees. Matsui says his success as a batter was thanks to Nagashima's advice while practicing swings in one-on-one sessions. He said: "Looking into your eyes, I cannot help cringing as you would tell me to fetch a bat and practice my swing. But now I want to hear your voice again. I refrain from saying "Thank you" or "Goodbye" today. I would rather ask you to continue teaching me. I hope you will always be a light for Japanese baseball."