Latest news with #AyamiSato
Tokyo Weekender
16-05-2025
- Business
- Tokyo Weekender
British Couple in Shorts and T-Shirt Rescued From ‘Ghost of Yotei' Mountain
In this week's news roundup we report on a British couple who needed rescuing from Mount Yotei in Hokkaido. Nissan announce more job cuts. A major Japanese supermarket chain reveals plans to start selling California-grown rice. A restaurant in Osaka is forced to close after posting a ' No Chinese ' sign at the store's entrance. Masahiro Nakai 's lawyers refute the accusation of 'sexual violence' against their client made by a third-party panel. And Ayami Sato makes history as the first woman to play in the Canadian men's professional baseball league. List of Contents: British Couple 'Too Cold To Move' on Mount Yotei Nissan To Cut 11,000 More Jobs Japanese Supermarket Chain To Start Selling California-Grown Rice Osaka Restaurant Forced To Close After Posting a 'No Chinese' Sign Masahiro Nakai's Legal Team Refute Panel Accusation of 'Sexual Violence' Ayami Sato Makes History As the First Woman To Play in Canadian Men's Pro Baseball League Related Posts British Couple 'Too Cold To Move' on Mount Yotei On Tuesday, a British couple visiting Hokkaido decided to hike up Mount Yotei, a 1,898-meter stratovolcano in Shikotsu-Toya National Park that's set to be the backdrop for 'Ghost of Yotei,' an eagerly anticipated action-adventure game slated for release in October. The view from the summit of the mountain is breathtaking. Unfortunately, the two visitors didn't get to see it. They were reportedly near the ninth station, around 1,750 meters above sea level, when the man called for rescue. According to the police, they were too cold to move. Unable to make it to a mountain hut or shelter, the 30-year-old man decided to call the emergency services at around 6:10 p.m. He was reportedly wearing shorts and a long-sleeved shirt. His girlfriend, 29, was dressed in a short-sleeve top and long pants. Rescue workers said that the pair appeared to have little knowledge of or experience in mountaineering. Nissan To Cut 11,000 More Jobs Struggling Japanese automaker Nissan is planning to cut another 11,000 jobs globally and close seven factories. The latest plan comes six months after the company announced it was laying off 9,000 workers as part of a cost-saving effort. For the fiscal year that ended in March, Japan's third-largest car manufacturer posted a net loss of over ¥670 billion (around $4.5 billion ). Ivan Espinosa, who became CEO of the company in April, described the results as a wake – up call. 'The reality is clear, ' he said . 'We have a very high-cost structure. To complicate matters further, the global market environment is volatile and unpredictable, making planning and investing increasingly challenging. Hence, Nissan must prioritize self-improvement with greater urgency and speed, aiming for profitability with less reliance on volume.' Last December, talks between Nissan and Honda began regarding a potential mega-merger . Had it been realized, it would've created the world's third-biggest automaker group. However, in February, the plan collapsed. Japanese Supermarket Chain To Start Selling California-Grown Rice With prices of Japan's staple grain continuing to rise, retail giant Aeon has decided to stock rice from California. On Tuesday, the company announced that it will start selling Calrose rice, a medium-grain white rice that is soft and somewhat sticky, from June 6. A 4-kilogram bag will cost ¥2,894, which is around 15% cheaper than Japanese rice. On the same day as the announcement, a Calrose rice tasting session was held at the US embassy in Tokyo. 'For Japan's largest supermarket chain to offer 100% US-grown Calrose rice in its stores across the country is truly a historic moment,' said the US Ambassador to Japan, George Glass. The average price of rice in this country has continued to soar over the past 12 months and is now more than double the cost of a year ago. In April, the Japanese government announced that it would be releasing stockpiled rice until around the end of July. Osaka Restaurant Forced To Close After Posting a 'No Chinese' Sign On May 12, the restaurant group Sasaya Holdings in Osaka issued a public apology after one of its eateries put up a 'No Chinese' sign at the store's entrance, which remained there for several days. An image of the sign quickly began circulating on social media sites such as X. Handwritten in Chinese, it read : 'There are many people with no manners. We do not allow Chinese customers into our store. We appreciate your understanding.' Sasaya Holdings posted two apologies, written in Japanese and Chinese. While the former didn't directly name the store in question, the latter did. Apparently,it was Sumibi Yakitori Hayashin , a charcoal–grilled yakitori restaurant that opened in Osaka's Nishi ward last September. The store's parent company said the sign had been put up without permission and that it was in violation of corporate policy. Sasaya Holdings informed the Sankei Shimbun that the shop has since been closed. Masahiro Nakai's Legal Team Refutes Panel Accusation of 'Sexual Violence' The legal team representing former SMAP member Masahiro Nakai issued a statement on Monday, refuting a third-party report which concluded that their client committed 'sexual violence' against a former Fuji TV announcer. After interviewing Nakai and reviewing the documents, his lawyers said they 'could not confirm that a violent and coercive sexual act typically associated with the Japanese term for 'sexual violence' took place.' The statement called on the panel to discl ose evidence and provide a thorough explanation. It also described the report as extremely problematic, stating that it 'lacked neutrality and fairness and seriously damaged an individual's reputation and social standing.' Made up of three lawyers, the committee conducted hearings with both Nakai and the woman involved. The investigation was led by Akira Takeuchi. At a press conference on March 31, he stated that the woman suffered sexual violence from Nakai. The committee used the World Health Organization's definition of 'sexual violence.' Ayami Sato Makes History As the First Woman To Play in Canadian Men's Pro Baseball League On Sunday, Japan's Ayami Sato made her debut for the Toronto Maple Leafs and, in doing so, became the first ever woman to play in the Canadian men's professional baseball league. The 35-year-old pitcher, who grew up on the island of Amami in Kagoshima Prefecture, performed superbly, retiring all six batters she faced in two innings. She also finished the match with one strikeout. Despite her impressive display, the Maple Leafs lost the game 6-5 to the Kitchener Panthers. Though disappointed with the result, it was a day that Sato will never forget. 'When I was at the mound and just looking at the crowd — a big crowd cheering — that was very memorable for me,' she told reporters after the game through a translator. One of the greatest and most decorated pitchers in the history of women's baseball, Sato is known for her curveball, which has a higher spin rate than most MLB players. Related Posts Actors Kei Tanaka and Mei Nagano Deny Affair Rumors Following Private Messages Leak Driver Deliberately Rams Car Into Seven Schoolchildren California Overtakes Japan As World's 4th-Largest Economy
Tokyo Weekender
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Tokyo Weekender
Ayami Sato Makes History As the First Woman To Play in Canadian Men's Pro Baseball League
On Sunday, Japan's Ayami Sato made her debut for the Toronto Maple Leafs and , in doing so , became the first ever woman to play in the Canadian men's professional baseball league. The 35-year-old pitcher, who grew up on the island of Amami in Kagoshima Prefecture, performed superbly, retiring all six batters she faced in two innings. She also finished the match with one strikeout. Despite her impressive display, the Maple Leafs lost the game 6-5 to the Kitchener Panthers. Though disappointed with the result, it was a day that Sato will never forget. Going into the game, there was, unsurprisingly, a lot of attention on the Japanese pitcher, and she coped well with the pressure. In fact, she seemed to thrive on it. 'When I was at the mound and just looking at the crowd — a big crowd cheering — that was very memorable for me,' she told reporters after the game through a translator. 'The world is watching,' said Maple Leafs manager Rob Butler. 'It's been amazing the excitement she has brought to Toronto and this league.' A World Series winner with the Toronto Blue Jays, Butler praised Sato's courage and tenacity, stating that she's taught her new teammates 'a few things about work ethic.' He added, 'Nothing has been seen like this in this league before and for her to be the first person to try to do it, it's a beautiful story.' About Ayami Sato One of the greatest and most decorated pitchers in the history of women's baseball, Sato's fastball has been clocked at close to 129 kilometers per hour (around 80 miles per hour). She is, though, most well known for her curveball, which has a higher spin rate than most MLB players. According to Sato, it was an elementary school teacher who taught her to throw a curveball as well as a slider. Sato developed a love for the sport while playing catch with her brother at the age of 9. She was immediately drawn to pitching because, in her own words , 'the pitcher is in the spotlight' and she likes 'being in control.' As there were few opportunities for women who wanted to pursue a career in baseball, she often considered giving up on her dream of becoming a professional player. Fortunately, the Japan Women's Baseball league — originally called the Girls Professional Baseball League — was founded in 2009. A year later, Sato debuted at the 2010 Women's Baseball World Cup. She helped Japan defend the title the country won in 2008. In total, she has won six World Cup gold medals and picked up three consecutive MVP awards. In December of last year, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced the signing of Sato. She became the first female player to join an Intercounty Baseball League team. Related Posts Yui Hasegawa Discusses Women's Soccer on the Global Field Ami Yuasa: Introducing Japan's Best Gold Medal Prospects for Paris 2024 Nadeshiko Stars Ohno and Kinga Ready To Shine for Arsenal Ladies
CBC
13-05-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Ayami Sato makes history
Ayami Sato, a 35-year-old Japanese pitcher, made history when she became the first woman to play in a Canadian professional men's baseball league. She made her debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs on May 11.
Toronto Star
12-05-2025
- Business
- Toronto Star
Details of the girls swarming case are coming to light + Rethinking Toronto's condo-selling structure
Good morning. This is the Monday, May 12 edition of First Up, the Star's daily morning digest. Sign up to get it earlier each day, in your inbox. Talk about a Mother's Day announcement! The Toronto Zoo shared that Mstari, an endangered Masai giraffe, is expecting her third calf. Here's how long a giraffe pregnancy typically lasts. And here's the latest on newly revealed details in the girls swarming case, why a developer says Toronto needs to sell condos like other cities do, and how difficult it is to get a spot at Ontario's newest medical school. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW DON'T MISS What happened behind the scenes after Kenneth Lee's swarming death A secret confession. Strip searches. Here's what the Star can now report about the case. Final girl facing trial in swarming death of Kenneth Lee pleads guilty How the death of Kenneth Lee and the girl swarm case has uncovered troubling questions about routine strip searches of kids in detention This developer says Toronto needs to follow other cities' lead on condos In other cities, developers sell units after they're built. Should Toronto do that, too? The Condo Catch: How investors have wreaked havoc on Toronto's condo market This condo investor is being sued for $860,000 for failing to close. He's one of dozens facing lawsuits as default rates soar These historic Toronto apartments have been vacant since a sinkhole, fire and sewage forced out tenants. Can it be brought back to life? TMU has one of the toughest medical schools to get into Earning a spot in TMU's inaugural MD class is no easy feat. Here's what it takes. TMU president says diversity targets for medical school were 'aspirational,' not a quota WHAT ELSE The Lula Lounge is seen on Dundas Street West near Dufferin St.. Richard Lautens Toronto Star A woman left this nightclub in an ambulance after an allergic reaction. Here's what the Advocate learned. A 'Brazen' killing at a restaurant near Toronto shines a light on Hells Angels' changing business model. A Toronto cop's misconduct case over 'offensive' Facebook posts has ended without a hearing. Toronto's only clothing-optional beach will get a wider berth from motorized boats and jet skis. Pope Leo XIV called for peace in Ukraine and Gaza in his Mother's Day blessing. Donald Trump defended the prospect of Qatar gifting him a plane to use as Air Force One. For Air Miles CEO Shawn Stewart, the loyalty card's resurrection is a simple tale of redemption. Here's a Canadian filmmaker's take on how Trump's tariffs will affect the thriving film industry. Here's how AI helps push Candy Crush players through its most difficult puzzles. Should you keep the toilet lid up or down? Experts plunge into the debate here. POV The Maple Leafs didn't just lose two games in Florida, they let the Panthers rediscover their game. CLOSE UP Ayami Sato celebrates after recording a strikeout in the second inning. Ayami Sato, a 35-year-old Japanese pitcher, is widely considered to be the best female pitcher in the world. Steve Russell Toronto Star DOMINICO FIELD: Ayami Sato celebrates after recording a strikeout in the second inning. The 35-year-old Japanese pitcher made her debut with the Intercounty Baseball League's Toronto Maple Leafs yesterday afternoon. Hayden Godfrey has more on the herstoric day. Thank you for reading. You can reach me and the First Up team at firstup@ I will see you back here tomorrow. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox.
CBC
12-05-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Ayami Sato makes history as 1st woman to join professional men's baseball league in Canada
Ayami Sato made history as the first woman to join a professional men's baseball league in Canada. Sato has come all the way from Japan to play in the Intercounty Baseball League, as a starting pitcher for the Toronto Maple Leafs. CBC's Tyler Cheese has more on her growing legend and how she's blazing a trail for women in sports.
