Latest news with #Kuriyama
Yomiuri Shimbun
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Japanese Ex-Pro Baseball Pitcher Yuki Saito Building Ballpark for Kids in Hokkaido
NAGANUMA, Hokkaido (Jiji Press) — Yuki Saito, a former pitcher for the Japanese professional baseball team Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, is spearheading the construction of a new field dedicated to boys and girls in the town of Naganuma, Hokkaido. Saito, 37, envisions the new field as a venue that will inspire the next generation of professional players. It will offer a scenic view of ES CON Field Hokkaido, the home stadium of the Fighters. The field that Saito has helped to construct since August last year was unveiled to the media on May 5, coinciding with Children's Day. To mark the occasion, local baseball teams were invited to play a commemorative game. Saito took the mound for the ceremonial first pitch, facing Hideki Kuriyama, the chief baseball officer of the Fighters, who stepped in as the hitter. Kuriyama, who managed the Fighters for most of Saito's career, is also renowned for nurturing Shohei Ohtani, now a two-way superstar with the Los Angeles Dodgers, during his tenure with the Fighters. 'I'm incredibly happy to see the children enjoying themselves so brightly and energetically,' Saito said. 'I think the main point is that he wants to create something tangible that children need,' Kuriyama said. 'There's nothing more important than that. In fact, I might be the one who's even more moved by this.' Saito conducted an extensive search for the ideal ballpark location, focusing primarily on the Kanto region in eastern Japan. He visited more than 50 potential sites, including existing ballparks, mountainous areas and open fields. Ultimately, the flat terrain of Naganuma proved to be the deciding factor. The site's history as a baseball field, used up until 20 years ago, also meant that the soil was well-suited for the purpose. It is located near Kuri no Ki Farm, the little league field managed by Kuriyama, and ES CON Field Hokkaido. 'I happened to come across this plot of land by chance. I feel there's something destined about it,' Saito said. The ballpark, named Harappa Stadium, features foul lines measuring 70 meters and a center field stretching 85 meters. The name 'Harappa' means 'field' or 'grassland' in Japanese, reflecting the stadium's open, welcoming atmosphere. One of Saito's top priorities was the installation of a 1-meter-high outfield fence. Little league stadiums in Japan typically lack fences, so any ball hit past the outfielders can result in a home run. 'I hope Japanese children will experience the thrill of hitting home runs over the fence. I want them to play baseball freely and in a relaxed way,' he said. After the commemorative game on May 5, he joined the children in painting the wooden fence together. Saito started the project by personally cutting weeds and, with the help of local residents, preparing the site for games. His vision is to complete the ballpark by laying natural grass on both the infield and outfield, while planting trees around the perimeter. Looking ahead, Saito also dreams of building a lodging facility nearby. 'The experience of playing baseball in such a ballpark will be unforgettable [for young players],' Saito said. He hopes to transform the new field into an ideal ballpark for children. Saito rose to prominence as a star pitcher at high school and university. As the ace of Waseda Jitsugyo high school in Tokyo, he led his team to championship glory at the 2006 national high school tournament at the Koshien Stadium. The final game became legendary for Saito's epic pitching duel against Masahiro Tanaka of Komadai Tomakomai high school from Hokkaido, who would later go on to throw in Major League Baseball. Saito earned the affectionate nickname 'Handkerchief Prince' for his habit of using a handkerchief to wipe away the sweat on the pitcher's mound during the sweltering August heat, a distinctive gesture that set him apart from other players, who typically used their uniform sleeves.
Business Insider
31-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Jefferies Sticks to Their Buy Rating for Sanrio Company (SNROF)
Jefferies analyst Shunsuke Kuriyama maintained a Buy rating on Sanrio Company (SNROF – Research Report) today and set a price target of Yen8,000.00. The company's shares closed last Tuesday at $47.50. Confident Investing Starts Here: Kuriyama covers the Consumer Cyclical sector, focusing on stocks such as Sanrio Company, Oriental Land Co, and ROUND ONE. According to TipRanks, Kuriyama has an average return of 35.9% and a 75.86% success rate on recommended stocks. The word on The Street in general, suggests a Moderate Buy analyst consensus rating for Sanrio Company with a $55.60 average price target. Based on Sanrio Company's latest earnings release for the quarter ending December 31, the company reported a quarterly revenue of $41.98 billion and a net profit of $14.72 billion. In comparison, last year the company earned a revenue of $28.5 billion and had a net profit of $5.63 billion
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
APEC Forecasts 2.6% Growth In 2025, Urges Action To Eliminate Trade Policy Uncertainty
Issued by the APEC Policy Support Unit Jeju, Republic of Korea, 15 May 2025 Growth in the APEC region is expected to slow sharply in 2025, as escalating trade tensions and policy uncertainty weigh on investment and trade, according to a new economic report released by the APEC Policy Support Unit ahead of the Ministers Responsible of Trade Meeting in Jeju. While challenges persist, the report highlights an opportunity for member economies to strengthen cooperation and build resilience through structural reforms and open trade. Economic growth in the APEC region is forecast to moderate to 2.6 and 2.7 percent in 2025 and 2026, a sharp drop from the 3.6 percent growth recorded in 2024. This downward revision underscores the persistent weight of policy uncertainty on the regional economy, especially in areas such as trade and investment. The report also draws attention to mounting structural challenges. 'From tariff hikes and retaliatory measures to the suspension of trade facilitation procedures and the proliferation of non-tariff barriers, we are witnessing an environment that is not conducive to trade,' said Carlos Kuriyama, Director of the APEC Policy Support Unit. 'This uncertainty is hurting business confidence and leading many firms to delay investments and new product launches until the situation becomes more predictable,' Kuriyama added. The report shows that economic and trade activity across the 21 APEC member economies has slowed considerably. APEC's export volume is projected to grow by just 0.4 percent in 2025, while import volume is expected to rise by only 0.1 percent. This marks a steep decline from 2024, when export and import volumes grew by 5.7 percent and 4.3 percent, respectively. Kuriyama emphasized that rising protectionist moves and unfair trade practices—such as increased subsidies—have created an environment where firms are pausing decisions and holding back on cross-border activities. 'What worries us a lot is that all of these uncertainties could affect jobs,' he said. The report also notes that financial markets have reacted to the uncertainty. The global volatility index spiked to 52 points in April, more than triple the 2023–2024 average, while gold surged to USD3,200 per troy ounce in early May as investors fled to safe-haven assets. 'The global economic picture is highly fragile,' said Rhea C. Hernando, an analyst with the APEC Policy Support Unit. 'General government debt across APEC is projected to hit 110 percent of GDP through 2030. At the same time, we're confronting long-term demographic shifts, including a shrinking workforce and an ageing population. The fiscal and structural stress is real.' Adding to these concerns, the report highlights a rising wave of discriminatory non-tariff measures, in particular subsidies measures distorting trade. 'Fragmented and reactionary trade policies are becoming the norm,' said Glacer Vasquez, co-author of the report. 'While some economies pursue trade-facilitating reforms, these are often offset by inward-looking protectionist measures. This divergence is hampering regional cohesion.' Despite these headwinds, the report emphasizes that the current moment presents a critical opportunity for economies to work together. Kuriyama urged APEC economies to recommit to cooperation and stability. He noted that restoring confidence in trade requires not only easing tensions, but also expanding into new markets, strengthening supply chain resilience and improving transparency of trade rules and procedures. 'This is not the time to retreat behind borders. This is the time to double down on cooperation,' he concluded. 'Through collective action, APEC economies can navigate uncertainty and lay the groundwork for a more resilient, prosperous future.'
The Sun
15-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Trump's tariffs to trigger stagnant trade in Asia: APEC report
JEJU: Asia should brace for a near-stagnation of trade and a sharp economic slowdown in the region this year due to escalating tariffs, experts from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation said Thursday. Trade ministers from the top economies that make up APEC are meeting in South Korea from Thursday as global trade cooperation falters, with US President Donald Trump's tariffs upending markets and long-established trade systems. Experts now expect a meagre 0.4 percent growth in exports for the Asia-Pacific region this year -- a sharp slowdown from 5.7 percent in 2024, according to an APEC report released Thursday. Higher tariffs and retaliatory measures are leading to 'a loss of investor confidence, weakening demand, and could eventually affect jobs', Carlos Kuriyama, director of the APEC Policy Support Unit, told a press briefing. Imports are also projected to remain flat, rising only 0.1 percent. As a result, APEC countries are forecast to post just 2.6 percent GDP growth in 2025, down from an earlier projection of 3.3 percent, according to new estimates. Growth in 2026 is expected to reach 2.7 percent -- well below the 3.3 percent expected for the rest of the world. While APEC includes a wide range of economies, all are struggling, Kuriyama said. Dangerous uncertainty In addition to 25 percent tariffs on automobiles and steel, the Trump administration announced 'reciprocal' tariff surcharges in early April, which have been suspended until July. These higher tariff risks are damaging economic activity, and increased production costs will be passed on to consumers, ultimately reducing demand for goods, Kuriyama said. Uncertainty is dangerous, he added. 'We need to make sure that policies are steady, and if there are some changes, those changes are permanent and not temporary.' US trade representative Jamieson Greer is attending the summit and has held bilateral talks with attendees, including Chinese international trade representative Li Chenggang. China and the United States recently agreed to a partial pause in their tariff surcharges. 'This is positive, but this is not taking us to the situation before April', when Trump unleashed his tariffs, Kuriyama told reporters. Within APEC, 'many of the governments are trying to implement measures to facilitate trade in order to offset the negative effect coming from measures that are adding more barriers, more and more constraints,' he noted. But the impact is limited. 'The US is the largest the largest market, it is the largest economy, so it represents a very significant percentage of the global economy,' Kuriyama said. 'It will be hard to find a way to replace all these opportunities.'
The Sun
15-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
APEC Warns of Trade Stagnation, Slower Growth in 2025
JEJU: Asia should brace for a near-stagnation of trade and a sharp economic slowdown in the region this year due to escalating tariffs, experts from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation said Thursday. Trade ministers from the top economies that make up APEC are meeting in South Korea from Thursday as global trade cooperation falters, with US President Donald Trump's tariffs upending markets and long-established trade systems. Experts now expect a meagre 0.4 percent growth in exports for the Asia-Pacific region this year -- a sharp slowdown from 5.7 percent in 2024, according to an APEC report released Thursday. Higher tariffs and retaliatory measures are leading to 'a loss of investor confidence, weakening demand, and could eventually affect jobs', Carlos Kuriyama, director of the APEC Policy Support Unit, told a press briefing. Imports are also projected to remain flat, rising only 0.1 percent. As a result, APEC countries are forecast to post just 2.6 percent GDP growth in 2025, down from an earlier projection of 3.3 percent, according to new estimates. Growth in 2026 is expected to reach 2.7 percent -- well below the 3.3 percent expected for the rest of the world. While APEC includes a wide range of economies, all are struggling, Kuriyama said. Dangerous uncertainty In addition to 25 percent tariffs on automobiles and steel, the Trump administration announced 'reciprocal' tariff surcharges in early April, which have been suspended until July. These higher tariff risks are damaging economic activity, and increased production costs will be passed on to consumers, ultimately reducing demand for goods, Kuriyama said. Uncertainty is dangerous, he added. 'We need to make sure that policies are steady, and if there are some changes, those changes are permanent and not temporary.' US trade representative Jamieson Greer is attending the summit and has held bilateral talks with attendees, including Chinese international trade representative Li Chenggang. China and the United States recently agreed to a partial pause in their tariff surcharges. 'This is positive, but this is not taking us to the situation before April', when Trump unleashed his tariffs, Kuriyama told reporters. Within APEC, 'many of the governments are trying to implement measures to facilitate trade in order to offset the negative effect coming from measures that are adding more barriers, more and more constraints,' he noted. But the impact is limited. 'The US is the largest the largest market, it is the largest economy, so it represents a very significant percentage of the global economy,' Kuriyama said. 'It will be hard to find a way to replace all these opportunities.'
