Bullet Points: Japan Links
Yes, it’s the middle of posting season and you’re likely here for updates on Yu Darvish and Norichika Aoki, but my interests stretch beyond baseball. And sometimes they stretch the content of this site… so here are a few articles on Japan I’ve come across in the last week. All are written in English.
- A trio of filmmakers has recently successfully raised funds to produce Hafu, a documentary about mixed race people in Japan. I am looking forward to seeing the results.
- Fueled by a strong Yen and a flat domestic economy, Japan Inc was acquisitive in 2011, spending $80bn to acquire foreign businesses.
- Found via Hacker News: a look inside Nintendo, circa 1989.
- I’ve been sitting on this last one, but back in September, Japan Times writer Ed Odeven started an extremely insightful site covering Japanese basketball. I’m only a passive basketball fan, but I found some interesting stuff on this site, most notably that Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf played in Kyoto a few years ago.
19/12/2011 at 8:16 pm Permalink
I know the Hafu filmmakers, good people.
Anyways Giants grab Sugiuchi, Houlton, and Murata. Defending champ Hawks have been gutted by both the Giants and MLB.
19/12/2011 at 11:31 pm Permalink
Yeah but they have some depth. Guys like Iwasaki, Tatsumi, Ohtonari have to step up. Losing Sugiuchi (for me) is worse than losing Wada. Similarly, Tsu-Hsuan and Imamiya to fill in for Kawasaki. It’ll be a step back but Nippon Ham and Seibu are probably losing Daru and Nakaji.
26/12/2011 at 12:39 pm Permalink
Thanks for the heads up Patrick! That movie sounds interesting. I had several friends there in that situation. One in particular was very upset at how his Korean blood was limiting his opportunities. There are two D1 basketball universities here in San Diego. Many of the guys who graduated this past year and did not get drafted to the NBA went to Asia. Korea and China have good leagues. Not as good or as rich as Europe, but good. Malcom Thomas just signed with the Lakers and was pivotal in my Aztecs having a Sweet 16 season last year. He was in Korea.