Veteran Yokohama infielder Komada hangs up glove

Veteran Yokohama infielder Komada hangs up glove

TOKYO, Japan - File photo shows veteran Yokohama BayStars infielder Norihiro Komada who said Jan. 18 he is retiring from baseball after being released by the Central League club earlier in the off-season. Komada, 38, failed to draw interest from any clubs despite his hopes to continue his playing career.

University, city in central Japan leading new ninja studies

University, city in central Japan leading new ninja studies

Sakae Okamoto (L), mayor of Iga in Mie Prefecture, and Yoshihiro Komada (C), president of Mie University, pose under a sign at the "International Ninja Research Center" on July 1, 2017. The state-run university and the city, the birthplace of a prominent school for stealth ninja skills used for espionage, guerilla warfare and combat, set it up to dig deeper into the lives and history of ninja. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

"Rakugo" storyteller to teach Japanese language at Mie University

"Rakugo" storyteller to teach Japanese language at Mie University

Japanese "rakugo" comic storyteller Hayashiya Kikumaru III (L) shakes hands with Yoshihiro Komada, president of Mie University, in Tsu, Mie Prefecture, western Japan, on Oct. 30, 2015, after his appointment as a specially appointed professor to teach rakugo and the Japanese language at the national university. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Baseball: Aoki tallies 2,000 career hits

Baseball: Aoki tallies 2,000 career hits

Houston Astros outfielder Norichika Aoki (R) receives a ceremonial blazer from Norihiro Komada, former Nippon Professional Baseball player, in Houston on June 11, 2017, after Aoki marked his 2,000th career hit combined in the majors and Japan in a game against the Los Angeles Angels. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Baseball: Aoki tallies 2,000 career hits

Baseball: Aoki tallies 2,000 career hits

Houston Astros outfielder Norichika Aoki (R) receives a ceremonial blazer from Norihiro Komada, former Nippon Professional Baseball player, in Houston on June 11, 2017, after Aoki marked his 2,000th career hit combined in the majors and Japan in a game against the Los Angeles Angels. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Veteran Yokohama infielder Komada hangs up glove

Veteran Yokohama infielder Komada hangs up glove

TOKYO, Japan - File photo shows veteran Yokohama BayStars infielder Norihiro Komada who said Jan. 18 he is retiring from baseball after being released by the Central League club earlier in the off-season. Komada, 38, failed to draw interest from any clubs despite his hopes to continue his playing career.