Baseball proponents vow to reinstate sport as Olympic game

Baseball proponents vow to reinstate sport as Olympic game

TOKYO, Japan - Some participants in Olympic baseball games in the past 30 years vow to make efforts to reinstate baseball as an official Olympic event in a talk show at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Tokyo on Aug. 7, 2014. The event, held to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Japan's win in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics as a demonstration event, was joined by (from L) former player Katsumi Hirosawa, and former managers Masatake Yamanaka, Reiichi Matsunaga, Yoshinobu Suzuki, Katsuji Kawashima and Kozo Otagaki.

Women's entry into Shinto priesthood increasing

Women's entry into Shinto priesthood increasing

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken Feb. 6, 2014 shows Nobuyo Otagaki, a female chief priest at the Amagasaki Ebisu Shrine, in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, performing a purification rite in the city in front of businesspeople to pray for prosperity in their businesses.

Cuba dashes Japan's dream of baseball gold

Cuba dashes Japan's dream of baseball gold

SYDNEY, Australia - Pitcher Tomohiro Kuroki (L) is pepped up by his manager Kozo Otagaki and catcher Fumihiro Suzuki in the bottom of the sixth inning of the semifinal game against Cuba at Sydney Baseball Stadium on Sept. 26. Japan's dream of an Olympic gold medal was dashed as it lost to double gold medallists Cuba 3-0.

Cuba dashes Japan's dream of baseball gold

Cuba dashes Japan's dream of baseball gold

SYDNEY, Australia - Pitcher Tomohiro Kuroki (L) is pepped up by his manager Kozo Otagaki and catcher Fumihiro Suzuki in the bottom of the sixth inning of the semifinal game against Cuba at Sydney Baseball Stadium on Sept. 26. Japan's dream of an Olympic gold medal was dashed as it lost to double gold medallists Cuba 3-0.