Japanese baseball's contraction crisis deepened Wednesday when it was revealed at an owners' meeting that more Pacific League teams are considering a merger.
Local media reported after Wednesday's meeting that the Seibu Lions are also considering a merger. Seibu owner Yoshiaki Tsutsumi said the Lions, Fukuoka Daiei Hawks, Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters and Chiba Lotte Marines have been shortlisted for a possible merger between two of them.
Wednesday's revelations raised the possibility that Japanese baseball will restructure to a one-league format for next season instead of the existing two-league system.
Since we know that Sumo and J League have their own financial problems, I can only conclude that there aren't many professional sports doing well in Japan right now. Golf and Marathon running, I suppose.
In fact, yesterday's JT interview with img, the sports agents, suggest that too but also includes tennis.
q: Outside of Naoko Takahashi, are there any other prominent Japanese athletes that img represents?
a: We still represent (retired tennis player) Shuzo Matsuoka and golfer Riko Higashio.