in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednseday, Dec. 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

STEPHEN WADE

Sports writer

Wade has written about sports and the politics of sports around the globe for The Associated Press. He has covered nine Olympics and five soccer World Cups and has been based for AP in: Madrid, London, Beijing, Mexico City, Buenos Aires, and Rio de Janeiro, before moving to Tokyo.
A fan watches warmups before an MLB Japan Series baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs in Tokyo, Japan, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Baseball in Japan looks about the same, but the food and the vibe are different
 
Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani, bottom center, bats against the Hanshin Tigers during the third inning in an MLB Japan Series exhibition baseball game, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Shohei Ohtani merchandise is prompting long lines — even in the rain — in Tokyo
 
Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani (17) bats against the Hanshin Tigers during the third inning in an MLB Japan Series exhibition baseball game, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
What’s the future of baseball in Japan as the best players leave for MLB?
 
Los Angeles Dodgers Shohei Ohtani, left, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, center, and Roki Sasaki, right, pose for photographs during the official Press conference Friday, March 14, 2025, in Tokyo, as the Dodgers play their MLB opening games against the Chicago Cubs at Tokyo Dome next week. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Shohei Ohtani and four other Japanese players come home to start the MLB season
 
Fans of Los Angeles Dodgers wait for the team arrival as a staff installs partitions to block fans from the arrival route of the Dodgers team members at Tokyo International Airport Thursday, March 13, 2025, in Tokyo, as Dodgers to play their MLB opening games against and Chicago Cubs in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Ohtani’s Tokyo airport arrival hidden from fans hoping to catch a glimpse of Japanese star
 
Dr. Grover Smith, right, works out with exercise scientist Dr. Irv Rubenstein, left, at STEPS Fitness, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Get motivated to exercise regularly like these gym rats in their 70s and 80s
 
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, right, moves the ball while defended by Golden State Warriors forward Gui Santos during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez, File)
LeBron, Lindsey Vonn, Ronaldo keep going; Faster, stronger and longer, with plenty of help
 
Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts speaks during a sponsor's promotional event in Tokyo, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Mookie Betts has advice for Shohei Ohtani: Get some sleep now before the ‘baby comes’
 
Seattle Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki, of Japan, hits a solo home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Sunday, May 31, 2009, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
Ichiro is about to get his Hall of Fame moment. For Japan, he’s more than just a baseball star
 
Jacob Bullard warms up on an elliptical machine while undergoing physical therapy at WashU, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Physical therapy is ‘the best-kept secret in health care’
 
Shota Imanaga, a Japanese pitcher of the Chicago Cubs, left, and Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Ambassador to Japan, shake hands during a news conference at the U.S. Embassy Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in Tokyo, as he was invited to the event dubbed the U.S. Global Entry to promote a way for travelers to get quicker clearance on arrival. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Should Sasaki join Cubs? Emanuel, a fan of the team and ambassador to Japan, is being diplomatic
 
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts attends a press conference on the commercials he appears Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Does Shohei Ohtani still owe his manager Dave Roberts a new Porsche?
 
A staff member distributes an extra edition of the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper reporting that Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani won his third Most Valuable Player award, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Shohei Ohtani’s MVP wins could singlehandedly save the newspaper industry in Japan
 
Personal fitness trainer Richard Lamb, leads a group in an outdoor gym class in London, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
How to choose the best personal trainer for your fitness goals — and budget
 
A staff member distributes an extra edition of the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper in Tokyo, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, reporting on the Los Angeles Dodgers' victory in the World Series baseball match after the Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees in Game 5 in New York. The headline of the newspaper said "Dodgers is No. 1 in the World." (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japan celebrates as Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto win World Series with Dodgers
 
People react as they watch a live view of Game 4 of the baseball World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees during a public viewing event in Oshu, northeastern Japan, the hometown of Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Shohei Ohtani’s hometown waits another day for superstar’s first World Series title
 
Hironobu Kanno, representative of a private fan club of Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers, speaks surrounded by his collection goods of Ohtani at his beauty salon in Oshu, northeastern Japan, the hometown of Ohtani, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Shohei Ohtani’s rural hometown honors its superstar son — from city hall to the hair salons
 
People watch a live stream before the start of Game 3 of the baseball World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees during a public viewing event in Oshu, northeastern Japan, the hometown of Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Fans in Shohei Ohtani’s Japanese hometown watch Dodgers reach brink of World Series title
 
Nico Echavarria of Colombia poses with the trophy after winning the PGA Tour Zozo Championship at the Narashino Country Club in Inzai on the outskirts of Tokyo, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Tomohiro Ohsumi)
Nico Echavarria claims the Zozo Championship for his second PGA Tour victory
 
Nico Echavarria of Colombia is seen on the 16th hole in the third round of the PGA Tour Zozo Championship at the Narashino Country Club in Inzai on the outskirts of Tokyo, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Tomohiro Ohsumi)
Nico Echavarria eagles the final hole for a 2-shot lead at the Zozo Championship
 
Collin Morikawa, the defending Zozo champion, signs autographs after his second round of the PGA Tour Zozo Championship at the Narashino Country Club in Inzai on the outskirts of Tokyo, Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Stephen Wade)
Nico Echavarria shoots another 64 to lead the Zozo Championship by 2 shots after the second round
 
Hideki Matsuyama, of Japan, tees off on the 6th hole in the first round of the PGA Tour Zozo Championship at the Narashino Country Club in Inzai on the outskirts of Tokyo, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)
Moore leads by one shot at Zozo Championship after opening with 7-under 63
 
Goods related to Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers are displayed at a sporting goods store, "SELECTION," in Shinjuku district Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024 in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japan prepares to cheer on Ohtani and the Dodgers, and the country is dressing for the occasion
 
Bats are seen on the ground as the Fukagawa Hawks youth baseball team practices Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Tokyo. Japan. (AP Photo/Stephen Wade)
Ohtani gives hope to young baseball players in Japan, and the rest of the country, too
 
FILE - Toyota Motor Corp. Chief Executive Akio Toyoda delivers a speech on the stage at the Tokyo Auto Salon, an industry event similar to the world's auto shows on Jan. 13, 2023, in Chiba near Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)
Toyota returns to Formula 1 in technical partnership with the US-based Haas team
 
In this photo provided by ISF/Meeting, runner Yuri Yoshizumi competes during a race of Stairclimbing World Championships in Osaka, western Japan, on Nov. 19, 2023. (ISF/MEETING via AP)
Want to burn calories? Climbing stairs might be the most effective exercise for you
 
This photo shows the headquarters of Panasonic in Kadoma, Osaka prefecture, western Japan, on Nov. 7, 2017. (Kyodo News via AP)
Top Olympic sponsor Panasonic is ending its contract with the IOC
 
Japan's Takumi Minamino and China's Liu Yangyi compete for the ball during a World Cup and AFC Asian Qualifier between Japan and China at Saitama Stadium 2002 in Saitama, north of Tokyo, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024.(AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
Chinese soccer appears to be getting worse despite President Xi’s pledge to make it better
 
Chiba Lotte Marines pitcher Roki Sasaki throws against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in a baseball game in Chiba, near Tokyo, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)
Japanese star Roki Sasaki pitches seven strong innings as his future in MLB comes into focus.
 
Kyoto International High School's team members celebrate as they won Japan's famous summer high school baseball tournament at a stadium in Nishinomiya, western Japan Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)
Team with Korean roots wins famous Japanese high school baseball tournament
 
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