Atsuya Furuta

"The way things are, we won't have a strike," said Atsuya Furuta, the head of the association. "What's most important is to get everyone's opinion and decide what our options are."

On June 13, officials of the Orix BlueWave and the Kintetsu Buffaloes announced their proposed merger.

Seibu Lions owner Yoshiaki Tsutsumi said July 7 at an owners' meeting that his team is considering a merger. Other teams listed as possible candidates were the Nippon Ham Fighters, the Chiba Lotte Marines and the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks.

The owners are expected to decide on the proposed mergers at a September meeting. Many of the owners, including Tsutsumi and Tsuneo Watanabe of the Central League's Yomiuri Giants, are said to favor a one-league system with 10 teams instead of the two-league, 12-team format, which has been in place since 1950.

If the mergers are approved more than 100 players could lose their jobs, along with front office staff and other personnel.

The Japan Times Weekly: July 17, 2004
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