Japan sports figures enter debate about freed journalist

In a rare move by Japanese sports professionals, a number of noted athletes have joined discussions on a divisive topic -- the case of journalist Jumpei Yasuda, who was recently released after being held captive for more than three years in Syria.The participation by Chicago Cubs pitcher Yu Darvish and alpinist Ken Noguchi, as well as Melbourne Victory midfielder Keisuke Honda, has given a new twist to years of debate in Japan over whether journalists and volunteer workers should refrain from traveling to parts of the world that the government advises Japanese nationals not to visit.Since h…READ FULL ARTICLE