took part in the discussions, according to the board.

The board revealed in early January that the male student, 17, committed suicide in late December after being physically punished by the adviser. It has confirmed that corporal punishment was practiced by the basketball and other sport clubs at the school.

Tanaka shows maturity

KUMEJIMA, Okinawa Pref.

Kyodo

In what may be his final season in Japan, Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles ace Masahiro Tanaka is looking more mature than ever.

The right-hander, who has been tabbed to start Japan’s World Baseball Classic opener, resisted the urge to air it out in the bullpen on Friday, when Japan manager Koji Yamamoto watched him pitch on the first day of spring training.

“Before this, if I was in a position where it was OK to throw with allmy might, I think I’d have showed off,” said the 24-year-old who could be pitching in the major leagues as early as next season.

“Instead, I was able to go at my own pace.”

This displays a heightened ability to objectively assess his condition, something that bodes well for a pitcher who is coming off a season in which he missed a month with back trouble.

Tanaka, who won the Sawamura Award in 2011 as Japan’s best starting pitcher, still went 10-4 last season with a 1.87 ERA and led the Pacific League with 169 strikeouts.

He signed a three-year deal in December with the understanding that the Eagles will consider making him available to major league clubs before the contract expires.

But before that happens, he has another goal, making the grade