Japan baseball strike called off

Fans were also angered by the planned merger

Japan's professional baseball players have called off a strike planned for this weekend.

The players had threatened to boycott all September's weekend matches, to protest about a proposed merger between two clubs.

Such a merger could cause job losses, but the clubs' owners say it is the only way to keep the teams in business.

The two sides have yet to reach an agreement, but more talks are planned to avoid a walkout next weekend.

The players' threat to strike surprised many in Japan, as it was the first time they had taken such action since the game was introduced from the US 70 years ago.

Baseball is keenly followed by Japanese fans and TV audiences, despite suffering a recent drop in popularity.

Restructuring

After two days of talks, the players agreed to set a new deadline of next Friday to reach a deal, their union said.

"There will be no strike in the next two days," Atsuya Furuta, chairman of the Japan Baseball Players Association, told a news conference on Friday.

The players had threatened to strike every weekend in September unless officials agreed to shelve a merger between Orix Bluewave and the Kintetsu Buffaloes.

The players' union is particularly worried that if the merger goes ahead, it could prompt the owners of other loss-making teams to follow suit.

It could also force the restructuring of Japan's current arrangement, whereby teams compete in two leagues of six teams each.

Attendance at baseball games and ratings of televised games have been dropping in Japan in recent years, as football has become more popular.

Stars such as Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui have also moved to the US.