author

 
 
Ed Odeven
Ed Odeven covers primarily basketball for The Japan Times. He reported on a wide range of sports from the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2012 London Summer Games for this newspaper. A native of the Bronx, N.Y., Odeven is a graduate of Arizona State University. He previously worked for the Arizona Daily Sun in Flagstaff, Ariz., reporting on high school, collegiate, professional and Olympic sports (Flagstaff is a major international Olympic training site due to its high elevation) and writing a weekly column. His articles have appeared in Venezuela Online News, The Gleaner (Jamaica), the Monitor (Uganda), The Moscow Times, Swimming World Magazine and numerous other publications.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Mar 19, 2015
Bryant still hoping Fukuoka can make playoffs
The Rizing Fukuoka face an uphill climb in their quest to make the playoffs.
BASKETBALL
Mar 15, 2015
Chapman guides Susanoo Magic past HeatDevils for series sweep
Guard Joe Chapman was an important acquisition for the Shimane Susanoo Magic during the offseason. An experienced veteran, the 30-year-old Marquette University alum has been a key on-court leader for the revamped Western Conference squad.
BASKETBALL
Mar 14, 2015
Hot-shooting Taguchi ignites Akita against lowly Tokyo
A simple strategy proved to be the right one for the Akita Northern Happinets on Saturday.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Mar 14, 2015
Turkish Airlines promotes name with pro game
Turkish Airlines and the bj-league were both seeking to strengthen their business brands when they announced a two-year tie-up last September.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Mar 12, 2015
Sendai's Shimura remains key part of team's identity
During the past four seasons of major personnel changes for the Sendai 89ers, veteran guard Takehiko Shimura has been the one constant on the club's roster.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Mar 11, 2015
Murofushi, Miyagi Prefecture students team up to clean 1964 Olympic Cauldron
Koji Murofushi secured a permanent place in the annals of track and field by capturing the men's hammer throw gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics and the bronze eight years later at the London Summer Games.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Mar 8, 2015
Evessa find a way past Golden Kings
After losing their first three games this season against the Ryukyu Golden Kings, the Osaka Evessa came back with a fierce determination to bounce back on Sunday.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Mar 7, 2015
Kennedy sparks Niigata in victory over Gunma
Niigata Albirex BB forward Thomas Kennedy is one of the bj-league's most dependable scorers.
BASKETBALL
Mar 6, 2015
Fukuoka comeback falls short against Shiga
A slow start spelled trouble for the Rizing Fukuoka on Friday night.
BASKETBALL
Mar 5, 2015
Hot 3-point shooting carries Shiga past Fukuoka
Led by a trio of 3-point shooting specialists, the visiting Shiga Lakestars halted the Rizing Fukuoka's three-game winning streak on Thursday night, winning the bj-league series opener 95-93.
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Mar 5, 2015
Do-it-all forward Charlo having special season for title-chasing Phoenix
Mo Charlo's name isn't a long-winded, multisyllabic tongue-twister. It's easy to say — and easy to remember.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Mar 1, 2015
Peppers lifts Rizing past Bambitious
Like teammate Cohey Aoki did in Saturday's series opener, Rizing Fukuoka star Josh Peppers carried his team on the offensive end on Sunday afternoon.
BASKETBALL
Feb 28, 2015
Hamamatsu triumphs over Osaka in OT
The Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix outlasted the Osaka Evessa on Saturday night, winning 80-76.
BASKETBALL
Feb 27, 2015
Gunma completes sweep over lowly Saitama
Since an 0-9 start this season, the Gunma Crane Thunders have made a dramatic turnaround.
BASKETBALL
Feb 26, 2015
Ex-NBA big man Ely sparks Gunma in victory over Saitama
Former NBA center Melvin Ely notched a double-double and three teammates also scored in double figures as the Gunma Crane Thunders cruised past the visiting Saitama Broncos 75-61 in Thursday's series opener.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Feb 26, 2015
Late trainer Tanaka recalled fondly by coaches, players
The Gunma Crane Thunders have lost their beloved athletic trainer and translator Takashi "T" Tanaka.
BASKETBALL
Feb 22, 2015
Cinq Reves beat Broncos to end barren run
The Tokyo Cinq Reves found a way to win on Sunday, routing the Saitama Broncos 89-61 in Musashino.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Feb 21, 2015
Kyoto routs Nara, improves to 29-6
On defense, the Kyoto Hannaryz played a tough, tenacious game.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS / OLYMPIC NOTEBOOK
Feb 21, 2015
Tokyo Dome a worthy option for basketball
One of the key selling points of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic bid was its compact plan, which called for 85 percent of the venues to be within 8 km of the Olympic Village.
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Feb 19, 2015
Fukushima putting pieces together for playoff quest
Professional sports dynasties aren't build overnight.

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?