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 Joel Tansey

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Joel Tansey
Joel joined The Japan Times in 2017 after four years as a reporter with Black Press Media in western Canada. He's currently a senior news editor and in 2022 he helped launch a new section of the paper focusing on climate change, earth science and other environmental issues.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 7, 2021
What to watch on Day 15 of the Tokyo Olympics
Samurai Japan will look to give the baseball-mad country its first Olympic gold in the sport, while one of Japan's flagbearers finally gets her chance to leave another mark on the Games.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 6, 2021
What to watch on Day 14 of the Tokyo Olympics
On Friday, Japan's women's basketball team looks to book a spot in the gold medal game while action at National Stadium continues with the men's and women's 4x100-meter relays.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 5, 2021
What to watch on Day 13 of the Tokyo Olympics
The first medals for sport climbing are ready to be handed out while karate makes its long-awaited Olympic debut as Tokyo 2020 moves into the final homestretch.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 4, 2021
What to watch on Day 12 of the Tokyo Olympics
An East Asian rivalry is set to be renewed on the diamond and skateboarding returns to the schedule a little over a week after Japan claimed the sport's first two gold medals.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 3, 2021
What to watch on Day 11 of the Tokyo Olympics
A gymnastics legend is set to make her return while Japan looks to the boxing ring to bust its gold slump as the Tokyo Games move into the final handful of days of competition.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 2, 2021
What to watch on Day 10 of the Tokyo Olympics
A weightlifter from New Zealand will make Olympic history while Samurai Japan takes on the United States in a battle of gold medal contenders on Day 10.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 1, 2021
What to watch on Day 9 of the Tokyo Olympics
A Masters champion looks to win a gold medal to go with his green jacket and Usain Bolt's successor in the men's 100 meters will be officially crowned on Sunday at the Games.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Jul 31, 2021
What to watch on Day 8 of the Tokyo Olympics
A Jamaican sprinting legend goes for gold and Japan's men's soccer team begins the knockout round looking to turn some more heads on Day 8 of the Tokyo Games.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Jul 30, 2021
What to watch on Day 7 of the Tokyo Olympics
One of the marquee sports of the Olympics gets underway at National Stadium, while a pair of Japan's top swimmers battle for their first medals at their home Games.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Jul 29, 2021
What to watch on Day 6 of the Tokyo Olympics
A Masters champion begins his quest for home gold and a gigantic task ahead for Japan's greatest male tennis player highlight the Olympic schedule on Thursday.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Jul 28, 2021
What to watch on Day 5 of the Tokyo Olympics
Another showdown between a pair of stars in the pool and a much-anticipated debut for Samurai Japan in baseball highlight another busy day in Tokyo.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Jul 27, 2021
What to watch on Day 4 of the Tokyo Olympics
Gold is on the line in a much-anticipated softball showdown and one of the best gymnasts of all-time looks to win her first medal of the Games.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Jul 26, 2021
What to watch on Day 3 of the Tokyo Olympics
One of Japan's flagbearers makes his Olympic debut and a doubles pair have their sights set on the nation's first-ever Olympic gold in table tennis on Day 3 of the Tokyo Games.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Jul 25, 2021
What to watch on Day 2 of the Tokyo Olympics
The first swimming medals of these Games are set to be handed out Sunday morning, while skateboarding and Naomi Osaka make their long-anticipated debuts.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Jul 24, 2021
What to watch on Day 1 of the Tokyo Olympics
The Summer Olympics kick off in full on Saturday with 11 sets of medals to be awarded. Here's a rundown of some of the top events to look out for.
OLYMPICS
Jul 19, 2021
Naomi Osaka faces biggest challenge of her career at Olympics — on and off the court
The 2020 Tokyo Games represent a true test of character for a player who has openly struggled to handle the media spotlight in recent times.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / Remembering 3/11
Mar 8, 2021
Tectonic wobbles and muddy deposits: The seismic clues leading up to 3/11
New research is allowing scientists to envision a future where megathrust quakes are not only less unexpected, but perhaps, to a certain degree, predictable.
CULTURE
Feb 9, 2021
Amid a global chess boom, shogi eyes its own winning moves
The game has seen a surge in interest during the pandemic, with children and adults alike dusting off their boards or joining online communities.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Nov 1, 2020
From exile in Kyoto, a social media leader in the fight for Thailand
With thousands of Thai students defying government attempts to halt pro-democracy rallies, many see Pavin Chachavalpongpun as an inspiration for change.
Japan Times
PODCAST / deep dive
Oct 14, 2020
Episode 68: Naomi Osaka — seven matches, seven masks, seven names
News editor Joel Tansey discusses the impact of Naomi Osaka's support for the Black Lives Matter movement both in the U.S. and Japan, and what a new wave of activism in sports might mean for next summer's Tokyo Olympics.

Longform

Professional cleaner Hirofumi Sakurai takes a moment to appreciate some photographs in a Gotanda apartment whose occupant died alone.
The last cleanup: Life and death in a lonely Japan