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 Kaz Nagatsuka

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Kaz Nagatsuka
Kaz Nagatsuka is a staff writer covering Japanese sports, including Japanese professional baseball, basketball, American football and individual sports. He has covered big sporting events such as the World Baseball Classic, the NFL Super Bowl and soccer's World Cup.
Japan Times
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Aug 29, 2018
Passionate Indonesian fans embrace home Asian Games
"Nippon! Nippon!"
Japan Times
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Aug 28, 2018
After another Asian Games title, decathlete Keisuke Ushiro eyes success on global stage
Veteran decathlon athlete Keisuke Ushiro acknowledged his exhaustion after capturing the gold medal for the second straight time at the Asian Games on Sunday.
Japan Times
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Aug 28, 2018
Japan duo relish mixed archery gold
Even the hands of an experienced veteran like Takaharu Furukawa sometimes tremble with tension while shooting an arrow at a target 70 meters away.
Japan Times
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Aug 27, 2018
Yamagata settles for bronze in 100
Su Bingtian cemented his status as Asia's fastest sprinter with a convincing victory in the men's 100-meter final at the Asian Games on Sunday night.
Japan Times
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Aug 26, 2018
Softball team eyeing 2020 title
Winning the gold medal for the fifth consecutive time like the Japan softball team did is an unprecedented and remarkable feat for any athlete or team.
Japan Times
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Aug 26, 2018
Ryo Kiyuna, Kiyou Shimizu continue to help raise karate's profile
There were a lot of fans angling to get a closer look at Ryo Kiyuna, after the Japanese men's kata karateka captured gold at the Asian Games on Saturday at the Jakarta Convention Center Plenary Hall.
Japan Times
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Aug 25, 2018
Singapore's Joseph Schooling pleased with Indonesian experience
Joseph Schooling and his Singapore team came up short of the podium, finishing fourth in the men's 4x100-meter medley relay, which wrapped up the six-day swimming competition at the Asian Games.
Japan Times
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Aug 25, 2018
Breaststroke specialist Satomi Suzuki gains confidence, renewed focus in pool
This summer, veteran swimmer Satomi Suzuki sent a strong message to Japanese fans, reminding them that she can still compete at the highest level.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Aug 20, 2018
Disgraced basketball players face the music after sex scandal
The four men’s national basketball team players who were penalized by the Japanese Olympic Committee for allegedly paying women for sex last weekend in Jakarta, where they were competing at the ongoing Asian Games, were sent home on Monday and faced up to the media at a Tokyo news conference.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Aug 20, 2018
Samurai Japan names roster for fall Nichibei Yakyu series
Yomiuri Giants Sawamura Award-winner Tomoyuki Sugano, popular sluggers Yuki Yanagita and Yoshitomo Tsutsugo and other star Nippon Professional Baseball stars will suit up in the Samurai Japan jersey against a team of major league all-stars in an exhibition series this fall, organizers announced Monday....
Japan Times
Rugby
Aug 20, 2018
Abbreviated Top League hoping to build hype ahead of 2019 Rugby World Cup
With the Rugby World Cup only a year away, the Top League is hoping to help develop players and draw attention to the domestic game over the upcoming 2018-19 season.
Japan Times
SPORTS
Aug 16, 2018
Japan sending strong squad to Asian Games
The 18th edition of the Asian Games, the region's biggest sporting extravaganza, will officially begin on Saturday in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia.
Japan Times
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Aug 13, 2018
Team Japan targets short- and long-term success at Asian Games
Team leader Yasuhiro Yamashita promised that Japan would do its best at the upcoming Asian Games in Indonesia, but added that it would also serve as a significant stepping stone for the athletes toward Tokyo 2020.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / NBA
Aug 13, 2018
Jazz assistant Antonio Lang keen to share knowledge with Japan's coaches
Utah Jazz assistant coach Antonio Lang returned to Japan this year for the third straight summer, to share the knowledge and experience he's learned in the NBA with the country's coaches and players.
Japan Times
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Aug 12, 2018
Ippei Watanabe makes statement with gold at Pan Pacs
Despite having set a world record, Ippei Watanabe has sort of been overlooked because of the struggles he's had after the achievement.
Japan Times
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Aug 10, 2018
Seto outsprints de Deus down the stretch to nab 200-meter butterfly title at Pan Pacs
Daiya Seto was looking for nothing but the gold medal when he entered the water.
Japan Times
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Aug 9, 2018
Kalisz outlasts Hagino, Seto in 400 IM on Pan Pacs opening day
Chase Kalisz proved he’s currently the best individual medley swimmer in the world with a crushing victory over the Japanese star duo.
Japan Times
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Aug 8, 2018
Boxing group not satisfied by JABF chief Akira Yamane's resignation
The group opposing Japan Amateur Boxing Federation chairman Akira Yamane is looking for a complete systematic transformation of the JABF. Otherwise, they feel, the very existence of the sport in Japan could be in jeopardy going forward.
Japan Times
BASEBALL
Aug 3, 2018
Remembering classic Koshien contests
Koshien, Japan's midsummer sporting tradition, has staged so many great, unforgettable battles in its one-century history. Quite impressively, they have stayed in the collective memory of the nation's baseball fans, partially thanks to its win-or-go-home format.
Japan Times
BASEBALL
Aug 3, 2018
Players become pop idols for female fans
In its long history, Koshien has seen some handsome, flamboyant idol players who were popular among female fans, and not just baseball fanatics, such as Waseda Jitsugyo hurler Daisuke Araki, Kagoshima Jitsugyo pitcher Shoji Sadaoka and Tohoku fireballer Yu Darvish. Tokaidai Sagami slugger Tatsunori...

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