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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
BASEBALL
Nov 12, 2015
Venezuela's Jimenez puts friendships aside during heated Premier 12 competition
While playing for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters in 2009 and for the Lotte Giants of the Korea Baseball Organization in 2014, Venezuela's Luis Jimenez developed many friendships on both teams.
Japan Times
BASEBALL
Nov 12, 2015
Japan beats Mexico on sayonara single
Samurai Japan earned its second win ― its first since arriving in Taiwan ― through a hard-fought battle.
Japan Times
BASEBALL
Nov 11, 2015
Dutch scout Beckman leans on personal history to help shape team's present
You don't get rich as a baseball scout, but it's very fulfilling. A smiling Bernie Beckman, a Dutch national team scout who was in the stands before Wednesday's United States-Venezuela game at the Premier 12 at Taoyuan Stadium, could tell you that much.
Japan Times
BASEBALL
Nov 10, 2015
Samurai Japan makes preparations for Premier 12 clash against Mexico
Though he didn't get the nod to start in Sunday's Premier 12 opener in Sapporo, Kenta Maeda is still believed to be the main guy on Samurai Japan's pitching corps.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Nov 9, 2015
Otani lives up to top billing in Premier 12 opener
That's what you call dominance.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Nov 8, 2015
Otani stymies Korea to help Japan win Premier 12 opener
Shohei Otani silenced the powerful South Korea lineup and benefited from some timely hitting by his teammates, as the Japan national team began its quest for the championship in the inaugural Premier 12 with a 5-0 win at Sapporo Dome on Sunday night.
Japan Times
BASEBALL
Nov 7, 2015
Premier 12 begins with Japan-South Korea clash
One day before the inaugural Premier 12 debuts, Japan national baseball team manager Hiroki Kokubo and South Korea skipper Kim In-sik addressed the media at a Sapporo hotel on Saturday evening.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Nov 2, 2015
Foreign quarterbacks raising standards in X League
In Japanese football's eight decades of history, the last few years have clearly been an epoch-making period because of one trend: an influx of American quarterbacks.
Japan Times
Rugby
Nov 2, 2015
Top League looking to capitalize on Rugby World Cup fever
Top League stars, including some of Japan's Rugby World Cup heroes, assembled for a news conference in Tokyo on Monday as the 2015-16 season prepares to kick off around the nation on Nov. 13.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 22, 2015
Brave Blossoms' success fuels national sevens teams' desire to elevate game
The Japan men's national team's successful run at the Rugby World Cup has inspired the nation's entire rugby circle.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Oct 21, 2015
Anderson having instant impact for Rise in X League
Young quarterback Benjamin Anderson tried to make it to the NFL as a free agent this past spring, but it just didn't work out.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Oct 19, 2015
Antelopes' new approach revolutionizing women's hoops
Veteran bench boss Don Beck intends to play a transition game around solid defense for the Toyota Antelopes of the Women's Japan Basketball League in his first season in charge, like he did while coaching the Toyota Alvark men's team from 2010-15.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Oct 18, 2015
Beck, Oga looking to change women's basketball culture
First in a two-part series
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 14, 2015
Brave Blossoms determined to capitalize on rugby boom
Around 500 fans were waiting for the Brave Blossoms at Haneda airport on Tuesday, dousing them in a flood of camera flashlights.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Oct 9, 2015
Toshiba edges Hitachi in NBL opener
The Toshiba Brave Thunders survived a late surge by the Hitachi Sunrockers and capped a 70-69 win in their NBL season-opening game on Friday night at Ota City General Gymnasium.
Japan Times
BASEBALL
Oct 9, 2015
Kokubo revals Japan's 28-man squad for Premier 12 tournament
Samurai Japan skipper Hiroki Kokubo announced his 28-man final squad for next month's WSBC Premier 12 on Friday.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Oct 7, 2015
NBL teams determined to claim title in final season
The NBL will begin its 2015-16 season this weekend with all 12 clubs looking to conclude the league's final campaign on a high note before Japan's new pro circuit, the B. League, tips off next fall.
Japan Times
SPORTS
Oct 4, 2015
Biracial athletes making strides in changing Japanese society
This summer, a pair of young biracial Japanese athletes drew widespread attention, an indication that the nation's sports scene has entered a new era.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Oct 1, 2015
Eto, Kimura await world-title bouts in Sendai
Boxers Koki Eto and Yu Kimura wil enter the ring in Sendai for world-title shots in late November, Teiken Promotions announced on Thursday.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Sep 29, 2015
Star guard Togashi joins Jets
Star guard Yuki Togashi has signed with the Chiba Jets, the NBL Eastern Conference club announced on Monday.

Longform

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