Kaz Nagatsuka - The Japan Times

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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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Sep 5, 2011

University of Hawaii hopes to form bond with Japan

Hosting a regular-season college football game abroad would certainly have an impact, but the University of Hawaii is seeking more than just that.

Japan Times

BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball

Sep 5, 2011

MLB scouts doing due diligence on Fighters' Darvish

The press box at QVC Marine Field isn't exactly state-of-the-art. Upfront are three sections of long desks topped with aging, faded wood looking out onto the field from ground level, behind a net and tinted glass. The rear resembles a school cafeteria, with an old television resting on a filing cabinet...

Japan Times

BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball

Sep 1, 2011

Darvish cruises to 16th victory of banner season

While the sky was dark as a typhoon was approaching, Yu Darvish gave his club a long awaited clear-cut victory.

Japan Times

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Aug 23, 2011

Hawaii mulling NCAA football game in Japan

Perhaps the idea is like a third-and-1 at this point, but the University of Hawaii is trying to make it a first down.

Japan Times

BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball

Jul 24, 2011

All-Star Sato honored to pitch in hometown

For Yoshinori Sato, this is such a special All-Star Series.

Japan Times

BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball

Jul 21, 2011

Darvish outduels Tanaka for 13th victory

The Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles did a nice job putting a run on the board first against mighty Yu Darvish.

Japan Times

BASKETBALL

Jul 4, 2011

B-Corsairs prepare to make maiden voyage in bj-league

The Yokohama B-Corsairs had arguably the most successful draft in the bj-league last month, selecting a pair of standouts in guard Kenji Yamada and Senegalese center Pape Mour Faye.

Japan Times

BASKETBALL

Jul 2, 2011

Hamaguchi takes reins in Kyoto after six seasons in Sendai

With conflicting emotions, Honoo Hamaguchi decided to move forward and take on a new challenge.

Japan Times

BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball

Apr 28, 2011

Karakawa strikes out 12 to tame Buffaloes

The wind was wildly blowing in from the shore. Mostly, it troubled the Orix Buffaloes. Meanwhile, the Chiba Lotte Marines took advantage of their home field's trait as they have always done.

Japan Times

BASKETBALL

Apr 21, 2011

Orimo still chasing Olympic dream

Forty-year-old star shooter Takehiko Orimo has achieved pretty much everything he could've possibly hoped for in his stellar career in the Japanese hoop scene.

Japan Times

BASKETBALL

Apr 20, 2011

Japan national hoop squad beefs up competition before important qualification tournaments

The Japan Basketball Association and men's national team head coach Thomas Wisman have selected a bigger group of players to spark more intense competition inside, while having them peak at the right time.

BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball

Apr 13, 2011

Eagles chairman Mikitani enjoys day at the park

Golden Eagles chairman Hiroshi Mikitani is a widely known top entrepreneur in Japan. But Tuesday, he was so emotional as his ballclub finally opened its 2011 season after the massive earthquake hit the franchise's home city, Sendai.

Japan Times

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Mar 28, 2011

Kokura finds inspiration, strength on football field

After the game, Noriko Kokura was going to end her life.

Japan Times

BASKETBALL

Mar 27, 2011

Point guard Sako, 'Japan's Mr. Basketball,' decides to retire

It's always sad when a great player calls it quits. Especially a guy like Kenichi Sako, who was called "Japan's Mr. Basketball" over the years.

Rugby

Mar 24, 2011

Foreign rugby players stay to help

After the ravaging earthquake and tsunami, and with the ongoing radiation issues at the Fukushima nuclear plant, there seems to be no end to the exodus of top import athletes in baseball, soccer and basketball.

Japan Times

BASKETBALL

Mar 18, 2011

Regular-season play begins again for bj-league

Nearly a week after the devastating destruction in Tohoku due to the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami that killed several thousand people, followed by the Fukushima nuclear plant's ongoing radiation crisis, the bj-league has decided to resume competition this weekend to lift people's spirits.

Japan Times

BASKETBALL

Mar 1, 2011

Aoki sets sights on playing for national team

Since the bj-league was enveloped under the umbrella of the Japan Basketball Association last year, there have been casual talks regarding who from the league could play for the national team.

Japan Times

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Feb 24, 2011

Tono set to recapture past glory on gridiron

A man once called a football "phenom" has risen once again.

Japan Times

BASKETBALL

Feb 22, 2011

Sawaguchi still trying to find his way in bj-league

When the bj-league was introduced in Japan's hoop scene six years ago, Makoto Sawaguchi was only 13 years old and not aware of the brand-new circuit.

Japan Times

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Feb 6, 2011

Steelers trainer Iso believes family atmosphere big part of team's success

Ariko Iso, the Pittsburgh Steelers' Japanese athletic trainer, wasn't quite sure what sort of differences she notices when comparing the last two Super Bowls she experienced while with the team.

You can often see generations of families enjoying performances together at Fuji Rock Festival.

Japan’s summer music festivals are feeling the heat in more ways than one

Akiko Trush says her experience with the neurological disorder dystonia left her feeling like she wanted to chop her own hand off.

The neurological disorder that 'kills culture'

By Tomoko Otake

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