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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
BASKETBALL
Apr 22, 2020
Norika Konno reflects on first season in U.S. with Louisville
Sendai native Norika Konno spent this season playing in the U.S. as a freshman with Louisville in the ACC
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Apr 17, 2020
NPB cancels interleague play as delay to start of season continues
The announcement by league commissioner Atsushi Saito meant that Central and Pacific League clubs would not play each other during the regular season for the first time since the format was established in 2005.
Japan Times
Rugby
Apr 17, 2020
Michael Leitch says Japan must become 'One Team' to beat coronavirus
“One Team,” the slogan used by Japan's Brave Blossoms at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, was selected as the 2019 buzzword of the year.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Apr 16, 2020
Organizers meet to discuss new framework for 2020 Games
Local organizers and the IOC are moving ahead with their plans for the Tokyo Olympics
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / NBA
Apr 15, 2020
Rui Hachimura urges Japanese fans to 'stay positive' during crisis
The Washington Wizards rookie answered questions from fans in English and Japanese during a 30-minute video chat hosted on the team's official Twitter account.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League
Apr 14, 2020
B. League to realign teams into two conferences for 2020-21 season
The B. League will play its 2020-21 season with teams split into two conferences — the East and West — instead of three, which has been the format since its inception in 2016, the league announced following a meeting of its governors on Tuesday.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League
Apr 11, 2020
JBPA President Shigehiro Taguchi gives rise to players' voices during pandemic
JBPA president had to lead B. League players through uncertain situation when COVID-19 outbreak hit
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Apr 10, 2020
Industry body wants Tokyo Big Sight open for events despite Olympic delay
An industry body worried about losing business opportunities has recently submitted a petition to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and lawmakers requesting that Tokyo Big Sight be partially available for exhibition usage, given the postponement of the 2020 Games.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League
Apr 8, 2020
Osaka Evessa announce three more infected players
The Osaka Evessa announced Tuesday that three more of their players have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of infected players and team officials to eight.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Apr 8, 2020
Veteran boxer Katsunari Takayama willing to wait out COVID-19 for return to ring
It has been 22 years since Katsunari Takayama first picked up boxing gloves. But the burning passion is still there.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League
Apr 6, 2020
Brex star Ryan Rossiter reflects on virus-shortened season, career
When the 2019-2020 B. League season was forced to end abruptly last month because of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Utsunomiya Brex were among the contenders who lost their chance to capture the league title.
Japan Times
SPORTS
Apr 3, 2020
Japan's baseball, soccer leagues give up on April restarts as COVID-19 cases increase
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and with athletes in both leagues having been infected, Nippon Professional Baseball and the J. League will start and resume their seasons, respectively, even later than currently scheduled.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League
Apr 2, 2020
Evessa player tests positive for COVID-19 in B. League first
A member of the Osaka Evessa has tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19, while several other players, club and arena staff have complained of sickness, the team announced on Thursday.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League
Apr 1, 2020
Brave Thunders players regret early end to stellar season
There was no one to blame, but it was certainly a disappointing way to end the season for the Kawasaki Brave Thunders.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League
Mar 28, 2020
Players react to cancellation of season's final weeks due to COVID-19 pandemic
After the B. League announced the cancellation of the remainder of the 2019-20 campaign due to the COVID-19 outbreak on Friday, some players shared their mixed emotions about this season, which ended abruptly.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League
Mar 27, 2020
B. League cancels remainder of season, playoffs
Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the B. League ran out of all options but one: canceling the remainder of the 2019-20 season.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Mar 25, 2020
Japanese athletes react to Olympic postponement
Some of Japan’s top athletes have expressed mixed feelings following Tuesday’s announcement that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the International Olympic Committee had agreed to postpone the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics for “about a year” amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Mar 23, 2020
JOC chief Yasuhiro Yamashita advocates shorter postponement for athletes
As the International Olympic Committee begins considering a potential postponement of the Tokyo Olympics amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Japanese Olympic Committee President Yasuhiro Yamashita told reporters on Monday night that the organization would accept such an adjournment if it were a decision to protect...
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League
Mar 17, 2020
B. League suspends season again; no games until at least April 1
After a chaotic weekend, the B. League decided to once again suspend its regular season as the COVID-19 outbreak continues.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League
Mar 16, 2020
Virus fears lead to chaotic weekend for B. League clubs
There was confusion and mixed reactions from players and coaches over the weekend as the B. League resumed its season.

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