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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 / B. League
Oct 31, 2019
Brave Thunders announce special jersey games, plans to build new arena
The Kawasaki Brave Thunders are serious about capturing titles this year, and have played well so far, tying the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins for the curent best record in the 18-team B. League.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 29, 2019
Johnny Wilkinson, Bryan Habana show kids how it is done
The 2019 Rugby World Cup has been electrified by inspirational performances of the Japan national team, which made the knockout stage for the first time at the quadrennial tournament.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 28, 2019
Japanese fans find new ways to enjoy Rugby World Cup following Brave Blossoms' exit
The Brave Blossoms may have already been eliminated, but Japanese fans are still trying to take in as much of the Rugby World Cup experience as possible over the remaining days of the quadrennial tournament.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 27, 2019
Fans of England thrilled by 'unbelievable' win over All Blacks
Spectator Julian Cox jokingly said that he accompanied his wife, Katherine, to Japan for the Rugby World Cup because she is a goddess of victory for the national rugby squad of their native England.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 20, 2019
Wales edges France in thriller to make Rugby World Cup semifinals
In the sole previous Rugby World Cup encounter between the two, Wales was forced to compete with one man down and wound up losing by one point.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 20, 2019
Japanese fans soaking up the atmosphere while watching teams other than Brave Blossoms play
Oita has been given the honor of hosting a pair of Rugby World Cup quarterfinals matches. But it is the only city that does not have a chance to see its national team, Japan, play there.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 19, 2019
England pummels Australia in RWC quarterfinal
England stormed into the Rugby World Cup final four with a convincing 40-16 win over Australia in the quarterfinals before a crowd of 36,954 at Oita Stadium on Saturday.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Oct 16, 2019
Machino pursues historic path to reach NFL
Tomoya Machino is not the first Japanese player to set the lofty goal of becoming an NFL player. There have been others in the past who had been labeled as "the player closest to the NFL," and tried to reach the game's premier circuit.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 14, 2019
Brave Blossoms supporters say home advantage key to Rugby World Cup knockout appearance
Japan defeated Scotland for the first time in the Rugby World Cup on Sunday.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / NBA
Oct 10, 2019
Super fan Bhatia comes to Japan to see Raptors
Nav Bhatia, who is known as the "Super Fan" for the Toronto Raptors, was seen in the end zone at the two-game NBA Japan Games series between the Canadian team and Houston Rockets on Tuesday and Thursday in Tokyo.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / NBA
Oct 7, 2019
Toronto gears up for Japan Games
The defending NBA champion Toronto Raptors showed their energy on the floor on Monday as they hit the gym for their first practice since arriving in Japan for a two-game preseason series against the Houston Rockets.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / NBA
Oct 6, 2019
Rockets train in Tokyo ahead of Saitama series
Superstar duo James Harden and Russell Westbrook and other Houston Rockets players have arrived in Japan and held their first practice in Tokyo on Sunday ahead of their two-game preseason series against the Toronto Raptors.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 5, 2019
England whips Argentina, becomes first team to secure spot in RWC quarterfinals
After an embarrassing exit in the pool phase when it was the tournament host four years ago, England traveled to Japan determined to make sure it wouldn't happen again at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League
Oct 2, 2019
Brex, Brave Thunders ready for season-opening clash
The B. League has wrapped up its season with championship games at Yokohama Arena, one of the best venues for basketball in Japan, in each the last two years.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Oct 1, 2019
Japan looks ahead after capturing fourth straight FIBA Women's Asia Cup title
Chasing its lofty goal of capturing a gold medal at next year's Tokyo Olympics, the Japan women's national team gained momentum by winning its fourth straight FIBA Women's Asia Cup title in Bangalore, India, on Sunday.
Japan Times
Rugby
Sep 30, 2019
Uruguay's upset of Fiji boosts interest in rugby at home
Uruguay notched its biggest win at the Rugby World Cup with an opening-game upset of Fiji in Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture on Wednesday, a result that has made the team a hot topic back home.
Japan Times
Rugby
Sep 26, 2019
Kamaishi saluted by fans and players for its resilience
High school student Yukime Sasaki and two other young girls were all beaming smiles to greet hundreds of visitors who stopped by on Wednesday afternoon before a Rugby World Cup game between Uruguay and Fiji.
Japan Times
Rugby
Sep 25, 2019
Uruguay upsets Fiji as tsunami-hit Kamaishi hosts first Rugby World Cup match
Wednesday may have been a little breezy, but overall it was an absolutely beautiful day with a vivid blue sky above as Kamaishi Unosumai Recovery Memorial Stadium hosted its first-ever Rugby World Cup game.
Japan Times
Rugby
Sep 23, 2019
World Cup lifts stadium food ban after long lines spur complaints
The 2019 Rugby World Cup organizing committee announced on Monday that it has modified its in-venue food policy amid a shortage of provisions at stadium food stalls, which has caused confusion and chaos for attendees across the country since the event kicked off last Friday.
Japan Times
Rugby
Sep 21, 2019
France escapes with narrow victory over Argentina
Three-time Rugby World Cup runner-up France managed to get off to a winning start in the tournament's 2019 edition with a nail-biting, 23-21 victory over Argentina in their first Pool C game at Tokyo Stadium on Saturday.

Longform

Sociologist Gracia Liu-Farrer argues that even though immigration doesn't figure into Japan's autobiography, it is more of a self-perception than a reality.
In search of the ‘Japanese dream’