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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
Aug 3, 2018
Stadium soil serves as special memento
Although it is unknown exactly when and how it started, there is a famous tradition at the Koshien tourneys that almost all the participating teams do after they are eliminated from the tournament: Players put the "special" soil of the stadium in their own cleat bags to bring back home. According to...
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Aug 3, 2018
Makoto Hiejima energized by opportunity to compete for Brisbane Bullets
The Tochigi Brex's signing of top guard Makoto Hiejima was one of the biggest moves to date in the B. League this offseason.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Aug 2, 2018
New table tennis league set to begin
Tomokazu Harimoto, Miu Hirano and other top Japanese table tennis players will look to develop themselves to genuinely become the world's dominant powerhouse by competing in the newly launched professional T.League.
Japan Times
Rugby
Jul 25, 2018
Japanese national team selects training camp sites for World Cup
Hokkaido's Abashiri and Miyazaki have been selected as training camp sites for the Japan national team for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, the Japan Rugby Football Union announced on Wednesday.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Jul 24, 2018
Japan sprinters return from Europe with renewed focus, passion to improve
Japan set a lofty goal of capturing the gold medal in the men's 4x100-meter relay at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Jul 23, 2018
Olympics minister Shunichi Suzuki lays out keys for successful Tokyo Games
The clock is always ticking at the same speed.
Japan Times
SPORTS
Jul 22, 2018
Coaching experts trade ideas at workshop
We have seen various types of unreasonable harassment problems surrounding Japanese sports, especially in school athletics, over the last several years.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Jul 18, 2018
Progress on new National Stadium going as planned
When the original plans for the main stadium for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics were scrapped, it left the project with a shortened timetable in which to build before the games.
Japan Times
Rugby
Jul 17, 2018
Sunwolves optimistic despite tough season
The Sunwolves entered their third season in Super Rugby with a lofty goal of finishing in the top five in the standings.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League
Jul 11, 2018
Former Laker Sasha Vujacic helping launch Saga Ballooners
The Saga Ballooners look to literally launch a big balloon with the help of a former NBA player in order to eventually become a major basketball club in Japan.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League
Jul 9, 2018
B. League releases schedule for upcoming 2018-19 season
The B. League is keeping its feet moving forward as it prepares for its third year, hoping to broaden basketball's appeal among the public.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Jul 7, 2018
Japan still in hunt for 2020 berth
Everyone that is associated with the Japan men's national team and its fans breathed a huge sigh of relief after it managed to book a spot for the second round of the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers with a win over Taiwan on Monday.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Jul 5, 2018
Going up not only challenge for competitors in climbing
After capturing the women's title at the inaugural Combined Japan Cup on June 24, Akiyo Noguchi insisted she needed to sleep a lot to restore her energy following a grueling qualification round the previous day.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League
Jul 4, 2018
Brave Thunders to retain name under new ownership
Now under new ownership, the Kawasaki Brave Thunders will be called ... the Kawasaki Brave Thunders.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Jul 3, 2018
Japan trounces Taiwan, earns spot in second round of FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers
The Japan men's national team's quest to compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics is still alive.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Jun 30, 2018
Dynamic duo Rui Hachimura, Nick Fazekas ignite Japan's offense in victory over Australia
Rui Hachimura and Nick Fazekas were as good as advertised.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Jun 28, 2018
Japan faces big challenge against Australia in FIBA World Cup Asian qualifier
The Japan men's national team will face Australia in the first of two remaining FIBA World Cup Asian first-round qualifiers on Friday night at Chiba Port Arena.
Japan Times
PARALYMPICS
Jun 26, 2018
Nippon Foundation invests in high school, university Paralympic athletes
The 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo will not only be a significant event for Olympic-caliber athletes in Japan, but it will also provide an opportunity to motivate Paralympic sport athletes.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Jun 24, 2018
Akiyo Noguchi and Tomoa Narasaki win titles at inaugural sport climbing Combined Japan Cup
Climbing stars Akiyo Noguchi and Tomoa Narasaki captured the women's and men's titles at the inaugural Combined Japan Cup at Iwate Prefectural Sports Park on Sunday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 20, 2018
Samurai Blue fans kick up a ruckus at Japan-Colombia viewing event
Tokyo Dome was one of the many sites that hosted public viewing events for Tuesday's Japan-Colombia game, the first match of the tourney for both.

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?