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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
Aug 24, 2016
Colonials expect Tokyo trip to be springboard for Watanabe
Yuta Watanabe made a heroic return to his home country during a recent trip by the George Washington University basketball team.
Japan Times
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Aug 18, 2016
Ito hoping to hit ground running with Rainbow Warriors
Japanese running back Genta Ito felt he didn't showcase a sufficient enough performance during his two years at Santa Monica Junior College to extend his football career.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 12, 2016
Marukawa says Tokyo must solve traffic issue before 2020 Games
Tamayo Marukawa, Japan's newly-appointed Olympic minister, told the media on Friday one of the biggest concerns she has about hosting the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo is the heavy traffic in the capital, which could cause transportation issues for athletes and fans.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League
Aug 9, 2016
Alvark Tokyo transform operations for B. League's inaugural season
The team has changed its name from the Toyota Alvark to the Alvark Tokyo as Japan's men's pro basketball enters a new era with the launch of the B. League this fall.
Japan Times
SPORTS
Aug 2, 2016
Japan Paralympic squad receives spirited send-off for Rio Games
Paralympic sports have been receiving greater attention in recent years.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Aug 1, 2016
BayStars' Ikeda ready to turn club into winner on diamond
Second in a two-part series
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Jul 31, 2016
BayStars president Ikeda building brighter future for team
First in a two-part series
Japan Times
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Jul 30, 2016
Ex-Wolverines set for Japan debut
Like most other American players, quarterback Devin Gardner and wide receiver Jeremy Gallon had no idea that football was even played there.
Japan Times
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Jul 19, 2016
Japan men's gymnastics squad relaxed, focused before long journey to Rio
Ahead of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, superstar Kohei Uchimura and four other members of the Japan men's gymnastics team got haircuts a few days ago.
Japan Times
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Jul 15, 2016
After one-medal showing in London, Japan track team aims for better performance in Rio
With less than a month until the track and field competition begins at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, the Japanese delegation for the sport assembled at Tokyo's National Training Center for a send-off event hosted by the Japan Association of Athletics Federations on Friday.
Japan Times
TENNIS
Jul 13, 2016
Nishikori hopes to get full experience at Rio Games
The ultimate goal for a professional tennis player is to win a Grand Slam event. But the Olympics, says Kei Nishikori, the world's sixth-ranked player, is an different animal, and provides a special motivation.
Japan Times
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Jul 13, 2016
Table tennis 'sisters' hoping to grab gold for Japan
“The three sisters” are all different in terms of age and personality. What they have in common, however, are places on the strongest women's table tennis squad Japan has ever dispatched.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Jul 9, 2016
Japan women rout Senegal, complete three-game series sweep in Rio tuneup
The Olympic-bound Japan women's national basketball team wrapped up a three-game exhibition series against Senegal with an overwhelming 84-38 victory at Yoyogi National Gymnasium No. 2 on Saturday.
Japan Times
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Jul 6, 2016
'God's Left' Yamanaka looking forward to rematch against Moreno
WBC bantamweight champion Shinsuke Yamanaka will take on Anselmo Moreno in a rematch, while former double champion Hozumi Hasegawa will attempt to recapture a world title against Hugo Ruiz in a WBC super bantamweight bout on September 16, at Edion Arena Osaka, the organizers announced on Wednesday.
Japan Times
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Jul 5, 2016
After bronze-medal performance in London, Japan women's volleyball team has higher aspirations for Rio
The Japan women's national volleyball team earned the bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics. But it looks to win a better-colored medal at the Rio de Janeiro Games next month.
Japan Times
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Jun 30, 2016
Sprinter Yamagata aims for success at Rio Games
Despite coming up short in the national championships, Olympic-bound sprinter Ryota Yamagata has high expectations for himself at the upcoming Rio de Janeiro Games.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Jun 29, 2016
Matsui happy to be Japan's sixth man
Keijuro Matsui isn't quite like the rest of the 12 players on the Japan men's national team for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / NBA
Jun 25, 2016
Team trainer Nakayama revels in Cavaliers' long-awaited championship
As players get bigger, stronger and faster, it’s inevitable the world’s top athletes will need support from athletic trainers, strength coaches and therapists as they try to accomplish great feats.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Jun 23, 2016
Japan reveals roster for final Rio qualifier
George Washington standout Yuta Watanabe, veteran star guard Yuta Tabuse and the Takeuchi twins (Joji and Kosuke) will lead the "Akatsuki Five" as Japan men's national team head coach Kenji Hasegawa on Thursday revealed his final roster for the final Olympic qualifier, which takes place early next month...
Japan Times
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Jun 22, 2016
Lost Kawasaki circuit paved way for Japanese auto racing
On a mildly humid, but pleasant, sunny June Saturday, many people flocked to the large area near the Maruko bridge, which crosses the Tama River in Shin Maruko, in Kawasaki's Nakahara Ward, to enjoy an early-summer weekend.

Longform

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