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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
Sep 26, 2015
WNBA honors Tokashiki
Seattle Storm forward Ramu Tokashiki was selected to the WNBA All-Rookie Team for the 2015 season, the league announced on Thursday.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Sep 19, 2015
Matsui ready to be shooting star
The lack of a presence underneath the basket has been Japanese basketball's everlasting issue. So Kenji Hasegawa, the current men's national team head coach, looks more to his outside players than inside muscle, relying on their perimeter shooting to carry the offense.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Sep 16, 2015
Japan's men hopeful of earning berth for 2016 Games
Basketball
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Sep 15, 2015
New pro basketball league unveils name, logo
A brand-new name for the brand-new professional league.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Sep 11, 2015
JBA selects 12-man squad for FIBA Asia Championship
The Japan Basketball Association announced the men's national team roster for the upcoming FIBA Asia Championship on Friday.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Sep 9, 2015
Furutani runs to milestone
As a 39-year-old veteran, Takuya Furutani is a concrete example that any football player can put up stellar career numbers without possessing monstrous physical attributes.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Sep 7, 2015
Japan's Asian hoop champs return home
One day after they became the first Japanese team to clinch a berth at next summer's Rio de Janeiro Olympics, the players and staff of Japan's women's basketball team made a triumphant return home with the gold medals around their necks on Sunday evening.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / NBA
Sep 5, 2015
NBA star Curry wows Japanese fans on flying visit
Stephen Curry, who led the Golden State Warriors to their first NBA championship in 40 years last season, made his first visit to Japan on Friday — even though he was only here for around 24 hours — and greeted enthusiastic local hoop fans.
Japan Times
Rugby
Sep 1, 2015
Ono eager to taste victory at 2015 Rugby World Cup
Hitoshi Ono, a veteran lock for Japan's national team, is set to make his third appearance at the Rugby World Cup and said with a smile that playing on the sport's biggest stage never gets old.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Aug 29, 2015
JPBL finalizes division placements for 2016-17
The Japan Professional Basketball League revealed which divisions the remaining 25 clubs have been allocated to for the new men's professional circuit, which tips off in 2016, at a Tokyo news conference on Saturday.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / NBA
Aug 28, 2015
NBA Finals MVP Iguodala enjoyed first visit to Japan
An unexpected hero in June's NBA Finals, Golden State Warriors swingman Andre Iguodala made his first visit to Japan with both the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy and his Finals MVP Trophy in tow on the NBA Clutch Time Trophy Tour earlier this week.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Aug 25, 2015
Tokashiki eager to put new skills on display
Less than a week before the Japan women's national team begins competing at the FIBA Asia Championship, Seattle Storm rookie Ramu Tokashiki returned home to join the squad.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Aug 21, 2015
Star players Tokashiki, Yoshida named to Japan roster
Star players Ramu Tokashiki and Asami Yoshida are the headliners for Hayabusa Japan for the upcoming FIBA Asia Women's Championship.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Aug 16, 2015
Japan routs Czech Republic to win three-game exhibition series
Sharp-shooter Keijuro Matsui nailed four 3-point shots and scored 18 points in the second quarter alone to boost the Japan men's team to a 75-61 victory over the Czech Republic on Sunday at Yoyogi National Gymnasium Annex.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Aug 15, 2015
Japan men bounce back against Czech Republic
A stingy defensive effort by the Japan men's basketball team paid off as the home team cruised past the Czech Republic 65-54 in the second game of their three-game exhibition series at Yoyogi National Gymnasium No. 2 on Saturday.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Aug 14, 2015
Czech Republic cagers edge Japan in exhibition
On Friday, the Japan men's national team played its first official international contest since FIBA's suspension of the Japan Basketball Association was officially lifted last Sunday.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Aug 13, 2015
Togashi to play in Italy
Guard Yuki Togashi has signed a contract with the Dinamo Sassari of the Italian Serie A, the club announced Wednesday.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Aug 12, 2015
Watanabe ready to lead after worlds success
A rising star a couple of years ago, Kanako Watanabe has since grown rapidly and become a core presence on the Japanese national swimming team at the age of 18.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Aug 11, 2015
Gold medalists Seto, Hoshi, Watanabe gain confidence in Kazan, shift focus to improvement before Rio Games
With the gold medals they won in Russia, three Japanese swimmers added shining accolades to their collections. What's more, they've also secured precious time to prepare for next summer's Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Aug 9, 2015
Kawabuchi welcomes end of Japan's international basketball ban
In his opening statement at a news conference on Sunday, Japan Basketball Association president Saburo Kawabuchi joked that there weren't as many reporters and TV cameras as he had expected.

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