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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
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Dec 17, 2014
Gordon stars on big stage
In a marquee matchup of American quarterbacks, which likely led fans to expect an aerial game, running back Gino Gordon stole the show with his stellar performance on the ground.
Japan Times
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Dec 13, 2014
Former NFL player, coach Kaumeyer helps boost Fujitsu's defense
The Fujitsu Frontiers have found some missing pieces to the puzzle and are a completely different —and better — team this year.
Japan Times
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Dec 12, 2014
Ice Bucks strive to build brand, promote league
"Hard work, every day."
Japan Times
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Dec 8, 2014
Offensive leaders Craft, Stanton propel IBM BigBlue to new heights
Usually, IBM BigBlue quarterback Kevin Craft is not the type of a guy who has emotional outbursts once a game is over.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Dec 6, 2014
Revamped Tsukuba Robots fall to 0-17
Gloria Gaynor's "I will Survive" was playing in the arena. The Tsukuba Robots intentionally did so and that was their message: they have made a fresh start.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Dec 3, 2014
JBA chief Maruo says its 25 board members will ‘eventually’ step down
The chaotic situation surrounding Japan basketball seems to only continue to get worse.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Nov 27, 2014
FIBA hands down Japan ban; JBA sorry
It was something everyone expected to happen, so there shouldn't have been any surprise whatsoever. That, however, did nothing to lessen the gravity of the situation.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Nov 19, 2014
Otani impresses visiting MLB stars
Shohei Otani exhibited some of the immaturity of a 20-year-old pitcher but also some of the potential that could eventually see him playing on American soil.
BASEBALL
Nov 18, 2014
Samurai Japan pitching coach Katori embraces serious demeanor in preparation for 2017 WBC
The MLB-Japan All-Star Series is sort of a deceiving event, because it's uncertain what kind of physical condition the players are in and how close they are to their top level.
Japan Times
BASEBALL
Nov 16, 2014
Rays outfielder Zobrist gets crash course in Japanese baseball culture
They play the game with the same rules on the same diamond. But how they develop their game based on practice looks to be a little different between Japan and the United States.
Japan Times
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Nov 11, 2014
Murata determined to tame 'Beast' Nicklow
Middleweight boxer Ryota Murata will be in the ring for his sixth professional fight, against the United States' Jessie Nicklow, while former double weight-class champion Jorge Linares will take on Javier Prieto for the WBC lightweight title at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on Dec. 30, Teiken Promotions...
Japan Times
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Nov 8, 2014
Elecom Kobe linebacker Takahashi juggles duties as player, college coach
Mutsumi Takahashi made up his mind to dedicate himself to coaching when he retired as a player for good two years ago.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / NBL NOTEBOOK
Oct 31, 2014
Off-court distractions create additional challenges for Tsukuba Robots
Usually, the first few weeks of any sports league's season should be happy, exciting times as both the teams and fans had eagerly anticipated its arrival.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Oct 29, 2014
Japan Basketball Association chief Maruo says new league will launch in 2016 despite failure to meet FIBA deadline
Despite facing an expected suspension from FIBA, Japan Basketball Association acting president Mitsuru Maruo insisted that the country's governing body would not stop trying to address and fix its problems, including the unification of the nation's two men's top leagues.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Oct 29, 2014
NBL executive Yamaya steps down; president Maruo plans to quit
NBL executive Takashi Yamaya stepped down as chief operating officer, while league president Mitsuru Maruo also expressed his intention of resigning, the league announced on Wednesday.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Oct 23, 2014
JBA head Fukatsu to resign
Japan Basketball Association president Yasuhiko Fukatsu announced his resignation from the helm during a Tokyo news conference on Thursday with the sport's national governing body likely to face a ban from FIBA.
Japan Times
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Oct 23, 2014
Yamanaka defends belt against gritty Suriyan
WBC bantamweight champion Shinsuke Yamanaka fell short of posting another KO win in a world title bout, but managed to retain his belt for the seventh consecutive time by defeating Thailand's Suriyan Sor Rungvisai in an unanimous decision (114-110, 116-108, 115-109) at Yoyogi National Gymnasium Annex...
Japan Times
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Oct 14, 2014
WBC bantamweight champion Yamanaka stays hungry for improvement
Having just turned 32 a few days before, boxer Shinsuke Yamanaka said with a bitter smile that having a birthday for an athlete at his age wasn't necessarily a pleasant thing.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Oct 10, 2014
Brex outplay defending champion Brave Thunders in NBL opener
The Toshiba Brave Thunders were the last men standing at the end of last season, but on Friday night, they had to settle for a loss to start the new year.
Japan Times
BASEBALL
Oct 9, 2014
Samurai Japan unveils remaining players for MLB series
The organizers of the 2014 Nichibei Yakyu all-star series announced the remaining players for the Japan national team and 10 more players for the major league squad on Thursday.

Longform

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