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Japan Times
SOCCER
Feb 7, 2023

'Captain Tsubasa' creator aiming for real-life soccer success

Takahashi has played a big part in helping soccer culture take root in Japan, and believes there is room for it to grow further.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Jan 18, 2023

Corruption trial opens over international soccer broadcast rights

The charges are part of a long-running corruption probe surrounding soccer's global governing body FIFA.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Oct 5, 2022

Becky Sauerbrunn calls for ouster of officials named in abuse report

The two-time World Cup winner said players were 'horrified and heartbroken' by the findings of a report published on Monday following a year-long investigation.
Japan Times
SOCCER
May 17, 2022

Chinese soccer in a tailspin after 10-year shift from boom to bust

The decision to relinquish the rights to next year's Asian Cup finals, which was made by China last weekend citing COVID-19 uncertainties, has left Chinese soccer facing an uncertain future.
Japan Times
SOCCER
May 26, 2021

U.S. women's soccer coach Vlato Andonovski says Tokyo squad still up in the air

U.S. women's national soccer team head coach Vlatko Andonovski offered few clues on Tuesday about his highly anticipated Olympic squad, as the team prepares for a training camp and three-game Summer Series next month.
Japan Times
SOCCER
May 4, 2021

Transgender soccer referee makes Israeli sports history

Sapir Berman made sports history on Monday, officiating at a soccer match in Israel's Premier League for the first time since coming out as transgender.
SOCCER / J. League
Jan 3, 2021

The pandemic season: How Japanese soccer survived the coronavirus

In an extensive interview with The Japan Times, J. League chairman Mitsuru looked back on how the league has navigated the turbulent 2020 campaign.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Jan 10, 2019

New Suzuka Unlimited manager Milagros Martinez Dominguez becomes first female boss in Japan men's soccer

Mie Prefecture-based Suzuka Unlimited unveiled Milagros Martinez Dominguez as the club's new manager on Wednesday, becoming the first men's team in a Japanese national league to hire a woman for the position.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 1, 2018

Oh, the symbolism of Germany's World Cup exit

It was a nation of champions in 2014. It is a nation of self-doubters today.
JAPAN
May 23, 2018

Ceremony held to mark start of construction of new station for Fukushima's J-Village soccer center

A groundbreaking ceremony was held Tuesday for a new railway station that is to be constructed adjacent to the J-Village national soccer center in Fukushima Prefecture.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Jul 18, 2017

Spanish soccer chief, son arrested during anti-corruption raids

Police arrested the head of Spain's soccer federation, throwing the leadership of the sport in the World Cup-winning nation into disarray a year before the next round of the elite championship takes place in Russia.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 18, 2016

Maradona and Pele are wrong about Messi

Argentina's Lionel Messi proves once again he deserves his reputation as one of the three greatest soccer players of all time.
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 22, 2015

Messi without peer anywhere in the world

No soccer player in the world can rival Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, not even the great Cristiano Ronaldo.
New Zealand's Hannah Wilkinson celebrates after her teams victory over Norway at the Women's World Cup in Auckland on Thursday.
SOCCER / Women's World cup
Jul 21, 2023

Australia and New Zealand get Women's World Cup off to rousing start with wins in front of record crowds

Australia and New Zealand earned slim victories at home to kick off the Women's World Cup.
Japan midfielder Yui Hasegawa controls the ball during a training session in Auckland on Tuesday.
SOCCER / Women's World cup
Aug 11, 2023

Rejuvenated Nadeshiko Japan 'ready to fight against anyone'

Japan, a sagging power suddenly revived, might be the most impressive contender remaining in the Women's World Cup.
Sweden's Magdalena Eriksson celebrates her team's win over Japan as Aoba Fujino looks dejected, in Auckland on Friday.
SOCCER / Women's World cup / From the Spot
Aug 11, 2023

Nadeshiko's bright future undimmed by Sweden defeat

The flair, excitement and promise demonstrated by the team has shown that Japan can again lift the FIFA Women's World Cup trophy one day.
Urawa's notoriously fervent supporters are known for packing stands, as well as for repeated off-the-pitch incidents that have impacted the club's reputation.
SOCCER / J. League / From the Spot
Sep 20, 2023

Urawa pays price for hooliganism after years of looking the other way

The J. League club has been banned from playing in Japan's top club tournament after more than a hundred supporters took part in an August pitch invasion.
The Materials Provided by Mizuno Baseball Bat Tableware set is made from a recycled, discarded baseball bat and includes two large tumblers, a vase, a small cup, four cutlery rests and a sake cup.
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: DESIGN
Sep 30, 2023

Game-changing designs from sporting goods brands

On: Design looks at two major Japanese sporting goods companies that have launched unique SDG-inspired projects.
Norman Cook, better known as Fatboy Slim, first came to Japan in 1990 as the bass player in Beats International. He says he shares a similar sense of silliness with Japanese people, and that is part of what keeps drawing him back to the country.
CULTURE / Music
Oct 13, 2023

Fatboy Slim: 'Let's just be stupid for one night'

The DJ shares his love of soccer and silliness with fans during his two-city Japan tour.
The Italian Serie A's current domestic broadcast deal is worth just under $1 billion annually, less than half that of the English Premier League.
SOCCER
Oct 24, 2023

DAZN and Sky retain Italian Serie A rights in $4.8 billion deal

TV rights are a crucial source of revenue for Serie A teams such as this year's champion Napoli, Juventus and Milanese clubs AC Milan and Inter.
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi fires toward the Vissel Kobe goal during a friendly at National Stadium in Tokyo on Wednesday.
SOCCER
Feb 11, 2024

Amid row over Messi's no-show, China nixes Argentina matches

The upcoming friendly with the Argentine squad has been canceled due to "well-known reasons,” the sports authority in the eastern city of Hangzhou said.
A Spain player holds the Women's World Cup trophy after the team won the 2023 tournament, in Sydney on Aug. 20.
SOCCER / Women's World cup
Apr 30, 2024

Mexico and U.S. withdraw joint bid for 2027 Women's World Cup

The two countries' soccer federations said they would now switch toward a bid for the 2031 tournament.
Japan forward Mao Hosoya controls the ball during a game against the United States in Kansas City, Kansas, on June 11.
OLYMPICS
Jul 3, 2024

Japan goes with all U-23 men's soccer squad for Paris Olympics

Veterans like Liverpool’s Wataru Endo, 31, had been rumored as possible options to supplement the 18-man squad, but instead Japan will be counting on youth in Paris.
Japan defender Hikaru Kitagawa (13) competes in the SheBelieves Cup in Columbus, Ohio, in April. Kitagawa is among the eight from JFA Academy Fukushima who will represent Japan at the Paris Olympics.
OLYMPICS
Jul 21, 2024

Soccer players from Fukushima academy vow to give back in Paris

Eight players who trained at JFA Academy Fukushima have been selected for the men's and women's squads representing Japan in the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Argentina forward Julian Alvarez challenges Morocco's midfielder Benjamin Bouchouari after their match was restarted in an empty stadium following crowd trouble.
OLYMPICS
Jul 25, 2024

Chaos as soccer matches kick off Paris Olympics

Morocco beat Argentina 2-1, but only after a late equalizer for the South American side was disallowed and the final minutes were played out in an empty stadium.
A ruling on whether Manchester City is guilty of breaching multiple financial regulations is expected early this year.
SOCCER
Jan 10, 2025

Man City's troubles on field would pale in comparison to loss in legal case

While form is temporary and fixable, a much larger and darker cloud has stationed itself over the Abu Dhabi-owned club.
Houston Dash player Yuki Nagasato greets fans after a match against Seattle Reign FC at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston on Sept. 21, 2024.
SOCCER
Mar 4, 2025

Houston Dash forward Yuki Nagasato retires after storied career

The 37-year-old appeared in 134 National Women's Soccer League matches, recording 23 goals and 25 assists.

Longform

Professional cleaner Hirofumi Sakurai takes a moment to appreciate some photographs in a Gotanda apartment whose occupant died alone.
The last cleanup: Life and death in a lonely Japan