Search - 2020

 
 
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 1, 2021

World Athletics chief says ‘no asterisk’ needed for Tokyo Games

Two-time gold medalist Sebastian Coe believes Japan's reputation will emerge stronger as the troubled Olympics begin their second full week of competition.
Japan Times
CULTURE
Jul 22, 2021

The Olympic opening ceremony that wasn’t

Mired in the COVID-19 pandemic and a slew of scandals, the opening ceremony on Friday will look nothing like the original plans for a spectacular celebration of Japan's pop culture.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
May 3, 2021

The trust gap between winning and losing sides in elections

A gap between the winning and losing sides' willingness to accept the outcome of a presidential contest is nothing new.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 21, 2021

Waiting for Tokyo: How 110,000 Olympic volunteers put their lives on hold

Mixed signals from the games' organizers and a recent sexism scandal have left some would-be helpers lacking motivation.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 18, 2021

China becomes only major economy to report growth in 2020

The nation's economy exceeded its pre-pandemic growth rates in the fourth quarter, propelling it to full-year expansion of 2.3%.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Dec 31, 2020

In 2020, sports was about staying safe and speaking out

When the pandemic subsides, what will endure from 2020 in sports?
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / Commentary
May 8, 2020

What will Tokyo’s postponed Olympics mean for Japanese politics?

The possibility of the 2020 Games' cancellation and the economic fallout created by the pandemic could deal a blow to Abe's legacy.
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' Recaps
Apr 21, 2020

Ep. 40 ‘Never Forgive Luigi’

"Terrace House" is shutting its doors, for now. The big news this week was that, according to the show's official Twitter account, production would be shut down due to the current outbreak of COVID-19. That means this week's episode is the last new one we'll be seeing for a while, so savor each sip of...
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' Recaps
Apr 1, 2020

Ep. 37 'Another Terrace!!'

Most weeks, watching “Terrace House: Tokyo 2019-2020” is a fun indulgence that lets viewers bask in the low-stakes drama of six 20-somethings (and an occasional 30-something) pursuing crushes, following their dreams, going on dates and cooking meals. But Episode 37 was different because when it comes...
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / Sac Bunts
Mar 26, 2020

Olympic delay could send Samurai Japan back to drawing board

One of the common threads in the comments from many of Japan’s top players before spring training was about how much each was motivated by the prospect of trying to win gold on home soil during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Mar 24, 2020

It's official: Tokyo Olympics delayed until 2021 due to coronavirus

In a stunning but foreshadowed move, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced late Tuesday night that Japan had reached an agreement with International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games to be postponed until next summer at the latest as the coronavirus pandemic...
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Mar 22, 2020

Tokyo organizers quietly plan for potential Olympic delay: sources

Tokyo 2020 organizers have started drafting possible alternatives to holding the Olympics this summer, two sources familiar with the talks said, in contrast to the government's stance that postponement is not an option.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / NEWS IN NIHONGO
Feb 18, 2020

Sumo meet to be held as part of 2020 Games cultural program

A Kyodo article slams us with some sumo-related vocabulary and information on how the traditional Japanese sport will figure into Olympic festivities.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Feb 17, 2020

Tokyo Marathon canceled for 38,000 runners over COVID-19 fears

Participation in one of Japan's biggest annual sporting events will be limited to elite runners and wheelchair competitors.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 24, 2020

Plenty of challenges ahead for Tokyo as six-month countdown to Olympics begins

Friday marked six months until the opening of the 2020 Olympic Games, and although Tokyo has received praise for its preparations to host the world's biggest sporting event, the road up until now has also had its fair share of potholes and speed bumps, and there's plenty still to be done.
Japan Times
JAPAN / New Year's Special
Jan 2, 2020

Can Tokyo's soft power push ensure a positive Olympic legacy?

When the capital hosted the Olympic Games over half a century ago, it was heralded as a symbol of Japan's postwar recovery. This time around, Tokyo appears keen on trading brick and mortar for hearts and minds.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 31, 2019

Fifteen predictions for the new year

The U.S. presidential election will end in a tie and other educated guesses.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 9, 2019

Traffic and transportation strategies for the 2020 Games

Innovative traffic and transportation management strategies are being developed to handle the surge in travelers and traffic during the games and the various trial events.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Oct 27, 2019

Narita and Haneda, the major airports serving Tokyo, set for large-scale capacity boost ahead of 2020 Olympics

The Tokyo area's two international gateways are looking to push Japan's soaring tourist numbers even higher while also putting their Asian rivals on notice by adding more international flights ahead of the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Oct 17, 2019

IOC planning to move Tokyo Olympic marathon north to Sapporo in bid to avoid heat

The plan is the latest in a series of countermeasures being taken to protect athletes, spectators and volunteers from the nation's infamously hot summer heat.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
May 21, 2019

Yuko Takahashi shows promise at Yokohama triathlon

Two years ago, Yuko Takahashi moved to San Diego to join an elite multinational triathlon team, seeking to become a legitimate athlete.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Sep 3, 2018

Canada's national water polo squad forges new bonds during trip to Japan

Half a world away from home, quality competition is a top priority for the Canada men's national water polo team.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Aug 13, 2018

Olympic heat wave fears: What steps can Tokyo take?

Japan has become well-known for its omotenashi (hospitality), with the concept being part of Tokyo's pitch when it bid to host the 2020 Olympics.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 23, 2018

Taxi! Tokyo prepares for Olympic tourism boom with accessible cabs and international drivers

Tokyo's taxi industry is undergoing some radical changes as Japan, already dealing with unprecedented levels of tourism, gears up to host two major sporting events in the next 26 months.
COMMENTARY / Japan
May 15, 2017

Abe's dangerous 2020 vision

It is time to come into the open to consider the costs and benefits — psychological, diplomatic and financial — of revising Japan's Constitution.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 1, 2016

Tokyo Olympic chiefs weigh private-sector venue funding

Tokyo 2020 Olympic organizers are entertaining the idea that venues built for the games could be financed and run by private-sector companies.

Longform

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