Search - olympics

 
 
Retired boxing champion Manny Pacquiao (left) and mixed martial artist Chihiro Suzuki pose during a news conference on Monday.
MORE SPORTS / Boxing
Jun 10, 2024

Retired boxing great Manny Pacquiao hints at comeback against Mario Barrios

Pacquiao has signed up to fight a three-round exhibition bout against Japanese mixed martial artist Chihiro Suzuki next month in Saitama.
Andy Murray plays a backhand return to Stan Wawrinka during their men's singles match on Day 1 of the French Open in Paris on May 26.
TENNIS
Jun 11, 2024

Andy Murray expected to team up with brother Jamie at Wimbledon

Three-time major winner Murray, 37, revealed in February that he intended to retire later this year.
Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike speaks to reporters Wednesday before declaring her candidacy for the gubernatorial election in the afternoon.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 12, 2024

It’s official: Koike will seek reelection as Tokyo governor in July

The incumbent governor finally declared her candidacy on the last day of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly session.
A tourist from the U.S. (second right) sings karaoke as "mama" Kuri Awaji (left) waves a glow stick at her bar Kuriyakko in Tokyo.
JAPAN / FOCUS
Jun 13, 2024

Tourists get taste of old Japan at hidden 'snack bars'

Snack bars are cozy, retro establishments often crammed into small buildings and equipped with karaoke systems that echo late into the night.
France's Antoine Dupont runs with the ball during an HSBC World Rugby Sevens match between France and Great Britain in Madrid on June 1.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Jun 18, 2024

'Stop homophobia' in rugby, says France star Dupont

"The goal is for all players to feel good about their sexuality and to be accepted by others," the player said.
A person walks among the giant columns supporting the Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel in Saitama Prefecture.
PODCAST / deep dive
Jun 20, 2024

Tokyo underground: The city beneath our feet

Join us this week on Deep Dive as we discuss with Alex K.T. Martin the expansive subterranean world of Tokyo’s ever-changing underground.
People holds a banner saying "Protect children from joint custody after divorce" during a rally outside the parliament building in Tokyo in March.
JAPAN / Society / FOCUS
Jun 25, 2024

Gender gap fuels disputes as Japan gets joint custody

The change has proved polarizing in a country where campaigners say sole custody acts as a bulwark against forms of domestic abuse.
Tadej Pogacar (left) rides behind rival Jonas Vingegaard and Vingegaard's teammate Sepp Kuss during the Tour de France in July last year.
MORE SPORTS / Cycling
Jun 27, 2024

Tour de France favorite Pogacar says he has 'never felt so good on a bike'

The Slovenian is seeking to become the first cyclist since Marco Pantani in 1998 to win both the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France in the same season.
Tsuguhiko Kadokawa (center) and his lawyers head to the Tokyo District Court on Thursday to file the lawsuit against the state.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jun 27, 2024

Ex-Kadokawa chairman files lawsuit over 'hostage justice' system

Tsuguhiko Kadokawa, 80, is seeking ¥220 million in damages in the civil lawsuit after he was detained for 226 days before being released in April 2023.
Carlos Alcaraz takes part in a practice session at the All England Lawn Tennis Club in London on Thursday ahead of the start of Wimbledon.
TENNIS
Jun 29, 2024

Young guns Alcaraz and Sinner ready to fire as Wimbledon prepares for new era

If Djokovic struggles in his return from injury, all eyes would then be on Alcaraz and Sinner as they usher in a new era at Wimbledon.
Czech Republic's Marketa Vondrousova hits a backhand during her first-round defeat to Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro on Tuesday in London.
TENNIS
Jul 3, 2024

Defending champion Vondrousova out with a whimper as Djokovic cruises

The Czech sixth seed slumped to a 6-4, 6-2 defeat as her reign ended with a whimper and there was also crushing disappointment for two-time champion Andy Murray.
Astana Qazaqstan Team's Mark Cavendish celebrates as he wins Stage 5 of the Tour de France on Wednesday, giving him the most career stage wins in the history of the event.
MORE SPORTS / Cycling
Jul 4, 2024

Cycling's comeback king Cavendish to carry on doing the thing he loves

Now 39 and in his 15th Tour de France, Cavendish has overcome injuries, illnesses and years in the wilderness to shine as brightly as anyone could expect.
Britain's Andy Murray waves to the crowd after his men's doubles match on Thursday at Wimbledon in London.
TENNIS
Jul 5, 2024

'I wish I could play forever,' says tearful Murray at Wimbledon farewell

Murray and brother Jamie were defeated in the first round of men's doubles as the British great prepares to call it a career.
The weak yen continues to attract visitors from abroad, while travelers from Japan are rethinking their plans amid rising costs.
JAPAN / Society
Jul 5, 2024

Weak yen slows overseas summer travel recovery

While the currency's weakness continues to attract visitors from abroad, travelers from Japan are rethinking their plans amid rising costs.
Yoshihiro Uchida inside the San Jose State University building that was renamed after him in 1997, in San Jose, California, in 2012.
MORE SPORTS / Judo
Jul 7, 2024

Yoshihiro Uchida, peerless American judo coach, dies at 104

The son of Japanese immigrants, Uchida began coaching judo at San Jose State in the 1940s, while he was still a student there.
Samsung workers chant slogans during a walkout outside the company’s semiconductor plant in Hwaseong, South Korea, on Monday.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 8, 2024

Samsung union steps up pressure over pay with three-day strike

The union has spent weeks preparing for the walkout, after negotiations over pay and vacation time collapsed last month.
President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist alliance won 163 seats in Sunday’s parliamentary runoff vote, though none of the political parties managed to secure an outright majority.
WORLD / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jul 8, 2024

France’s left wins big, but paralysis in parliament looms

Sunday's election results — the country's first-ever hung parliament — could put Paris on a path for months of political gridlock.
French President Emmanuel Macron and French First Lady Brigitte Macron leave after voting in the second round of French parliamentary elections at a polling station in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, France, on Sunday.
WORLD / Politics
Jul 9, 2024

France in limbo after Macron gamble deepens political deadlock

No political party wields an outright majority after the French election, and no obvious candidate for prime minister has emerged.
A nine-member refugee team is set to take part in the 2024 Paris Paralympics, with athletes competing in taekwondo, athletics, triathlon, power lifting, table tennis and wheelchair fencing.
OLYMPICS
Jul 9, 2024

Largest refugee team to compete at Paris Paralympics

Athletes will take part in taekwondo, athletics, triathlon, power lifting, table tennis and wheelchair fencing.
Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa (center-left) meets with Samoan Prime Minister Afioga Fiame Naomi Mata’afa (center-right) in Samoa in February. Like other Pacific island and Global South states, Samoa is caught in the crossfire of the U.S.-China rivalry.
COMMENTARY / Japan / Geoeconomic Briefing
Jul 11, 2024

Japan can help Global South navigate U.S.-China clash

As Washington and Beijing adopt more inward-looking foreign policies, Japan can be a bridge to Global South countries, whose main concerns are security and growth.
A man walks past a store of luxury brand Burberry at a shopping mall in Beijing in 2021.
BUSINESS / Markets
Jul 17, 2024

Luxury brands feel the sting as Chinese growth slows

China accounted for 16% of $393.8 billion of global luxury spending last year, but the economy grew slower than expected in the last quarter.
Fireworks during Irumagawa Tanabata Festival in Sayama, Saitama Prefecture in July 2023
JAPAN / Society
Jul 22, 2024

Many summer fireworks festivals in Japan canceled due to complaints

Property damage caused by debris, and littering and trespassing by those looking for a better view are among the reasons for the cancellations.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi (right) during a meeting in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Jul 24, 2024

Why Japan's mysterious stash of classified funds escapes scrutiny

The funds can be used by the chief cabinet secretary with no explanation needed, fueling speculation of widespread misappropriation.
Issei Yamauchi, a skateboard buyer for Murasaki Sports, shows a board with foot placements printed on it.
JAPAN
Jul 25, 2024

Skateboarding gains traction in Japanese schools

Some local governments are also taking steps to support the growth and popularity of the sport.
Kohei Saito, associate professor of philosophy at the University of Tokyo, in a "common forest" in Hachioji, Tokyo, in July
JAPAN
Aug 6, 2024

Slow down to save the planet, says Japanese philosopher Kohei Saito

Capitalism is the root cause of climate change, and we need to stop chasing growth, Saito argues.
Kei Nishikori hits a forehand during his first-round win at the Montreal Masters on Tuesday.
TENNIS
Aug 7, 2024

Nishikori advances in Montreal for first Masters match win in three years

The 2014 U.S. Open runner-up, who has been plagued by injuries in recent seasons, turned the tide at the Montreal Masters after a slow start.
South Korean Minister of National Defense Shin Won-sik on during an interview in Seoul on Wednesday
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Aug 8, 2024

South Korean nuclear weapons would break U.S. ties, defense chief says

The idea of another term for former U.S. President Donald Trump, who complained about the cost of the U.S. military presence in South Korea, has fueled the debate.
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda speaks during a news conference after the central bank's policy meeting in Tokyo on July 31.
BUSINESS
Aug 11, 2024

BOJ’s policy path fraught with risks after global market turmoil

Markets erupted with volatility within days of a BOJ rate hike on July 31.
The gold medal of Lim Si-hyeon of South Korea, after the Women’s Individual Archery competition at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, on Aug. 3
BUSINESS / Markets
Aug 12, 2024

Olympic gold medals are worth more than ever after cost of metals surged

The medals contain six grams of gold, the price of which soared to a record in mid-July.
Paris Saint-Germain forward Goncalo Ramos (right) celebrates with teammates after scoring in a preseason friendly against Germany's RB Leipzig on Saturday.
SOCCER
Aug 14, 2024

Ligue 1 begins post-Mbappe era further weakened after TV rights fiasco

League grapples with a loss of star power as its TV deal falls further beyond other European leagues.

Longform

Totopa in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward was picked by consultants TTNE as the best sauna of the year.
Japan’s sauna movement: Relax, refresh, repeat