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Japan Times
SOCCER / Women's World Cup
Jun 22, 2020

Japan ends bid to host 2023 Women's World Cup, citing Olympic delay

The 37-member FIFA Council will now choose between Colombia and a joint Australia-New Zealand bid on Thursday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Feb 12, 2020

Epidemic-wary clubs move to protect players

COVID-19 has already had an outsized effect on Asian soccer, forcing the relocation of a women's Olympic qualifying group to Australia from Wuhan, China, as well as the rescheduling and then postponement of Asian Champions League games involving Chinese clubs.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Sep 4, 2018

JFA to co-host inaugural esports tournament at 2019 National Sports Festival

The Japan Football Association has taken its biggest step yet in the country's burgeoning esports scene, joining the Japan Esports Union as co-host of the newly established esports competition in the cultural program at the 2019 National Sports Festival in Ibaraki Prefecture.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Aug 16, 2018

Keisuke Honda's globetrotting career leads to Australia

Six weeks ago, Samurai Blue star Keisuke Honda announced that he had participated in his last World Cup and hinted that retirement was on the table.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 19, 2018

You can hate Putin but love the World Cup

Russians and foreign visitors can get a closer look at each other, without the usual filters.
EDITORIALS
Jun 1, 2015

The beautiful game dirtied

Major sponsors should pressure FIFA to clean up its act.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 16, 2014

This cup should be the last for Sepp Blatter

No matter how much 'fire' he has left in him, FIFA President Joseph 'Sepp' Blatter should make the current World Cup in Brazil his last one.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
May 13, 2013

J. League's opening game stirs memories 20 years on

Players involved in the J. League's first-ever game share their recollections of the beginning of a new era for Japanese soccer.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jul 29, 2012

When being first class only gets you a seat in economy

Thanks to international media coverage, everybody in the world is now convinced that the Japan Olympic Committee is sexist. When two of Japan's national soccer teams recently flew to Europe prior to participating in the Olympics, the women's squad was placed in the premium economy section (¥470,000)...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Feb 19, 2010

'Rudo y Cursi'

It's probably just me, but when the economy's this bad, even the latest movies seem to be all about bankruptcy, conspiracy, mindless consumption, bad plumbing, etc. Even when a film is about multitudes of people falling in and out of love in sunny Los Angeles (See "Valentine's Day," well, then again,...
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jul 13, 2008

Challenges await new JFA president

As Motoaki Inukai settles into his new role as president of the Japan Football Association, he must contend with both the challenges ahead of him and the weight of the past on his shoulders.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Mar 23, 2008

JFA gives cold shoulder to Premier League proposal to play games overseas

From a soccer perspective, the upcoming Major League Baseball season-opening series between the Boston Red Sox and the Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome feels like a glimpse into a parallel universe.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Mar 15, 2008

Brazilian players changing countries not good for game

The news this week that Kawasaki Frontale's Brazilian striker Juninho hopes to gain Japanese citizenship and play for the national team will not have been music to FIFA president Sepp Blatter's ears.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Jan 13, 2008

Yamaguchi honored as top NCAA player

Tokyo native and Florida State University junior Mami Yamaguchi capped one of the great seasons in college soccer history on Saturday by being named the 2007 female recipient of the MAC Hermann Trophy.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Sep 7, 2007

Ferguson: Beckham alone can't transform MLS

LONDON (AP) David Beckham will find his latest mission of transforming soccer in America more difficult than expected, according to Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson.
MORE SPORTS
Aug 19, 2007

Moses trying to help less fortunate hurdle obstacles

Edwin Moses was an untouchable, unbeatable performer as a track and field superstar during his heyday in the 1970s and '80s.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 16, 2006

Tragic exit no match for Zidane's legacy

PARIS -- "Those who the gods may destroy are granted their wishes.''
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Jul 15, 2006

Zidane -- a bit of the old cow

Many people have been left perplexed by the performance of French soccer player Zinedine Zidane in the 110th minute of the World Cup final. Provoked by Italian Marco Materazzi, Zidane turned around and head butted the Italian so hard, he knocked him down.
EDITORIALS
Jul 25, 2002

JFA scores with new lineup

While the echoes of the 2002 World Cup are still ringing in our ears, Japanese soccer is making the first moves toward reform. At a meeting of its council and a new board of directors last Saturday, the Japan Football Association officially approved the appointment of a new executive lineup led by Mr....
SOCCER / J. League / ON THE BALL
Jul 2, 2002

Success in first round weakened Japan's motivation

The World Cup ended Sunday night with Brazil claiming its fifth World Cup title following a monthlong soccer festival which has seen quite a few surprises, including first-round exits by France and Argentina and cohost South Korea's fine run into the semifinals.
SPORTS / SPORTS SCOPE EXTRA
Jun 27, 2002

Observations from the other side

It's almost over now, and I have to admit it's been a lot less painful than anticipated.
JAPAN
Jun 14, 2002

Frugal World Cup fans slay shops' cash cow

OSAKA — Shopkeepers here are disheartened by the impact the World Cup soccer finals are having on the area's economy.
SPORTS / SPORTS SCOPE
Apr 5, 2001

Halfhearted effort at hosting half a World Cup

Why not let South Korea host the whole thing?
SOCCER / J. League
Mar 9, 2001

Show me what you've got!

I'd like to greet all the players in the J. League and look forward to seeing the joy of football in Japan this year. I'd specifically like to welcome the new foreign players. My message to you, as well as to the Japanese players, is simply play your best, play football.
MULTIMEDIA / SPORTS SCOPE
Dec 28, 2000

Japan Sports Awards 2000

Driver of The Year: Daisuke Matsuzaka.
MULTIMEDIA / SPORTS SCOPE
Jul 20, 2000

Euro 2000: the Good, the Bad, the Ugly

Euro 2000 maybe fading into the memory banks, but before it disappears it's worth recapping the tournament's pluses and minuses and, where applicable, what Japan and South Korea might learn for the 2002 World Cup. So here then is the Good, the Bad and the Ugly rundown of Euro 2000.
SOCCER / J. League
May 1, 2000

Troussier's future with Japan in doubt

Japan manager Philippe Troussier, with less than two months left on his contract, is on the verge of being dismissed and is likely to be replaced by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger or anyone else the Japan Football Association can think of before its next board meeting on May 25.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 29, 2000

Symbolism governs planned Imperial trip

The first postwar visit to South Korea by a Japanese Emperor is still up in the air due to a combination of politics, soccer bureaucracy, national sensibilities and a dispute over television broadcast rights.

Longform

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