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Tokyo now boasts five different Quidditch teams, while universities in Osaka and Kyoto also play host to their own clubs.
COMMUNITY / Issues / The Foreign Element
Nov 4, 2023

'Accio broomstick!' Quidditch is back and open to everyone

From relatively humble beginnings, Quidditch has continued to grow in popularity across Japan.
A woman walks past newly unveiled lettering that references the Oct. 29 Itaewon crush in Seoul. A more fully developed memorial was later built to commemorate the event and the more than 150 people who lost their lives.
ASIA PACIFIC / Society / Longform
Oct 27, 2023

One year on, Itaewon's scars remain

A year on from the Itaewon crush, foot traffic in the Seoul neighborhood is picking back up. But what the future of the area is still in doubt.
Texas Rangers right fielder Adolis Garcia celebrates after hitting the game-winning home run in the 11th inning of Game 1 of the World Series on Friday in Arlington, Texas.
BASEBALL
Oct 28, 2023

Adolis Garcia's blast lifts Rangers in World Series opener

Garcia's eighth home run of the postseason pushed his RBI total to 22, eclipsing David Freese (2011) for the most in one postseason in MLB history.
South African players celebrate with the Webb Ellis Cup after their win over New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup final on Saturday.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Oct 29, 2023

Springboks hold off 14-man All Blacks to win World Cup

South Africa produced a magnificent defensive display to edge New Zealand 12-11 and win their fourth title.
South Africa's Siya Kolisi in action during the Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand on Saturday in Saint-Denis, France
MORE SPORTS
Oct 29, 2023

Siya Kolisi happy to escape 'dark place' for World Cup glory

Despite losing hooker Bongi Mbonambi in only the third minute, the Boks reorganized and battled through for a record fourth title.
South African rugby supporters celebrate the team's World Cup triumph, in Johannesburg on Saturday.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Oct 29, 2023

Ecstatic South Africans celebrate Rugby World Cup glory

Supporters of the national rugby team drank beers, waved flags and partied until the early hours in a wave of jubilation that swept the country.
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has resigned after their dismal showing at the World Cup, but says he has no other job offer as yet.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Oct 30, 2023

Jones resigns as Wallabies coach, say Australian media reports

Jones has been linked with the head coach role of Japan, which he has denied.
New Zealand's Ardie Savea following the All Blacks' defeat to South Africa in the Rugby World Cup in Saint-Denis, France, on Saturday
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Oct 30, 2023

World Cup defeat 'puts fire in belly' of All Black Savea for 2027

Despite defeat in the final, Ardie Savea was named World Rugby player of the year.
Tigers fans during Game 1 of the Japan Series against the Buffaloes, at Kyocera Dome Osaka on Saturday. The Tigers are known for their high attendance figures and rowdy celebrations among the team's loyal fans.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 30, 2023

In the Japan Series, it’s a tale of two fanbases

The Tigers and Buffaloes have a lot of similarities, but there's a yawning gap in the support, enthusiasm and attention paid to each Kansai club.
South Africa's Malcolm Marx scores a try during a Rugby World Cup warmup game against New Zealand in London on Aug. 25.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Oct 30, 2023

Injured Springbok Marx to miss Japanese club season

Marx, 29, was forced to leave the Springboks' World Cup-winning squad after only one game in France following an injury to his knee during training.
A rally in support of Israel is held in Tokyo on Oct. 11 during which participants, including Israelis living in Japan, demanded the immediate release of all hostages captured by Hamas during its Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 30, 2023

A primer on the Israel-Hamas war


Japan's image of Israel is shallow and distorted, as many people fail to understand the existential threat that Hamas' aggression poses.
Australia head coach Eddie Jones during training in Saint-Etienne, France, on Sept. 30. Jones has repeatedly denied a return to coaching in Japan.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Oct 31, 2023

Rugby Australia confirms Eddie Jones has quit as Wallabies coach

Jones, 63, will formally leave his position on Nov. 25, the governing body said.
Australia's David Warner watches the ball after playing a shot during the 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup one-day international match between Australia and New Zealand in Dharamsala, India, on Tuesday.
MORE SPORTS / Cricket
Oct 31, 2023

Warner enjoying making doubters 'look stupid' at World Cup

Resurgent Australia are fourth in the standings, having won their last four matches in succession.
The Nihon University football club dormitory in Tokyo
JAPAN / Society
Oct 31, 2023

Nihon University staff downplayed drug use problem, report says

The report shows how the university’s system of governance led to the delay in taking action against the American football team’s culture of drug use.
Becoming the lone bidder for the 2034 World Cup, just 27 days after its campaign was announced, caps a stunning year where the unheralded Saudi Pro League has snapped up some of soccer's top stars including Cristiano Ronaldo (center).
SOCCER
Nov 1, 2023

Bridging the Gulf: How the World Cup is key to Saudi revamp

While human rights controversies have not gone away, the kingdom is gaining a reputation for extravagant forays into sport.
Maryna Bodnar, 24, with her children, Matviy and Gennady, at home in Chernihiv, Ukraine, on April 11, 2023. 'I don’t feel strong,' Bodnar said. 'But I am looking for strength to continue.'
WORLD / Society
Nov 1, 2023

Coming of age in Ukraine

The ongoing war has accelerated their transition into adulthood.
Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton has finished the last two races second on track, although he was disqualified from the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin when the car failed post-race checks, and has looked increasingly comfortable in the car.
MORE SPORTS
Nov 2, 2023

Hamilton wants to win in Brazil but has sights on future glory

The 38-year-old great has not triumphed since 2021 but he remained optimistic about the future.
Members of the Anaheim Ducks and the Pittsburgh Penguins stand at center ice for a moment of silence on Monday to honor former Penguins forward Adam Johnson, who died when an opposing player's skate blade cut his neck during a game in England.
MORE SPORTS / Ice Hockey
Nov 2, 2023

NHL and union discuss on-ice safety after player's death in England

American forward Adam Johnson's death has sparked a dialogue on whether players at all levels of the game should be forced to wear neck protection.
 Novelist Keigo Higashino (right) and poet Machi Tawara
JAPAN / Society
Nov 2, 2023

Novelist Higashino and poet Tawara to receive Medal of Honor

The Medal of Honor will be awarded to 684 people and 26 organizations this autumn, including novelist Keigo Higashino and poet Machi Tawara.
Tigers reliever Atsuki Yuasa needed just one pitch to make a major impact in Game 4 of the Japan Series.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Nov 2, 2023

For Atsuki Yuasa, all it took was one pitch to spur Tigers' win

Yuasa received an immense hero’s welcome from Tigers fans Wednesday night but there was no time to soak in the atmosphere.
New Zealand's openside flanker and captain Sam Cane (right) walks on the field with his silver medal after South Africa won the France 2023 Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand in Saint-Denis, France, on Sunday.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Nov 3, 2023

All Blacks captain Sam Cane to join Suntory

Cane has taken a sabbatical option in his New Zealand Rugby contract.
Kelvin Kiptum of Kenya celebrates after finishing in a world record time of 2:00:35 to win the Chicago Marathon on Oct. 8.
MORE SPORTS / Athletics
Nov 3, 2023

Smashed records bring new focus to marathon ahead of New York

The Kenyan former world record-holder Brigid Kosgei will make her Big Apple debut after five previous major wins.
Tigers fans make their presence known at Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, on Thursday, as Hanshin played Orix in Game 5 of the Japan Series.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Nov 3, 2023

Could the Tigers' curse be over, once and for all?

A win against the Buffaloes on Saturday would see the Tigers victorious in this year's Japan Series.
Red Bull's Max Verstappen in action during qualifying on Friday ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix.
MORE SPORTS / Auto Racing
Nov 4, 2023

Max Verstappen on pole after 'insane' Brazil qualifying

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc joined Verstappen on the front row as qualifying was cut short by inclement weather.
Venezuela's Leonel Martinez poses on the podium with his silver medal after the men's trap final shooting event at the Pan American Games in Santiago on Oct. 27.
OLYMPICS / Shooting
Nov 4, 2023

After a 40-year wait, a trap shooter returns to the Olympics

Leonel Martínez, now 60, qualified by finishing second in men’s trap shooting at the Pan American Games in Santiago.
Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Mone Inami (left) won the LPGA Japan Classic on Sunday after overnight co-leader Nasa Hataoka fell apart in the final round.
MORE SPORTS / Golf
Nov 5, 2023

Inami wins LPGA Japan Classic after Hataoka collapse

Inami finished with a 22-under score of 266, a stroke ahead of Shiho Kuwaki and South Korea's Bae Seon-woo.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino (right) after the Copa Libertadores final in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday.
SOCCER / Women's World cup
Nov 5, 2023

Brazil submits letter of intent to host 2027 Women's World Cup

Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands submitted a joint expression of interest in April, while the other joint bid includes the United States and Mexico.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. As the European Union’s biggest economy wrestles with a persistent slump and a surge in immigration, the specter of German nationalism has returned, leaving citizens more conflicted over their country’s direction than at any point since World War II.
WORLD / Politics
Nov 6, 2023

The far right is on the rise in Germany and Scholz is at a loss

Amidst economic challenges and surging immigration, German nationalism has reemerged.
South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus ahead of a game against Ireland in Dublin in November 2022
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Nov 6, 2023

Erasmus to coach South Africa at start of new World Cup cycle

After lifting the World Cup as coach four years ago, Erasmus took the reins as South Africa’s director of rugby.
World Rugby chief Bill Beaumont has welcomed a study of the impact of collisions on the heads of rugby players.
MORE SPORTS
Nov 7, 2023

Largest ever head impact study in community rugby welcomed

The study used smart mouthguard technology, which will be obligatory in training and matches in elite rugby from next year.

Longform

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