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Japan Times
LIFE / 2010S: DECADE IN REVIEW,2010s: Decade in review
Nov 7, 2019

Mascots: The secret weapon in Japan's soft power arsenal

What makes a good mascot? It used to be that being cute was enough, but 'yuru-kyara' in the 2010s needed storylines and Instagram followings if they want to make a mark.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 4, 2019

U.S. baseball fans are too old, too white and too few

One thrilling World Series can't make the sport's viewership problems go away.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Oct 30, 2019

Unpredictable banzuke adds flavor to sumo

For sports journalists based in Japan's capital, no reminders are needed to know the last of the three annual non-Tokyo tournaments is just around the corner.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tokyo Motor Show 2019
Oct 23, 2019

Honda's newest innovations

"The Power of Dreams" is turning visions into reality at Tokyo Motor Show 2019. Honda Motor Co.'s comprehensive lineup is an eclectic mix of innovative and historical that features motorcycles, automobiles, power products and energy-efficient concept models.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 21, 2019

Brave Blossoms rue quarterfinal exit, but take pride in their Rugby World Cup heroics

Japan's Rugby World Cup players expressed mixed feelings as their incredible campaign came to an end with a quarterfinal defeat to South Africa on Sunday, with pride in their achievements largely crowding out the disappointment.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 20, 2019

How China loses friends and alienates people

Beijing's recent attempt to bully the NBA over a tweet in support of the Hong Kong protesters has backfired and could prove costly.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / HOTELS & RESTAURANTS
Oct 17, 2019

Savory treats to pump up rugby spirits

The Oak Door Bar at the Grand Hyatt Tokyo is serving up a winning recipe for sports watching — specifically, Rugby World Cup 2019 matches — with a series of seasonal and sports-inspired burgers, hot dogs and beer cocktails from 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. through Nov. 2.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Oct 12, 2019

Social media conversation on ID checks in Japan reflects shifting awareness

It’s not unusual for foreign residents in Japan to be asked for identification. 
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / NBA
Oct 7, 2019

NBA faces backlash after ceding ground to China over pro-Hong Kong tweets

The NBA found itself in the middle of a firestorm Monday — facing criticism from both Beijing and U.S. lawmakers — for its reaction to a tweet by the Houston Rockets’ general manager backing ongoing pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / The Big Questions
Oct 6, 2019

Enduring lessons on the importance of community

Throughout his career spanning close to 22 years in the technology business — the last year and a half at Adobe — James McCready has adhered firmly to lessons he learned at home, as well as during a six-year stint playing professional baseball.
Japan Times
Rugby
Oct 3, 2019

Historic Hanazono Rugby Stadium helps promote Osaka Prefecture on global stage

The city of Higashiosaka is one of the biggest manufacturing towns in Western Japan and has the third-highest population in Osaka Prefecture at 495,000. But the Osaka suburb is also well-known as a rugby city because of Hanazono Rugby Stadium, which saw Georgia play Fiji on Thursday in Rugby World Cup...
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / Sac Bunts
Sep 30, 2019

Giants star Shinnosuke Abe bows out as one of NPB's great catchers

For nearly 20 years Shinnosuke Abe's go-to phrase during hero interviews, following some heroic feat on the baseball diamond, has been "saikō desu" (the best). He'd be asked a question and would often shout the phrase as his response as the crowd ate it up.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Sep 21, 2019

Maurice Eric Zacher: Designs on Japan

Japanologist and product designer Zacher on Japanese design, gadgets and university scholarships.
Japan Times
Rugby
Sep 19, 2019

England favorites to win World Cup, says former Brave Blossoms assistant Sawaki

Keisuke Sawaki, 44, a former Japan assistant coach under Eddie Jones in the 2015 Rugby World Cup, has made bold predictions for the upcoming World Cup in Japan. Sawaki, who has been analyzing recent test matches, highly values the Jones-led England team. Here are Sawaki's predictions during the interview...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 19, 2019

Eight years since nuclear disaster, Fukushima hopes Rugby World Cup can clean up its image

On pristine pitches in northeastern Japan, the Argentine men's rugby team practiced their scrums, line-outs and set plays in the sunshine in preparation for their opening game against France this week in the Rugby World Cup.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Sep 18, 2019

Scoring a try against gender barriers

In the late 1980s, a group of Japanese women came together to form the country's first female rugby club, efforts that have been immortalized in a short film by Mackenzie Sheppard
Japan Times
SOCCER
Sep 12, 2019

Arsene Wenger says Man United not mature enough to contend for Premier League title

Manchester United's current squad lacks the maturity required to mount a serious challenge for the Premier League title, although Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's players have potential, former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Sep 11, 2019

Mixed results from VAR's Levain Cup debut

The video assistant referee (VAR) has made its J. League debut, but there's still much to be done before the system is ready for the big time.
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 9, 2019

Sumo 101: Rikishi & social media

At first glance, sumo can seem intransigently stuck in the past.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Sep 2, 2019

Turkish media speak of country's sporting affection for Japan

Japan's men's basketball team was completely tamed by Turkey in Sunday's FIBA World Cup contest. The Europeans bewildered the Akatsuki Five on both ends of the court and wound up earning the important "W" with a 86-67 score at Shanghai Oriental Sports Center.
Japan Times
Rugby
Aug 31, 2019

Home advantage: World Cup puts Japanese rugby back in the spotlight

The date is June 4, 1995, and the Japan national rugby team is facing New Zealand's mighty All Blacks in its final pool game at the Rugby World Cup in South Africa. Japan, which has already been eliminated from the tournament going into the match at Bloemfontein's Free State Stadium, has conceded an...
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Aug 27, 2019

Japan to host international drone race in November at Tokyo Motor Show

An international drone race will be held in November as one of events at the Tokyo Motor Show, which will start in late October, the organizing committee said Monday.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Aug 19, 2019

Optimism, temperatures rise during test event

The deadly summer heat in Tokyo has been one of the major ongoing issues for athletes and organizers as Japan prepares to host the 2020 Olympics.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Aug 14, 2019

Beating the heat at the Tokyo Olympics

Hosting the games will call on the best of Japanese expertise, innovation and imagination to bring out the best in the athletes competing in very challenging conditions.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Aug 14, 2019

Sumo wrestlers beat heat and make new fans at summer camps

For many, the words "training camp" and "summer" are synonymous with American football and particularly the NFL.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Aug 14, 2019

Bellmare manager Cho Kwi-jea rocked by power harassment allegations

The remaining days of one of the J. League's most tenacious managers may be numbered.
Japan Times
Places
Aug 8, 2019

Places to watch Rugby World Cup live in Japan

Looking for a place to view the Rugby World Cup games live surrounded by a crowd of ardent fans? Here’s a list of 18 public viewing spaces where fans can catch all the action as it happens.

Longform

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