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April 28, 2024
 

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Fred Varcoe
For Fred Varcoe's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
SOCCER / World cup
Feb 28, 2002
Asia must earn extra spot: Blatter
If Asia wants an extra automatic berth to future World Cups, then it will have to earn it, FIFA president Sepp Blatter told the Japanese media on Wednesday.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Feb 6, 2002
Diary of a not-so-mad man
"I'm not the Antichrist, I'm not the Iron Man, I'm not the kind of person you really think I am . . . I try to entertain you the best I can, I wish I'd walked before I ran," Ozzy Osbourne sings in "Gets Me Through," the opening track on his new album, "Down to Earth." It is at once a touching thank-you to his hordes of faithful fans and a dismissive f**k-you to those who have tried to condemn him or who have misrepresented him.
MULTIMEDIA / SPORTS SCOPE
Jan 10, 2002
Forget agents, get a comedian
Yakult Swallows pitcher Kazuhisa Ishii obviously didn't know what to do.
SOCCER / J. League
Jan 3, 2002
S-Pulse kicks off new year by winning Emperor's Cup
For Shimizu S-Pulse, Tuesday's Emperor's Cup final was a chance to make it third-time lucky after losing two finals in the past three years. For Cerezo Osaka, it was a chance to finish off a miserable season with a trophy and the opportunity to start the year with a boost as the team attempts to return to the J. League's first division following relegation last year.
MULTIMEDIA / SPORTS SCOPE
Dec 6, 2001
Is FIFA manipulating its balls correctly?
With 13 pots to pick the balls out of, you can probably say one of two things about last Saturday's World Cup draw in Korea: it was either potty or a load of balls.
SOCCER / World cup
Dec 3, 2001
Japan sees chance to advance after World Cup soccer draw
PUSAN, South Korea -- Japan got a break in the draw for next year's World Cup finals on Saturday after being drawn to face Belgium, Russia and Tunisia in the first round.
SOCCER / World cup
Dec 1, 2001
2002 World Cup winner must qualify for 2006 finals
PUSAN, South Korea -- No more free rides. That was the message from FIFA president Sepp Blatter on Friday when he announced that the winner of the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea would not get an automatic qualifying berth for the 2006 finals in Germany.
MULTIMEDIA / SPORTS SCOPE
Oct 19, 2001
2002 -- a big year for Busan
BUSAN, South Korea -- Jun Nayong and her friend Cho Sook Eun look at each other knowing they have a common answer to my question but are almost embarrassed to say it. Almost.
MORE SPORTS
Sep 18, 2001
Navratilova sympathetic
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova expressed sympathy for the victims of the terrorist attacks in the United States on Monday evening at a low-key press conference for the Toyota Princess Cup, which also started Monday in Tokyo. "I have to offer my condolences to all the people involved," the Czech-born American said. "Thousands perished and many, many others were indirectly affected." Tournament director Koji Tanaka indicated that it was touch-and-go whether or not the event would go ahead.
JAPAN
Sep 7, 2001
IMG delves into soccer, Japan
IMG, the largest sports management and marketing company in the world, is planning to get even bigger.
MULTIMEDIA / SPORTS SCOPE
Sep 6, 2001
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing
It's a memory that still pains me to this day. It was a public humiliation -- and the very worst kind. There are those who can shrug off such insults. I am not one of those.
MORE SPORTS
Sep 3, 2001
World team tops locals in JOMO Cup soccer
The World Dreams team coasted to a 4-2 victory over the Japan Dreams in the annual JOMO Cup at Tokyo's National Stadium on Sunday.
SOCCER / World cup
Aug 16, 2001
Japan whips Australia for AFC/OFC Challenge Cup
AINO, Shizuoka Pref. -- A confident Japan team cruised past Australia 3-0 Wednesday at Shizuoka's Ecopa Stadium to take the inaugural AFC/OFC Challenge Cup between the champions of Asia and Oceania.
SOCCER / World cup
Jul 2, 2001
Yanagisawa fires Japan past Paraguay
SAPPORO -- Atsushi Yanagisawa banged in a couple of fine goals to steer a confident Japan team to a 2-0 win over Paraguay in the Kirin Cup at the newly opened Sapporo Dome on Sunday.
MULTIMEDIA / SPORTS SCOPE
Jun 21, 2001
S. Korea must buck up before World Cup
If you read Kumi Kinohara's "On The Ball" column on Tuesday you'll know that Japan still has a bit of work to do before next year's World Cup.
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 12, 2001
Japan goes down fighting in Confederations Cup final
YOKOHAMA -- France pulled off a unique treble Sunday by wrapping up the Confederations Cup title with an effortless 1-0 win over Japan at International Stadium Yokohama.
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 10, 2001
Can Japan leave Les Bleus feeling blue after Confederations Cup final?
If you take the negative aspects of the Confederations Cup (the League Cup of international football) away from the equation, then FIFA couldn't have asked for a more intriguing final today at International Stadium Yokohama.
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 8, 2001
Japan books spot in final
YOKOHAMA -- Japan fought a tremendous rearguard battle in a steady downpour with only 10 men Thursday night to overcome a resilient Australia team 1-0 and reach the final of the Confederations Cup at Yokohama International Stadium.
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 7, 2001
Kamamoto learns to live with cohosting
Kunishige Kamamoto was the Hidetoshi Nakata or the Kazu Miura of his day.
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 5, 2001
Japan holds Brazil to draw
KASHIMA, Ibaraki Pref. -- Japan and Brazil played to a 0-0 draw in their final first-round game of the Confederations Cup at Ibaraki Stadium in Kashima on Monday, which meant that Japan finished on top of Group A and Brazil second.
Town to block view of Mount Fuji in response to overtourism
The town government of Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture, decided to set up a 2.5-meter-high screen to prevent tourists from taking pictures of Mount Fuji looming behind a convenience store.
In Japan, regional revitalization fails to halt population decline
Sakiyama elementary school in Tamba, Hyogo Prefecture, in March .Over the past decade, the government has directed efforts toward policies designed to give young people incentives to base themselves in rural areas.
Number of homeless in Japan hits record low
Homeless people sleep on the street in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward in August 2021.
Ukraine is far from doomed
When comparing Ukraine’s military situation in 2024 to Europe’s in 1941, Russia’s defeat seems entirely possible.
Japan wants you to spend more with ‘luxury tourism’
Performers play a traditional drum unique to Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, in the prefectural capital of Kanazawa on March 16 to mark the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line to Tsuruga Station in Fukui Prefecture.
Tokyo's Koto Ward by-election a race unlike any other
Natsumi Sakai, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan’s candidate and one of four female candidates running in the by-election, touts her experience as a cancer survivor and midwife as having prepared her to tackle issues that women currently face.
Theaster Gates’ ambitious ‘Afro-Mingei’ brings Black Chicago to Tokyo
Theaster Gates' “A Heavenly Chord” lines up church pews before seven speakers and a Hammond B3 organ, a type of electric organ prevalent in Black American churches.
Japan wants you to spend more with ‘luxury tourism’
Performers play a traditional drum unique to Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, in the prefectural capital of Kanazawa on March 16 to mark the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line to Tsuruga Station in Fukui Prefecture.
Casa del Cibo: A thriving jewel born from Tohoku’s harsh past
When chef Ryohei Ikemi moved to Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture, and opened Casa del Cibo in 2011, it was the first proper Italian restaurant in the city.
Town to block view of Mount Fuji in response to overtourism
The town government of Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture, decided to set up a 2.5-meter-high screen to prevent tourists from taking pictures of Mount Fuji looming behind a convenience store.

Podcast

From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers.
[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

Longform

Later this month, author Shogo Imamura will open Honmaru, a bookstore that allows other businesses to rent its shelves. It's part of a wave of ideas Japanese booksellers are trying to compete with online spaces.
The story isn't over for Japan's bookstores
By Alex K.T. Martin

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Vol. 34: Tokyo, a vanguard city for sustainability
Vol. 34: Tokyo, a vanguard city for sustainability

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