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 Kaz Nagatsuka

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Kaz Nagatsuka
Kaz Nagatsuka is a staff writer covering Japanese sports, including Japanese professional baseball, basketball, American football and individual sports. He has covered big sporting events such as the World Baseball Classic, the NFL Super Bowl and soccer's World Cup.
For Kaz Nagatsuka's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Dec 28, 2020
Diversity on display on court during All-Japan High School Tournament
Rui Hachimura — born to a Japanese mother and Beninese father — is the most prominent example, but the number of players with at least one non-Japanese parent is growing.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Dec 28, 2020
Powerhouse Oka Gakuen captures Winter Cup title
The dominant Oka Gakuen High School girls basketball program added another Winter Cup trophy to its mantle with an 89-65 win over Tokyo Seitoku University High School in the All-Japan High School final at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on Monday.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Dec 26, 2020
Winter Cup in danger of being called off early due to coronavirus
On Saturday, the Kaishi Kokusai High School boys team became the seventh squad to withdraw from the tournament since it tipped off on Wednesday.
Japan Times
SPORTS
Dec 25, 2020
Under cover: In search of the best athletic face mask
The Japan Times tested some of the more prominent consumer face coverings that sports equipment manufacturers have released this year.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / NBA
Dec 24, 2020
Raptors' Yuta Watanabe determined to earn regular NBA deal
Watanabe believes he'll be a good fit for the Raptors' style of play, especially on the defensive end.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League
Dec 23, 2020
B-Corsairs sign 19-year-old phenom Yuki Kawamura on short-term deal
The Tokai University student made waves last season as the B. League's youngest-ever player during a stint with the NeoPhoenix.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Dec 21, 2020
Sunflowers manage to bloom in All-Japan final without injured Tokashiki
The team lost Tokashiki during the quarterfinals Wednesday in an injury that may also have a major effect on the national team's pursuit of gold at the Tokyo Olympics.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Dec 20, 2020
Sunflowers come back to beat Antelopes in Empress Cup final
Guard Saori Miyazaki led the team to their eighth straight title just one day after ace forward/center Ramu Tokashiki's ACL injury was announced.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Dec 19, 2020
Women's basketball star Ramu Tokashiki tears ACL
The injury deals a major blow to Japan's chances of winning Olympic gold on home soil next year.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Dec 16, 2020
Seagulls deny Frontiers on final play of X Bowl to return to X League summit
The Obic Seagulls made their long-awaited return to the X League summit Tuesday night, knocking off the league's current dynasty.
Japan Times
Rugby
Dec 16, 2020
Ayumu Goromaru says upcoming retirement part of plan that began after college
The former Japan national team star fullback said he always planned to retire the year he turned 35.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Dec 14, 2020
Olympic favorite Ryo Kiyuna seizes ninth straight title at karate championships
Kiyuna said he's never competed with records in mind, and insisted his nine straight titles are the result of his dedication to fulfill his own potential.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Dec 11, 2020
Japan to host Akatsuki Five's remaining Asia Cup qualifiers
Japan, Taiwan, China and Malaysia will play 10 games over a five-day period after most of this year's qualifiers were scrapped due to the pandemic.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League
Dec 9, 2020
B. League's Storks and Robots punished over quarantine violations
The Nishinomiya Storks and Ibaraki Robots were censured by the B. League last Friday for letting their import players join team practices before their 14-day quarantine periods had ended.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Dec 8, 2020
Karate elite await national championships after pandemic hiatus
Sunday's event at the renovated Nippon Budokan will be the first time many of Japan's top karateka have competed since early this year.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League
Dec 7, 2020
Teenager Kaine Roberts getting chance to grow with Earthfriends
Newcomer Kaine Roberts is by far the youngest member of the Earthfriends Tokyo Z and has the chance to grow into an elite player.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Dec 5, 2020
Keisei Tominaga looking forward to taking next step with Nebraska
The 19-year-old, who verbally committed to Nebraska a year ago, has been public about his future ambitions.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League
Dec 1, 2020
B. League financials escape worst of pandemic's impact
Officials reported on Monday that 2019-20 revenues increased slightly from the previous year despite the cancellation of the season in March due to the coronavirus.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Nov 28, 2020
Pandemic throws wrench in Japan's plans on basketball court
After the one-year postponement of the Tokyo Olympics was announced in March, Japan's men's national basketball team had hoped to use the extra time to further its development.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Nov 23, 2020
Fujitsu Frontiers secure eighth straight trip to Japan X Bowl
The Frontiers sealed a 34-3 victory Sunday over the Elecom Kobe Finies in their regular-season finale.

Longform

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