Rich Freeman - The Japan Times

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Rich Freeman

For Rich Freeman's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:

Rugby

Apr 9, 2005

Government backs bid for Rugby World Cup

The Japan Rugby Football Union's hopes for hosting the Rugby World Cup in 2011 were boosted on Friday with news that the Japanese government was officially backing the bid.

Rugby

Apr 1, 2005

Rugby fans tell IRB: Give the 2011 World Cup to Japan

If the Japan Rugby Football Union is on the lookout for a theme song for its bid to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup, it could do a lot worse than the Ray Davies penned, "Give the People What They Want."

Rugby

Mar 31, 2005

Asian rugby hoping to build on success of Hong Kong Sevens

While Waisale Serevi and his Fijian team were busy stealing the headlines with their superb performance in winning the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2005 in Hong Kong last week, Asian rugby was showing, both on and off the field, that it could play a huge role in the future development of the game.

SPORTS / SPORTS SCOPE

Mar 10, 2005

Will the 'Brave Blossoms' soon be drinking champagne?

It's often said that it is a brave man who owns up to being wrong.

Rugby

Feb 28, 2005

Rugby gods smile on Green Rockets

Having shown their allegiance to Wales in its cracking win over France in Paris on Saturday, the rugby gods traveled quickly to Tokyo to cast their celestial eyes over the 42nd All Japan Championship final at Chichibunomiya on Sunday.

Rugby

Feb 27, 2005

Rugby legends Johnson, Eales to visit Tokyo

Two giants of rugby union -- both in terms of ability and stature -- are heading to Tokyo in June.

Rugby

Feb 24, 2005

IRB chairman points the way forward for Japanese rugby

When Dr. Syd Millar talks rugby, people generally stop and listen.

Rugby

Feb 20, 2005

Toyota's old, young and brave hold off Toshiba in All Japan semifinals

Rugby

Feb 7, 2005

Brave Lupus add name to rugby Cup

The second name to be inscribed onto the Microsoft Cup will be Toshiba Brave Lupus following Sunday's final at Tokyo's Chichibunomiya.

Rugby

Jan 31, 2005

Toshiba, Yamaha set to do battle in Microsoft Cup final

The Microsoft Cup final on Feb. 6 at Tokyo's Chichibunomiya will see Top League champion Toshiba Brave Lupus take on runnerup Yamaha Jubilo following Sunday's two semifinals.

SPORTS / SPORTS SCOPE

Jan 28, 2005

Top student players need to get a 'real' rugby education

The university final earlier this month between Waseda and Kanto Gakuin highlighted all that is good and bad about college rugby in Japan.

Rugby

Jan 24, 2005

Steelers upset Green Rockets in Microsoft Cup

The Microsoft Cup will have a new name inscribed on it after the NEC Green Rockets, last-year's winners, were beaten 51-16 by the Kobe Kobelco Steelers at Tokyo's Chichibunomiya on Sunday.

Rugby

Jan 11, 2005

Kintetsu, IBM relegated from Top League

The Top League championship may well have been decided on the last weekend of 2004 -- Toshiba Brave Lupus 38-12 victory over archrival Suntory Sungoliath on Saturday simply being the icing on the cake -- but there was still plenty to play for in the four games played on Monday.

Rugby

Jan 10, 2005

Waseda reclaims rugby title from Kanto

The 41st University Rugby Football Championship final was the fourth time in a row that Waseda University has taken on Kanto Gakuin University and this year it was Waseda that walked away with the silverware following its 31-19 win at Tokyo's National Stadium on Sunday.

Rugby

Dec 30, 2004

Inventive approach from Toshiba's coach is rewarded with Top League crown

The Toshiba Brave Lupus players may well have made some last-minute additions to the New Year cards they sent out this year following last Sunday's two Top League games.

MORE SPORTS

Dec 26, 2004

Victory can't save IBM from relegation

IBM Big Blue may have recorded its first win of the year, in beating World Fighting Bull 37-28 at Tokyo's Chichibunomiya on Saturday, but it wasn't enough to prevent it from taking up one of the two automatic relegation spots from the Top League.

MORE SPORTS

Dec 19, 2004

NEC takes its chances to end up on top of World

There's an old saying in rugby that you take the points whenever they are offered to you. And it's a lesson that the World Fighting Bull players will do well to remember after Saturday's 33-31 loss to the NEC Green Rockets at Tokyo's Chichibunomiya.

SOCCER / World cup

Dec 17, 2004

Germany whips Japan

YOKOHAMA -- Bayern Munich midfielder Michael Ballack gave the 61,805 fans who braved the cold at Yokohama International Stadium on Thursday, something to remember as Germany beat Japan 3-0 in the home team's last game of a busy 2004.

Rugby

Dec 5, 2004

Ricoh downloads IBM; Toshiba bumps Sanyo

Following a four-week break -- supposedly to allow Japan to take its best team on what turned out to be a disastrous tour of Europe -- Top League rugby action made its return on Saturday.

Rugby

Dec 2, 2004

Tokyo's rugby community honors former teammate

Rugby players haven't always enjoyed the best of reputations.

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

Things may look perfect to the outside world, but today's mom is fine with some imperfection at home.

How 'Reiwa moms' are reshaping motherhood in Japan

By Mai Yoshikawa

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Cultural properties:A Fujiya Hotel insider’s view

Cultural properties:A Fujiya Hotel insider’s view

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