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May 06, 2024
 

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Rich Freeman
For Rich Freeman's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
Rugby
Jun 30, 2019
Michael Leitch eyes Pacific Nations Cup return as Rugby World Cup looms
Japan captain Michael Leitch is targeting the Pacific Nations Cup game against Fiji on July 27 for his long-awaited return to action.
Japan Times
Rugby
Jun 24, 2019
Japan ramps up Rugby World Cup prep
The Brave Blossoms began the second stage of their pre-Rugby World Cup camp on Monday in Miyazaki with head coach Jamie Joseph saying Japan is at the stage where it's respected, but perhaps not feared.
Japan Times
Rugby
Jun 12, 2019
World Rugby confident JRFU strife won't impact World Cup
World Rugby bosses said Wednesday they are not concerned by the recent upheaval within the Japan Rugby Football Union and that it will not impact this year's World Cup.
Japan Times
Rugby
Jun 12, 2019
Final countdown begins for 2019 Rugby World Cup
Japan on Wednesday marked 100 days to go until the start of this year's Rugby World Cup, with World Rugby CEO Brett Gosper saying, "The waiting is almost over."
Japan Times
Rugby
Jun 3, 2019
Brave Blossoms call up 42 players to squad
Japan coach Jamie Joseph named 42 players Monday that will form the basis of the Brave Blossoms squad for this year's Rugby World Cup.
Japan Times
Rugby
May 31, 2019
Veteran coaches worry about future of Japanese rugby
Two leading coaches believe the Japan Rugby Football Union does not understand just how much of an impact this year's Rugby World Cup will have and say the policies currently in place will see rugby here suffer greatly following the tournament.
Japan Times
Rugby / ADDING THE EXTRAS
May 29, 2019
British stars expect Japan to be strong
With the 100-day-to-go milestone fast approaching, two well-known British rugby stars have said they think Japan will be one of the teams to watch out for at this year's Rugby World Cup.
Japan Times
Rugby / ADDING THE EXTRAS
May 2, 2019
JRFU's bewildering plans for Top League reform spark skepticism, opposition
The news that the Japan Rugby Top League is to undergo reform following this year's World Cup should have been met with heraldic fanfare, given the nation's recent entry into the Reiwa Era.
Japan Times
Rugby
Apr 27, 2019
Jamie Joseph still has many questions after Wolf Pack's victory over Western Force
With just under 150 days to go until Japan kicks off the 2019 Rugby World Cup against Russia in Tokyo, Jamie Joseph's side is slowly starting to gather momentum.
Japan Times
Rugby
Apr 22, 2019
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend says team must be at best to beat Japan at World Cup
Scotland coach Gregor Townsend said Monday his side will need to be at their best if they are to beat hosts Japan and advance to the quarterfinals of this year's Rugby World Cup.
Japan Times
Rugby / ADDING THE EXTRAS
Mar 29, 2019
Future of Sunwolves in doubt after Super Rugby
Sunwolves CEO Yuji Watase put on a brave face last week despite clocking up air miles in the wake of the announcement his team would be not be part of the Super Rugby competition post 2020.
Japan Times
Rugby
Mar 24, 2019
Sunwolves' demise may lead to new dawn for Japanese rugby
On the face of it, the axing of the Sunwolves from Super Rugby was simply a case of too much money demanded, or a belief that the tournament was not the right road for Japan to pursue.
Japan Times
Rugby
Mar 8, 2019
Proposed new league presents issues for Japan
A World Rugby news release late Wednesday night from Dublin may have appeased some parties concerned by plans for a new worldwide league, but many questions remain as to how Japan will be affected.
Japan Times
Rugby
Mar 3, 2019
Sunwolves' dogged adherence to plan was key component of stunning win over Chiefs
It is often said that rugby is not rocket science, and the Sunwolves' famous win over the Chiefs on Saturday — regarded by many as one of the biggest upsets in the history of Super Rugby — is proof of that.
Japan Times
Rugby / ADDING THE EXTRAS
Feb 28, 2019
With ban lifted, Christian Loamanu hopes for return to Top League
Former Brave Blossoms wing Christian Loamanu is hoping for a shot at redemption and the opportunity to finish his rugby career in Japan. But he will have to get past some longstanding animosity and overcome some new challenges if his wish is to come true.
Japan Times
Rugby
Feb 24, 2019
Sunwolves prove they belong in Super Rugby
Facing calls for the team to be cut from the competition, the Sunwolves and their Tokyo faithful showed once again Saturday that Super Rugby would be poorer for their axing.
Japan Times
Rugby
Feb 22, 2019
Sunwolves looking for marked improvement against Waratahs
The Sunwolves face the New South Wales Waratahs on Saturday knowing they will need a marked improvement from their opening-round performance if they are to avoid the lopsided scores of previous encounters.
Japan Times
Rugby
Feb 19, 2019
Sunwolves boss Yuji Watase hopes team will survive
The Sunwolves' big loss to the Sharks on the opening weekend of this year's Super Rugby competition has seen the honing of already sharp knives, with increased calls for the team to be cut from the competition.
Japan Times
Rugby
Feb 1, 2019
Takuro Miuchi, Frederic Michalak offer tentative support for League of Nations
Former Japan captain Takuro Miuchi and ex-France flyhalf Frederic Michalak welcomed World Rugby's proposed "League of Nations" but cautioned Thursday issues such as player burnout and the timing of the domestic Top League needed to be addressed.
Japan Times
Rugby / ADDING THE EXTRAS
Jan 31, 2019
World Cup ticket woes frustrate rugby fans
"There are three sides to every story, baby. There's yours, and mine and the cold, hard truth."
Japan says Biden's description of nation as xenophobic is 'unfortunate'
The National Diet building in Tokyo
G7 eyes plan on U.S.-led $50 billion aid package for Ukraine
A local resident visits the Lychakiv cemetery in Lviv, Ukraine, on Thursday. The U.S. is in talks with close partners to lead a group of allies that would give as much as $50 billion in aid to Ukraine.
Japan drops to 70th in press freedom rankings
A businessman reads a newspaper outside a train station in Tokyo.
Japan’s record-low children population weighs on growth
The number of children 14 years old or younger fell for the 43rd straight year to around 14.01 million as of April 1.
Biden calls ally Japan ‘xenophobic’ along with rivals China and Russia
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks in Syracuse, New York, on April 25.
'Monster' Inoue ready to tear down Luis Nery in title defense at Tokyo Dome
Naoya Inoue (left) and Luis Nery following a pre-fight news conference in Yokohama on Saturday, two days ahead of their super bantamweight title fight.
Debate on constitutional revision at a standstill despite Kishida's pledges
With less than two months left before the conclusion of the current session of parliament, any possibility that Prime Minister Fumio Kishida can deliver constitutional reform before the end of his term as Liberal Democratic Party president in late September, as he has promised, appears remote.
Sapporo court ruling on Ainu fishing rights presents tough questions
A traditional Ainu preserved food called <i>satchep</i> (dried fish) being made at the government-run National Ainu Museum and Park, nicknamed Upopoy, in the town of Shiraoi, Hokkaido, on Dec. 25. The Sapporo District Court ruled last month that the Raporo Ainu Nation's rights as an Indigenous people did not extend to having an inherent right to fish for commercial reasons.
With eye on China, defense chiefs agree to bolster interoperability
From left: U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Australian defense chief Richard Marles, Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro hold a joint news conference in Honolulu on Thursday.
Yellow sand allergy: A health issue made worse by climate change
A screenshot of the Meteorological Agency's satellite image of clouds and yellow sand (in pink) on Sunday.

Podcast

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[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

Longform

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