Summer Olympics Aug 9, 2021
How we saw it: The Japanese Women's Olympics
Japan collected 58 medals, its most at a Summer Olympics, and more than half of the honors involved female athletes.
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:
Summer Olympics / Basketball Aug 7, 2021
With eye on gold, Japan women's basketball team looks to avenge first loss to U.S.
The previous best Olympic finish for the Japanese women’s team, which now sits at No. 10 in the world, was fifth at the 1976 Montreal Games.
Summer Olympics / Karate Aug 6, 2021
Silver lining: Japan’s Kiyou Shimizu grateful to have competed in karate's Olympic debut
The Osaka native said that she was grateful that the sport’s profile was raised through the Games and that it was a privilege to be able to perform at Nippon Budokan.
Summer Olympics / Athletics Aug 6, 2021
At the Tokyo Olympic marathons, all eyes are on the shoes
Interest in runners’ shoes is part of a trend that has grown over the last few years with the emergence of thick-soled sneakers with embedded carbon plates.
Summer Olympics / Basketball Aug 5, 2021
Japan's women's basketball team not satisfied with just being Cinderella
The Akatsuki Five are officially in uncharted territory. Can they reach the podium?
Summer Olympics / Basketball Aug 4, 2021
Japan wins thriller over Belgium to move into women's basketball semis for the first time
Saki Hayashi was the hero on the day, sinking a clutch 3-pointer with just 15 seconds left in the fourth quarter to put Japan ahead for good.
Summer Olympics / Boxing Aug 3, 2021
Japan's Sena Irie punches her way to gold in women's boxing
Irie, a native of Yonago, Tottori Prefecture, is the first athlete from the sparsely populated prefecture to win Olympic gold.
Summer Olympics / Basketball Aug 2, 2021
Japan’s women’s basketball team drains 19 3-pointers in 102-83 win over Nigeria
The Akatsuki Five will now advance to the quarterfinals for the second consecutive Summer Olympics.
Summer Olympics / Basketball Aug 1, 2021
Japanese basketball team ends Olympics knowing it has plenty of work to do
Japan made an early exit from the Games having gone winless, ending their tournament with a 97-77 loss to Argentina in their final Group B contest at Saitama Super Arena on Sunday.
Summer Olympics / Soccer Aug 1, 2021
Japan confident heading into Olympic soccer semifinal against Spain
After squeaking past New Zealand, the team appeared unfazed by the down-to-the-wire drama, because, at the end of the day, winning was the ultimate goal in the knockout stage.