Gymnastics Oct 30, 2020

Olympic men's champion Kohei Uchimura tests positive for coronavirus

Negative tests next week could allow the reigning Olympic champion to participate in a planned four-nation meet at Yoyogi National Gymnasium on Nov. 8.

Gymnastics Oct 27, 2020

U.S. gymnasts blaze a trail to Tokyo meet

A chartered flight will bring a team of six Americans to Japan for next month's four-nation event, a major test of anti-COVID countermeasures ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.

World / Offbeat Aug 18, 2020

Japanese honeymooners, stuck in Cape Verde due to coronavirus, join Olympic team

The pair have impressed the local population and have earned a place supporting the island nation's team.

Olympics Jul 20, 2020

Human Rights Watch report documents abuse of child athletes in Japan

A Human Rights Watch report has found child athletes in Japan often suffer physical and verbal abuse and sometimes sexual abuse during training.

Tennis Jun 11, 2020

Naomi Osaka in no mood to back down on support for Black Lives Matter

The two-time Grand Slam champion has been vocal in her support of the protests against racial injustice that are happening around the world.

Rugby Apr 13, 2020

Six months on, Brave Blossoms captain Michael Leitch reflects on historic World Cup

The New Zealand-born back rower became a symbol of the multicultural squad that achieved Japan's first-ever quarterfinal appearance at the tournament last fall.

National Feb 7, 2020

Unique solution rolls in to help Muslims pray at Tokyo Games

For the thousands of Muslim athletes, officials and supporters arriving in Tokyo for the Olympic Games later this year, it may be a struggle for them to find an appropriate place to pray. The answer might just be found roaming the streets of the capital ...

Rugby Jun 16, 2019

Former All Blacks player recalls the day Kamaishi was washed away

March 11, 2011, is a date that will stick long in the memory of former All Black Pita Alatini, and not just because it was his birthday and he was in Japan. Alatini, who played for the Kamaishi Seawaves rugby club, was finishing up a ...

National Jun 10, 2019

Kyoto team retains its seat in 'Isu-1' office chair grand prix

The rattle of tiny plastic wheels echoed through the normally sleepy streets of Hanyu, Saitama Prefecture, on Sunday morning as the small city about 60 kilometers (37 miles) north of Tokyo played host to the Japan office chair "Isu-1" Grand Prix. Founded 10 years ago ...

National Mar 14, 2019

In race for fluency in time for Olympics, Tokyo great-grandmother proves it's never too late to learn

Setsuko Takamizawa is determined to prove that it is never too late to learn as she bids to conquer the English language before the Tokyo Olympics, having been prevented from learning what was considered the "enemy language" in her youth. When Japan last hosted the ...