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Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Nov 16, 2021

Soccer fans could face accommodation shortage at Qatar’s World Cup

Organizers said they expect to be able to offer up to 130,000 rooms — which could leave thousands of fans scrambling when matches start next November.
SOCCER / J. League
Sep 26, 2021

Love for hometown soccer club inspires PM hopeful Taro Kono

The LDP leadership candidate took an active role in the development of J. League side Shonan Bellmare, winning his own fans on the way.
SOCCER / WE LEAGUE
Sep 12, 2021

Late goal seals Urawa comeback over Beleza as WE League debuts

Yuzuho Shiokoshi's right-footed rocket gave the defending Nadeshiko League champion a win to start Japan's new professional women's soccer league.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Aug 11, 2021

Lionel Messi signs for Paris Saint-Germain after leaving Barcelona

PSG wasted little time in targeting Messi after the heavily indebted Catalan club made clear it could not afford to keep him.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 4, 2021

After loss to Spain, Japan still wondering how to close gap with world soccer powers

In the end it was Real Madrid star Marco Asensio's game-winning goal that stood out the most when contrasted with Japan's failure to capitalize on any of its chances in the penalty area.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
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.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Feb 26, 2021

Libya cleared to host international soccer games after ban lifted

A decade-long ban on international soccer matches being played in Libya has been lifted, the country’s soccer federation said on Thursday.
SOCCER / J. League
Nov 1, 2020

Japanese soccer legend Kengo Nakamura to retire

After his miraculous comeback from an ACL injury sustained last year, the former J. League MVP will hang up his boots at 40.
SOCCER
Nov 25, 2019

Urawa's ACL loss prompts reflection by Japanese soccer officials

For the Japanese soccer community, Urawa Reds' 3-0 aggregate defeat to Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal in the Asian Champions League final was unprecedented.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jul 25, 2019

In digital era, Chelsea's tie-up with Yokohama Rubber blazes new trail in Japan

For Chelsea supporters, the club's iconic blue uniform represents 114 years of history, dozens of domestic and continental trophies and a reputation as one of English soccer's established giants.
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Jun 14, 2018

World Cup views from Tokyo, Group A/B: Egypt, Russia, Uruguay, Morocco and Spain

Japan-based supporters of Group A and B teams fighting it out for the ultimate prize at the FIFA World Cup speak to The Japan Times.
Urawa's notoriously fervent supporters are known for packing stands, as well as for repeated off-the-pitch incidents that have impacted the club's reputation.
SOCCER / J. League / From the Spot
Sep 20, 2023

Urawa pays price for hooliganism after years of looking the other way

The J. League club has been banned from playing in Japan's top club tournament after more than a hundred supporters took part in an August pitch invasion.
The Materials Provided by Mizuno Baseball Bat Tableware set is made from a recycled, discarded baseball bat and includes two large tumblers, a vase, a small cup, four cutlery rests and a sake cup.
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: DESIGN
Sep 30, 2023

Game-changing designs from sporting goods brands

On: Design looks at two major Japanese sporting goods companies that have launched unique SDG-inspired projects.
Norman Cook, better known as Fatboy Slim, first came to Japan in 1990 as the bass player in Beats International. He says he shares a similar sense of silliness with Japanese people, and that is part of what keeps drawing him back to the country.
CULTURE / Music
Oct 13, 2023

Fatboy Slim: 'Let's just be stupid for one night'

The DJ shares his love of soccer and silliness with fans during his two-city Japan tour.
The Italian Serie A's current domestic broadcast deal is worth just under $1 billion annually, less than half that of the English Premier League.
SOCCER
Oct 24, 2023

DAZN and Sky retain Italian Serie A rights in $4.8 billion deal

TV rights are a crucial source of revenue for Serie A teams such as this year's champion Napoli, Juventus and Milanese clubs AC Milan and Inter.
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi fires toward the Vissel Kobe goal during a friendly at National Stadium in Tokyo on Wednesday.
SOCCER
Feb 11, 2024

Amid row over Messi's no-show, China nixes Argentina matches

The upcoming friendly with the Argentine squad has been canceled due to "well-known reasons,” the sports authority in the eastern city of Hangzhou said.
A Spain player holds the Women's World Cup trophy after the team won the 2023 tournament, in Sydney on Aug. 20.
SOCCER / Women's World cup
Apr 30, 2024

Mexico and U.S. withdraw joint bid for 2027 Women's World Cup

The two countries' soccer federations said they would now switch toward a bid for the 2031 tournament.
Japan forward Mao Hosoya controls the ball during a game against the United States in Kansas City, Kansas, on June 11.
OLYMPICS
Jul 3, 2024

Japan goes with all U-23 men's soccer squad for Paris Olympics

Veterans like Liverpool’s Wataru Endo, 31, had been rumored as possible options to supplement the 18-man squad, but instead Japan will be counting on youth in Paris.
Japan defender Hikaru Kitagawa (13) competes in the SheBelieves Cup in Columbus, Ohio, in April. Kitagawa is among the eight from JFA Academy Fukushima who will represent Japan at the Paris Olympics.
OLYMPICS
Jul 21, 2024

Soccer players from Fukushima academy vow to give back in Paris

Eight players who trained at JFA Academy Fukushima have been selected for the men's and women's squads representing Japan in the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Argentina forward Julian Alvarez challenges Morocco's midfielder Benjamin Bouchouari after their match was restarted in an empty stadium following crowd trouble.
OLYMPICS
Jul 25, 2024

Chaos as soccer matches kick off Paris Olympics

Morocco beat Argentina 2-1, but only after a late equalizer for the South American side was disallowed and the final minutes were played out in an empty stadium.
A ruling on whether Manchester City is guilty of breaching multiple financial regulations is expected early this year.
SOCCER
Jan 10, 2025

Man City's troubles on field would pale in comparison to loss in legal case

While form is temporary and fixable, a much larger and darker cloud has stationed itself over the Abu Dhabi-owned club.
Houston Dash player Yuki Nagasato greets fans after a match against Seattle Reign FC at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston on Sept. 21, 2024.
SOCCER
Mar 4, 2025

Houston Dash forward Yuki Nagasato retires after storied career

The 37-year-old appeared in 134 National Women's Soccer League matches, recording 23 goals and 25 assists.
Next year’s FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the U.S., will test whether America — with President Donald Trump pushing tariffs and tough immigration policies — can draw global fans or drive them away.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 21, 2025

The White House just kicked a World Cup own-goal

Next year’s FIFA World Cup will test whether the U.S. — with President Donald Trump pushing tariffs and tough immigration policies — can draw global fans or drive them away.
Scarves are sold, including one depicting Liverpool's new German striker Florian Wirtz, before the pre-season friendly soccer match between Preston North End and Liverpool at Deepdale stadium in Preston, north-west England on July 13.
SOCCER
Jul 25, 2025

Liverpool CEO says player spree should quell ownership gossip

Liverpool has sent a 29-man squad to Hong Kong and Japan as part of its pre-season warm up.
Australian players line up before an Olympic group stage match against the U.S. in Marseille, France, in July 2024.
SOCCER
Sep 4, 2025

'Biggest' Women's Asian Cup can help drive change, says top official

Australia will host the 12-team competition from March 1 to 21, having successfully staged the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2023 along with New Zealand.

Longform

Figure skater Akiko Suzuki was once told her ideal weight should be 47 kilograms, a number she now admits she “naively believed.” This led to her have a relationship with food that resulted in her suffering from anorexia.
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