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Japan Times
WORLD / Society
Feb 1, 2013

Six months on, U.K. schools are losing the Olympic legacy

Near the entrance of York High School in northern England, painted in large letters, are the words of Alfred, Lord Tennyson. "To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield." It is not a bad motto, particularly for a school that prides itself on its sporting prowess. Along all the corridors and outside...
SPORTS / SPORTS SCOPE
Feb 7, 2002

Snowboarding: street cred or Olympic discipline?

For many of the dudes and dudettes that flock to the ski resorts every winter, one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City will be the snowboarding parallel slaloms and half-pipe freestyle competitions.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Nov 1, 2022

Muay Thai's Olympic quest slowed by safety concerns

The sport secured Olympic recognition in 2021, but whether the Games will ever host a Muay Thai event depends on efforts to make the fights safer and more inclusive.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Sep 21, 2022

No stars? No problem: Interest in sumo grows as it enters parity era

The ebb and flow of Japan's national sport is closely tied to the rise and fall of its grand champions, but overseas viewers are increasingly backing a wider variety of wrestlers.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE FOREIGN ELEMENT
Jul 18, 2019

The inclusivity of quidditch produces pure magic on the field

The players kneel at the ready, six to a side, staring down their opponents from across a verdant field.
Japan Times
TENNIS
Sep 16, 2022

Roger Federer to call time on glittering career after next week's Laver Cup

The 41-year-old, who won 20 Grand Slam singles titles and re-defined a sport with his artistry and grace, broke the news tennis fans across the world have long dreaded.
Japan Times
PODCAST / deep dive
Feb 2, 2022

Beijing 2022 — A second pandemic Olympics

This Friday, the 2022 Winter Olympics kick off in Beijing, the second Olympics to be held during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the first ever to be held on entirely artificial snow.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Jul 25, 2021

And still she rises. And rises. And rises.

Simone Biles, the greatest gymnast of all time, who has used her influence to speak out against injustices, prepares to soar above the sport's devastating recent history.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Feb 12, 2011

How 'bout that sumo?

The March Grand Sumo Tournament has been canceled due to bout-rigging. The May tournament is now in doubt as well. Who knows, sumo may be the world's first canceled sport.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / ON THE ROAD
Oct 5, 2008

Truly global: Formula One's expanding race around the planet

Next weekend, Formula One descends on the Fuji Speedway in Shizuoka Prefecture. In its second visit in as many years, the "F1 circus" touches down at a completely revamped, high-tech circuit — a transformation that closely mirrors recent changes to the sport itself.
Japan Times
LIFE / WEEK 3
Nov 19, 2006

Athletes extol sensation of 'iron calm' at the limit

People have been enjoying a wide variety of sports since at least the time of Ancient Greece. In the Athens 2004 Olympic Games alone, athletes competed in about 300 categories of 28 sports -- and the list seems to get longer every time.
OLYMPICS / Faces of Tokyo 2020
Jul 24, 2021

Who to watch in three sports making their Olympic debut

A primer on the faces to keep an eye out for in skateboarding, surfing and sport climbing.
SUMO
Mar 1, 2013

Wrestling's fall from Olympic grace sends wake-up call to International Sumo Federation

The quest of the International Sumo Federation (IFS) to have amateur sumo accepted as a bona fide Olympic sport has long been viewed as as a pie-in-the-sky proposition by many.
SPORTS / SPORTS SCOPE
Mar 18, 2004

Professional bowling coming to an alley near you

When first approached to interview Steve Miller, President and CEO of the Pro Bowling Association Tour (PBA), I was reluctant to put it politely. Bowling for me was always something of a last resort if a date was going badly, a sport in which my average closely resembled what it takes me to get around...
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Apr 19, 2023

When it comes to sumo in popular media, style reigns over substance

Despite its rich pageantry and 2,000-year history, the sport is still waiting for an authentic Hollywood portrayal that can catch on with the general public.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Sep 28, 2021

Hakuho leaves unmatchable legacy after 20 years of dominance

In submitting his retirement papers on Monday, the Mongolian-born yokozuna has brought an era-defining career of new records and unparalleled success to a close.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Sep 22, 2021

Uneventful Autumn Basho hints at sumo's slowing momentum

A growing lack of excitement toward the ongoing grand tournament is something sumo officials will want to take note of as they continue to guide the sport through the coronavirus pandemic.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 1, 2021

Olympics’ first openly transgender woman stokes debate on fairness

Laurel Hubbard, a 43-year-old weight lifter from New Zealand, will compete on Monday, as some question her right to be at the Games.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Apr 21, 2021

Controversial report could deny Hakuho deserved elder stock

Should the Japan Sumo Association adopt the recommendations of the external advisors, the all-time great yokozuna would be prevented from using his ring name after retiring.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
May 26, 2020

Olympic approval could benefit cricket's development in Japan

The potential inclusion of cricket's shortened T20 format in 2028 would give Japanese cricket access to funding from the Japan Olympic Committee and other organizations.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Dec 18, 2019

Hakuho more than deserving of special elder status

When you think of sumo, what's the first word that comes to mind?
Japan Times
OLYMPICS / OLYMPIC NOTEBOOK
Jul 19, 2014

New sports center symbol of Haiti's recovery

Haiti's recovery from the 2010 earthquake that devastated the Caribbean nation is a slow, difficult process.
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Sep 10, 2013

Is sumo’s lost decade finally coming to an end?

Many long-time sumo fans trace the origins of the decline of sumo in the modern era back to a decision made in January 2003 by Takanohana to call it quits and hang up his mawashi.
Japan Times
LIFE / WEEK 3
Aug 17, 2013

Image-flip for male rhythmic gymnasts

Smirks and snickering tend to greet any mention of "men's rhythmic gymnastics," as the phrase conjures up images of chaps in tights prancing around swinging ribbons or clutching squeezy balls to their chests like the sport's female exponents.
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Feb 26, 2011

Foreign sumo fans have their say on yaocho

In reaction to the yaocho (bout fixing) fracas enveloping sumo at present, many journalists in Japan and overseas have recently jumped on the sumo coverage bandwagon. Many have criticized the sumo association, the participants and their lifestyle and called for punishments, suspended basho and the like,...
Lei Jun introduces the Xiaomi YU7 sport utility vehicle during a launch event in Beijing on June 26.
BUSINESS / Tech
Jul 7, 2025

Xiaomi founder’s bold EV bet is paying off where Apple’s failed

The tech firm's success in the EV space has burnished founder Lei Jun’s reputation, making it one of the most valuable companies in China.
PODCAST / deep dive
Nov 9, 2023

Japan’s 'four-eyed tax hiker' and the curse of Colonel Sanders

Baseball writer Jason Coskrey and editor Joel Tansey discuss the Hanshin Tigers’ Japan Series victory; Gabriele Ninivaggi explains how the prime minister hopes to get a home run with his tax plan.
PODCAST / deep dive
Dec 7, 2023

Feeling anxious? Wastewater, heat and Japan’s year in climate

In a year that saw Japan release 24,000 tons of wastewater (so far) from Fukushima No. 1 as the planet smashed heat records, it’s no wonder climate anxiety is on the rise. Mara Budgen joins us to break down the year in environment news, where we could see hope, and what we should be worried about....
The Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) is seen on the surface of the moon in an image released Jan. 25.
PODCAST / deep dive
Feb 2, 2024

Japan’s historic moon landing was right on target

Japan made history last month when it became the fifth nation to soft land on the moon.
South Korea’s lack of a free trade deal with Mexico puts it at a disadvantage to Japanese rival carmakers.
BUSINESS
Sep 11, 2025

Mexican tariffs give Japan’s carmakers an edge over Korean rivals

Higher tariffs are expected to apply to a list of more than 1,400 categories of products coming from countries with which Mexico has no trade agreement.

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.
The silent battle Japanese athletes fight with weight