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SOCCER / J. League / From the Spot
Apr 26, 2023

J. League takes new open approach to fall-spring debate

The league could decide by the end of this year to adopt a calendar in line with those of Europe and South America's biggest leagues and competitions.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Feb 25, 2023

St. Louis City SC owner Carolyn Kindle breaks new ground for women in MLS

Major League Soccer's expansion franchise St. Louis City SC makes its regular-season debut on Saturday, and in Carolyn Kindle the club has a female figurehead with an uncommon combination of leadership roles.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Jan 29, 2023

Cristiano Ronaldo's Saudi switch another symbol of Chinese decline

Tianjin Quanjian, which as recently as 2018 had been linked to the Portuguese star, was among the first of a raft of CSL clubs to close due to financial or legal issues.
Japan Times
SOCCER / Women's World Cup
Jul 21, 2023

Australia and New Zealand get Women's World Cup off to rousing start with wins in front of record crowds

Australia and New Zealand earned slim victories at home to kick off the Women's World Cup.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Jan 20, 2023

One dead and dozens hurt in stampede before Iraq Gulf Cup final

Long banned from hosting international soccer matches, war-torn Iraq had been counting on the event to burnish its image.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices
Dec 31, 2022

The year through our own lenses

We asked our staff and freelance photographers to share the shots that made the year for them.
SOCCER / World cup
Dec 6, 2022

Penalty shootout agony for fans as Japan's World Cup dream comes to a disappointing end

Devastated fans brave rain and a midnight start to watch the Samurai Blue's historic chance at a quarterfinal appearance slip through their fingers.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Dec 2, 2022

Belgium’s 'golden generation' reaches the end as Croatia and Morocco move on

The Belgians had chance after chance to win, but never scored against Croatia, which advanced. Morocco cruised past Canada to win the group.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Nov 19, 2022

FIFA chief blasts 'hypocrisy' of Western nations on eve of World Cup

The build-up to the tournament has been dominated by concerns over Qatar's treatment of migrant workers, women and the LGBTQ community, to the visible annoyance of organizers.
Japan Times
WORLD
Nov 14, 2022

Deadly bombing in Istanbul is being investigated as a terrorist attack

The attack was the deadliest in Turkey in more than five years, and authorities offered few details in the hours afterward.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Nov 2, 2022

Why some Iranians want their own country banned from the World Cup

A group of current and former athletes has called on FIFA to ban Iran from the upcoming World Cup in light of its recent violent crackdown on protesters and other human rights violations.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 31, 2022

Japan has learned from its own deadly crowd crushes, but risks remain

Authorities significantly stepped up crowd control measures in the wake of a deadly pedestrian crush in Akashi, Hyogo Prefecture, in 2001.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Jul 5, 2022

Qatar's esports gamers target big leagues

With a new dedicated gaming complex and growing sponsor interest, the Gulf nation hopes to stake its claim to part of the $1 billion esports market.
SOCCER
Jul 3, 2022

As Takefusa Kubo leaves, Mallorca doubles down on commitment to Japan

The Spanish first-division club is keen to build on its presence in Asia, dispatching one of its top executives and star players to Tokyo for a recent media tour.
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Jun 17, 2022

J. League cautiously continues down road to normalcy with cheering tests

Over 2,000 combined fans at Kashima Soccer Stadium in Ibaraki Prefecture and Ajinomoto Stadium in the western Tokyo city of Chofu took part in cheering trials.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
May 7, 2022

Qatar's World Cup gamble not guaranteed to pay off

Analysts and academics are not convinced that the big spending from its gas revenues will mean Qatar can achieve its economic dream once the World Cup ends.
SOCCER / J. League / From the Spot
May 4, 2022

Friday night spectacle shows National Stadium's potential as FC Tokyo's home

The rebuilt National Stadium provided the kind of atmosphere that the J. League's biggest fixtures have often lacked.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Apr 17, 2022

Fan tokens from Manchester City to PSG disappoint as boom fades

For many hopeful fans, soccer club tokens have failed to meet expectations, with prices quickly losing steam within days of their release.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Mar 29, 2022

Verdy touts defender Pratama Arhan as league’s new bridge to Indonesia

It's not every day that a J. League club unveils its new foreign signing at an ambassador's residence. Yet that's exactly the venue Tokyo Verdy chose to introduce defender Pratama Arhan.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Mar 3, 2022

Roman Abramovich to sell Chelsea as UK officials continue to call for sanctions

The Russian businessman promised to donate money from the sale to help victims of the war in Ukraine.
OLYMPICS / Beijing 2022
Feb 4, 2022

Sparking consistent local interest in hockey key part of Japan's Winter Olympic future

“Hockey is the most valuable winter sport, and building momentum for hockey in Japan will be mandatory for the Winter Olympics,” Nikko Ice Bucks COO Takayuki Hioki said.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Jan 27, 2022

FIFA president under fire after saying biennial World Cup could prevent migrant deaths

Infantino said increased revenues from a biennial World Cup could create opportunities for Africans who otherwise may find 'death in the sea' crossing the Mediterranean.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Jan 12, 2022

Saudi-hosted Spanish Super Cup sparks debate as fans 'forgotten'

The issue of Saudi Arabia's human rights record has been discussed widely since the Spanish FA signed a lucrative contract with the West Asian nation through 2029.
SOCCER / J. League / From the Spot
Jan 4, 2022

Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou taps J. League experience in blockbuster triple-signing

The three are now bound for Celtic, the legendary Scottish club that has experienced a revival under the former F. Marinos boss.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / NBA
Dec 22, 2021

The NBA, like most other leagues, plans to persist amid omicron

The NBA's approach to omicron is much like that of most other North American team sports leagues, which appear determined to keep playing games and welcoming fans.
A friendly between England and the United States drew a crowd of 78,000 at Wembley Stadium on Oct. 7, 2022.
SPORTS
Jul 20, 2023

Women's sports experiencing steady growth in popularity and value

Women's sports are growing in popularity and value. Better yet, that growth is no longer dependent upon quadrennial events like the Olympics or World Cups.
Japan's Hikaru Kitagawa dribbles past a defender during an Olympic qualifying match against North Korea at National Stadium in Tokyo in February.
OLYMPICS / Football
Jul 17, 2024

After Tokyo Olympic disappointment, Nadeshiko Japan look for redemption

For many, a disappointing effort on home soil in 2021 was a marker of just how far Japan's women's soccer team had fallen. Now the squad has its sights set on redemption.
London Stadium, which hosted track and field during the 2012 Olympics. The stadium's primary tenant is West Ham United, but it hosts a variety of major events throughout the year.
OLYMPICS
Jul 26, 2024

How London paved the way for Olympics sustainability

Before Paris, London demonstrated in the 2012 Olympics that host cities didn’t have to end up with empty venues long after the Games are over.
The world needs a smaller, more focused Olympics to ensure sustainability and relevance amid changing global conditions.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 31, 2024

Olympics host cities don’t belong on a warming planet

The world needs a smaller, more focused Olympics to ensure sustainability and relevance amid changing global conditions.

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji