Search - soccer

 
 
SOCCER / J. League
May 21, 2011

Kashima's Iwamasa trying to make the best of a difficult situation

The effects of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami have reached into every corner of Japanese soccer, but Kashima Antlers defender Daiki Iwamasa is determined not to let them smother his team's title challenge this season.
EDITORIALS
Feb 6, 2011

Precious Japanese asset

Japan won the Asian Cup on Jan. 29 for the fourth time by taking the breathtaking final against Australia that went deep into additional time in Qatar. In the six matches it played from the elimination round through the cup final, the Japanese squad caught up with their opponent squad to secure a tie...
SOCCER / World cup
Aug 30, 2010

Oliveira wants to manage Japan

SAITAMA — Kashima Antlers manager Oswaldo Oliveira wants to take charge of Japan's national team and is prepared to walk out on the J. League champions to do so.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jul 14, 2010

World Cup rekindles lost pride in being Japanese

Soccer star Hidetoshi Nakata, a former member of Japan's national team, told the media in the weeks leading up to the World Cup: "Wārudo Kappu no koto wo kangaeru to Nihonjin de aru koto wo saininshi ki suru (ワールド・カップのことを考えると日本人であることを再認識する,...
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
May 23, 2010

Niigata hoping to lure an NPB team to new stadium

City officials in Niigata have, at least three times in the past five years, expressed their desire to land a Nippon Professional Baseball franchise to play in a beautiful new ballpark opened in 2009.
EDITORIALS
May 18, 2010

Good luck at the World Cup

National soccer team manager Takeshi Okada last week announced the list of 23 players to play in the 2010 World Cup Finals in South Africa June 11-July 11. It will be the Japanese team's fourth consecutive appearance in the World Cup since its debut in the 1998 finals in France.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
May 18, 2010

What do you make of coach Takeshi Okada's World Cup squad selection?

Robbie Servais, 34 (Dutch)Soccer coach at Vissel Kobe (supports Holland)I am very happy to see (Yoshito) Okubo (of Vissel) selected, since he had been injured recently. As a Dutch coach, I can say we are very aware of (Marcus) Tulio (Tanaka)'s strength on set plays and will be wary of him. Holland beat...
BUSINESS
Jan 6, 2010

Tourism 'czar' aims high, targets Chinese

The newly appointed commissioner for the Japan Tourism Agency said he wants to raise the number of foreign visitors to more than 10 million annually during his two-year term, with special emphasis on the Chinese market.
JAPAN
Dec 9, 2009

Cabinet OKs move to pursue World Cup

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved Japan's bid to stage the 2018 or 2022 World Cup soccer tournament, saying hosting the global event would not only promote sports and international exchanges but give the public some much-needed upbeat news.
SOCCER / World cup
Dec 6, 2009

Path to sixth World Cup win may be tough for Brazil

CAPE TOWN, Okada stands firm: Page 16 (AP) Five-time winner Brazil was stung by a tough draw for the 2010 World Cup on Friday while co-favorite Spain was given an easy ride through to the second round.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Aug 21, 2009

Indie hardman opens the tear ducts

Sion Sono is Japan's edgy indie director par excellence, whose internationally acclaimed films expose social ills and challenge taboos in a variety of genres and moods, from the death-trip chills of "Jisatsu Circle" ("Suicide Club," 2001) to the black-comic laughs of "Ai no Mukidashi" ("Love Exposure,"...
Japan Times
SOCCER
Jul 18, 2009

Galaxy beat Red Bulls in Beckham's return to MLS

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) David Beckham returned to Major League Soccer with a whisper, not a shout.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Jul 8, 2009

Huge crowd turns out to welcome Ronaldo

MADRID (AP) Cristiano Ronaldo received a rapturous welcome from 80,000 Real Madrid fans Monday, an outpouring so exuberant the soccer star had to be hustled away when spectators leaped barriers and took the field.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jan 15, 2009

No time to lose for Urawa as Finke gets down to business

Urawa Reds were quick off the mark to begin training for the 2009 season this week, but then the Saitama club has good reason to be impatient for a fresh start.
COMMUNITY
Jan 10, 2009

Former J. League coach still dreams of life in Japan

EXETER, England — Steve Perryman is as London as you can get — born in London, grew up in London, played soccer in London (Tottenham Hotspur). But now, he lives in Exeter in the southwest of England and dreams of Japan.
SOCCER / World cup
Nov 26, 2008

FIFA hands suspension to Peru

ZURICH (AP) FIFA has suspended Peru from international soccer because the government is feuding with the national federation.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle / WEEK 3
Nov 16, 2008

Google reveals trends in Japan

The Japanese are more interested in iTunes than in ring-tones, ramen rather than sushi, the economy more than sex, and dogs win out over cats (but only just). That's what Google Trends, the keyword-tracking tool launched in Japan last month, would have us believe.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Nov 1, 2008

Oita Trinita's style lacks flair but produces results

When the season began back in March, only a fool would have predicted that Oita Trinita would go into November preparing for a cup final just two points off the top of the J. League table.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Oct 17, 2008

England tops Belarus as Rooney leads way

LONDON (AP) England, Spain and the Netherlands maintained perfect starts in World Cup qualifying Wednesday night to open big leads for spots in the 2010 tournament in South Africa, while Italy and Germany also were victors heading into a six-month break.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Aug 1, 2008

Sorimachi's squad faces big challenge

With its constantly changing cast and seemingly endless running time, Japan's Olympic soccer team has begun to resemble a TV soap opera.
OLYMPICS
Jul 20, 2008

Kobayashi chases Olympic dream

Yuriko Kobayashi is Beijing-bound, but that's not her terminal station.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Jul 16, 2008

Uncertain future awaits as Ronaldo mulls options

LONDON (AP) While resting his injured ankle, Cristiano Ronaldo has had plenty of time to think about his future.
SOCCER
May 19, 2008

Kanu scores Cup-winner

LONDON (AP) Nwankwo Kanu pounced on a goalkeeper's blunder to tap in the match-winner and Portsmouth beat Cardiff 1-0 on Saturday to win the F.A. Cup final for the first time since 1939.
BASKETBALL / HOOP SCOOP
Jan 25, 2008

Time for JBA to stop ignoring bj-league, act in best interests of game in Japan

SENDAI — Ninety minutes after Sunday's Sendai 89ers-Ryukyu Golden Kings game, a slew of players were still visiting with fans or conducting interviews.
SOCCER
Dec 3, 2007

Becks superb in exhibition tour finale

WELLINGTON (AP) Even David Beckham was impressed with this virtuoso display.
SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT
Oct 31, 2007

NFL foray recalls days when London boasted title team

LONDON — Occasionally life deals you a good hand.

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