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Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Apr 14, 2021

‘Blue’: Not your typical underdog story

Kenichi Matsuyama plays a fighter on a losing streak in Keisuke Yoshida's “Blue,” a boxing drama that finds nobility in failure.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Apr 14, 2021

Takakeisho rises to top of sumo's depth chart

With age and momentum on his side, the burly ozeki has what it takes to add to his two Emperor's Cup titles over the next several years.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Apr 7, 2021

Late Kototsurugi's illustrations captured sumo's essence

The former rikishi's caricaturish style, a longtime fixture of sumo merchandise and media, is widely considered a definitive representation of the sport.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Mar 3, 2021

Hakuho Cup may allow Hakuho to leave indelible mark on sumo from outside ring

With the release of the banzuke (rankings) for the upcoming spring meet, yokozuna Hakuho becomes just the second man in sumo history to reach 100 tournaments in the top division.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 3, 2021

The beautiful game has turned ugly in China

Pressure on embattled retailer Suning Appliance Group Co. forced the conglomerate to reconsider its investment in the team. China's soccer bubble is rapidly deflating.
Japan Times
Rugby
Mar 3, 2021

Women's Rugby World Cup likely to be postponed until 2022 due to COVID-19

This year's women's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand is set to be pushed back until next year after the sport's global governing body said on Tuesday it was difficult to host the event as planned due to uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Feb 17, 2021

Heart-pounding tachiai endures as key piece of sumo puzzle

The initial clash when two rikishi come together is a moment that has few (if any) parallels in the wider world of sport.
Japan Times
PARALYMPICS
Jan 6, 2021

Yasuhiro Jimbo works to foster students' resilience and para sports passion

The former wheelchair basketball star who represented Japan is bringing his inspiring message to schools in hope of creating a more inclusive society.
SUMO
Dec 30, 2020

Plenty to unpack after eventful, unforgettable year in sumo

Sumo somehow managed to keep going and provided much-needed distraction in a tough year.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Dec 23, 2020

Hidden gems await fans who dig deep into sumo's lower divisions

The sport's second and third ranks offer a chance to see both rising stars and wily veterans engaged in the sort of exciting bouts that are sometimes rare in the top level.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / Sac Bunts
Nov 17, 2020

Pandemic-era Japan Series has more than a title chance on the line

The migration of players, fans and officials across the country will serve as a test of Japan's ability to reduce the risk of coronavirus infection ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Nov 4, 2020

Sumo stables housed in older structures becoming rare sight

The demolition of the Izutsu Beya stable building, one of the more run-down in the sport, got underway Wednesday.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Oct 28, 2020

Banzuke remains essential part of sumo culture

Distributed before each grand tournament, the hand-written rankings list has been a part of the sport's lore for centuries.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Sep 11, 2020

Surfer Maya Gabeira achieves new heights on world-record wave

The Brazilian was officially recognized as a Guinness World Record holder on Thursday for her ride on a 22.4-meter wave in Portugal earlier this year.
Rugby
Sep 5, 2020

Can Japan make the most of its Rugby World Cup legacy?

One year after the global tournament kicked off, the impact of COVID-19 is hampering efforts to build on the hugely successful event.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Aug 26, 2020

Hakuho may be on path to becoming great stablemaster if latest recruit pans out

With Hokuseiho, the yokozuna may have stumbled upon someone worthy of taking up his mantle.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Aug 5, 2020

Terunofuji completed what may be sumo's most unlikely comeback ever

Terunofuji not only fell out of the paid divisions, after a series of injuries and illnesses, but plummeted all the way down to sumo's second lowest tier.
SUMO
Jul 29, 2020

History shows Abi's flouting of virus protocols will likely be last straw for Japan Sumo Association

Many of those who have transgressed against the JSA's myriad rules (whether official or unwritten) in the past have found themselves out of the sport in short order.
Japan Times
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.
Japan Times
TENNIS
Jun 28, 2020

Japanese players express concern as tennis tours prepare to restart

Yoshihito Nishioka, Japan's No. 2 men's player, told The Japan Times he thinks it's too early for tennis to resume in light of a spate of positive COVID-19 tests.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jun 10, 2020

Coronavirus will force sumo fans and wrestlers to adjust to new normal

Things won't be the same when sumo resumes amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Jun 1, 2020

Britain reportedly planning to grant sports an exemption from quarantine rules

British quarantine rules are set to be relaxed for elite sports, giving a boost to soccer clubs in European competition and Formula One's plans for races at Silverstone, the Times reported on Sunday.

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