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Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Feb 16, 2022

Competing in the Winter Games, without a snowball’s chance

Some competitors have been able to make it to the Olympics in part because of a change in qualifying criteria aimed at producing a more diverse field — a change that has garnered scrutiny.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Feb 16, 2022

Hope rises for return of sumo's regional tours as pandemic abates

Jungyu014d events between major tournaments are not only sources of revenue for the Japan Sumo Association, but also an important means of promoting the sport and recruiting new wrestlers.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Feb 15, 2022

Hosting the Olympics is costly. For China, it’s worth every billion.

For many cities, the Games make no economic sense. National pride and an enthusiasm for building transportation infrastructure change the equation for Beijing.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Feb 10, 2022

Fate of star skater Kamila Valieva in limbo after doping allegation emerges

Russian figure skating sensation Kamila Valieva shows up for practice at Beijing Olympics on Thursday, following reports that she had tested positive for a banned drug.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Feb 9, 2022

How Olympians embraced mental health after Simone Biles showed the way

The American gymnast's public struggles gave other Olympians tacit permission to share their vulnerabilities. Some of them have.
Japan Times
EDITORIALS
Feb 4, 2022

With celebrations and controversy, the 2022 Winter Olympics begin

There are fears that China will use COVID-19 protocols to affect competitions, disqualifying some athletes to ensure the “proper” outcomes.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Feb 2, 2022

Sumo's off-months aren't so quiet, if you know where to look

Retirement ceremonies, ozeki and yokozuna promotions, JSA elections, TV variety show appearances and more all take place between honbasho.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / BLACK EYE
Feb 1, 2022

A photographer to the stars takes up in Tokyo

There are billions of unique individuals in the world. Matthew Jordan Smith says if you want to stand out as a photographer, you need to fine-tune your vision.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Jan 19, 2022

Climate change will limit choice for Winter Games hosts, study says

According to the study, only Sapporo would be able to provide safe conditions to stage the Winter Olympics again by the end of the century if greenhouse gases are not dramatically reduced.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jan 12, 2022

Sumo catches new audience with Pokemon collaboration

The Japan Sumo Association's tie-up with the world's biggest video game franchise could be a big step in attracting younger fans to the sport.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 7, 2022

New York Times to buy the Athletic in $550 million deal

While the purchase will add to revenue growth immediately, the Times expects the acquisition to reduce its operating profit for about three years.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Dec 25, 2021

NHL players express disappointment about withdrawal from Beijing Games

With NHL players representing 11 of the 12 nations competing in the men's ice hockey tournament at the Beijing Games, the global impact of the league's withdrawl is substantial.
Japan Times
TENNIS
Dec 19, 2021

Chinese tech hub's tennis ambitions in danger due to Peng Shuai scandal

For Shenzhen, the WTA Finals was supposed to be a boost to its cultural and sporting prestige.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Dec 18, 2021

Sapporo faces uphill battle convincing public about 2030 Winter Games bid

About half of all respondents to a 2014 survey said they were worried about how much the Games would cost. A lot has changed since then.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Dec 14, 2021

Paris 2024 floats openness after two closed-door Olympics

The organizing committee said it planned to send more than 10,000 Olympians down the Seine in a parade of some 160 boats instead of having a traditional march into the Olympic Stadium.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Oct 27, 2021

Team GB expects fully vaccinated team for Beijing Games

While Team GB is yet to select most of its winter athletes, most of those on the long list of candidates are vaccinated according to chef de mission Georgie Harland.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Oct 24, 2021

Maya Uno: 'Clear small goals and remember to exhale'

'A sport for anyone' is how athlete and coach Maya Uno describes tennis. Though she has since come around to golf, too.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Oct 17, 2021

IOC wants wider consultation with FIFA over World Cup plans

The IOC raised concerns over the impact a World Cup every two years could have on other sports, players' welfare and an increase of men's events impacting gender equality.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Oct 13, 2021

Jon Gruden unlikely to coach in NFL again, experts say

Gruden resigned as coach of the Las Vegas Raiders after it was reported that he used misogynistic and homophobic language in numerous emails over a seven-year period.
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.
Japan Times
TENNIS
Sep 15, 2021

Emma Raducanu's toughest challenge is coping with the fame game

The experiences of other women who have made their breakthroughs on the game's biggest stage in recent years illustrate that sudden fame can be a mixed blessing.
Japan Times
TENNIS
Sep 6, 2021

Former tennis star can relate to what Naomi Osaka is going through

Mardy Fish now acts as a mentor, sharing his experience as a prominent athlete who had to deal with mental health problems when the subject was close to taboo in pro sports.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 5, 2021

The Olympic-size difference between India and China

Whereas China has strived for Olympic success since it re-entered global athletic competition after years of isolation, India has remained complacent about its lack of sporting prowess.
Japan Times
PARALYMPICS
Aug 27, 2021

From the track to the stacks: Paralympian Amanda McGrory races to preserve USOPC history

McGrory's story on the track features seven Paralympic medals but the transition to her role as an archivist at the USOPC has given her perspective as her athletic career comes to a close.
Japan Times
PARALYMPICS
Aug 24, 2021

'Most important' Paralympics arrive at starting line in Tokyo

Athletes from across the globe gathered to celebrate the long awaited start of the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics during the Games' opening ceremony on Tuesday.

Longform

Bear attacks have dominated Japanese news headlines in recent months, with 13 people so far having been killed by the animals.
Japan’s bears have been on their killing spree for more than 100 years