NEWSWORTHY
Learning what life in Japan is like for people with disabilities
One recent Sunday, 7-year-old Yukito Takanashi of Tokyo was dribbling a soccer ball on a makeshift field. At one point, he put on an eye mask like those worn by blind soccer players. But he took it off after a while, feeling somewhat uncomfortable. The ...
Yui Kamiji, Shingo Kunieda win gold, qualify for 2020 Paralympics
Wheelchair tennis players Yui Kamiji and Shingo Kunieda on Friday became the first two Japanese athletes to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Games by winning gold at the Asian Para Games in Indonesia. Kamiji defeated China's Zhu Zhenzhen 6-3, 6-4 in the women's singles gold-medal ...
With Tokyo playing host to the next Paralympic Games in 2020, the members of Japan's wheelchair rugby team, the reigning world champion, know they're in a unique position to promote the fast-paced, hard-hitting sport. The Japanese team clinched its first-ever world championship in August, knocking ...
Japanese firms prepare for large-scale volunteering during 2020 Games
Major companies are encouraging employees to volunteer for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, after the Tokyo Organising Committee started their search for 80,000 on Wednesday. A number of firms plan to send volunteers from among their own workforce, although some industries are concerned about ...
Organizers began recruiting volunteers to work for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics on Wednesday, with staff distributing leaflets in the capital to solicit applicants. The organizing committee aims to secure 80,000 volunteers via a special website through early December. The deadline will be announced ...
Olympic flame for 2020 Games to be lit on 3/11 anniversary, IOC chief says in interview
The Olympic flame-lighting ceremony for the 2020 Summer Games will take place on March 11 — the ninth anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami that devastated the Tohoku region.
IPC president challenges Tokyo 2020 hosts to leave lasting legacy
With two years to go until the 2020 Paralympic Games begin in Tokyo, International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons said the largest challenges that remain are the same as for any games — promoting Paralympic sports and maximizing the legacy of the event. In an ...
Para Arena a barrier-free home base for athletes
With the start of the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics just two years away, para athletes have begun to ramp up preparations and intensify their training. But many face major disadvantages due to a lack of training facilities with features such as air conditioning or barrier-free ...
Men's wheelchair national team coach grateful for expanded training opportunities
Until recently, Japan's elite para-sport athletes have struggled to earn support from their workplace as they aim to represent their country in international competition. Shinpei Oikawa, the head coach of Japan men's wheelchair basketball national team, vividly recalls a conversation between one of his players ...
Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike questions use of daylight saving time for 2020 Games
Tokyo’s highest official is casting doubt on government plans to institute daylight saving time in 2019 and 2020 to help manage the scorching heat during the Summer Olympics. Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said Monday that she was concerned about the expense and disruption of moving ...
Number of passengers at rail stations in rush hour could double during 2020 Olympics: study
People traveling to venues at the same time as commuters are expected to cause serious congestion at railway stations in the city during the games.
Public-private project launched to ease congestion during 2020 Tokyo Games
A public-private project was launched Wednesday with a goal of alleviating traffic congestion in Tokyo during the 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics through the distribution of a traffic projection map and other initiatives. "To make the quadrennial event a success, it's of paramount importance to ...
