NPB and J. League hope to lead by example with Tokyo Games on horizon
The members of the joint task force established by Nippon Professional Baseball and the J. League hope to set a positive example for this summer’s Olympics and Paralympics by safely holding large-scale sporting events. The latest meeting of the task force took place on Monday, ...
Japanese fans have attended sporting events since July. Will they be safe at the Olympics?
Thorough countermeasures and restrictions on active support introduced by the country's professional sports leagues have allowed large crowds back into stadiums.
Foreign athletes and coaches will be allowed to enter Japan from Monday
Dozens of players and coaches will have missed the start of the J. League and NPB seasons due to travel restrictions that went into effect in January.
J. League and NPB considering on-site virus testing for quicker results
A contest between Gamba Osaka and Nagoya Grampus was postponed two hours before kickoff last week after players and staff tested positive for COVID-19.
J. League and NPB hopeful current attendance limits will be eased
The members of the Nippon Professional Baseball and J. League joint COVD-19 task force feel their knowledge about the virus and the data they’ve collected has grown exponentially as they enter the body's second year. This wealth of information has led both leagues to ask ...
NPB and J. League to push for shorter quarantines for athletes
Both leagues hope to hasten the integration of dozens of players and coaches who are waiting to enter the country and join their teams ahead of their respective seasons.
NPB and J. League hope to avoid burdening local governments during training camps
Nippon Professional Baseball and the J. League want teams to focus on making sure players and staff members don’t become infected with COVID-19 during training camps.
J. League chairman found new reach with media openness during pandemic
Mitsuru Murai believes that keeping in regular contact with reporters helped him stay on track during the novel coronavirus-struck 2020 season.
Japan to ban entry of foreign athletes during virus emergency
The decision will impact those preparing for the Tokyo Olympics as well as new players and coaches set to join professional soccer and baseball clubs.
J. League, NPB meet with task force medical panel to discuss plans for spring camps
Some J. League teams are set to begin their training camps later this month while NPB camps are scheduled to start Feb. 1.
The pandemic season: How Japanese soccer survived the coronavirus
In an extensive interview with The Japan Times, J. League chairman Mitsuru looked back on how the league has navigated the turbulent 2020 campaign.
NPB-J. League COVID-19 task force to take more data-oriented approach to virus issue
The sports bodies have sought input from epidemiologists and other experts as they seek ways to boost attendance at games.
