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July 04, 2025
 

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TOP LEAGUE

Japan Times
Rugby
May 25, 2021
Retiring Kenki Fukuoka given MVP sendoff at Top League awards
The former Brave Blossoms star, whose Wild Knights won the league's last championship final over Sungoliath, received one last honor at Monday's event after bringing his five-year career to a close.
Japan Times
Rugby
Jan 23, 2021
Top League revises format, schedule for 2021 campaign
The start of the campaign is now set for Feb. 20 and will run until April 11.
Japan Times
Rugby
Jan 15, 2021
New rugby league to feature two-conference top flight with 12 teams
The Japan Rugby Football Union hopes a larger first division will result in higher-quality matches when the new league kicks off in January 2022.
SPORTS
Jan 8, 2021
Japanese sports brace for impact of new state of emergency
Upcoming sumo and rugby events will allow spectators, while pro basketball's B. League has raised concerns over restrictions covering the sale of food and drinks.
Japan Times
Rugby
Jan 6, 2021
Beauden Barrett looking forward to Sungoliath challenge
The All Blacks star drew unprecedented media attention to his Wednesday unveiling ahead of the 2021 Top League season's Jan. 16 kickoff.
Rugby
Dec 16, 2020
Ayumu Goromaru says upcoming retirement part of plan that began after college
The former Japan national team star fullback said he always planned to retire the year he turned 35.
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.
Japan Times
Rugby
Jul 23, 2020
Scottish scrumhalf Greig Laidlaw looking forward to challenge of playing in Japan
The 34-year-old was officially introduced to Japanese rugby in an online news conference held by his new club, the NTT Communications ShiningArcs.
Rugby / ADDING THE EXTRAS
Mar 28, 2020
Odd decisions, big questions amidst crises in Japanese rugby
With rugby seemingly done for the season, it is time to look back on a crazy few months that have seen Japanese rugby go from the highs of the 2019 Rugby World Cup to a state of confusion in which even a former Brave Blossoms captain is questioning what is going on.
Japan Times
Rugby / ADDING THE EXTRAS
Feb 28, 2020
Asian rugby tested as COVID-19 wipes out schedules
Rugby across Asia is feeling the full brunt of the coronavirus outbreak with games and tournaments getting called off at a rate of knots.
Japan Times
Rugby
Dec 25, 2019
Top League hoping to ride Rugby World Cup wave in 2020
After the enormously successful Rugby World Cup, Japan's domestic Top League will try to take full advantage in the uptick of interest in the sport during its upcoming season, which kicks off across the country Jan. 12.
Japan Times
Rugby
Sep 12, 2019
Flyhalf Bernard Foley to join Kubota Spears after Rugby World Cup
Australia flyhalf Bernard Foley will join the Top League's Kubota Spears after the Rugby World Cup, the club announced on Thursday.
Japan Times
Rugby
Jul 29, 2019
Katsuyuki Kiyomiya announces plan to start pro rugby league in Japan
The "idea" of establishing a pro rugby league in Japan isn't new one. There just hasn't been anyone to take the lead and run with it.
Japan Times
Rugby
Apr 11, 2019
Wallabies icon George Gregan preaches value of preparation in quest for RWC title
George Gregan has experienced the full gamut of Rugby World Cup emotions, but the Australian legend knows what he is looking forward to most when Japan hosts the tournament later this year.
Rugby / ADDING THE EXTRAS
Dec 26, 2018
Cloud of uncertainty hovers over Top League
The New Year is traditionally a time for looking back on the past and looking ahead.
SPORTS
Sep 6, 2018
Earthquake forces sports cancellations
A number of sporting events have been postponed or cancelled in the wake of Thursday morning's magnitude 6.7 earthquake in Hokkaido.
Rugby / ADDING THE EXTRAS
Aug 30, 2018
Intense season awaits Top League
The 2018-19 Top League season kicks off Friday with plenty of changes to the format both on and off the field as the Japan Rugby Football Union looks to do all it can to ensure the Brave Blossoms are at their peak when Japan hosts the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Japan Times
Rugby / Coach's Eye
Aug 26, 2018
Japan needs to act now to capitalize on 2015 RWC success
I think there have been some amazing developments and some not-so-amazing developments in Japanese rugby since the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Japan Times
Rugby
Aug 20, 2018
Abbreviated Top League hoping to build hype ahead of 2019 Rugby World Cup
With the Rugby World Cup only a year away, the Top League is hoping to help develop players and draw attention to the domestic game over the upcoming 2018-19 season.
Rugby
Mar 24, 2017
2007 World Cup-winning coach White takes reins at Toyota Verblitz
Jake White, the 2007 Rugby World Cup-winning coach with South Africa, has been appointed as the new head coach for Toyota Verblitz, the Top League side announced Friday.
Magnitude 5.5 earthquake jars Tokara Islands amid flurry of seismic activity
A strong quake struck off the Tokara Islands on Thursday afternoon, with the island chain having recorded around 1,000 earthquakes since a burst of seismic activity first began on June 21.
Onosato's yokozuna promotion causes rare quirk in new sumo rankings
Newly promoted yokozuna Onosato holds a copy of the latest banzuke ranking in Anjo, Aichi Prefecture, on Monday.
A prophesied disaster (likely) won’t strike Japan this weekend
A viral manga prediction of a July 5 disaster has gripped Japan with anxiety and triggered an economic impact, but experts warn that while such dates are unreliable, the threat of a massive earthquake remains real. 
Over 900 earthquakes strike Tokara islands in space of two weeks
A screenshot shows many quakes occurring in the Tokara islands over the past 30 days, in this image taken from the U.S. Geological Survey website.
Ghibli’s Isao Takahata exhibit shows how beloved anime is made
“The man who planted Japanese animation” exhibition includes a variety of sketches, drawings and animation cels from Isao Takahata films such as color design for characters by Michiyo Yasuda from "Grave of the Fireflies."
Ghibli’s Isao Takahata exhibit shows how beloved anime is made
“The man who planted Japanese animation” exhibition includes a variety of sketches, drawings and animation cels from Isao Takahata films such as color design for characters by Michiyo Yasuda from "Grave of the Fireflies."
Flag football facing challenges and opportunities ahead
Japan’s women’s flag football team at the 2025 International Bowl in Los Angeles in June. The sport is enjoying continued growth in the country.
From Hokusai’s Great Wave, shinkansen to One Piece: a cultural treasure box for Lego Japan
Michael Ebbesen, general manager of Lego Japan, says Lego bricks based on Japanese culture have a rich global appeal and are sellable around the world.
With farmed fish, RelationFish swims against the tide in fine dining
Chef Hideaki Matsuo (middle) and the staff of Oseto Suisan Fisheries prepare to check on their sustainably farmed fish.
As Southeast Asia heats up, a Japanese cooling giant sees a major opportunity
An employee of Daikin Cambodia explains the use of different tools during an air conditioner installation training session in Phnom Penh. Daikin is one of Japan’s oldest air conditioning companies, but as Japan’s population falls, the firm is keying in on overseas growth.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

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
By Alex K.T. Martin

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