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July 12, 2025
 

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X LEAGUE

Big Blue head coach Mike Phair (front, right) participates in the X League 2024 Season Kickoff news conference.
MORE SPORTS / Football
Aug 30, 2024
Japan ties guide veteran NFL coach Mike Phair to Big Blue in X League
The Arizona native had long been thinking about rekindling his involvement with Japanese football.
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Jan 17, 2023
Japanese football given chance to measure progress at Dream Bowl
When the Japanese team takes the field for the Japan-U.S. Dream Bowl at Tokyo's National Stadium on Sunday, it will offer a brief look at the nation’s collective football might in international competition.
Japan Times
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Aug 27, 2022
Texans great Whitney Mercilus making easy transition into retired life
Whitney Mercilus has always spent this time of the year on the field. He was either sweating through practices in grueling heat or getting into collisions that rival car crashes while banging heads against massive linemen and trying to bring down NFL running backs like Adrian Peterson and Maurice Jones-Drew...
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Mar 9, 2022
Former amateur yokozuna Hidetora Hanada shifts gears toward NFL dream
The Nippon Sport Science University student impressed in a recent X League combine and will attempt to leave his mark on the gridiron before taking on the world of professional sumo.
Japan Times
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May 17, 2021
Linebacker Les Maruo ready to prove himself with CFL's Blue Bombers
Maruo understands that he needs to do anything he is asked by the coaches and that he will need to show his do-what-it-takes attitude anywhere, including on special teams.
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May 12, 2021
Rise tap former BayStar Takehiro Ishikawa for gridiron conversion
The longtime infielder will attempt to earn a spot on Sagamihara's roster as a wide receiver for the 2021 X League season.
Japan Times
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May 3, 2021
Tomoya Machino prepared to embark on new challenge in Canadian Football League
He was one of six Japanese players who had their names called during the league's inaugural Global Draft, going to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the second round.
Japan Times
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Mar 2, 2021
Taku Lee poised to end long wait for Japan's first NFL player
The Obic running back and 2020 X League MVP, who is currently taking part in an NFL program for potential international talent in Florida, is generating hype as a player to watch.
Japan Times
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Mar 2, 2021
NFL International executive sees widening path for Japanese players
Globalization is a key component of professional sports leagues around the world and the National Football League is no exception, despite its reputation as a U.S.-centric league, which stems in part from its smaller slate of international players compared with other major North American competitions....
Japan Times
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Dec 16, 2020
Seagulls deny Frontiers on final play of X Bowl to return to X League summit
The Obic Seagulls made their long-awaited return to the X League summit Tuesday night, knocking off the league's current dynasty.
Japan Times
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Nov 22, 2020
Seagulls reach Japan X Bowl after dramatic goal-line stand
The Obic Seagulls extended their 2020 season and punched their ticket to the Japan X Bowl after an extraordinary ending in their season-finale victory over the Panasonic Impulse on Saturday.
Japan Times
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Nov 20, 2020
Rise quarterback Kurt Palandech eager to impress in shortened season
The UNLV graduate's X League debut was delayed until earlier this month due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Japan Times
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Oct 20, 2020
Delayed X League season gets underway with fewer teams
A shortened regular season and mandatory mouth shields are among changes put into effect due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Japan Times
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Aug 20, 2020
Japan's football leagues seek new normal for tackling coronavirus infection
Many players are not to used to playing with shields on their faceguards, but it could become a new normal in football at least here in Japan this season.
Japan Times
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Jun 7, 2020
New Obic quarterback Jimmy Laughrea adjusts to fatherhood while preparing for unique season
The former Rise QB is using extra time afforded by the cancellation of the spring season to adjust to his new team's playbook.
Japan Times
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May 12, 2020
X League pushes back start of season and shortens schedule
League officials have framed the decision as a way to give clubs more time to build their squads after the coronavirus disrupted spring competitions.
Japan Times
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Mar 7, 2020
Ex-Keio running back Taku Lee puts pilot's dream on hold to pursue NFL ambition
Becoming a pilot is a dream for many boys. Little Taku Lee wasn't the exception — that is, until he discovered another dream.
Japan Times
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Feb 4, 2020
Japanese players put skills on display for CFL
The Canadian Football League's global scouting team came away "very, very impressed" by the performances of the athletes who participated in the Japanese stop of the CFL Global Combine over the weekend.
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Jan 3, 2020
Fujitsu Frontiers rout Kwansei Gakuin University for fourth straight Rice Bowl title
The Fujitsu Frontiers had no intention of spoiling the last game for Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters head coach Hideaki Toriuchi. The defending champions, however, were not ready to become the first X League title holder since 2009 to give away the Rice Bowl crown to its collegiate opponent.
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Dec 28, 2019
New CFL-X League alliance spans the Pacific
Since becoming the Canadian Football League's 14th commissioner in 2017, Randy Ambrosie has set a new goal for the nation's domestic pro league: globalization of the CFL and football.
Tokyo hit by torrential rainfall at rush hour
People line up at Shibuya Station in Tokyo as they try to avoid the heavy rain on Thursday.
Foreign drivers in Japan to face tougher license conversion rules from October
According to the National Police Agency, there were 75,905 people who converted their foreign driver’s license to a Japanese one in 2024, up from 48,885 in 2019.
Chinese fighters came within 30 meters of Japanese spy aircraft, Tokyo says
A Chinese JH-7 fighter jet makes an near an Air Self-Defense Force YS-11EB surveillance aircraft over the East China Sea this week in this image released Thursday.
Air India crash report to offer peek into last seconds
Members of the Indian Army's engineering arm prepare to remove the wreckage of an Air India aircraft in Ahmedabad on June 14.
What Japanese politics could look like after Upper House election
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who heads the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (center) waves to attendees as he departs after delivering a campaign speech in Yokohama on Sunday.
New IG Arena set to dial down temperature at Nagoya Basho, in a good way
With IG Arena getting glowing early reviews as the Nagoya Basho’s replacement venue, it may be a while before fans wax nostalgic about the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium.
Once a niche, anime is now mainstream content for Netflix and other streaming services
Though Netflix remains the dominant choice globally for anime viewers, Amazon Prime Video has also invested heavily in anime, steadily adding titles to their catalogue.
NGOs condemn rise in anti-immigrant rhetoric ahead of Upper House vote
Sanseito head Sohei Kamiya holds a board that reads "Japanese First" in Tokyo on July 2. In a joint statement on Tuesday, eight human rights nongovernmental organizations described the far-right party's stance as "hate speech."
Japanese dancers find a home abroad at Houston Ballet
“Giselle” lead Yuriko Kajiya (center), performing with Connor Walsh as Albrecht, is one of six Japanese dancers at Houston Ballet.
From the Abes to the Ohtanis: How siblings shape athletic development
Olympic judoka Uta Abe (second from left) and Hifumi Abe (second from right) with their brother Yuichiro (center) and their parents. “I’m always consciously trying to be a good older brother,” Yuichiro said.

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

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Muji has been sustainable from the beginning
Muji has been sustainable from the beginning

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