WORLD INSIGHT

January 23, 2024
Last Time, It Was Ichiro—Why Ohtani Is Indispensable for Japan to Regain the WBC Title

For Japan’s professional baseball, 2022 marked a year when stadiums lifted capacity limitations and moves to exit the COVID pandemic finally began rolling in full swing.

By Yasushi Washida

January 2, 2024
The Worldly Reason the Angels May Offer Ohtani the Highest-Ever $600 Million Deal

On July 27, the Los Angeles Angels announced they will not trade Shohei Ohtani, 29, during the season.

By Noboru Kijima
November 29, 2023
“It Felt Like a Failure,” Losing Sleep, Shedding Tears: Interview with Makoto Shinkai (#2)

Director Makoto ShInkai talked about the reception in the U.S. and why COVID-19 is not directly depicted in “Suzume,” set in 2023.

By Yusuke Hirata

November 9, 2023
Why “Suzume” Was a Blockbuster in China and South Korea: Interview with Makoto Shinkai (#1)

Released in November 2022, Makoto Shinkai’s anime movie “Suzume” drew over 11 million viewers and earned over 14.7 billion yen.

By Yusuke Hirata
November 3, 2023
A Decade-Long Wooing by Aston Martin CEO Whitmarsh Brings Honda Back to F1

On May 24, Honda announced its return to the F1 World Championship from the 2026 season through a power unit (PU) supplier agreement with Aston Martin, based on new engine regulations.

By Masahiro Owari
October 30, 2023
Why the Nets Is Eyeing the Japanese Market: “Brooklyn Could Become Watanabe’s Home”

The key figures of Japan's national basketball team got together in New York City, dubbed the “capital of the world.”

By Daisuke Sugiura
October 27, 2023
World Cup Qatar: Why Foreigners in Samurai Blue Jerseys Are Rooting for Japan

While covering the latest World Cup, there was something that struck my attention.

By Masaki Asada
October 25, 2023
“Koji Speaks with His Face Instead of Words”: Cannes Laud the Overlooked Aspect of His Acting

On May 28, Koji Yakusho, 67, won the Best Actor Award at the Cannes, one of the “Big Three” international film festivals.

By Ayako Ishizu
October 23, 2023
How Japanese Rugby Overcame Adversities and Became “One Team”

At the 2019 World Cup, Japanese Rugby succeeded in both building audiences and national team performance.

By Masato Tsuchida
December 12, 2022
Young South Koreans Flock to Kyoto-like Theme Park

The South Korean government declared it will coexist with COVID-19 on November 1, last year.

By No Minha
November 29, 2022
Parasite, BTS, and Netflix Big Hit Squid Game: a Look into the K-Wave Phenomenon

People in deep debt compete in deadly games to reverse their lives—the viral South Korean TV series Squid Game is based on the entertainment world’s recurring theme, the survival game.

By Sumire Ishigaki
November 1, 2022
Must-See: Ingenious Flood Measures of Kochi Castle

If one were to describe the tenshu (the castle tower) of Himeji Castle as "graceful" and that of Matsue Castle as "magnificent," the word "dynamic" is perfect for that of Kochi Castle.

By Sachiko Hagiwara
October 14, 2022
How the NBA Captivated Japan

The connection between the NBA, which celebrated its 75th anniversary last season, and Japan goes far back. It started in the league’s second season.

By Yoko Miyaji
August 25, 2022
My “Fukushima Peach Delicious Project” at the Olympics Press Room

The U.S. softball coach Ken Eriksen's comments on how good the Fukushima peaches were and how he had six of them, following the team’s game in Fukushima Prefecture, had garnered a lot of attention.

By Ayako Oikawa
August 8, 2022
Honda F1 Boss Yamamoto Says He “Gave It His All” as He Sets His Eyes on New Challenge

It was reported that Honda Formula 1 Managing Director Masashi Yamamoto will leave Honda at the end of January 2022.

By Masahiro Owari
August 3, 2022
Verstappen Hails Japanese Collectivism That Led Honda to Triumph

With Honda winning its first F1 title in 30 years, new light is shed on the Japanese corporate culture and mentality, quite different from those in the West.

By Masahiro Owari
July 21, 2022
Established Hatcho Miso Brewers Uphold Aesthetics Despite Exclusion from Trademark Right

There are two miso brewers in Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture, which have the oldest history in Japan.

By Keita Kato
May 19, 2022
How Ayumu Hirano Replaced Shaun White to Reach the Gold Medal in Halfpipe

I recall what Ayumu Hirano said eight years ago, when he won the silver at his first Olympic Games in Sochi.

By Keigo Amemiya
May 9, 2022
Chinami Yoshida: The Determination Behind the Shining Smile in Curling at Beijing Olympics

On February 20, 2022, at the women’s curling finals, Japan’s Loco Solare lost at a score of 3-10 against Great Britain, and took home the silver medal from the Beijing Olympics.

By Takaomi Matsubara
April 25, 2022
Riding Through the Pandemic—Searching New Forms of Entertainment

Interview with Katsura Sunshine.

By WORLD INSIGHT Editorial Desk
April 19, 2022
The Universal Language of Laughter—Rakugo on World Stage

Interview with Katsura Sunshine.

By WORLD INSIGHT Editorial Desk
April 13, 2022
Challenging Japan’s Traditional Performing Arts—Breaking Through Old Customs

Interview with Katsura Sunshine.

By WORLD INSIGHT Editorial Desk
April 7, 2022
How a Canadian Became Japan’s Traditional Storyteller: Interview with Katsura Sunshine

Rakugo is the art of Japanese comic storytelling with 400 years of tradition.

By WORLD INSIGHT Editorial Desk
March 29, 2022
Rui Hachimura’s Long Absence for Personal Reasons: “Natural for Him to Be Quiet About It”

After a long absence from the start of the season, Rui Hachimura returned to the Washington Wizards roster on January 9 in the game against the Orlando Magic.

By Daisuke Sugiura
March 7, 2022
Grand Slam Career-High at 29: Why Late-Bloomer Taro Daniel Admires Federer

We often see cases of late-bloomers in Japanese tennis players.

By Naomi Yamaguchi
January 28, 2022
Mainstream Handicraft: Interview with Matsumoto Mingei Kagu Managing Director Mototami Ikeda

Muneyoshi (Soetsu) Yanagi and others advocated the Mingei (folk-arts) movement during the early 20th century.

By Etsuko Motokawa
January 18, 2022
Japan’s One-in-a-Hundred Female Pilot in the Air, Rugby Referee on the Ground

“I completely agree with her view,” said Richie McCaw, the legendary player of the rugby kingdom New Zealand, or rather, world rugby.

By Nobuhiko Otomo
December 15, 2021
Agonized Absolute Champ Kunieda Finds Answer with Federer’s Advice

“I want the people in Japan to watch the high-level games. With many interesting players in the world, I hope there will be more wheelchair tennis fans,” said Kunieda, when asked about his goal at the Tokyo Paralympics, due to start in several days.

By Akatsuki Uchida
November 29, 2021
Some Telling Quotes on Shohei Otani’s 2021 Batting Performance

As part of the series featuring quotes on top athletes from the “Sports Graphic Number” magazine and “Number Web,” we have selected three quotes commenting on “Shohei Otani as a batter in 2021.”

By Number Web Editorial Desk
November 5, 2021
Young Japanese Player Challenges the Unsung World of India’s Pro Kabaddi

Tetsuro Abe (23), candidate for kabaddi Japan national team, will play in the Season 8 of India’s Pro Kabaddi League (PKL).

By Takaya Hirano
September 24, 2021
Foreign Journalists Speak Their Minds as Tokyo Olympics End

With Tokyo Olympics now ended, we asked the foreign journalists and photographers covering the event how they really thought.

By Naka Kondo
September 10, 2021
Tokyo Olympics and the Mysterious City in the Eyes of British Media Reporters

With Team Japan winning the most medals in its history, How will the foreign journalists look back on this summer in Tokyo where various factors intertwined?

By Satoshi Takehana
August 31, 2021
Stay-at-Home Dad Backs up Female Head Coach of Brazilian Men’s Judo: Interview with Yuko Fujii #1

In June 2018, the news of Yuko Fujii (then 35) becoming the judo head coach of Brazil’s men’s team shocked the sports world across the globe.

By Hiroaki Sawada
August 31, 2021
Married After Dating Zero-Days, She Became Pregnant While Coaching the Brazilian National Judo Team ― Interview with Yuko Fujii and Her Husband #2

Yuko is a native of Obu City, Aichi Prefecture in Japan. She had been coaching the British Women’s National Judo Team in the U.K. since 2010, working day and night to achieve good results at the 2012 London Olympics.

By Hiroaki Sawada
August 31, 2021
From Coffee to Cosmetics. Burgeoning “New Premium Market” in China.

The Chinese consumer market in 2020 was hit hard by negative growth due to the impact of the spread of the new coronavirus infection at the beginning of the year.

By Yutaka Go
August 31, 2021
Female Judoka from a Slum Becomes a Gold Medalist: Head Coach Yuko Fujii in Brazil Presents a New Form of Husband and Wife #3

With five months to go until the Tokyo Olympics, a Japanese woman, Yuko Fujii, leads the Brazilian men's judo team.

By Hiroaki Sawada

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