WORLD INSIGHT

January 26, 2024
“Old Age Steadily Creeps Up on You”: Yet 56-Year-Old Kazu Signs with a Portuguese Club

On July 11, 11:11 a.m. (Portuguese time), it was announced Kazuyoshi Miura would travel to Portugal to discuss extending his contract with UD Oliveirense.

By Haruo Isshi

November 1, 2023
The Trust Yuta Watanabe Earned in Nets—His NBA Dream Stage for 2023

“If I’m to describe 2022, it would be ‘a year of change.’"

By Daisuke Sugiura
October 24, 2023
“Everything’s True Except for the Wiping”: Sumo Wrestler Turned Actor on Netflix’s Sanctuary

Since its May 2023 release, the Netflix drama Sanctuary has garnered wide publicity.

By Keigo Amemiya
October 22, 2023
“I Ride All the New Models”: Interview with Kawasaki Motors Japan President Eiko Kirino (#2)

We interviewed this “Amazing Customer,” i.e., Eiko Kirino about her career that led to the president, and why the motorcycle brand is called “Macho Kawasaki.”

By Yusuke Hirata

October 21, 2023
Helpful Customer at Biker Café: Interview with Kawasaki Motors Japan President Eiko Kirino (#1)

In November 2018, at Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, the biker café In the Sea held an event called “Kawasaki Festival.”

By Yusuke Hirata
October 20, 2023
The Amazing Breakthrough of Nootbaar, 25, Who Was a Lackluster Minor Leaguer

Lars Nootbaar is for real.

By Jun Ikushima
October 19, 2023
Why Samurai Japan Manager Kuriyama Picked Two Japanese-Origin Players—First Ever for WBC

For the World Baseball Classic (WBC) scheduled in March 2023, Samurai Japan pre-registered 50 players in late November 2022.

By Mamoru Shikama
July 14, 2023
“Noot” Calls in Stadium: Darvish Praises Nootbaar, Playing on Foreign Soil Like a Breeze

“Gambarimasu!” (I’ll do my best).

By Haruka Sato
July 11, 2023
Dirt-Smeared Uniforms: The Tradition Behind Nootbaar’s Never-Say-Die Spirit at the WBC

At the WBC game against South Korea, seeing Samurai Japan’s Lars Nootbaar go for a mighty diving catch and sprint tenaciously to second base by outdoing the defense, he must have been nodding, “Yes! This is it!”

By Noriko Yonemushi
July 3, 2023
World Champ B-Girl Says Everything Changed When Breaking Became an Olympic Sport

Ayumi Fukushima began breaking at 21, when she temporarily returned to Japan from her studies in Canada during summer vacation.

By Takaomi Matsubara
June 28, 2023
First Battle Against Grade-Schooler at 21: How 39-Year-Old B-Girl Ayumi Became World Champ

Breaking will make a debut at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

By Takaomi Matsubara
June 20, 2023
Momentous Zoom Meeting with Team Japan Skipper: Interview with Lars Nootbaar’s Parents (#2)

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder, Lars Nootbaar, 25, was selected to play for Japan in the March World Baseball Classic (WBC) as the first non-Japan-born player.

By Aogu Tanaka
June 15, 2023
“My Name Is Lars Nootbaar. I’m Japanese,” He Foretold at 10: Interview with Mother Kumi (#1)

“If you talk with him in person, there’s a 100 percent chance you’ll like him.”

By Aogu Tanaka
December 7, 2022
MVP Shohei Ohtani and Joe Maddon, the Creator of True Two-Way

Shohei Ohtani, 27, of the LA Angels was named the 2021 MVP.

By Nobuhiro Saito
November 24, 2022
How Cyclist Sugiura Became a Paralympics Medal Favorite After Sustaining Brain Injury

“They might not say so, but I think most people’s lives are like a rollercoaster, at least with one or two bumps,” the petite woman sitting in front of me said thoughtfully.

By Kyozo Hibino
October 11, 2022
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s Ancestors Were Gung-ho Businessmen in Taiwan and Manchuria

Fumio Kishida, 64, became Japan’s 100th prime minister and the 64th under the modern constitution.

By Jun Tanaka
August 17, 2022
Encouraged by Parents: Why a Graduate of Most Elite University Became Esports Pro

Despite graduating from the most prestigious University of Tokyo, he debuted as the second fighting game professional in Japan.

By Tatsuya Shiratori
February 22, 2022
“Almost Missed the Rio Games”: How Olympics Basketball Super Team Recovered from the Brink

The silver medal win at the Tokyo Olympics by the Japanese women's basketball team excited the entire country.

By Taeko Yoshii
February 16, 2022
Silver in Women’s Basketball: “Golden Rules for Shooting” Saves Saki Hayashi from Slump

The heroic feat of the Japanese women’s basketball team at the Tokyo Olympics sent excitement across the country.

By Taeko Yoshii
February 3, 2022
Tears of Judo Head Coach Kosei Inoue Who Led Japan to Record-High Five Gold Medals

On July 31, when Japan’s Mixed Team lost against France in the finals, the judo competition of the Tokyo Olympics ended.

By Hiroyuki Tai
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
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
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
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

TOPICS

Lifestyle

“Old Age Steadily Creeps Up on You”: Yet 56-Year-Old Kazu Signs with a Portuguese Club

The Trust Yuta Watanabe Earned in Nets—His NBA Dream Stage for 2023

“Everything’s True Except for the Wiping”: Sumo Wrestler Turned Actor on Netflix’s Sanctuary

“I Ride All the New Models”: Interview with Kawasaki Motors Japan President Eiko Kirino (#2)

Helpful Customer at Biker Café: Interview with Kawasaki Motors Japan President Eiko Kirino (#1)

The Amazing Breakthrough of Nootbaar, 25, Who Was a Lackluster Minor Leaguer

Why Samurai Japan Manager Kuriyama Picked Two Japanese-Origin Players—First Ever for WBC

“Noot” Calls in Stadium: Darvish Praises Nootbaar, Playing on Foreign Soil Like a Breeze

Dirt-Smeared Uniforms: The Tradition Behind Nootbaar’s Never-Say-Die Spirit at the WBC

World Champ B-Girl Says Everything Changed When Breaking Became an Olympic Sport

First Battle Against Grade-Schooler at 21: How 39-Year-Old B-Girl Ayumi Became World Champ

Momentous Zoom Meeting with Team Japan Skipper: Interview with Lars Nootbaar’s Parents (#2)

“My Name Is Lars Nootbaar. I’m Japanese,” He Foretold at 10: Interview with Mother Kumi (#1)

MVP Shohei Ohtani and Joe Maddon, the Creator of True Two-Way

How Cyclist Sugiura Became a Paralympics Medal Favorite After Sustaining Brain Injury

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s Ancestors Were Gung-ho Businessmen in Taiwan and Manchuria

Encouraged by Parents: Why a Graduate of Most Elite University Became Esports Pro

“Almost Missed the Rio Games”: How Olympics Basketball Super Team Recovered from the Brink

Silver in Women’s Basketball: “Golden Rules for Shooting” Saves Saki Hayashi from Slump

Tears of Judo Head Coach Kosei Inoue Who Led Japan to Record-High Five Gold Medals

Japan’s One-in-a-Hundred Female Pilot in the Air, Rugby Referee on the Ground

Young Japanese Player Challenges the Unsung World of India’s Pro Kabaddi

Stay-at-Home Dad Backs up Female Head Coach of Brazilian Men’s Judo: Interview with Yuko Fujii #1

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

Female Judoka from a Slum Becomes a Gold Medalist: Head Coach Yuko Fujii in Brazil Presents a New Form of Husband and Wife #3

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WORLD INSIGHT