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July 25, 2026
 

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Alex Bishop
A WE League Cup championship match between Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina and INAC Kobe takes place on Dec. 29 in Tokyo. A healthy increase in gross revenue has highlighted the WE League¡¯s newfound growth potential.
SOCCER
Jun 24, 2025
WE League finally sowing seeds of growth under new stewardship
Yoshikazu Nonomura, who took the helm a year ago, oversaw improved attendance and financial numbers during his first season as chairman.
Tokyo Verdy Beleza players celebrate after being crowned WE League champions on Saturday at Ajinomoto Field Nishigaoka in Tokyo.
SOCCER
May 21, 2025
Tokyo Verdy Beleza hope to stay on top after long-awaited WE League triumph
The storied club earned its first league title of the professional era on the back of a formidable attack and consistent play throughout the year.
Japan forward Mina Tanaka dribbles during a SheBelieves Cup match against Australia in Houston on Feb. 20.
SOCCER
Mar 20, 2025
How Mina Tanaka evolved into a prolific striker for Nadeshiko Japan
Mina Tanaka is having a moment. The Nadeshiko Japan and Utah Royals striker dominated the SheBelieves Cup, winning both MVP and top scorer as Japan defeated the U.S.
Nadeshiko Japan celebrates after winning the SheBelieves Cup in San Diego on Wednesday.
SOCCER
Feb 28, 2025
Nils Nielsen¡¯s vision for Nadeshiko Japan comes to life at SheBelieves Cup
The remarkable achievement has brought about a renewed optimism among the fanbase, as Japan seems ready to turn the page after years of perceived underperformance.
Japan goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita (front left) and defender Saki Kumagai (center) in action against the United States during the Paris 2024 Olympics on Aug. 3
SOCCER
Feb 18, 2025
Nielsen eyes mentality shift in first outing as Nadeshiko boss
Japan will make its fifth appearance in the SheBelieves Cup, and is pitted against Australia, Colombia and the host, the United States.
New Nadeshiko Japan coach Nils Nielsen (center) poses for photos with JFA President Tsuneyasu Miyamoto (left) and Norio Sasaki, the JFA¡¯s women¡¯s soccer chair, during a news conference on Dec. 18.
SOCCER
Dec 26, 2024
JFA hopes Nils Nielsen¡¯s international focus leads Nadeshiko Japan back to glory
Nils Nielsen was officially unveiled as the new Nadeshiko boss at a packed news conference in Tokyo on Dec. 18.?
INAC Kobe's Megumi Takase (left) battles Hiroshima's Funa Yanase during a match in Hiroshima in 2022.
SOCCER
Oct 20, 2024
Struggling WE League seeks course correction as it aims close gap with world¡¯s top leagues
The top women¡¯s soccer league in Japan has struggled to meet its ambitious targets. Officials hope a new vision can right the ship.
Fuka Nagano (left) and Hinata Miyazawa after Japan was eliminated from the Olympic soccer tournament by the U.S. on Saturday in Paris.
OLYMPICS
Aug 4, 2024
For Nadeshiko Japan, the quarterfinals prove to be a stumbling block ¡ª again
The team fell 1-0 to the U.S. after also losing in the last eight at the Tokyo Games in 2021 and at the Women¡¯s World Cup in 2023.
Honoka Hayashi in action during a match against Great Britain at the Tokyo Olympics, in Sapporo on July 24, 2021. Hayashi¡¯s clinical passing, acute understanding of the game and high work-rate make her an embodiment of Nadeshiko soccer principles.
OLYMPICS
Jul 24, 2024
Nadeshiko Japan¡¯s Honoka Hayashi ready to settle the score at Paris Games
Lauded for her intricate passing and soccer intelligence, Hayashi has adjusted her game to fit the demanding nature of elite leagues over the course of her career.
Japan's Hikaru Kitagawa dribbles past a defender during an Olympic qualifying match against North Korea at National Stadium in Tokyo in February.
OLYMPICS / Football
Jul 17, 2024
After Tokyo Olympic disappointment, Nadeshiko Japan look for redemption
For many, a disappointing effort on home soil in 2021 was a marker of just how far Japan¡¯s women¡¯s soccer team had fallen. Now the squad has its sights set on redemption.
Japan's Fuka Nagano competes for the ball against Zambia's Evarine Katongo during the 2023 Women's World Cup in Hamilton, New Zealand. Nagano is among the stalwarts that will be looking to propel Nadeshiko Japan onto the podium at the Paris Games.
OLYMPICS / Football
Jun 14, 2024
Nadeshiko Japan¡¯s Olympic squad strikes balance between experience and youth
The challenge in Paris looks daunting as Japan has been put in what many have labeled ¡°the group of death¡± alongside world champions Spain, Brazil and Nigeria.
Urawa's Kiko Seike (right) celebrates with Yu Endo during the AFC Women¡¯s Championship Cup at Urawa Komaba Stadium in Saitama on Friday.
SOCCER
May 13, 2024
Kiko Seike shines as Urawa Reds Ladies add two titles to collection over weekend
Urawa won the AFC Women¡¯s Championship Cup on Friday and clinched the WE League title on Sunday.
Urawa Reds Ladies celebrate with their fans after winning the league championship at Urawa Komaba Stadium on June 3, 2023.
SOCCER
May 9, 2024
Urawa Reds Ladies to vie for Asian supremacy amid controversy over AFC¡¯s actions
Final to go ahead after backlash forced AFC to reverse earlier decision to cancel match.
Japan weighs regulating Pokemon cards amid trading mania
A Pokemon event is held in Jakarta on July 11
Head of Swiss euthanasia firm dies after collapsing while ascending Mount Fuji
Around 200,000 people typically scale the 3,776 meter Mount Fuji each year.
Indian brothers make manga debut in Japan
Two Indian brothers made their manga debut in Japan with "Kung Fu Kung Fool" ¡ª an action-comedy series that follows the adventures of a notorious thief and a young boy.
Japan scientists identify clusters of protein believed to trigger Alzheimer¡¯s disease
A team of researchers said they found a ¡°seed¡± that accelerates the amyloid beta accumulation process in the brain, naming it ¡°Peak 1 amyloid beta,¡± as seen in a mouse's brain.
A perfect storm: Kaze Fujii fans flock to Fuji Rock
Okayama-born singer-songwriter Kaze Fujii has carved out a distinctive place in Japanese pop since his major-label debut in 2019.
The sci-fi sensibilities of electronic trio Black Boboi
Black Boboi was formed in 2018 when solo artists Julia Shortreed, Utena Kobayashi and Ermhoi came together under Kobayashi¡¯s newly founded label, Bindividual.
A perfect storm: Kaze Fujii fans flock to Fuji Rock
Okayama-born singer-songwriter Kaze Fujii has carved out a distinctive place in Japanese pop since his major-label debut in 2019.
Can Japanese comedy get laughs in English? Yoshimoto Kogyo lets the jokes rip
Wes-P has millions of followers and his viral clips made him recognizable out of Japan.
The 180-day locals: Life on Japan¡¯s digital nomad visa
Christopher Flinn works remotely from Tokyo earlier this month. Japan issued 646 digital nomad visas in 2025, but tourism officials are hoping to increase that figure in the coming years, with Japan's relatively cheap cost of living and the weak yen seen as potential draws for young professionals.
Japan reveals hint of new defense spending target in fiscal blueprint
The Self-Defense Forces' Type 16 mobile combat vehicle fires during a joint live-fire drill with U.S. Marines as part of the annual Resolute Dragon exercises in Yufu, Oita Prefecture, on June 28.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo¡¯s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo¡¯s ¡®stadium of desire¡¯

Longform

For many people, utility poles and power lines have become such a familiar part of Japan¡¯s landscape that they often go unnoticed.
Why Japan¡¯s utility poles won¡¯t be disappearing anytime soon
By Alex K.T. Martin

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