After a breakout season with Belgium's Sint-Truiden, defender Takehiro Tomiyasu appears set for a blockbuster move to Bologna in the Italian first division. According to journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Tomiyasu's transfer was indirectly revealed on Tuesday by Walter Sabatini, a longtime technical director for several ...
Japan's next great hope has taken his next big step. Takefusa Kubo, the 18-year-old midfielder expected to feature for Japan at the Tokyo Olympics and for the Samurai Blue across many years beyond that, is officially returning to Europe, four years after FIFA sanctions forced ...
After four no-shows at high-capacity stadiums in the greater Tokyo metropolitan area and just one Kanto appearance last October in Kawasaki, Andres Iniesta finally stood on a pitch in the capital in front of over 38,000 fans. Even Saturday's persistent rain stopped to take in ...
Between the U-20 World Cup, the U-22 Toulon Tournament and a Copa America which could see over a dozen Tokyo 2020-eligible players earn their first Samurai Blue caps, it's been an exciting month for Japan supporters awaiting the Olympic men's soccer tournament. The performance of ...
I last wrote about FC Tokyo midfielder Takefusa Kubo in this column a little over three months ago, reflecting on his impressive performance against reigning champion Kawasaki Frontale on the J. League's opening day. He's only gotten better, netting four goals and making an additional ...
If Saturday turns out to have been Takefusa Kubo's last game for FC Tokyo, no one can accuse him of failing to make the most of it. The 17-year-old helped set up Kento Hashimoto's opener before netting what turned out to be decider on a ...
When Liverpool and Tottenham enter the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium pitch on Saturday night for the UEFA Champions League final, the 67,000 fans in Madrid won't be the only ones rapt with anticipation. Nearly 10,000 km away, Japanese supporters of the two English Premier League clubs ...
Morinari Watanabe, the Japanese head of the International Gymnastics Federation, understands what it means to stick the landing. As the newly appointed boss of an IOC task force formed to deliver the boxing competition at the Tokyo Olympics, he'll have to complete what may be ...
Tokyo 2020 Coordination Commission Chairman John Coates praised the local organizing committee on Thursday, citing unparalleled interest in ticket sales and progress toward managing issues regarding transportation and adverse weather conditions at the games. Speaking at a joint news conference at the conclusion of the ...
Friday night's 3-2 win by Shonan Bellmare over Urawa Reds showcased everything great about the J. League, with the plucky underdogs winning in stoppage time to cap a dramatic comeback. Unfortunately, it also saw one of the league's biggest problems — inconsistent officiating — evolve ...
