CINXE.COM

<!doctype html>    <html class="no-js" lang="en-US" prefix="og: http://ogp.me/ns# fb: http://ogp.me/ns/fb#">  <head><script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=HxkREWBo" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/","20191204045857","https://web.archive.org/","web","/_static/", "1575435537"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=S1zqJCYt" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />   <script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= 'https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-KR282M');</script>  <meta charset="UTF-8"/>  <link rel="pingback" href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/xmlrpc.php"/> <meta name="verify-v1" content="+h35BdFddo/f1upXot92yGKSB4d5EuWWGbARz9SJE6A="/> <meta property="twitter:account_id" content="7424642"/> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1, minimum-scale=1, maximum-scale=1"> <meta name="HandheldFriendly" content="true"> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Japan Times RSS Feed - Latest sports stories" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/feed/"> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Japan Times RSS Feed - Top Stories" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/feed/topstories"> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857im_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/img/japantimes-favicon.ico"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857im_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/img/apple-touch-icon-72px.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="72x72" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857im_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/img/apple-touch-icon-72px.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="114x114" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857im_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/img/apple-touch-icon-144px.png"> <meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-title" content="Japan Times">  <meta name="robots" content="noarchive"/>   <meta name="thumbnail" content="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/img/japantimes-logo_square.png"/>  <script type="text/javascript"> //window.onload = pre_loader; function pre_loader() { javascript:document.getElementById('menu').style.display='block'; } </script> <script type="text/javascript"> var cookie_value = "_jtpwa_user_agent=" + encodeURIComponent(navigator.userAgent) + "; path=/; expires=0"; document.cookie = "_jtpwa_affiliate_id=(Unregistered); path=/; expires=0"; document.cookie = cookie_value; </script>  <title>Sports news | The Japan Times</title> <meta name="description" content="Latest sports headline news and commentaries, including coverage of baseball, soccer, sumo and basketball."/> <meta name="robots" content="noodp"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/"/> <link rel="next" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/page/2/"/> <meta property="og:locale" content="en_US"/> <meta property="og:type" content="object"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Sports news | The Japan Times"/> <meta property="og:url" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/"/> <meta property="og:site_name" content="The Japan Times"/> <meta property="fb:app_id" content="119406745111"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857im_/https://cdn.japantimes.2xx.jp/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/jt-sns.png"/>  <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://code.jquery.com/"/> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.googletagmanager.com/"/> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://s.w.org/"/> <script type="text/javascript"> window._wpemojiSettings = {"baseUrl":"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20191204045857\/https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/11.2.0\/72x72\/","ext":".png","svgUrl":"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20191204045857\/https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/11.2.0\/svg\/","svgExt":".svg","source":{"concatemoji":"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20191204045857\/https:\/\/www.japantimes.co.jp\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-emoji-release.min.js"}}; !function(a,b,c){function d(a,b){var c=String.fromCharCode;l.clearRect(0,0,k.width,k.height),l.fillText(c.apply(this,a),0,0);var d=k.toDataURL();l.clearRect(0,0,k.width,k.height),l.fillText(c.apply(this,b),0,0);var e=k.toDataURL();return d===e}function e(a){var b;if(!l||!l.fillText)return!1;switch(l.textBaseline="top",l.font="600 32px Arial",a){case"flag":return!(b=d([55356,56826,55356,56819],[55356,56826,8203,55356,56819]))&&(b=d([55356,57332,56128,56423,56128,56418,56128,56421,56128,56430,56128,56423,56128,56447],[55356,57332,8203,56128,56423,8203,56128,56418,8203,56128,56421,8203,56128,56430,8203,56128,56423,8203,56128,56447]),!b);case"emoji":return b=d([55358,56760,9792,65039],[55358,56760,8203,9792,65039]),!b}return!1}function f(a){var c=b.createElement("script");c.src=a,c.defer=c.type="text/javascript",b.getElementsByTagName("head")[0].appendChild(c)}var g,h,i,j,k=b.createElement("canvas"),l=k.getContext&&k.getContext("2d");for(j=Array("flag","emoji"),c.supports={everything:!0,everythingExceptFlag:!0},i=0;i<j.length;i++)c.supports[j[i]]=e(j[i]),c.supports.everything=c.supports.everything&&c.supports[j[i]],"flag"!==j[i]&&(c.supports.everythingExceptFlag=c.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&c.supports[j[i]]);c.supports.everythingExceptFlag=c.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&!c.supports.flag,c.DOMReady=!1,c.readyCallback=function(){c.DOMReady=!0},c.supports.everything||(h=function(){c.readyCallback()},b.addEventListener?(b.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",h,!1),a.addEventListener("load",h,!1)):(a.attachEvent("onload",h),b.attachEvent("onreadystatechange",function(){"complete"===b.readyState&&c.readyCallback()})),g=c.source||{},g.concatemoji?f(g.concatemoji):g.wpemoji&&g.twemoji&&(f(g.twemoji),f(g.wpemoji)))}(window,document,window._wpemojiSettings); </script> <style type="text/css"> img.wp-smiley, img.emoji { display: inline !important; border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; height: 1em !important; width: 1em !important; margin: 0 .07em !important; vertical-align: -0.1em !important; background: none !important; padding: 0 !important; } </style> <link rel="stylesheet" id="jt_style-css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857cs_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/style.css?ver=2.7" type="text/css" media="all"/> <link rel="stylesheet" id="jt_style-override-css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857cs_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/css/override.css?ver=0.6" type="text/css" media="all"/> <link rel="stylesheet" id="jt_additional-css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857cs_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/css/additional.css?ver=1.4" type="text/css" media="all"/> <link rel="stylesheet" id="jt_style-fresco-css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857cs_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/css/fresco.css?ver=2.2.2" type="text/css" media="all"/> <link rel="stylesheet" id="jt_side-css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857cs_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/css/side.css?ver=0.0.6" type="text/css" media="all"/>   <link rel="stylesheet" id="wp-block-library-css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857cs_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-includes/css/dist/block-library/style.min.css" type="text/css" media="all"/> <link rel="stylesheet" id="mpp_gutenberg-css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857cs_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/plugins/metronet-profile-picture/css/front-end-gutenberg.css" type="text/css" media="all"/> <link rel="stylesheet" id="wsl-widget-css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857cs_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/plugins/wordpress-social-login/assets/css/style.css" type="text/css" media="all"/> <link rel="stylesheet" id="wp-polls-css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857cs_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/plugins/wp-polls/polls-css.css" type="text/css" media="all"/> <style id="wp-polls-inline-css" type="text/css"> .wp-polls .pollbar { margin: 1px; font-size: 8px; line-height: 10px; height: 10px; background: #ff6c00; border: 1px solid #; } </style>  <script type="text/javascript"> (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','__gaTracker'); __gaTracker('create', 'UA-37091063-1', 'auto'); __gaTracker('set', 'forceSSL', true); __gaTracker('require', 'displayfeatures'); __gaTracker('require', 'linkid', 'linkid.js'); __gaTracker('set', 'dimension7', 'false'); __gaTracker('send','pageview'); </script>  <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/js/modernizr.min.js?ver=2.6.2"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/js/respond.min.js?ver=2.6.2"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://code.jquery.com/jquery-1.8.3.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/js/typekit-advanced-embed-code.js?ver=1.0"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery-migrate.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/plugins/checkDevice/cookie.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/core.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/datepicker.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(document).ready(function(jQuery){jQuery.datepicker.setDefaults({"closeText":"Close","currentText":"Today","monthNames":["January","February","March","April","May","June","July","August","September","October","November","December"],"monthNamesShort":["Jan","Feb","Mar","Apr","May","Jun","Jul","Aug","Sep","Oct","Nov","Dec"],"nextText":"Next","prevText":"Previous","dayNames":["Sunday","Monday","Tuesday","Wednesday","Thursday","Friday","Saturday"],"dayNamesShort":["Sun","Mon","Tue","Wed","Thu","Fri","Sat"],"dayNamesMin":["S","M","T","W","T","F","S"],"dateFormat":"M d, yy","firstDay":1,"isRTL":false});}); </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/widget.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/position.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/menu.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-includes/js/wp-a11y.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var uiAutocompleteL10n = {"noResults":"No results found.","oneResult":"1 result found. Use up and down arrow keys to navigate.","manyResults":"%d results found. Use up and down arrow keys to navigate.","itemSelected":"Item selected."}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/autocomplete.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/mouse.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/sortable.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/resizable.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/draggable.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/button.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/dialog.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var EM = {"ajaxurl":"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20191204045857\/https:\/\/www.japantimes.co.jp\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php","locationajaxurl":"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20191204045857\/https:\/\/www.japantimes.co.jp\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php?action=locations_search","firstDay":"1","locale":"en","dateFormat":"yy\/mm\/dd","ui_css":"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20191204045857\/https:\/\/www.japantimes.co.jp\/wp-content\/plugins\/events-manager\/includes\/css\/jquery-ui.min.css","show24hours":"1","is_ssl":"1","google_maps_api":"AIzaSyCwl-kXJp5qZnP27DK2mKGtu49mm7UDi1g","txt_search":"Search","txt_searching":"Searching...","txt_loading":"Loading..."}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/plugins/events-manager/includes/js/events-manager.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=UA-121037919-1"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/plugins/jt_paywall_affilliates/jtpwa_analytics.php?1575435040"></script> <link rel="https://api.w.org/" href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-json/"/> <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/plugins/jto_paywall/js/jquery.cookie.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/plugins/jto_paywall/js/jto_paywall.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script> jQuery.noConflict(); jQuery(document).keydown(function(e) { if (e.keyCode == 27) return false; }); $j = jQuery; var JTO_Paywall = { count_up: function( ) { var pathname = document.location.pathname; var referrer = document.referrer; var credit = $j('p.credit').html(); if (credit != null) { credit = credit.toUpperCase(); } var pubdate; var data; $j('#article_history li').each(function() { if ($j(this).html().match(/Online/) != null) { pubdate = $j('time', this).html(); } }); var postid = document.body.className.match(/(^|\s)postid-(\d+)(\s|$)/); postid = ( null !== postid && postid[2].length > 0 ) ? postid[2] : '' var param = {p: pathname, r: referrer, c: credit, d: pubdate, pid: postid} var defer = jQuery.Deferred(); jQuery.ajax({ url: "https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/plugins/jto_paywall/jto_countup_wpdb.php", type: 'post', cache: false, data: param, scriptCharset: 'utf-8', dataType:'json', success: defer.resolve, error: defer.reject }); return defer.promise(); }, get_user: function() { var defer = jQuery.Deferred(); jQuery.ajax({ url: "https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/plugins/jto_paywall/jto_get_user.php", cache: false, scriptCharset: 'utf-8', dataType:'json', success: defer.resolve, error: defer.reject }); return defer.promise(); }, }; /* * COUNT UP */ $j('#jto_paywall_login').live("click", function() { location.href="/login/?mode=login"; }); </script> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary"/> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@japantimes"/> <meta name="twitter:creator" content="@japantimes"/>  <script> window._newsroom = window._newsroom || []; !function (e, f, u) { e.async = 1; e.src = u; f.parentNode.insertBefore(e, f); }(document.createElement('script'), document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0], '//web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://c2.taboola.com/nr/japantimes/newsroom.js'); </script>  <style id="chartbeat-flicker-control-style" type="text/css"> body { visibility: hidden !important; } </style> <script type="text/javascript"> var _sf_async_config = _sf_async_config || {}; /** CONFIGURATION START **/ // ACCOUNT NUMBER _sf_async_config.uid = 65658; // DOMAIN _sf_async_config.domain = 'japantimes.co.jp'; _sf_async_config.useCanonical = true; // Subscriber Engagement. See: http://support.chartbeat.com/docs/#usertype var _cbq = window._cbq = (window._cbq || []); _cbq.push(['_acct', 'anon']); _cbq.push(['_usr', '']); /** CONFIGURATION END **/ var _sf_startpt = (new Date()).getTime(); window.setTimeout(function() { var hider = document.getElementById('chartbeat-flicker-control-style'); if (hider) { hider.parentNode.removeChild(hider); } }, 1000); </script> <script async src="//web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://static.chartbeat.com/js/chartbeat_mab.js"></script> <script async="async" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://ads.rubiconproject.com/prebid/19864_JTO.js"></script> <script async="async" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js"></script> <script> var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; </script> <script> // check window width and determine device type var deviceType = function() { var mobileMaxWidth = 610; var tabletMaxWidth = 1000; var w = jQuery(window).width(); var type = 'mobile'; if (w > mobileMaxWidth && w < tabletMaxWidth) { type = 'tablet'; } else if (w > tabletMaxWidth) { type = 'desktop'; } return type; }(); var headerBiddingSlots = []; var nonHeaderBiddingSlots = []; var gptAdSlots=[]; var slot1, slot2; var pbjs = pbjs || {}; pbjs.que = pbjs.que || []; var failSafeTimeout = 3000; googletag.cmd.push( function() { if ( 'mobile' === deviceType ) { slot1 = googletag.defineSlot('/4973089/JTO_mobilebanner1(TOP)', [[320, 50],[320,100]], 'div-gpt-ad-1362126290726-1').addService(googletag.pubads()); headerBiddingSlots.push(slot1); gptAdSlots[24] = googletag.defineSlot('/4973089/JTO_storyfooter_Mobile', [[300,250],[336,280]], 'div-gpt-ad-1358334307833-7').addService(googletag.pubads()); gptAdSlots[26] = googletag.defineSlot('/4973089/article_1', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); headerBiddingSlots.push(gptAdSlots[26]); } else if ( 'tablet' === deviceType ) { slot1 = googletag.defineSlot('/4973089/JTO_leaderboad_Tab(TOP)', [728, 90], 'div-gpt-ad-1362125825102-1').addService(googletag.pubads()); slot2 = googletag.defineSlot('/4973089/JTO_billboard_Tab(TOP)', [728, 90], 'div-gpt-ad-1362125825102-2').addService(googletag.pubads()); headerBiddingSlots.push(slot1); headerBiddingSlots.push(slot2); gptAdSlots[24] = googletag.defineSlot('/4973089/JTO_storyfooter_Tab', [[300,250],[336,280]], 'div-gpt-ad-1366542287014-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); } else if ( 'desktop' === deviceType ) { slot1 = googletag.defineSlot('/4973089/JTO_leaderboad(TOP)', [[970, 250],[970, 90],[728,90]], 'div-gpt-ad-1362125114269-1').addService(googletag.pubads()); slot2 = googletag.defineSlot('/4973089/JTO_billboard(TOP)', [[970, 250],[970,90],[728,90]], 'div-gpt-ad-1362125114269-2').addService(googletag.pubads()); headerBiddingSlots.push(slot1); headerBiddingSlots.push(slot2); gptAdSlots[24] = googletag.defineSlot('/4973089/JTO_storyfooter', [[300,250],[336,280]], 'div-gpt-ad-1366542226049-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); } gptAdSlots[0] = googletag.defineSlot('/4973089/Rectangle3(TOP)', [[336, 280], [300, 250], [300, 600]], 'div-gpt-ad-1545100828948-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); gptAdSlots[1] = googletag.defineSlot('/4973089/main_module_top', ['fluid', [1, 1]], 'div-gpt-ad-1467614168741-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); gptAdSlots[2] = googletag.defineSlot('/4973089/JTO_Rectangle1(TOP)', [[336, 280], [300, 250]], 'div-gpt-ad-1545099231048-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); gptAdSlots[3] = googletag.defineSlot('/4973089/JT-Editorial-banner', [[300, 10], [320, 50], [1, 1]], 'div-gpt-ad-1545377436271-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); gptAdSlots[4] = googletag.defineSlot('/4973089/JTO_Rectangle2(TOP)', [[336, 280], [300, 250], [300, 600]], 'div-gpt-ad-1545099535665-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); gptAdSlots[5] = googletag.defineSlot('/4973089/JT-Supplements-slider1', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-ad-1545378846364-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); gptAdSlots[6] = googletag.defineSlot('/4973089/JT-Supplements-slider2', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-ad-1545378916032-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); gptAdSlots[7] = googletag.defineSlot('/4973089/JT-Supplements-slider3', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-ad-1545379120701-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); gptAdSlots[8] = googletag.defineSlot('/4973089/JT-Supplements-block1', ['fluid'], 'div-gpt-ad-1545377720996-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); gptAdSlots[9] = googletag.defineSlot('/4973089/JT-Supplements-block2', ['fluid'], 'div-gpt-ad-1545377819100-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); gptAdSlots[10] = googletag.defineSlot('/4973089/JT-Supplements-block3', ['fluid'], 'div-gpt-ad-1545377905854-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); gptAdSlots[11] = googletag.defineSlot('/4973089/JT-Supplements-block4', ['fluid'], 'div-gpt-ad-1545378016685-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); gptAdSlots[12] = googletag.defineSlot('/4973089/JT-Supplements-block5', ['fluid'], 'div-gpt-ad-1545378526968-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); gptAdSlots[13] = googletag.defineSlot('/4973089/JT-Supplements-block6', ['fluid'], 'div-gpt-ad-1545378615238-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); gptAdSlots[14] = googletag.defineSlot('/4973089/JT-Supplements-block7', ['fluid'], 'div-gpt-ad-1545378710149-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); gptAdSlots[15] = googletag.defineSlot('/4973089/JT-Supplements-block8', ['fluid'], 'div-gpt-ad-1545378782983-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); gptAdSlots[16] = googletag.defineSlot('/4973089/JT-smallbanner', [[300, 55], [320, 50]], 'div-gpt-ad-1545377636115-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); gptAdSlots[17] = googletag.defineSlot('/4973089/JT-smallbanner2', [[300, 55], [320, 50]], 'div-gpt-ad-1549956411050-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); gptAdSlots[18] = googletag.defineSlot('/4973089/JT-smallbanner3', [[300, 55], [320, 50]], 'div-gpt-ad-1549956594448-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); gptAdSlots[19] = googletag.defineSlot('/4973089/JT-Education-banner', [270, 40], 'div-gpt-ad-1545377501993-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); gptAdSlots[20] = googletag.defineSlot('/4973089/JT-NationalDay-banner', [270, 40], 'div-gpt-ad-1545377579422-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); gptAdSlots[21] = googletag.defineSlot('/4973089/JT-CountryReport-SMS1', ['fluid', [1, 1]], 'div-gpt-ad-1545377287544-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); gptAdSlots[22] = googletag.defineSlot('/4973089/JT-CountryReport-GMI1', ['fluid', [1, 1]], 'div-gpt-ad-1545377213864-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); gptAdSlots[23] = googletag.defineSlot('/4973089/JTO_text1(TOP)', [1, 1], 'div-gpt-ad-1362125114269-8').addService(googletag.pubads()); gptAdSlots[25] = googletag.defineSlot('/4973089/JT-teads', ['fluid', [1, 1]], 'div-gpt-ad-1549956656402-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); gptAdSlots[27] = googletag.defineSlot('/4973089/SpecialSupplements1', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-ad-1569819871517-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); gptAdSlots[28] = googletag.defineSlot('/4973089/SpecialSupplements2', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-ad-1569820069027-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); headerBiddingSlots.push(gptAdSlots[0]); nonHeaderBiddingSlots.push(gptAdSlots[1]); headerBiddingSlots.push(gptAdSlots[2]); nonHeaderBiddingSlots.push(gptAdSlots[3]); headerBiddingSlots.push(gptAdSlots[4]); nonHeaderBiddingSlots.push(gptAdSlots[5]); nonHeaderBiddingSlots.push(gptAdSlots[6]); nonHeaderBiddingSlots.push(gptAdSlots[7]); nonHeaderBiddingSlots.push(gptAdSlots[8]); nonHeaderBiddingSlots.push(gptAdSlots[9]); nonHeaderBiddingSlots.push(gptAdSlots[10]); nonHeaderBiddingSlots.push(gptAdSlots[11]); nonHeaderBiddingSlots.push(gptAdSlots[12]); nonHeaderBiddingSlots.push(gptAdSlots[13]); nonHeaderBiddingSlots.push(gptAdSlots[14]); nonHeaderBiddingSlots.push(gptAdSlots[15]); nonHeaderBiddingSlots.push(gptAdSlots[16]); nonHeaderBiddingSlots.push(gptAdSlots[17]); nonHeaderBiddingSlots.push(gptAdSlots[18]); nonHeaderBiddingSlots.push(gptAdSlots[19]); nonHeaderBiddingSlots.push(gptAdSlots[20]); nonHeaderBiddingSlots.push(gptAdSlots[21]); nonHeaderBiddingSlots.push(gptAdSlots[22]); nonHeaderBiddingSlots.push(gptAdSlots[23]); headerBiddingSlots.push(gptAdSlots[24]); nonHeaderBiddingSlots.push(gptAdSlots[25]); headerBiddingSlots.push(gptAdSlots[27]); headerBiddingSlots.push(gptAdSlots[28]); $.getScript( 'https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/googletag_pushads.php?is_archive=1&archive_post_type=Sports&subscriber_status' ) googletag.pubads().disableInitialLoad(); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.enableServices(); if (nonHeaderBiddingSlots.length > 0) { googletag.pubads().refresh(nonHeaderBiddingSlots); } pbjs.rp.requestBids({ callback: sendAdServerRequest, gptSlotObjects: headerBiddingSlots }); }); </script> <script> pbjs.adserverRequestSent = false; var sendAdServerRequest = function(headerBiddingSlots) { googletag.cmd.push(function() { if (pbjs.adserverRequestSent) { return; } pbjs.adserverRequestSent = true; googletag.pubads().refresh(headerBiddingSlots); }); }; setTimeout(function() { sendAdServerRequest(headerBiddingSlots); }, failSafeTimeout); </script> <script> pbjs.adserverRequestSent = false; var sendAdServerRequest = function(headerBiddingSlots) { googletag.cmd.push(function() { if (pbjs.adserverRequestSent) { return; } pbjs.adserverRequestSent = true; googletag.pubads().refresh(headerBiddingSlots); }); }; setTimeout(function() { sendAdServerRequest(headerBiddingSlots); }, failSafeTimeout); </script> </head> <body data-rsssl="1" class="archive post-type-archive post-type-archive-sports" id="page">  <noscript><iframe src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857if_/https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-KR282M" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>    <div class="offcanvas_over">  <div class="wrap" id="wrap"> <div class="affiliate_header"> <div class="header_content"> <ul> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/guide-japan-times-jobs-network/" title="The Japan Times Jobs Network" rel="external" onclick="ga('send', 'event', 'affiliate header', 'JOBS転職');">JOBS <span style="font-family: sans-serif !important;">転職</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/http://info.japantimes.co.jp/universities" title="Study in Japan" rel="external" onclick="ga('send', 'event', 'affiliate header', 'STUDY IN JAPAN');">STUDY IN JAPAN</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/http://showcase.japantimes.co.jp/" title="Japan Showcase" rel="external" onclick="ga('send', 'event', 'affiliate header', 'Japan Showcase');">Japan Showcase</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/n2u/" title="News Releases" onclick="ga('send', 'event', 'affiliate header', 'N2U News Releases');">News Releases</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="ad top"> <div class="banner">  <div id="screen_type"></div> <div id="ad_id"> <script> var id = 'div-gpt-ad-1362126290726-1'; // mobile, JTO_mobilebanner1(TOP) if ( 'tablet' === deviceType ) { id = 'div-gpt-ad-1362125825102-1'; // tablet, JTO_leaderboad_Tab(TOP) } else if ( 'desktop' === deviceType ) { id = 'div-gpt-ad-1362125114269-1'; // desktop, JTO_leaderboad(TOP) } jQuery( '#ad_id' ).attr( 'id', id ); // set id to ad id googletag.cmd.push( function() { googletag.display(id); } ); </script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="clearfix"></div> <header role="banner" class="row"> <div class="site_header" id="site_header"> <div class="header_content">  <aside> <div class="login_header"> <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sub/">SUBSCRIBE</a><span> | </span></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://members.japantimes.co.jp/login/?mode=login">Login</a><span> | </span></li> <li><a href="/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/about-us/japan-times-faq-index/">SUPPORT</a></li> </ul> </div> </aside>  <div class="header_extras col_3 col_gutter left_extras">  <div class="social_header"> <ul> <li><a class="icon-twitter" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://twitter.com/japantimes" target="_blank" title="The Japan Times on Twitter"><span>Twitter</span></a></li> <li><a class="icon-facebook" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/http://www.facebook.com/thejapantimes" target="_blank" title="The Japan Times on Facebook"><span>Facebook</span></a></li> <li><a class="icon-rss" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/feed/" title="The Japan Times RSS Feed - Latest sports articles"><span>RSS</span></a></li> </ul> </div>  <div class="weather_header"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/weather/" title="Weather in Japan"> <div class="icon_weather"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857im_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/img/weather_icons/all-icons_02.png" alt="weather icon"> </div> <p class="temperature">13</p> <p>M/SUNNY</p> <h2>TOKYO (1 p.m.)</h2> </a> </div>  <div class="financial_header"> <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/market-moves" title="The Japan Times - Financial Market Information">Markets</a></li> <li>108.58 ¥/$ (1 p.m.)  </li> </ul> </div> </div>  <div class="page_title col_6 col_gutter"> <hgroup>  <div class="logo_header_2"> <p> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/" title="Return to The Japan Times Home Page"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857im_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/img/japantimes-logo.png" alt="The Japan Times"> </a> </p> </div>  <h1 class="page-title"> <a href="/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/">Sports</a> </h1> </hgroup> </div> <div class="header_extras col_3 right_extras"> <ul id="user_account_header"> <li class="strong"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sub/index_ja.html" title="購読の申し込み">購読の申し込み</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sub/" title="Get The Japan Times delivered daily to your home.">SUBSCRIBE</a> </li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://members.japantimes.co.jp/login/?mode=login">Login ≫</a></li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://members.japantimes.co.jp/membership/summary/" title="Register for Free Membership.">FREE MEMBERSHIP</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/2019/12/04" title="The Japan Times - By-Day Archive">Today's Stories</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="clearfix"></div> </div>  </div> </header> <div class="clearfix"></div>  <nav id="nav_anchor_container"> <ul id="nav_anchors" class="nav_anchors"> <li class="offcanvas_menu"><a id="sidebarButton" href="#footer_menu" class="block menu-link"><span aria-hidden="true" class="icon-menu"></span>MENU</a></li> <li class="city_guide "><a href="/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/events/">City Guide</a></li> <li class="search_flyout"> <a class="icon-search search_toggle" href="#"> <span>Search</span> </a> </li> </ul> </nav> <nav id="nav" class="nav reveal" role="navigation"> <div class="header_content"> <div class="navbar_inner"> <ul id="menu-primary-menu" class="main_menu"><li id="menu-item-23" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-23"><a title="Japan Times News articles" href="/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/">News</a></li> <li id="menu-item-24" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-24"><a title="Japan Times Opinion articles" href="/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/">Opinion</a></li> <li id="menu-item-25" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-25"><a title="Japan Times Life feature stories" href="/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/">Life</a></li> <li id="menu-item-26" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-26"><a title="Japan Times Community feature stories" href="/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/">Community</a></li> <li id="menu-item-27" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-27"><a title="Japan Times Culture feature stories" href="/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/">Culture</a></li> <li id="menu-item-28" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom current-menu-item menu-item-has-children menu-item-28"><a title="Japan Times Sports articles" href="/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/" aria-current="page">Sports</a></li> </ul><div class="e_p_and_search"> <ul class="main_menu"> <li class="city_guide"> <div class="city_illu"></div> <a href="/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/events/"> <span>City Guide</span> </a> </li> <li class="search"> <a class="icon-search search_toggle" href="#"> <span>Search</span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="clearfix"></div> </div> </div>  </nav>  <div class="padding_block"> <div class="nav_search" id="toogle_search_div"> <form method="get" id="searchform" action="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/search-results/" role="search"> <label for="s" class="assistive-text">Search</label> <input type="search" class="field gsc" name="q" id="s" placeholder="" value=""/> <input type="submit" class="submit" name="submit" id="searchsubmit" value="Search"/> </form> <div style="display:none;"> <gcse:searchbox-only queryparamname="s" enablehistory="false" resultsurl="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/search-results/" enableautocomplete="false" enableimagesearch="true"></div> </div> <div class="clearfix"></div> </div> <nav class="sub_menu_container" role="navigation"> <ul id="menu-sports-landing-menu" class="sub_menu"><li id="menu-item-843277" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-sports menu-item-843277"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/rugby/">Rugby</a></li> <li id="menu-item-289" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-sports menu-item-has-children menu-item-289"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/soccer/">Soccer</a></li> <li id="menu-item-291" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-sports menu-item-has-children menu-item-291"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/sumo/">Sumo</a></li> <li id="menu-item-68856" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-sports menu-item-68856"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/baseball/">Baseball</a></li> <li id="menu-item-290" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-sports menu-item-290"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/basketball/">Basketball</a></li> <li id="menu-item-377594" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-sports menu-item-377594"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/figure-skating/">Figure Skating</a></li> <li id="menu-item-650671" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-sports menu-item-650671"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/tennis/">Tennis</a></li> <li id="menu-item-292" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-sports menu-item-292"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/more-sports/">More Sports</a></li> <li id="menu-item-536875" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-sports menu-item-536875"><a title="Olympics" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/olympics/">Olympics</a></li> <li id="menu-item-293" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-293"><a title="Sports Columns" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/columns/">Columns</a></li> <li id="menu-item-373852" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-multimedia_category menu-item-373852"><a title="Multimedia Sports" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/multimedia_category/sports/">Multimedia</a></li> </ul> </nav> <script type="text/javascript"> //If a request is through AppSule, some elements are not to be displayed var userAgent = window.navigator.userAgent.toLowerCase(); if ( -1 !== userAgent.indexOf('appsule') ) { var elems = []; elems.push( document.getElementsByClassName('ad top')[0] ); elems.push( document.getElementsByClassName('affiliate_header')[0] ); elems.push( document.getElementsByClassName('sub_menu_container')[0] ); elems.push( document.getElementById('nav') ); elems.push( document.getElementById('nav_anchor_container') ); elems.push( document.getElementsByTagName('header')[0] ); elems.forEach( function( e ) { e.style.display = 'none'; }); } </script>  <div id="wrapper"> <nav id="menu" class="menu-link oc overthrow" role="navigation" style="position: fixed; display: none; overflow-y: scroll; overflow-x: hidden;"> <div class="off_canvas_scroll"> <ul id="menu-primary-menu-1" class="main_menu"><li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-23"><a title="Japan Times News articles" href="/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/">News</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-181" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-news_category menu-item-181"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news_category/national/">National</a></li> <li id="menu-item-188" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-news_category menu-item-188"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news_category/world/">World</a></li> <li id="menu-item-195" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-news_category menu-item-195"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news_category/business/">Business</a></li> <li id="menu-item-56799" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-news_category menu-item-56799"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news_category/asia-pacific/">Asia Pacific</a></li> <li id="menu-item-208" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-news_category menu-item-208"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news_category/reference/">Reference</a></li> <li id="menu-item-210" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-210"><a title="News Columns" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news-columns/">Columns</a></li> <li id="menu-item-373853" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-multimedia_category menu-item-373853"><a title="Multimedia News" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/multimedia_category/news/">Multimedia</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-24"><a title="Japan Times Opinion articles" href="/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/">Opinion</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-211" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-opinion_category menu-item-211"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion_category/editorials/">Editorials</a></li> <li id="menu-item-212" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-opinion_category menu-item-212"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion_category/commentary/">Commentary</a></li> <li id="menu-item-215" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-opinion_category menu-item-215"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion_category/reader-mail/">Reader Mail</a></li> <li id="menu-item-95957" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-opinion_category menu-item-95957"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion_category/cartoons/">Cartoons</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-25"><a title="Japan Times Life feature stories" href="/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/">Life</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-219" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-life_category menu-item-219"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life_category/travel/">Travel</a></li> <li id="menu-item-220" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-life_category menu-item-220"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life_category/digital/">Digital</a></li> <li id="menu-item-221" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-life_category menu-item-221"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life_category/food/">Food & Drink</a></li> <li id="menu-item-222" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-life_category menu-item-222"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life_category/environment/">Environment</a></li> <li id="menu-item-223" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-life_category menu-item-223"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life_category/style/">Style & Design</a></li> <li id="menu-item-224" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-life_category menu-item-224"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life_category/language/">Language</a></li> <li id="menu-item-225" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-life_category menu-item-225"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life_category/lifestyle/">Lifestyle</a></li> <li id="menu-item-226" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-life_category menu-item-226"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life_category/people/">People</a></li> <li id="menu-item-218" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-218"><a title="Life Columns" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life-columns/">Columns</a></li> <li id="menu-item-373855" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-multimedia_category menu-item-373855"><a title="Multimedia Life" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/multimedia_category/life/">Multimedia</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-26"><a title="Japan Times Community feature stories" href="/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/">Community</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-229" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-community_category menu-item-229"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community_category/voices/">Voices</a></li> <li id="menu-item-230" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-community_category menu-item-230"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community_category/issues/">Issues</a></li> <li id="menu-item-231" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-community_category menu-item-231"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community_category/our-lives/">Our Lives</a></li> <li id="menu-item-234" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-234"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/event-listings/">Event Listings</a></li> <li id="menu-item-233" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-community_category menu-item-233"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community_category/how-tos/">How-tos</a></li> <li id="menu-item-227" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-227"><a title="Community Columns" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community-columns/">Columns</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-27"><a title="Japan Times Culture feature stories" href="/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/">Culture</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-241" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-culture_category menu-item-241"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture_category/films/">Film</a></li> <li id="menu-item-243" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-culture_category menu-item-243"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture_category/music/">Music</a></li> <li id="menu-item-246" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-culture_category menu-item-246"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture_category/arts/">Art</a></li> <li id="menu-item-250" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-culture_category menu-item-250"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture_category/stage/">Stage</a></li> <li id="menu-item-251" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-culture_category menu-item-251"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture_category/events/">Events</a></li> <li id="menu-item-375637" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-375637"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/festival-listings/">Festivals</a></li> <li id="menu-item-254" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-culture_category menu-item-254"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture_category/books/">Books</a></li> <li id="menu-item-72703" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-culture_category menu-item-72703"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture_category/tv/">TV</a></li> <li id="menu-item-373858" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-373858"><a title="Culture Columns" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture-columns/">Columns</a></li> <li id="menu-item-373856" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-multimedia_category menu-item-373856"><a title="Multimedia Culture" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/multimedia_category/culture-3/">Multimedia</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom current-menu-item menu-item-has-children menu-item-28"><a title="Japan Times Sports articles" href="/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/" aria-current="page">Sports</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-843262" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-sports_category menu-item-843262"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/rugby/">Rugby</a></li> <li id="menu-item-258" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-sports_category menu-item-258"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/baseball/">Baseball</a></li> <li id="menu-item-261" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-sports_category menu-item-261"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/soccer/">Soccer</a></li> <li id="menu-item-88892" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-sports_category menu-item-88892"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/basketball/">Basketball</a></li> <li id="menu-item-348" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-sports_category menu-item-348"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/sumo/">Sumo</a></li> <li id="menu-item-377593" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-sports_category menu-item-377593"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/figure-skating/">Figure Skating</a></li> <li id="menu-item-563243" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-sports_category menu-item-563243"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/tennis/">Tennis</a></li> <li id="menu-item-350" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-sports_category menu-item-350"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/more-sports/">More Sports</a></li> <li id="menu-item-56853" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-56853"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports-columns/">Columns</a></li> <li id="menu-item-373857" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-multimedia_category menu-item-373857"><a title="Multimedia Sports" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/multimedia_category/sports/">Multimedia</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> <ul> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children"><a href="/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/about-us/japan-times-faq-index/">Support</a> <ul class="sub-menu sub-menu-support level-0"> <li class="menu-item"><a href="/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/about-us/">About us</a></li> <li class="menu-item"><a href="/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/about-us/japan-times-faq-index/">Faqs</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </nav> <section class="main" role="main"> <div class="main_content"> <article class="story single_block"> <figure class="featured_image"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/03/figure-skating/hiwatashi-going-make-beijing-olympics/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857im_/https://cdn.japantimes.2xx.jp/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/sp-jack-a-20191204-870x489.jpg" alt="Tomoki Hiwatashi going all out to make Beijing Olympics" title="American Tomoki Hiwatashi, the world junior champion last season, skated competitively in Japan for the first time at last month’s NHK Trophy in Sapporo."/> </a> </figure> <div class="padding_block"> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/figure-skating/" class="category-link">Figure Skating</a><span> | </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_column/ice-time/" class="category-link">ICE TIME</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/03/figure-skating/hiwatashi-going-make-beijing-olympics/">Tomoki Hiwatashi going all out to make Beijing Olympics</a></p> <h5 class="writer" role="author">by <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/int-jack_gallagher/" title="Posts by Jack Gallagher" class="author url fn" rel="nofollow">Jack Gallagher</a></h5> </hgroup> </header> <p class="featured_excerpt"> Tomoki Hiwatashi made his competitive debut in Japan at the NHK Trophy last month before an appreciative crowd. Though he finished a disappointing 10th, fans had a chance to see the young American's potential firsthand. Hiwatashi's story is unique. Born in the United States to ... </p> </div> </article> <article class="story single_block column_half"> <figure class="featured_image"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/03/baseball/japanese-baseball/giants-complete-posting-application-pitcher-shun-yamaguchi/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857im_/https://cdn.japantimes.2xx.jp/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/sp-yamaguchi-a-20191204-870x489.jpg" alt="Giants complete posting application for pitcher Shun Yamaguchi" title="The Yomiuri Giants have completed the posting application for pitcher Shun Yamaguchi, who wants to play in the major leagues next season."/> </a> </figure> <div class="padding_block"> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/baseball/" class="category-link">Baseball</a><span> / </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/japanese-baseball/" class="category-link">Japanese Baseball</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/03/baseball/japanese-baseball/giants-complete-posting-application-pitcher-shun-yamaguchi/">Giants complete posting application for pitcher Shun Yamaguchi</a></p> </hgroup> </header> <p class="featured_excerpt"> The Yomiuri Giants officially broke with tradition on Tuesday when they made pitcher Shun Yamaguchi available to major league teams by completing his posting system application. The 32-year-old is the first player the Giants have posted since the system was introduced after the 1998 season. Major ... </p> </div> </article> <article class="story single_block column_half"> <figure class="featured_image"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/03/more-sports/football/seahawks-move-tie-nfc-west-lead/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857im_/https://cdn.japantimes.2xx.jp/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/sp-nfl-a-20191204-870x489.jpg" alt="Seahawks move into tie for NFC West lead" title="Seahawks coach Pete Carroll talks with quarterback Russell Wilson during the first half of Monday night’s game against the Vikings in Seattle."/> </a> </figure> <div class="padding_block"> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/more-sports/" class="category-link">More Sports</a><span> / </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/football/" class="category-link">Football</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/03/more-sports/football/seahawks-move-tie-nfc-west-lead/">Seahawks move into tie for NFC West lead</a></p> </hgroup> </header> <p class="featured_excerpt"> By the time the playoffs arrive, the Seattle Seahawks are going to feel just fine in a close, tight game. Even when they're comfortably ahead, the Seahawks have a way of making the final minutes more than a little unnerving. "Close games are cool, aren't they? ... </p> </div> </article> <div class="clearfix"></div> <div class="text_ad single_block">  <div id="screen_type"></div> <div id="ad_id"> <script> // mobile var id = 'div-gpt-ad-1362126290726-5'; if ( 'tablet' === deviceType ) { // tablet id = 'div-gpt-ad-1362125825102-8'; } else if ( 'desktop' === deviceType ) { // desktop id = 'div-gpt-ad-1362125114269-8'; } jQuery( '#ad_id' ).attr( 'id', id ); googletag.cmd.push( function() { googletag.display( id ); } ); </script> </div> </div> </div> <aside class="sidebar"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/web/20191204045857cs_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sidebar/assets/css/style.css?2019-12-04_12"> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sidebar/assets/js/script.js?2019-12-04_12"></script> <div class="bl_sideDiv bl_sideDiv__adBnr"> <div class="ad single_block"> <div class="single_block">   <div id="div-gpt-ad-1545099231048-0"> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1545099231048-0'); }); </script> </div> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="bl_sideDiv bl_sideDiv__adBnr-s"> </div>  <div class="bl_sideDiv"> <div class="bl_sideDiv_switchTab js_sidebarTabSwitch"> <ul class="bl_sideDiv_switchTab_tab js_sidebarTabSwitch_btn"> <li data-tab-num="1" class="is_active">WHAT’S TRENDING</li> <li data-tab-num="2" data-target-tab-name="editorspicks">EDITORS’ PICKS</li> </ul> <div class="bl_sideDiv_switchTab_body js_sidebarTabSwitch_body"> <div data-tab-num="1" class="is_active"> <ul class="tabchange_inner"> <li class="tabchange_item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/12/03/national/japanese-students-push-end-sexual-harassment-job-hunters/" onclick="ga('send', 'event', 'Trending Content', 'Japanese students and professors push for end to sexual harassment of job-seekers');"> <div class="tabchange_item_desc">Japanese students and professors push for end to sexual harassment of job-seekers </div> <figure class="tabchange_item_image"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857im_/https://cdn.japantimes.2xx.jp/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/n-harassment-a-20191203-200x200.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail-200x200 size-thumbnail-200x200 wp-post-image" alt="University students hold a news conference Monday in Tokyo to call for the end of sexual harassment during job applications."/> </figure> </a> </li> <li class="tabchange_item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/12/02/national/osaka-woman-history-first-captain-aegis-destroyer/" onclick="ga('send', 'event', 'Trending Content', 'MSDF captain first woman in Japan to command an Aegis destroyer');"> <div class="tabchange_item_desc">MSDF captain first woman in Japan to command an Aegis destroyer </div> <figure class="tabchange_item_image"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857im_/https://cdn.japantimes.2xx.jp/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/n-aegis-a-20191203-200x200.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail-200x200 size-thumbnail-200x200 wp-post-image" alt="Maritime Self-Defense Force Capt. Miho Otani, the first woman to take the helm of a Japanese Aegis destroyer, returns the crew's salutes on the Myoko at the MSDF's Maizuru base in Kyoto Prefecture on Monday."/> </figure> </a> </li> <li class="tabchange_item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/11/25/business/corporate-business/toshiba-test-cancer-blood/" onclick="ga('send', 'event', 'Trending Content', 'Toshiba says its device tests for 13 cancer types with 99% accuracy from a single drop of blood');"> <div class="tabchange_item_desc">Toshiba says its device tests for 13 cancer types with 99% accuracy from a single drop of blood </div> <figure class="tabchange_item_image"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857im_/https://cdn.japantimes.2xx.jp/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/b-toshiba-a-20191126-200x200.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail-200x200 size-thumbnail-200x200 wp-post-image" alt="Toshiba says this device can detect 13 types of cancer from a single drop of blood with 99 percent accuracy."/> </figure> </a> </li> <li class="tabchange_item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/12/03/asia-pacific/powerful-typhoon-nears-philippines-forcing-mass-evacuations/" onclick="ga('send', 'event', 'Trending Content', 'Powerful typhoon rips off roofs, floods parts of Philippines');"> <div class="tabchange_item_desc">Powerful typhoon rips off roofs, floods parts of Philippines </div> <figure class="tabchange_item_image"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857im_/https://cdn.japantimes.2xx.jp/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/f-kammuri-a-20191204-200x200.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail-200x200 size-thumbnail-200x200 wp-post-image" alt="Trees sway near buildings as Typhoon Kammuri, known locally as Typhoon Tisoy, makes landfall in Gamay, Northern Samar, Philippines, Monday in this still image from video obtained via social media."/> </figure> </a> </li> <li class="tabchange_item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/11/30/national/media-national/japans-love-ramen-tempered-mortality-warning/" onclick="ga('send', 'event', 'Trending Content', 'Japan’s love of ramen tempered by mortality warning');"> <div class="tabchange_item_desc">Japan’s love of ramen tempered by mortality warning </div> <figure class="tabchange_item_image"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857im_/https://cdn.japantimes.2xx.jp/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/p16-shoji-ramen-a-20191201-200x200.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail-200x200 size-thumbnail-200x200 wp-post-image" alt="Health warnings: Three Japanese researchers from the Jichi Medical University School of Medicine in Tochigi Prefecture found a direct link between the prevalence of ramen restaurants and stroke mortality in certain parts of the country."/> </figure> </a> </li> </ul> </div> <div data-tab-num="2" data-target-tab-name="editorspicks" class="bl_sideDiv_editorspicks"> <ul class="bl_sideDiv_artcleList"> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/11/29/national/crime-legal/japans-crime-rate-hits-postwar-low-report-shows-rise-child-abuse-domestic-violence-offenses-elderly/" class="bl_sideDiv_artcleList_wrapp" onclick="__gaTracker('send', 'event', 'editors picks', 'Japan's crime rate hits postwar low, but report shows rise in child abuse, domestic violence and offenses by the elderly', '/sports');"> <div class="bl_sideDiv_artcleList_data"> <p class="bl_sideDiv_artcleList_txt">Japan's crime rate hits postwar low, but report shows rise in child abuse, domestic violence and offenses by the elderly </p> </div> <figure class="bl_sideDiv_artcleList_img"> <p><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857im_/https://cdn.japantimes.2xx.jp/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/n-crimes-z-20191130-200x200.jpg" alt=""></p> </figure> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/11/30/national/karaoke-world-championships-rock-spiritual-home-japan-first-time-ever/" class="bl_sideDiv_artcleList_wrapp" onclick="__gaTracker('send', 'event', 'editors picks', 'Karaoke World Championships rock 'spiritual home' of Japan for first time ever', '/sports');"> <div class="bl_sideDiv_artcleList_data"> <p class="bl_sideDiv_artcleList_txt">Karaoke World Championships rock 'spiritual home' of Japan for first time ever </p> </div> <figure class="bl_sideDiv_artcleList_img"> <p><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857im_/https://cdn.japantimes.2xx.jp/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/n-karaoke-a-20191201-200x200.jpg" alt=""></p> </figure> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2019/11/28/issues/uighurs-kansai/" class="bl_sideDiv_artcleList_wrapp" onclick="__gaTracker('send', 'event', 'editors picks', 'Uighurs living in Kansai try to deal with the stress of a crisis back home', '/sports');"> <div class="bl_sideDiv_artcleList_data"> <p class="bl_sideDiv_artcleList_txt">Uighurs living in Kansai try to deal with the stress of a crisis back home </p> </div> <figure class="bl_sideDiv_artcleList_img"> <p><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857im_/https://cdn.japantimes.2xx.jp/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/p07-odonoghue-uighur-a-20191128-200x200.jpg" alt=""></p> </figure> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/28/figure-skating/yuzuru-hanyu-show-much-great-skater/" class="bl_sideDiv_artcleList_wrapp" onclick="__gaTracker('send', 'event', 'editors picks', 'Yuzuru Hanyu shows he is much more than a great skater', '/sports');"> <div class="bl_sideDiv_artcleList_data"> <p class="bl_sideDiv_artcleList_txt">Yuzuru Hanyu shows he is much more than a great skater </p> </div> <figure class="bl_sideDiv_artcleList_img"> <p><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857im_/https://cdn.japantimes.2xx.jp/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/sp-jack-a-20191129-200x200.jpg" alt=""></p> </figure> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2019/12/02/our-lives/language-beer-fukuoka-french-english-teaching/" class="bl_sideDiv_artcleList_wrapp" onclick="__gaTracker('send', 'event', 'editors picks', 'With great knowledge comes a great chilled beer', '/sports');"> <div class="bl_sideDiv_artcleList_data"> <p class="bl_sideDiv_artcleList_txt">With great knowledge comes a great chilled beer </p> </div> <figure class="bl_sideDiv_artcleList_img"> <p><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857im_/https://cdn.japantimes.2xx.jp/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/p10-grigorovici-samsbar-a-20191202-200x200.jpg" alt=""></p> </figure> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="bl_sideDiv bl_sideDiv__podcast"> <div class="section_title small single_block"> <h2>PODCAST</h2> </div> <ul class="bl_sideDiv_commonList bl_sideDiv_commonList__podcast"> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/podcast/episode-31-youth-climate-movement-japan-better-think/" class="bl_sideDiv_commonList_wrapp"> <div class="bl_sideDiv_commonList_data"> <p class="bl_sideDiv_commonList_cat">DEEP DIVE </p> <p class="bl_sideDiv_commonList_ttl">Episode 31: The youth climate movement in Japan is doing better than you think </p> <p class="bl_sideDiv_commonList_meta">LAST UPDATED: Nov 29, 2019 </p> </div> <p class="bl_sideDiv_commonList_img bl_sideDiv_commonList_img__podcast" style="background-image: url(https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857im_/https://cdn.japantimes.2xx.jp/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/deep-dive-podcast-20191128.jpg);"></p> </a> </li> </ul> </div>  <div class="bl_sideDiv bl_sideDiv__ddf"> <div class="section_title small single_block"> <h2>DEEP DIVE FEATURES</h2> </div> <ul class="bl_sideDiv_commonList bl_sideDiv_commonList__ddf"> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://features.japantimes.co.jp/nakagin-capsule-tower/" class="bl_sideDiv_commonList_wrapp" target="_blank"> <div class="bl_sideDiv_commonList_data"> <p class="bl_sideDiv_commonList_ttl">Nakagin Capsule Tower: Life catches up with Tokyo’s utopian dream</p> <p class="bl_sideDiv_commonList_lead js_featuresLead"></p> <p class="bl_sideDiv_commonList_meta">LAST UPDATED: Nov 8, 2019</p> </div> <p class="bl_sideDiv_commonList_img bl_sideDiv_commonList_img__ddf" style="background-image: url(/web/20191204045857im_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sidebar/data/features.jpg?2019-12-04_12);"></p> </a> </li> </ul> </div>  <div class="bl_sideDiv bl_sideDiv__jnu"> <div class="section_title small single_block"> <h2>JAPAN NETWORK UPDATES</h2> </div> <ul class="bl_sideDiv_commonList bl_sideDiv_commonList__jnu"> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/jnu/2019/12/02/jnu-chamber-of-commerce/jnucoc-europe/european-business-council-in-japan/francesco-formiconi/" class="bl_sideDiv_commonList_wrapp"> <div class="bl_sideDiv_commonList_data"> <p class="bl_sideDiv_commonList_lead"> Directory of who’s who in the world of business in Japan </p> <p class="bl_sideDiv_commonList_meta">LAST UPDATED: Dec 2, 2019 </p> </div> <figure class="bl_sideDiv_commonList_img bl_sideDiv_commonList_img__jnu"> <p><img src="/web/20191204045857im_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sidebar/assets/img/img_sidebar_jnu.png" alt="JAPAN NETWORK UPDATES"></p> </figure> </a> </li> </ul> </div>  </aside> </section> <section class="main" role="main"> <div class="main_content"> <section class="module"> <div class="padding_block"> <div class="section_title single_block"> <h2><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/olympics/">OLYMPICS</a></h2> </div> <nav class="module_nav single_block large_device"> <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/winter-olympics/">Winter Olympics</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/summer-olympics/">Summer Olympics</a></li> </ul> </nav> <div class="featured"> <article class="featured_article single_block"> <figure class="featured_image"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/30/olympics/new-national-stadium-declared-finished-nearly-eight-months-ahead-olympics/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857im_/https://cdn.japantimes.2xx.jp/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/n-stadium-a-20191201-200x200.jpg" alt="New National Stadium declared finished nearly eight months ahead of Tokyo Olympics" title="The new National Stadium was officially handed over Saturday to its owner and operator, the Japan Sport Council, and will be the main venue for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics."/> </a> </figure> <header class="featured_title "> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/olympics/" class="category-link">Olympics</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/30/olympics/new-national-stadium-declared-finished-nearly-eight-months-ahead-olympics/">New National Stadium declared finished nearly eight months ahead of Tokyo Olympics</a></p> </hgroup> </header> <p class="featured_excerpt "> The new National Stadium was officially completed on Saturday when the centerpiece for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics was handed over to its owner and operator, the Japan Sport Council. Created by architect Kengo Kuma's office, construction giant Taisei Corp. and design firm Azusa Sekkei ... </p> </article> <div class="clearfix"></div> </div> <ul class="module_articles"> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/olympics/" class="category-link">Olympics</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/28/olympics/russia-hits-back-political-doping-ban-threat/">Russia hits back at 'political' doping ban threat</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/olympics/" class="category-link">Olympics</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/27/olympics/athletes-missed-1980-olympics-due-boycott-will-invited-2020-games/">Athletes who missed 1980 Olympics due to boycott will be invited to 2020 Games</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/olympics/" class="category-link">Olympics</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/26/olympics/wada-panel-recommends-neutral-status-russia-2020-olympics/">WADA panel recommends neutral status for Russia at 2020 Tokyo Olympics</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/olympics/" class="category-link">Olympics</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/25/olympics/registrations-buy-tokyo-games-tickets-exceed-8-million/">Registrations to buy Tokyo Games tickets exceed 8 million</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/olympics/" class="category-link">Olympics</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/22/olympics/ioc-chief-thomas-bach-asked-intervene-tokyo-olympic-labor-dispute/">IOC chief Thomas Bach asked to intervene in Tokyo Olympic labor dispute</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/olympics/" class="category-link">Olympics</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/21/olympics/jocs-tsuyoshi-fukui-lead-japanese-delegation-tokyo-2020/">JOC's Tsuyoshi Fukui to lead Japanese delegation at Tokyo 2020</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> </ul> </div> </section> <section class="module"> <div class="padding_block"> <div class="section_title single_block"> <h2><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/baseball/">BASEBALL</a></h2> </div> <nav class="module_nav single_block large_device"> <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/mlb/">MLB</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/japanese-baseball/">Japanese Baseball</a></li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/mlb-standings/">MLB Scoreboard</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/japanese-baseball-scoreboard/">Japanese Baseball Scoreboard</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/robert-whiting-perspectives/">ROBERT WHITING PERSPECTIVES</a> </li> </ul> </nav> <div class="featured"> <article class="featured_article single_block"> <figure class="featured_image"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/02/baseball/japanese-baseball/new-pieces-present-marines-chance-alter-fortunes/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857im_/https://cdn.japantimes.2xx.jp/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/sp-jason-a-20191203-200x200.jpg" alt="New pieces present Marines with chance to alter fortunes" title="Marines rookie pitcher Roki Sasaki will be under the spotlight when the team begins its preparations for the 2020 baseball season."/> </a> </figure> <header class="featured_title "> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/baseball/" class="category-link">Baseball</a><span> / </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/japanese-baseball/" class="category-link">Japanese Baseball</a><span> | </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_column/sac-bunts/" class="category-link">Sac Bunts</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/02/baseball/japanese-baseball/new-pieces-present-marines-chance-alter-fortunes/">New pieces present Marines with chance to alter fortunes</a></p> <h5 class="writer" role="author">by <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/int-jason_coskrey/" title="Posts by Jason Coskrey" class="author url fn" rel="nofollow">Jason Coskrey</a></h5> </hgroup> </header> <p class="featured_excerpt "> The Chiba Lotte Marines have gotten a makeover. While the Marines may have missed out on the postseason this year (Lotte was fourth in the Pacific League), they haven't been idle during the offseason. There have been some changes to the team since the final out ... </p> </article> <div class="clearfix"></div> </div> <ul class="module_articles"> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/baseball/" class="category-link">Baseball</a><span> / </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/japanese-baseball/" class="category-link">Japanese Baseball</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/03/baseball/japanese-baseball/former-carp-reliever-jay-jackson-poised-sign-marines/">Former Carp reliever Jay Jackson poised to sign with Marines</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/baseball/" class="category-link">Baseball</a><span> / </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/japanese-baseball/" class="category-link">Japanese Baseball</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/03/baseball/japanese-baseball/lions-re-sign-former-ace-daisuke-matsuzaka/">Lions re-sign former ace Daisuke Matsuzaka</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/baseball/" class="category-link">Baseball</a><span> / </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/mlb/" class="category-link">MLB</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/03/baseball/mlb/mike-moustakas-reds-agree-four-year-deal/">Mike Moustakas, Reds agree to four-year deal</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/baseball/" class="category-link">Baseball</a><span> / </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/japanese-baseball/" class="category-link">Japanese Baseball</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/03/baseball/japanese-baseball/carp-submit-application-post-second-baseman-ryosuke-kikuchi-majors/">Carp submit application to post second baseman Ryosuke Kikuchi to majors</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/baseball/" class="category-link">Baseball</a><span> / </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/japanese-baseball/" class="category-link">Japanese Baseball</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/01/baseball/japanese-baseball/ichiro-suzuki-pitches-bats-amateur-game/">Ichiro Suzuki pitches and bats again in amateur game</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/baseball/" class="category-link">Baseball</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/29/baseball/national-high-school-body-orders-pitch-limits-first-time/">National high school body orders pitch limits for first time</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> </ul> </div> </section> <section class="module"> <div class="padding_block"> <div class="section_title single_block"> <h2><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/soccer/">SOCCER</a></h2> </div> <nav class="module_nav single_block large_device"> <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/j-league/">J. League</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/international-soccer/">World Cup</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/womens-world-cup/">Women's World Cup</a></li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/j-league-scoreboard/">J. League Scoreboard</a> </li> </ul> </nav> <div class="featured"> <article class="featured_article single_block"> <figure class="featured_image"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/03/soccer/lionel-messi-wins-record-sixth-ballon-dor/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857im_/https://cdn.japantimes.2xx.jp/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/sp-awards-a-20191204-200x200.jpg" alt="Barcelona's Messi wins record sixth Ballon d'Or" title="Barcelona’s Lionel Messi holds the trophy during the Golden Ball award ceremony in Paris on Monday. Messi won the Ballon d’Or for the sixth time."/> </a> </figure> <header class="featured_title "> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/soccer/" class="category-link">Soccer</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/03/soccer/lionel-messi-wins-record-sixth-ballon-dor/">Barcelona's Messi wins record sixth Ballon d'Or</a></p> </hgroup> </header> <p class="featured_excerpt "> After becoming the first six-time winner of the Ballon d'Or, Lionel Messi said he's far from finished. "I hope to continue for a long time," Messi said on Monday in Paris from behind a row of the trophies which honor the world's best soccer player. "I ... </p> </article> <div class="clearfix"></div> </div> <ul class="module_articles"> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/soccer/" class="category-link">Soccer</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/02/soccer/saki-kumagai-asako-takakura-win-afc-honors-qatars-akram-afif-top-male-player/">Saki Kumagai, Asako Takakura win AFC honors; Qatar's Akram Afif top male player</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/soccer/" class="category-link">Soccer</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/02/soccer/napoli-fines-contested-world-players-union/">Napoli fines contested by world players' union</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/soccer/" class="category-link">Soccer</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/02/soccer/arsenals-post-emery-era-begins-tepid-draw-norwich/">Arsenal's post-Emery era begins with tepid draw against Norwich</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/soccer/" class="category-link">Soccer</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/02/soccer/yuto-nagatomo-scores-late-help-galatasaray-earn-draw/">Yuto Nagatomo scores late to help Galatasaray earn draw</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/soccer/" class="category-link">Soccer</a><span> / </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/j-league/" class="category-link">J. League</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/01/soccer/j-league/tokushima-vortis-montedio-yamagata-advance-bid-j1-berth/">Tokushima Vortis, Montedio Yamagata advance in bid for J1 berth</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/soccer/" class="category-link">Soccer</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/01/soccer/yuma-suzuki-lifts-sint-truiden-genk-belgian-top-flight/">Yuma Suzuki lifts Sint-Truiden over Genk in Belgian top flight</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> </ul> </div> </section> <section class="module"> <div class="padding_block"> <div class="section_title single_block"> <h2><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/sumo/">SUMO</a></h2> </div> <nav class="module_nav single_block large_device"> <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/basho-reports/">Basho Reports</a></li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sumo-rankings/">Sumo Rankings</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sumo-schedule/">Sumo Schedule</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sumo-standings/">Sumo Standings</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sumo-daily-bouts/">Sumo Daily Bouts</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sumo-101/">Sumo 101</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sumo-special/kyushu-basho/">Kyushu Basho Special</a> </li> </ul> </nav> <div class="featured"> <article class="featured_article single_block"> <figure class="featured_image"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/27/sumo/content-needed-satisfy-sumos-overseas-fans/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857im_/https://cdn.japantimes.2xx.jp/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/sp-john-a-20191128-200x200.jpg" alt="More content needed to satisfy sumo's overseas fans" title="Yokozuna Hakuho (right) is incredibly popular among sumo’s foreign fans."/> </a> </figure> <header class="featured_title "> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/sumo/" class="category-link">Sumo</a><span> | </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_column/inside-sumo/" class="category-link">INSIDE SUMO</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/27/sumo/content-needed-satisfy-sumos-overseas-fans/">More content needed to satisfy sumo's overseas fans</a></p> <h5 class="writer" role="author">by <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/john-gunning/" title="Posts by John Gunning" class="author url fn" rel="nofollow">John Gunning</a></h5> </hgroup> </header> <p class="featured_excerpt "> Sumo's popularity abroad has increased massively over the past few years. A huge section of the fan base is now composed of people who have come to the sport relatively recently. That larger audience has been a boon for those of us working in sports media, ... </p> </article> <div class="clearfix"></div> </div> <ul class="module_articles"> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/sumo/" class="category-link">Sumo</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/25/sumo/hakuho-motivated-quest-reach-50-championships/">Hakuho motivated by quest to reach 50 championships</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/sumo/" class="category-link">Sumo</a><span> / </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/basho-reports/" class="category-link">Basho Reports</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/24/sumo/basho-reports/hakuho-kyushu-basho/">Hakuho puts finishing touches on 43rd career title</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/sumo/" class="category-link">Sumo</a><span> | </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_column/rikishi-files/" class="category-link">Rikishi Files</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/24/sumo/asahishos-comedic-talents-provided-many-laughs/">Asahisho's comedic talents have provided many laughs</a></p> <h5 class="writer" role="author">by <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/john-gunning/" title="Posts by John Gunning" class="author url fn" rel="nofollow">John Gunning</a></h5> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/sumo/" class="category-link">Sumo</a><span> | </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_column/rikishi-files/" class="category-link">Rikishi Files</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/23/sumo/terunofuji-endures-tough-times-get-back-track/">Terunofuji endured tough times to get back on track</a></p> <h5 class="writer" role="author">by <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/john-gunning/" title="Posts by John Gunning" class="author url fn" rel="nofollow">John Gunning</a></h5> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/sumo/" class="category-link">Sumo</a><span> / </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/basho-reports/" class="category-link">Basho Reports</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/23/sumo/basho-reports/hakuho-seals-43rd-career-title/">Hakuho seals 43rd career title at Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/sumo/" class="category-link">Sumo</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/22/sumo/veteran-tochiozan-clawing-back-makuuchi-twilight-long-career/">Veteran Tochiozan clawing back to makuuchi in twilight of long career</a></p> <h5 class="writer" role="author">by <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/john-gunning/" title="Posts by John Gunning" class="author url fn" rel="nofollow">John Gunning</a></h5> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> </ul> </div> </section> <section class="module"> <div class="padding_block"> <div class="section_title single_block"> <h2><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/figure-skating/">FIGURE SKATING</a></h2> </div> <nav class="module_nav single_block large_device"> <ul> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/ice-time/">Ice Time</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/figure-skating-schedule-and-assignments/">Schedule and assignments</a> </li> </ul> </nav> <div class="featured"> <article class="featured_article single_block"> <figure class="featured_image"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/28/figure-skating/yuzuru-hanyu-show-much-great-skater/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857im_/https://cdn.japantimes.2xx.jp/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/sp-jack-a-20191129-200x200.jpg" alt="Yuzuru Hanyu shows he is much more than a great skater" title="Yuzuru Hanyu, who won the NHK Trophy last week, displayed his communications skills in dealing with the media in Sapporo."/> </a> </figure> <header class="featured_title "> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/figure-skating/" class="category-link">Figure Skating</a><span> | </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_column/ice-time/" class="category-link">ICE TIME</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/28/figure-skating/yuzuru-hanyu-show-much-great-skater/">Yuzuru Hanyu shows he is much more than a great skater</a></p> <h5 class="writer" role="author">by <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/int-jack_gallagher/" title="Posts by Jack Gallagher" class="author url fn" rel="nofollow">Jack Gallagher</a></h5> </hgroup> </header> <p class="featured_excerpt "> Yuzuru Hanyu's destruction of the opposition at the NHK Trophy last weekend came as no surprise. The two-time Olympic champion is fully healthy and back in top form as witnessed by his 55-point victory. What resonated to me even more than his skating, which was ... </p> </article> <div class="clearfix"></div> </div> <ul class="module_articles"> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/figure-skating/" class="category-link">Figure Skating</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/23/figure-skating/yuzuru-hanyu-dazzles-en-route-fourth-nhk-trophy-title-alena-kostornaia-wins-womens-event/">Yuzuru Hanyu dazzles en route to fourth NHK Trophy title; Alena Kostornaia wins women's event</a></p> <h5 class="writer" role="author">by <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/int-jack_gallagher/" title="Posts by Jack Gallagher" class="author url fn" rel="nofollow">Jack Gallagher</a></h5> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/figure-skating/" class="category-link">Figure Skating</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/22/figure-skating/yuzuru-hanyu-takes-dominant-lead-nhk-trophy-short-program/">Yuzuru Hanyu takes dominant lead in NHK Trophy short program</a></p> <h5 class="writer" role="author">by <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/int-jack_gallagher/" title="Posts by Jack Gallagher" class="author url fn" rel="nofollow">Jack Gallagher</a></h5> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/figure-skating/" class="category-link">Figure Skating</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/21/figure-skating/yuzuru-hanyu-looks-sharp-nhk-trophy-practice/">Yuzuru Hanyu looks sharp in NHK Trophy practice</a></p> <h5 class="writer" role="author">by <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/int-jack_gallagher/" title="Posts by Jack Gallagher" class="author url fn" rel="nofollow">Jack Gallagher</a></h5> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/figure-skating/" class="category-link">Figure Skating</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/17/figure-skating/yuma-kagiyama-mana-kawabe-leave-rivals-dust-win-japan-junior-championships/">Yuma Kagiyama, Mana Kawabe leave rivals in dust to win at Japan Junior Championships</a></p> <h5 class="writer" role="author">by <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/int-jack_gallagher/" title="Posts by Jack Gallagher" class="author url fn" rel="nofollow">Jack Gallagher</a></h5> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/figure-skating/" class="category-link">Figure Skating</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/17/figure-skating/shoma-uno-finishes-fourth-russian-men-sweep-home-grand-prix-meet/">Shoma Uno finishes fourth as Russian men sweep home Grand Prix meet</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/figure-skating/" class="category-link">Figure Skating</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/16/figure-skating/yuma-kagiyama-mana-kawabe-hold-top-spots-short-programs-japan-junior-championships/">Yuma Kagiyama, Mana Kawabe win short programs at Japan Junior Championships</a></p> <h5 class="writer" role="author">by <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/int-jack_gallagher/" title="Posts by Jack Gallagher" class="author url fn" rel="nofollow">Jack Gallagher</a></h5> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> </ul> </div> </section> <section class="module"> <div class="padding_block"> <div class="section_title single_block"> <h2><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/tennis/">TENNIS</a></h2> </div> <nav class="module_nav single_block large_device"> <ul> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports-columns/match-point/">MATCH POINT</a> </li> </ul> </nav> <div class="featured"> <article class="featured_article single_block"> <figure class="featured_image"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/02/tennis/roger-federers-face-minted-swiss-coin/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857im_/https://cdn.japantimes.2xx.jp/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/sp-tennis-a-20191203-200x200.jpg" alt="Roger Federer's face to be minted on Swiss coin" title="Roger Federer juggles a tennis ball with his foot during an exhibition match against Alexander Zverev on Nov. 23 in Mexico City."/> </a> </figure> <header class="featured_title "> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/tennis/" class="category-link">Tennis</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/02/tennis/roger-federers-face-minted-swiss-coin/">Roger Federer's face to be minted on Swiss coin</a></p> </hgroup> </header> <p class="featured_excerpt "> The Swiss government says it will produce a 20 franc silver coin with Roger Federer's image on it. The government says it's the first time it has dedicated a commemorative coin to a living person. A 50 franc gold coin with Federer's image on it will ... </p> </article> <div class="clearfix"></div> </div> <ul class="module_articles"> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/tennis/" class="category-link">Tennis</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/30/tennis/kei-nishikori-appoints-max-mirnyi-coaching-team/">Kei Nishikori appoints Max Mirnyi to coaching team</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/tennis/" class="category-link">Tennis</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/25/tennis/grieving-roberto-bautista-agut-rafael-nadal-guide-spain-davis-cup-title/">Grieving Roberto Bautista Agut, Rafael Nadal guide Spain to Davis Cup title</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/tennis/" class="category-link">Tennis</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/24/tennis/spain-reaches-davis-cup-final-beating-britain/">Spain reaches Davis Cup final by beating Britain</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/tennis/" class="category-link">Tennis</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/21/tennis/novak-djokovic-helps-serbia-knock-japan-davis-cup/">Novak Djokovic helps Serbia knock Japan out of Davis Cup</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/tennis/" class="category-link">Tennis</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/20/tennis/rafael-nadal-leads-spain-win-russia-davis-cup-finals/">Rafael Nadal leads Spain to win over Russia in Davis Cup Finals</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/tennis/" class="category-link">Tennis</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/19/tennis/rafael-nadal-ends-year-no-1-fifth-time/">Rafael Nadal ends year as No. 1 for fifth time</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> </ul> </div> </section> <section class="module"> <div class="padding_block"> <div class="section_title single_block"> <h2><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/basketball/">BASKETBALL</a></h2> </div> <nav class="module_nav single_block large_device"> <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/nba/">NBA</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/b-league/">B. League</a></li> </ul> </nav> <div class="featured"> <article class="featured_article single_block"> <figure class="featured_image"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/03/basketball/nba/76ers-defeat-jazz-improve-10-0-home/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857im_/https://cdn.japantimes.2xx.jp/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/sp-nba-a-20191204-200x200.jpg" alt="76ers prevail against Jazz, improve to 10-0 in home games" title="The 76ers’ Joel Embiid dribbles against the Jazz in the third quarter on Monday in Philadelphia."/> </a> </figure> <header class="featured_title "> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/basketball/" class="category-link">Basketball</a><span> / </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/nba/" class="category-link">NBA</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/03/basketball/nba/76ers-defeat-jazz-improve-10-0-home/">76ers prevail against Jazz, improve to 10-0 in home games</a></p> </hgroup> </header> <p class="featured_excerpt "> James Ennis III hit a 3-pointer and dropped for three pushups, celebratory calisthenics in an early run in which the 76ers flexed their offensive muscle "I wanted to get a little workout in," Ennis said. Ennis passed the fitness test and Tobias Harris scored 26 points ... </p> </article> <div class="clearfix"></div> </div> <ul class="module_articles"> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/basketball/" class="category-link">Basketball</a><span> / </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/b-league/" class="category-link">B. League</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/02/basketball/b-league/fans-select-orimo-star-game/">Fans select Takehiko Orimo for All-Star Game</a></p> <h5 class="writer" role="author">by <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/int-kaz_nagatsuka/" title="Posts by Kaz Nagatsuka" class="author url fn" rel="nofollow">Kaz Nagatsuka</a></h5> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/basketball/" class="category-link">Basketball</a><span> / </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/nba/" class="category-link">NBA</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/02/basketball/nba/hachimuras-30-point-night-not-enough-save-wizards-loss/">Hachimura's 30-point night not enough to save Wizards from loss</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/basketball/" class="category-link">Basketball</a><span> / </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/nba/" class="category-link">NBA</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/01/basketball/nba/harden-blasts-off-60-points-31-minutes/">Harden blasts off for 60 points in 31 minutes</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/basketball/" class="category-link">Basketball</a><span> / </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/nba/" class="category-link">NBA</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/30/basketball/nba/angels-shohei-ohtani-supports-wizards-rookie-rui-hachimura-courtside/">Angels' Shohei Ohtani supports Wizards rookie Rui Hachimura from courtside</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/basketball/" class="category-link">Basketball</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/30/basketball/ranger-college-freshman-sharpshooter-keisei-tominaga-commits-nebraska/">Ranger College freshman sharpshooter Keisei Tominaga commits to Nebraska</a></p> <h5 class="writer" role="author">by <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/int-ed_odeven/" title="Posts by Ed Odeven" class="author url fn" rel="nofollow">Ed Odeven</a></h5> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/basketball/" class="category-link">Basketball</a><span> / </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/nba/" class="category-link">NBA</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/30/basketball/nba/lakers-roll-10th-straight-win/">Lakers roll to 10th straight win</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> </ul> </div> </section> <section class="module"> <div class="padding_block"> <div class="section_title single_block"> <h2><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/rugby/">RUGBY</a></h2> </div> <nav class="module_nav single_block large_device"> <ul> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/rugby-world-cup-2019-host-cities/">Rugby World Cup 2019 Host Cities</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/rugby-world-cup-2019-schedule/">Rugby World Cup 2019 schedule</a> </li> </ul> </nav> <div class="featured"> <article class="featured_article single_block"> <figure class="featured_image"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/02/rugby/former-blacks-coach-steve-hansen-becomes-director-rugby-toyota-verblitz/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857im_/https://cdn.japantimes.2xx.jp/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/sp-rugby-a-20191203-200x200.jpg" alt="Former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen becomes director of rugby for Toyota Verblitz" title="Former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen will serve as an adviser with Toyota Verblitz during the upcoming Top League season."/> </a> </figure> <header class="featured_title "> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/rugby/" class="category-link">Rugby</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/02/rugby/former-blacks-coach-steve-hansen-becomes-director-rugby-toyota-verblitz/">Former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen becomes director of rugby for Toyota Verblitz</a></p> </hgroup> </header> <p class="featured_excerpt "> Toyota Verblitz announced Monday that former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has been appointed as director of rugby ahead of the next Top League season in Japan. Hansen joins former All Blacks captain Kieran Read in moving to the Top League team after guiding New ... </p> </article> <div class="clearfix"></div> </div> <ul class="module_articles"> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/rugby/" class="category-link">Rugby</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/02/rugby/wallabies-assistant-coach-nathan-grey-help-sunwolves/">Wallabies assistant coach Nathan Grey to help Sunwolves</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/rugby/" class="category-link">Rugby</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/01/rugby/keio-boys-triumph-japans-oldest-sides-play-memorial-match/">Keio boys triumph as Japan's oldest sides play memorial match</a></p> <h5 class="writer" role="author">by <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/ayano-shimizu/" title="Posts by Ayano Shimizu" class="author url fn" rel="nofollow">Ayano Shimizu</a></h5> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/rugby/" class="category-link">Rugby</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/29/rugby/crusaders-keep-name-change-logo-mosque-killings/">Crusaders to keep name, change logo after mosque killings</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/rugby/" class="category-link">Rugby</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/27/rugby/rugby-australia-boss-raelene-castle-apologizes-world-rugby-report/">Rugby Australia boss Raelene Castle apologizes to World Rugby: report</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/rugby/" class="category-link">Rugby</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/26/rugby/sunwolves-building-roster-2020-season/">Sunwolves building roster for 2020 season</a></p> <h5 class="writer" role="author">by <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/int-kaz_nagatsuka/" title="Posts by Kaz Nagatsuka" class="author url fn" rel="nofollow">Kaz Nagatsuka</a></h5> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/rugby/" class="category-link">Rugby</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/26/rugby/springboks-cheslin-kolbe-earns-top-14-honor/">Springboks' Cheslin Kolbe earns Top 14 honor</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> </ul> </div> </section> <section class="module"> <div class="padding_block"> <div class="section_title single_block"> <h2><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/more-sports/">MORE SPORTS</a></h2> </div> <nav class="module_nav single_block large_device"> <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/auto-racing/">Auto Racing</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/boxing-2/">Boxing</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/cricket-2/">Cricket</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/football/">Football</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/golf/">Golf</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/gymnastics/">Gymnastics</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/horse-racing/">Horse Racing</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/ice-hockey/">Ice Hockey</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/judo/">Judo</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/swimming/">Swimming</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/track-field/">Track & Field</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/volleyball/">Volleyball</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/winter-sports-more-sports/">Winter Sports</a></li> </ul> </nav> <div class="featured"> <article class="featured_article single_block"> <figure class="featured_image"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/03/more-sports/track-field/sprint-star-yohan-blake-blames-iaaf-chief-sebastian-coe-killing-track/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857im_/https://cdn.japantimes.2xx.jp/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/sp-track-a-20191204-200x200.jpg" alt="Sprint star Yohan Blake blames IAAF chief Sebastian Coe for 'killing' track" title="Jamaican sprinter Yohan Blake is seen in a September file pohto."/> </a> </figure> <header class="featured_title "> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/more-sports/" class="category-link">More Sports</a><span> / </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/track-field/" class="category-link">Track & Field</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/03/more-sports/track-field/sprint-star-yohan-blake-blames-iaaf-chief-sebastian-coe-killing-track/">Sprint star Yohan Blake blames IAAF chief Sebastian Coe for 'killing' track</a></p> </hgroup> </header> <p class="featured_excerpt "> Ace Jamaican sprinter Yohan Blake has slammed global track and field chief Sebastian Coe for taking away track and field disciplines such as the 200 meters from next year's Diamond League. The IAAF dropped the 200 meters, 3,000 steeplechase, triple jump and discus from its ... </p> </article> <div class="clearfix"></div> </div> <ul class="module_articles"> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/more-sports/" class="category-link">More Sports</a><span> / </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/ice-hockey/" class="category-link">Ice Hockey</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/03/more-sports/ice-hockey/sabres-celebrate-50th-birthday-rout/">Sabres celebrate 50th birthday with rout</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/more-sports/" class="category-link">More Sports</a><span> / </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/ice-hockey/" class="category-link">Ice Hockey</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/03/more-sports/ice-hockey/hall-famer-guy-lafleur-additional-surgery/">Hall of Famer Guy Lafleur has additional surgery</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/more-sports/" class="category-link">More Sports</a><span> / </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/boxing-2/" class="category-link">Boxing</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/03/more-sports/boxing-2/andy-ruiz-jr-says-pressure-anthony-joshua-ahead-title-rematch-saudi-arabia/">Andy Ruiz Jr. says pressure on Anthony Joshua ahead of title rematch in Saudi Arabia</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/more-sports/" class="category-link">More Sports</a><span> / </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/auto-racing/" class="category-link">Auto Racing</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/02/more-sports/auto-racing/lewis-hamilton-torn-mercedes-loyalty-ferrari-novelty/">Lewis Hamilton torn between Mercedes loyalty, Ferrari novelty</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/more-sports/" class="category-link">More Sports</a><span> / </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/cricket-2/" class="category-link">Cricket</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/02/more-sports/cricket-2/joe-root-delight-226-sets-englands-final-day-push/">Joe Root delight as his 226 sets up England's final-day push</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> <li class="single_block"> <article> <header> <hgroup> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/more-sports/" class="category-link">More Sports</a></h3> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/02/more-sports/carissa-moore-caroline-marks-earn-u-s-womens-olympic-surfing-spots/">Carissa Moore, Caroline Marks earn U.S. women's Olympic surfing spots</a></p> </hgroup> </header> </article> </li> </ul> <div class="section_title small single_block mt20 mb20"><h2>WHAT PEOPLE ARE READING</h2></div><div class="related_block_unit"><div class="related_block single_block"><div class="related_block_header"><div class="related_block_header_img"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857im_/https://cdn.japantimes.2xx.jp/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/n-stadium-a-20191201-200x200.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail-200x200 size-thumbnail-200x200 wp-post-image" alt="The new National Stadium was officially handed over Saturday to its owner and operator, the Japan Sport Council, and will be the main venue for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics."/></div><div class="related_block_header_desc"><header><hgroup><h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/olympics/" rel="tag" class="category-link" title="See all entries from Olympics">Olympics</a></h3><p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/30/olympics/new-national-stadium-declared-finished-nearly-eight-months-ahead-olympics/" title="New National Stadium declared finished nearly eight months ahead of Tokyo Olympics">New National Stadium declared finished nearly eight months ahead of Tokyo Olympics</a></p></hgroup></header></div></div><div class="related_block_body"><p class="featured_excerpt">The new National Stadium was officially completed on Saturday when the centerpiece for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics was handed over to its owner and operator, the Japan Sport Council. Created by architect Kengo Kuma's office, construction giant Taisei Corp. and design firm Azusa Sekkei Co., ...</p></div></div><div class="related_block single_block"><div class="related_block_header"><div class="related_block_header_img"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857im_/https://cdn.japantimes.2xx.jp/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/sp-jack-a-20191129-200x200.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail-200x200 size-thumbnail-200x200 wp-post-image" alt="Yuzuru Hanyu, who won the NHK Trophy last week, displayed his communications skills in dealing with the media in Sapporo."/></div><div class="related_block_header_desc"><header><hgroup><h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/figure-skating/" rel="tag" class="category-link" title="See all entries from Figure Skating">Figure Skating</a></h3><p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/28/figure-skating/yuzuru-hanyu-show-much-great-skater/" title="Yuzuru Hanyu shows he is much more than a great skater">Yuzuru Hanyu shows he is much more than a great skater</a></p><h5 class="writer" role="author">by <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/int-jack_gallagher/" title="Posts by Jack Gallagher" class="author url fn" rel="nofollow">Jack Gallagher</a> </h5></hgroup></header></div></div><div class="related_block_body"><p class="featured_excerpt">Yuzuru Hanyu's destruction of the opposition at the NHK Trophy last weekend came as no surprise. The two-time Olympic champion is fully healthy and back in top form as witnessed by his 55-point victory. What resonated to me even more than his skating, which was superb as usual, was how well he ha...</p></div></div><div class="related_block single_block"><div class="related_block_header"><div class="related_block_header_img"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857im_/https://cdn.japantimes.2xx.jp/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/sp-shinjo-a-20191128-200x200.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail-200x200 size-thumbnail-200x200 wp-post-image" alt="Tsuyoshi Shinjo"/></div><div class="related_block_header_desc"><header><hgroup><h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/baseball/" rel="tag" class="category-link" title="See all entries from Baseball">Baseball</a><span> / </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/japanese-baseball/" rel="tag" class="category-link" title="See all entries from Japanese Baseball">Japanese Baseball</a></h3><p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/27/baseball/japanese-baseball/former-star-outfielder-tsuyoshi-shinjo-unretires-47-hopes-making-comeback/" title="Former star outfielder Tsuyoshi Shinjo unretires at 47 in hopes of making comeback">Former star outfielder Tsuyoshi Shinjo unretires at 47 in hopes of making comeback</a></p></hgroup></header></div></div><div class="related_block_body"><p class="featured_excerpt">Popular former outfielder Tsuyoshi Shinjo, who has announced on social media that he wishes to resume playing professional baseball, officially unretired on Wednesday when he was listed as a free agent eligible to sign with any club. The 47-year-old played for the Hanshin Tigers, New York Mets a...</p></div></div><div class="related_block single_block"><div class="related_block_header"><div class="related_block_header_img"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857im_/https://cdn.japantimes.2xx.jp/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/sp-ichiro-a-20191202-200x200.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail-200x200 size-thumbnail-200x200 wp-post-image" alt="Retired Japanese baseball legend Ichiro Suzuki runs to first base during a sandlot-level game on Sunday at Hotto Motto Field in Kobe."/></div><div class="related_block_header_desc"><header><hgroup><h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/baseball/" rel="tag" class="category-link" title="See all entries from Baseball">Baseball</a><span> / </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/japanese-baseball/" rel="tag" class="category-link" title="See all entries from Japanese Baseball">Japanese Baseball</a></h3><p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/01/baseball/japanese-baseball/ichiro-suzuki-pitches-bats-amateur-game/" title="Ichiro Suzuki pitches and bats again in amateur game">Ichiro Suzuki pitches and bats again in amateur game</a></p></hgroup></header></div></div><div class="related_block_body"><p class="featured_excerpt">Ichiro Suzuki, who retired from professional baseball in March, returned to the diamond as an amateur on Sunday, batting and pitching in a sandlot-level game against a team of high school teachers. Using the rubber baseball common to the form of the game known as kusayakyu in Japanese, the game ...</p></div></div><div class="related_block single_block"><div class="related_block_header"><div class="related_block_header_img"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857im_/https://cdn.japantimes.2xx.jp/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/sp-koshien-a-20191130-200x200.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail-200x200 size-thumbnail-200x200 wp-post-image" alt="Kosei Yoshida, now with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, threw 881 pitches in the 2018 Summer Koshien tournament for Kanaashi Nogyo High School."/></div><div class="related_block_header_desc"><header><hgroup><h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/baseball/" rel="tag" class="category-link" title="See all entries from Baseball">Baseball</a></h3><p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/11/29/baseball/national-high-school-body-orders-pitch-limits-first-time/" title="National high school body orders pitch limits for first time">National high school body orders pitch limits for first time</a></p></hgroup></header></div></div><div class="related_block_body"><p class="featured_excerpt">High school games played at the spiritual home of Japanese baseball will get a new look in 2020 after the organizer of the prestigious national championship on Friday announced its first pitch limits. Starting from next spring's national invitational tournament at Koshien Stadium near Osaka, t...</p></div></div></div> </div> </section> </div> <aside class="sidebar bottom sidecnt_top"> <link rel="stylesheet" id="jt_flexslider-css" href="/web/20191204045857cs_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/css/flexslider.css?ver=1.1" type="text/css" media="all"/> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/js/jquery.flexslider-min.js?ver=2.1"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/js/side.js?ver=1.0"></script> <div class="bl_sideDiv bl_sideDiv__adBnr"> <div class="sponsored_links single_block"> <div class="ad single_block">  <div id="div-gpt-ad-1545099535665-0"> <script> googletag.cmd.push( function() { googletag.display( 'div-gpt-ad-1545099535665-0' ); } ); </script> </div> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="bl_sideDiv"> <div class="sidebar_slide"> <h2><span>SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS<a href="#" class="js_notePop"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857im_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/img/icon_note.png" alt=""></a></span></h2> <div class="note_block"> <div class="note_block_inner"> <p class="note_txt">Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division.</p> <p class="note_txt_jp"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/http://info.japantimes.co.jp/solutions/" target="_blank">広告出稿に関するおといあわせはこちらまで</a> </p> </div> </div> <div class="bl_sideDiv bl_sideDiv__supplements"> <div class="single_block">  <div id="div-gpt-ad-1545378846364-0"> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1545378846364-0'); }); </script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="sidebar_ad_inner"> <div class="sidebar_ad_item"> <a href="#">  <div id="div-gpt-ad-1545377720996-0" style="height:1px; width:1px;"> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1545377720996-0'); }); </script> </div> </a> </div> <div class="sidebar_ad_item"> <a href="#">  <div id="div-gpt-ad-1545377819100-0" style="height:1px; width:1px;"> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1545377819100-0'); }); </script> </div> </a> </div> <div class="sidebar_ad_item"> <a href="#">  <div id="div-gpt-ad-1545377905854-0" style="height:1px; width:1px;"> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1545377905854-0'); }); </script> </div> </a> </div> <div class="sidebar_ad_item"> <a href="#">  <div id="div-gpt-ad-1545378016685-0" style="height:1px; width:1px;"> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1545378016685-0'); }); </script> </div> </a> </div> <div class="sidebar_ad_item"> <a href="#">  <div id="div-gpt-ad-1545378526968-0" style="height:1px; width:1px;"> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1545378526968-0'); }); </script> </div> </a> </div> <div class="sidebar_ad_item"> <a href="#">  <div id="div-gpt-ad-1545378615238-0" style="height:1px; width:1px;"> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1545378615238-0'); }); </script> </div> </a> </div> <div class="sidebar_ad_item"> <a href="#">  <div id="div-gpt-ad-1545378710149-0" style="height:1px; width:1px;"> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1545378710149-0'); }); </script> </div> </a> </div> <div class="sidebar_ad_item"> <a href="#">  <div id="div-gpt-ad-1545378782983-0" style="height:1px; width:1px;"> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1545378782983-0'); }); </script> </div> </a> </div> <p class="more-btn"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/http://info.japantimes.co.jp/" target="_blank"><span>Read more</span></a> </p> </div>  <div id="div-gpt-ad-1545377636115-0"> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1545377636115-0'); }); </script> </div> <div class="sidebar_ad_inner sidebar_ad_inner02"> <h2>SUPPLEMENTS BINDER</h2>  <div class="banner_list"> <div class="banner_list_item">  <div class="ad single_block"> <div id="div-gpt-ad-1545377501993-0" style="height:40px; width:270px;"> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1545377501993-0'); }); </script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="banner_list_item">  <div class="ad single_block"> <div id="div-gpt-ad-1545377579422-0" style="height:40px; width:270px;"> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1545377579422-0'); }); </script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="banner_list_item"> <p><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857im_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/img/international-reports.png" alt="international-reports"></p> <ul class="banner_list_item_inner"> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/http://info.japantimes.co.jp/international-reports/sms/" target="_blank">Synergy Media Specialists</a> <ul> <li>  <div id="div-gpt-ad-1545377287544-0"> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1545377287544-0'); }); </script> </div> </li> </ul> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/http://info.japantimes.co.jp/international-reports/global_insight/" target="_blank">Global Insight</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/http://info.japantimes.co.jp/international-reports/gmi/" target="_blank">Nihon Global Media</a> <ul> <li>  <div id="div-gpt-ad-1545377213864-0"> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1545377213864-0'); }); </script> </div> </li> </ul> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/http://info.japantimes.co.jp/international-reports/wer/" target="_blank">World Eye Reports</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="sponsored_links single_block"> <div class="ad single_block">  <div id="div-gpt-ad-1545100828948-0"> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1545100828948-0'); }); </script> </div> </div> </div> </aside> </section> </div>   <div class="ad bottom"> <div class="banner">  <div id="screen_type"></div> <div id="ad_id"> <script type="text/javascript"> var id = 'div-gpt-ad-1362126290726-2'; // mobile, JTO_mobilebanner2(TOP) if ( 'tablet' === deviceType ) { id = 'div-gpt-ad-1362125825102-2'; // tablet, JTO_billboard_Tab(TOP) } else if ( 'desktop' === deviceType ) { id = 'div-gpt-ad-1362125114269-2'; // desktop, JTO_billboard(TOP) } jQuery( '#ad_id' ).attr( 'id', id ); // set id to ad id googletag.cmd.push( function() { googletag.display(id); } ); </script> </div> </div> </div> <div class="clearfix"></div>  <div class="pagetop-wrap"> <p class="pagetop"><a href="#page" title="Back to top" id="top_jump"></a></p> </div> <script> jQuery(function($){ var btnPageTop = $('.pagetop'); $(window).on('load resize scroll', function(){ if(btnPageTop.length){ //ドキュメントの高さ sclH = $(document).height(); //現在のトップからの位置 sclPosi = $(window).height() + $(window).scrollTop(); //フッターの高さ ftrH = $('footer').innerHeight(); ftrBtmMove = (window.innerWidth > 768) ? 25 : 10; pageFtrH = ftrH + ftrBtmMove; //画面下からの距離 fixBtm = ftrBtmMove + 'px'; if ($(this).scrollTop() > 200){ btnPageTop.fadeIn(500); }else { btnPageTop.fadeOut(500); } if (sclH - sclPosi <= pageFtrH - ftrBtmMove) { //ページトップをフッターに固定 btnPageTop.css({'position':'absolute','bottom':fixBtm}); }else { //ページトップを右下に固定 btnPageTop.css({'position':'fixed','bottom':fixBtm}); } } }); }); </script>  <footer role="contentinfo" class="site_footer">   <a class="back-to-top" title="Return to The Japan Times top page" href="/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/">Return to The Japan Times top page</a>   <nav class="footer_middle" id="affiliates" role="navigation"> <div class="footer_content"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/http://info.japantimes.co.jp/archives/" title="JT Digital Archives">JT Digital Archives</a> <a title="The Japan Times Alpha" target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://alpha.japantimes.co.jp/">The Japan Times Alpha</a> <a title="The Japan Times Jobs Network" target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/http://job.japantimes.com/index_e.php">Jobs</a> <a title="Study in Japan" target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/http://info.japantimes.co.jp/universities/japanese_universities.html">Study in Japan </a> <a title="JT for Women" target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/http://women.japantimes.co.jp/">JT for Women</a> <a title="JT Bookclub" target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/http://bookclub.japantimes.co.jp/">JT Bookclub</a> <a title="Japanese School Directory" target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/http://info.japantimes.co.jp/info/japanese-language-school-directory/">Japanese School Directory</a> </div> <div class="clearfix"></div> </nav> <div class="footer_top"> <div class="footer_content"> <aside class="login_footer single_block" role="complementary"> <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://members.japantimes.co.jp/membership/summary/" title="Register for Free Membership.">FREE MEMBERSHIP</a><span> | </span></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sub/#print_subscribe_wrap" title="Get The Japan Times delivered daily to your home.">HOME DELIVERY</a></li> </ul> </aside> <aside class="social_footer single_block" role="complementary"> <ul> <li><a class="icon-rss" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/feed/" title="The Japan Times RSS Feed - Latest sports articles"><span>RSS</span></a></li> <li><a class="icon-twitter" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://twitter.com/japantimes" target="_blank" title="The Japan Times on Twitter"><span>Twitter</span></a></li> <li><a class="icon-facebook" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/http://www.facebook.com/thejapantimes" target="_blank" title="The Japan Times on Facebook"><span>Facebook</span></a></li> </ul> </aside> <div class="clearfix"></div> </div> </div> <nav class="footer_middle" id="footer_menu" name="footer_menu" role="navigation"> <div class="footer_content"> <ul id="menu-primary-menu-2" class="main_menu"><li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-23"><a title="Japan Times News articles" href="/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/">News</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-news_category menu-item-181"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news_category/national/">National</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-news_category menu-item-188"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news_category/world/">World</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-news_category menu-item-195"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news_category/business/">Business</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-news_category menu-item-56799"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news_category/asia-pacific/">Asia Pacific</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-news_category menu-item-208"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news_category/reference/">Reference</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-210"><a title="News Columns" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news-columns/">Columns</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-multimedia_category menu-item-373853"><a title="Multimedia News" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/multimedia_category/news/">Multimedia</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-24"><a title="Japan Times Opinion articles" href="/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/">Opinion</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-opinion_category menu-item-211"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion_category/editorials/">Editorials</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-opinion_category menu-item-212"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion_category/commentary/">Commentary</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-opinion_category menu-item-215"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion_category/reader-mail/">Reader Mail</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-opinion_category menu-item-95957"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion_category/cartoons/">Cartoons</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-25"><a title="Japan Times Life feature stories" href="/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/">Life</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-life_category menu-item-219"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life_category/travel/">Travel</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-life_category menu-item-220"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life_category/digital/">Digital</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-life_category menu-item-221"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life_category/food/">Food & Drink</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-life_category menu-item-222"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life_category/environment/">Environment</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-life_category menu-item-223"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life_category/style/">Style & Design</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-life_category menu-item-224"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life_category/language/">Language</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-life_category menu-item-225"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life_category/lifestyle/">Lifestyle</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-life_category menu-item-226"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life_category/people/">People</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-218"><a title="Life Columns" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life-columns/">Columns</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-multimedia_category menu-item-373855"><a title="Multimedia Life" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/multimedia_category/life/">Multimedia</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-26"><a title="Japan Times Community feature stories" href="/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/">Community</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-community_category menu-item-229"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community_category/voices/">Voices</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-community_category menu-item-230"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community_category/issues/">Issues</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-community_category menu-item-231"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community_category/our-lives/">Our Lives</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-234"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/event-listings/">Event Listings</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-community_category menu-item-233"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community_category/how-tos/">How-tos</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-227"><a title="Community Columns" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community-columns/">Columns</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-27"><a title="Japan Times Culture feature stories" href="/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/">Culture</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-culture_category menu-item-241"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture_category/films/">Film</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-culture_category menu-item-243"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture_category/music/">Music</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-culture_category menu-item-246"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture_category/arts/">Art</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-culture_category menu-item-250"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture_category/stage/">Stage</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-culture_category menu-item-251"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture_category/events/">Events</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-375637"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/festival-listings/">Festivals</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-culture_category menu-item-254"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture_category/books/">Books</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-culture_category menu-item-72703"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture_category/tv/">TV</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-373858"><a title="Culture Columns" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture-columns/">Columns</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-multimedia_category menu-item-373856"><a title="Multimedia Culture" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/multimedia_category/culture-3/">Multimedia</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom current-menu-item menu-item-has-children menu-item-28"><a title="Japan Times Sports articles" href="/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/" aria-current="page">Sports</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-sports_category menu-item-843262"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/rugby/">Rugby</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-sports_category menu-item-258"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/baseball/">Baseball</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-sports_category menu-item-261"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/soccer/">Soccer</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-sports_category menu-item-88892"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/basketball/">Basketball</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-sports_category menu-item-348"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/sumo/">Sumo</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-sports_category menu-item-377593"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/figure-skating/">Figure Skating</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-sports_category menu-item-563243"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/tennis/">Tennis</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-sports_category menu-item-350"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/more-sports/">More Sports</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-56853"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports-columns/">Columns</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-multimedia_category menu-item-373857"><a title="Multimedia Sports" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/multimedia_category/sports/">Multimedia</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul><div class="clearfix"></div> </div> </nav> <div class="footer_bottom"> <div class="footer_content"> <nav class="corporate_nav" role="navigation"> <ul id="menu-secondary-menu" class="secondary_menu"><li id="menu-item-281" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-281"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/about-us/">About us</a></li> <li id="menu-item-283" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-283"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/contact-us/">Contact us</a></li> <li id="menu-item-286" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-286"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/about-us/privacy/">Privacy Policy</a></li> <li id="menu-item-285" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-285"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/about-us/link-policy/">Link Policy</a></li> <li id="menu-item-478914" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-478914"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/http://info.japantimes.co.jp/info/reprints/permissions-and-policies.html">Reprints</a></li> <li id="menu-item-474575" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-474575"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/about-us/japan-times-faq-index/">FAQs</a></li> <li id="menu-item-85958" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-85958"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/about-us/site-support/">Support</a></li> <li id="menu-item-329212" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-329212"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/about-us/press/">Press</a></li> <li id="menu-item-287" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-287"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/about-us/sitemap/">Sitemap</a></li> <li id="menu-item-71473" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-71473"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/http://info.japantimes.co.jp/info/ads.html">Advertise</a></li> </ul><div class="clearfix"></div> </nav> <aside class="copyright"> <p>The Japan Times LTD. All rights reserved.</p> <div class="footer_logo"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/" title="Return to The Japan Times Home Page"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857im_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/img/japantimes-logo2.png" alt="The Japan Times"> </a> </div> <div class="clearfix"></div> </aside> </div> </div> </footer> </div> </div>   <script> (function() { var cx = '010554982535493096881:afvz2doyofo'; // Insert your own Custom Search engine ID here var gcse = document.createElement('script'); gcse.type = 'text/javascript'; gcse.async = true; gcse.src = (document.location.protocol == 'https:' ? 'https:' : 'http:') + '//web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.google.com/cse/cse.js?cx=' + cx; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(gcse, s); })(); </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/js/offcanvas.js?ver=1.0"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/js/hoverintent.js?ver=6.0"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/js/iscroll-lite.js?ver=4.1.6"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/js/overthrow.js?ver=4.1.6"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/js/tinynav.min.js?ver=1.1"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/js/jquery.slimscroll.min.js?ver=1.2.0"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/js/jquery.masonry.min.js?ver=2.1.08"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/js/custom.js?ver=1.0"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/plugins/metronet-profile-picture/js/mpp-frontend.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var countVars = {"disqusShortname":"japantimes"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/plugins/disqus-comment-system/public/js/comment_count.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var pollsL10n = {"ajax_url":"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20191204045857\/https:\/\/www.japantimes.co.jp\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php","text_wait":"Your last request is still being processed. Please wait a while ...","text_valid":"Please choose a valid poll answer.","text_multiple":"Maximum number of choices allowed: ","show_loading":"0","show_fading":"1"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/plugins/wp-polls/polls-js.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20191204045857js_/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-includes/js/wp-embed.min.js"></script> <script> (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-337614-1', 'auto'); ga('require', 'displayfeatures'); ga('send', 'pageview'); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> var _sf_async_config = _sf_async_config || {}; /** CONFIGURATION START **/ _sf_async_config.sections = ''; _sf_async_config.authors = ''; /** CONFIGURATION END **/ (function() { function loadChartbeat() { window._sf_endpt = (new Date()).getTime(); var e = document.createElement('script'); e.setAttribute('language', 'javascript'); e.setAttribute('type', 'text/javascript'); e.setAttribute('src', '//web.archive.org/web/20191204045857/https://static.chartbeat.com/js/chartbeat.js'); document.body.appendChild(e); } var oldonload = window.onload; window.onload = (typeof window.onload != 'function') ? loadChartbeat : function() { oldonload(); loadChartbeat(); }; })(); </script> </html>