Japan
Features
ESG initiatives in practice in Asia-Pacific sport
Last week, we spoke to three industry experts about the growing influence of environmental, social and governance (ESG) benchmarking measures within Asia-Pacific sport. This week, we hear from executives putting such measures into practice at sports properties.
Japan’s modernising domestic leagues brace for pandemic setback
The Covid-19 pandemic has stalled a modernisation of Japanese sport with a lot of domestic teams falling back on private backers and corporations to see them through the crisis. Kevin McCullagh and Tom King report.
Japanese industry cautiously optimistic about rescheduled Tokyo Olympics
Against a background of renewed optimism that the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympics will go ahead, Asian sports industry experts share their hopes that the event can bring a new maturity to the Japanese sports sector. Kevin McCullagh and Tom King report.
Japanese sport sets out on the long road back
Japan’s biggest domestic sports league, Nippon Professional Baseball, commenced its 2020 season on June 19 following a three-month delay due to Covid-19.
Tokyo Olympics officials ‘moving towards’ blocking overseas fans
Japanese media outlets are reporting that overseas visitors are not likely to be admitted to the country to attend the Tokyo Olympics
DAZN signs up Tsunoda and Scuderia AlphaTauri in Japanese F1 push
DAZN has signed up Japanese Formula 1 driver Yuki Tsunoda as a brand ambassador to promote the OTT subscription platform in Japan
Decision on Tokyo Olympics spectators ‘around March 25’
Tokyo Olympics organisers said they would make clear their policy on allowing spectators to attend the Games around March 25, when the torch relay in Japan is set to begin
Stan secures Japanese Top League rights
Australian media group Nine Entertainment has announced an exclusive rights deal for the Japan Top League rugby union competition
Failure to insure against pandemic will catch out many Asia-Pac sports properties
Only a handful of the biggest sports events globally were insured for the Covid-19 interruption. Tommy Elliot of specialist events insurer Circles Group tells SportBusiness about the implications for sports properties, and for his own industry.
B.League helps basketball bounce back in Japan
Kevin McCullagh looks at the growth of the B. League, Japan's domestic basketball league, and considers whether it might be the country's biggest sports expansion of the Reiwa era.
Tokyo 2020’s promise to be “the most innovative” Olympics in history takes shape
In the third of a trilogy of interviews with the Tokyo 2020 organising committee, SportBusiness speaks to Hideyo Hirata, head of the innovation promotion office and deputy executive director of technology services.
Wizards deploy multi-pronged strategy to develop Japanese fandom
In just a short amount of time, the Wizards have put themselves in prime position to become the NBA's most-popular team in Japan following the arrival of Rui Hachimura. Bob Williams discovers how they have done it.
How Tokyo 2020 smashed the domestic sponsorship record for the Olympics
In the second of a trilogy of interviews with the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, SportBusiness spoke to Masahiko Sakamaki, the executive director of the committee’s marketing bureau.
Masa Takaya on Tokyo 2020’s messages of resilience, recovery and hope
In the first of a trio of interviews with the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Kevin McCullagh speaks to Masa Takaya, spokesperson and communications team leader, about what Tokyo 2020 wants to say to the world and how his team is delivering the message.
东京放弃举办奥运马拉松项目，高尔夫项目恐也遭波及
在明年东京奥运会的马拉松项目确认将转移到札幌举办之后，东京政府在与国际奥委会的位置争议中正式宣告落败。
Fiba’s “Era of Asia” strategy depends on 2023 World Cup hosts stepping up
The Philippines, Indonesia and Japan have taken over from China hosting duties for the 2023 Fiba World Cup
RWC 2019: Great for Japan, but what does it mean for the rest of Asia?
The best rugby players on the planet are heading to Japan for the first Asian Rugby World Cup, but what impact will it have on the fan and player base across the continent – and the game’s commercial prospects? SportBusiness Asia editor Kelvin Tan reports.
Tokyo time for judo
The 2019 World Judo Championships in Tokyo will not only be the showcase event of the year in the sport; it will also provide a perfect launchpad for athletes, officials and fans ahead of the 2020 Olympic Games.
Ice cream and Kimekomi dolls | Developing a licensing programme for the Rugby World Cup in Japan
IMG Licensing says it has secured contracts with 25 Japanese licensees and 21 global licensees for this year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan. Ben Cronin reports.
All eyes on Tokyo for judo
In association with the International Judo Federation.
Alan Gilpin | Rugby looks for lift-off in Asia on the back of ‘two shiny moments’ in Japan
With just two years to go until the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, the competition's chief operating officer, Alan Gilpin, tells Ben Cronin about the benefits of its proximity to the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo and how it could influence the future of sports hospitality in the region.
Q&A | Rahul Kadavakolu, global marketing director, Rakuten
E-commerce giant Rakuten is making waves in the world of sport having recently signed off on sponsorship deals with the NBA, Barcelona FC and the Golden State Warriors. Ben Cronin spoke to the company’s global marketing director, Rahul Kadavakolu, at the recent Leaders business conference.
The secret fan | Orix Buffaloes, Pacific League baseball, Osaka, Japan
Blair Hughes visits the Kyocera Dome in Osaka to experience a professional baseball game Japanese style
REPORT | The Future of Olympic Games Media Consumption – Executive Summary
A free report, commissioned from SportBusiness by the Budapest 2024 Olympic Games bid, surveying attitudes to, and media consumption habits around, the Olympic Games.
Media | J League to transform with Perform
The $200m pact between OTT operator Perform Group and the J.League is the largest deal in the history of Japanese sports. John Duerden looks at how it might help to transform the country’s football infrastructure and help the sport connect with millennials.
The Tokyo stadium saga
Is the saga surrounding the development of the main stadium for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games finally at an end? SportBusiness International reports.