Japan Sport Stories
28 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 2 years ago -There is so much more to Japan than Samurai and Sushi! Join hosts Noel and Mike as they chat to Olympians, Paralympians, Sumo Wrestlers, Historians and more to discover the most fascinating, surprising and untold stories from the world of Japanese Sport. The perfect podcast for Japan-fans, sports-fans and just about everyone in between. Web: JapanSportStories.comTwitter: @JSStories
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Episodes
Was Tokyo 2020 Worth the Wait?
October 19, 2021 10:00 - 53 minutes - 36.8 MBNow Tokyo 2020 is all behind us, was it all worth it? What were the highlights and why were we so quiet during the games? In a special episode, we reminisce about the games, how our guests performed, and talk about what the future hold for sport in Japan and our podcast. Get in touch with us: [email protected] Twitter: @JSStories Website JapanSportStories.com
How To Make People Care About the Paralympics
August 31, 2021 08:00 - 58 minutes - 40.2 MBThe world's focus is now on the Paralympic games - with many nations having the most hours of coverage that they've ever had, it's easy to forget that it wasn't always that way. Host Noel Thatcher often recounts the story of his triumphant return to London after his first Paralympics Gold and being met with an indifferent UK who weren't interested in Parasport. Fast-forward to 2020 and all of that seems to have changed, but why? Well today we're talking to Yamaguchi Ichiro, a journalist at ...
Bringing the GAA to Japan
June 14, 2021 07:00 - 59 minutes - 41.2 MBIt took 111 years from the Gaelic Athletics Association (GAA) being formed in Ireland to it coming to Japan. Formed by some Irish expats, the club has grown and has players from Ireland, Japan and all over the world. But how do you become the first sports club in a country with little-to-no knowledge of the sport? How do you find the pitch and the equipment? We find out just how Japan GAA has fitted in to their Tokyo home, and what comes next for Ireland's sport in Japan. --- Japan GAA //...
What can the Paralympics do for Japan?
May 24, 2021 14:00 - 58 minutes - 40.1 MBDisability based discrimination is a global issue, and the forms it takes vary from society to society and place to place. So what's happening in Japan and can the Paralympics do anything to help that? Japanese Para-athlete Miki Matheson talks to use about how the Paralympic values can be brought into the classroom and what that could do to help fight disability discrimination. I'm-Possible: https://im-possible.paralympic.org/ Contact us at [email protected] Check out our website ww...
The Lost Games
April 22, 2021 04:00 - 1 hour - 44.3 MBJapan has an incredible Parasport history. Not particularly in medals - they're only 18th overall, but in the influence they have on Parasport events. They've hosted the longest running wheelchair marathon event in Oita and their coverage of the 1998 Nagano games was a great populariser of the Winter Paralympics. But there's more, there are two games which are lost to popular and even institutional memory that Japan hosted. We're joined by Dennis Frost from Kalamazoo College in the US who t...
The 200% BMX Rider
April 07, 2021 19:00 - 52 minutes - 36.2 MBSaya Sakakibara describes herself as 50% British, 50% Japanese and 100% Australian. Born in Japan, Saya started BMX racing from the age of just 4, following in her big brother's footsteps. Now, aged 22, she's one of the top ranked BMX riders in the world as has her eyes firmly set on Tokyo. Saya talks us through the world of BMX, balancing her identity across her multiple nationalities, and the what life is like trying to qualify for an Olympic games in the middle of a global pandemic. F...
I'm an athlete, not a patient
March 12, 2021 11:00 - 37 minutes - 25.7 MBWheelchair fencer Anri Sakurai joins us to talk about her incredible life so far. After surgery gone wrong left her wheelchair bound, she was forced out of her physiotherapy university course. After a chance meeting with a member of the national federation - Anri took us wheelchair fencing. Fast-forward a few years and she's chasing gold at Tokyo, but standing in her way in Bebe Vio, the international superstar and reigning Paralympic champion, made famous through the rising phoenix docume...
Maybe I'm just an Amazing Guy with Keiichi Kimura
February 11, 2021 04:00 - 37 minutes - 26 MBBlind from the age of 2, swimmer Keiichi Kimura is one of Japan's leading Paralympians. Multiple medals across multiple games, the reigning world champion and even the most decorated Japanese athlete in Rio 2016 - but that Paralympic gold medal still eludes him. We talk to Keiichi about why he felt he had to leave Japan, why 5th place is sometimes better than 2nd and what he hopes to achieve in Tokyo 2020. Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JSStories Drop us and E-mail: JSStoirespo...
How to Make a Paralympic Games with Lord Chris Holmes
January 28, 2021 04:00 - 56 minutes - 39.1 MBTokyo 2020 comes on the back of a Paralympic Games that was almost cancelled due to a lack of funding and poor management. Just 4 years earlier, London has been hailed as a huge success with over double the crowds of the games before it and an enormous rise in public and media backing. Chris Holmes was in charge of Paralympic integration and was a key architect in making London 2012 what it was. We find out just how he made London so successful and what Tokyo has to do to make sure it doe...
The Surprising World of Japanese Football with Lost in Football Japan
January 13, 2021 18:00 - 54 minutes - 37.7 MBWe thought Japanese football (soccer) would be just like football in the UK. But we were so wrong. Chris Hough, who created the wonderful Lost in Football gave us a whirlwind tour of the world of Japanese football. There, we found a real push to develop the women's game, a sense of local ownership of teams that other sports in Japan are missing and the glory that is Japanese team names. Check out Chris' Lost in Football website for more from Chris https://lostinfootballjapan.com/
The Epic Ekiden New Year's Special with Brett Larner
January 02, 2021 09:00 - 57 minutes - 39.3 MBWhat captivates millions of Japanese TV viewers to watch 21 university teams run a 210KM course from Tokyo to Hakone every year? Why do people breakdown in tears when they can't hand over their sweaty sash to their team mates? And why doesn't our guest want to ever run the 6th stage of this event? This episode we find out all about the world of Ekiden, a type of long distance road relay event that isn't unique to Japan, but that has certainly captured the national spirit. We talk to Japan...
Smiling all the way to Tokyo with Yui Kamiji
December 10, 2020 05:00 - 38 minutes - 26.2 MBDespite almost retiring after London 2012 - Japan's wheelchair tennis legend, Yui Kamiji, has gone from strength to strength. She's since claimed 10 single's grand slam titles, 16 doubles grand slam titles and an Olympic bronze medal. Whilst her first gold is in her sights, we chatted to Yui about the importance of strong role models, why the covid crisis gave her some unexpected opportunities and how to be a great doubles partner with someone from another culture.
The Way of the Sword with Kaito Streets
November 25, 2020 18:00 - 46 minutes - 31.7 MBKaito Streets is one of Japan's best sabre fencers, but he used to be one of America's best sabre fencers. In 2016 Kaito made the decision to change from team USA to team Japan and is now agonizingly close to qualifying for Tokyo 2020. In this episode he speaks to us about changing national banners, why fencing isn't a very popular sport, and his own journey to qualifying for the Olympic games in the time of Covid-19.
The Oriental Witches - The Greatest Team You've Never Heard Of with Dr Helen Macnaughtan
November 12, 2020 04:00 - 57 minutes - 39.4 MBThe Oriental Witches are probably the most famous Japanese sports team that you've never heard of. From humble beginnings these women started playing volleyball for their factory team. A few years later, they had a World Championship silver medal and were on an unbeaten European tour. They captured the heart of the Japanese nation in the run up to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and thee entire country had pinned their hearts on them taking home the Olympic gold and sealing the Olympics that re-in...
More than Just Medals with Fumie Suguri
November 02, 2020 09:00 - 44 minutes - 30.3 MBFumie Suguri is one of Japan's most successful figure skaters and a legend of the ice. Noel and Mike talk to her about how growing up in Alaska woke her interest in the sport, the people and place that influenced her most during the career, and why her medals were never the most important thing for Fumie in skating. <Follow us on twitter> https://twitter.com/JSStories <Get in touch> [email protected]
Japan's City of Cricket with Alex Miyaji
October 15, 2020 03:00 - 52 minutes - 35.9 MBDid you know Japan has a City of Cricket, and that more are starting to pop up. Head of Japan Cricket Association, Alex Miyaji talks us through how Togchigi's Sano City fell in love with Cricket, and how more and more cities are feeling the attraction.
parkrun Japan and the Need for Community with Chiaki Okada
October 01, 2020 03:00 - 51 minutes - 35.3 MBparkrun made its way into Japan in 2019 - we talk to one of the key players in parkrun Japan's foundation, Chiaki Okada and find out about how community sport and the parkrun movement are tackling isolation and creating positive social change in Japan. We also hear about the Hikkikomori and aging issues that Japan is experience and discover how realising the joy of movement is helping to manage these issues.,
Tokyo and back again - the Paralympic evolution with Caz Walton OBE
September 17, 2020 03:00 - 52 minutes - 36.1 MBCaz won the world's first ever Paralympic track event in Tokyo 1964. 10 gold medals later she is still working for Paralympics GB and an integral part of the Paralympics movement. Join us as she talks about her time at Tokyo, a missing bronze medal, and how far the Paralympics has come between the Tokyos.
Ep 5. Tokyo and back again the Paralympic evolution with Caz Walton OBE
September 17, 2020 03:00 - 52 minutes - 36.1 MBCaz won the world's first ever Paralympic track event in Tokyo 1964. 10 gold medals later she is still working for Paralympics GB and an integral part of the Paralympics movement. Join us as she talks about her time at Tokyo, a missing bronze medal, and how far the Paralympics has come between the Tokyos.
The Irish Sumo Wrestler with John Gunning
September 03, 2020 05:00 - 42 minutes - 29.1 MBJohn moved to Japan and at age 30 decided to become a sumo wrestler, why not!? Three World Championship appearances later, John has hung up his maswashi and is now the authority on sumo wrestling in Japan today. He's brings with him his overflowing box of stories about life as Ireland's first sumo wrestler
Ep 4. The Irish Sumo Wrestler with John Gunning
September 03, 2020 05:00 - 42 minutes - 29.1 MBJohn moved to Japan and at age 30 decided to become a sumo wrestler, why not!? Three World Championship appearances later, John has hung up his maswashi and is now the authority on sumo wrestling in Japan today. He's brings with him his overflowing box of stories about life as Ireland's first sumo wrestler
Ep3 St Mits of the Ice Hockey Goal
August 20, 2020 01:00 - 35 minutes - 24.3 MBMits Nagase made history for Paralympics Japan in Vancouver 2010. He takes us through his incredible journey from his diagnosis, through 4 Winter Paralympic Games, to his life as a Paralympic advisor and talks to us about how life as a Paralympian in Japan has changed.
St. Mits of the Ice Hockey Goal
August 20, 2020 01:00 - 35 minutes - 24.3 MBMits Nagase made history for Paralympics Japan in Vancouver 2010. He takes us through his incredible journey from his diagnosis, through 4 Winter Paralympic Games, to his life as a Paralympic advisor and talks to us about how life as a Paralympian in Japan has changed.
Don't Let the Scrum Go Down on Me - 2019 Rugby World Cup with Ross Aitken
August 06, 2020 00:00 - 55 minutes - 37.9 MBHead of Venues and Cities, Ross Aitken guides us through preparing the host cities and his time living in Japan adapting to the new way of life. We hear all about the amazing story of Kamaishi, a city that went from a devastation in the 2011 tsunami to hosting one of the most exciting rugby games in 2019. We also learn about how to deal with tattooed players, the fear of running out of beer, and the best way to join Tokyo's gay pride parades.
Ep.2 Don't Let the Scrum Go Down on Me - 2019 Rugby World Cup with Ross Aitken
August 06, 2020 00:00 - 55 minutes - 37.9 MBHead of Venues and Cities, Ross Aitken guides us through preparing the host cities and his time living in Japan adapting to the new way of life. We hear all about the amazing story of Kamaishi, a city that went from a devastation in the 2011 tsunami to hosting one of the most exciting rugby games in 2019. We also learn about how to deal with tattooed players, the fear of running out of beer, and the best way to join Tokyo's gay pride parades.
Ep.1 The Distance Running Diplomat with Mara Yamauchi
July 23, 2020 06:00 - 48 minutes - 33.5 MBWe're joined by double Olympian, former diplomat to Japan, and GB's second fastest female marathon runner ever, Mara Yamauchi! From Kenya to Japan via Oxford and from Tokyo tempura to custard creams and Ovaltine, Mara's Japan Sports Story has something for everyone.
The Distance Running Diplomat with Mara Yamauchi
July 23, 2020 06:00 - 49 minutes - 33.9 MBWe're joined by double Olympian, former diplomat to Japan, and GB's second fastest female marathon runner ever, Mara Yamauchi! From Kenya to Japan via Oxford and from Tokyo tempura to custard creams and Ovaltine, Mara's Japan Sports Story has something for everyone.
Ep.0 Teaser for Japan Sport Stories
July 14, 2020 16:00 - 12 minutes - 8.49 MBOn July 23rd 2020 the Tokyo Olympic Games Opening Ceremony should have been entertaining the world, but how much do you actually know about Japanese sport? Well, now that you have a year to wait for Games to start, now couldn't be a better time to find out! This episode is a little teaser of what's to come and for you to get to know the hosts. Noel Thatcher (a 5-time Paralympic Gold Medalist) and Mike Salter (a Paralympic official and multiple participation certificate winner) have spent mu...