Category: Sports

by Michael Gillan Peckitt November 21, 2025 Number of comments0
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Japanese Sweep Podium in Tokyo Deaflympics Men’s Hammer Throw

Japan dominated the men’s hammer throw at the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics on Thursday, sweeping the podium as 21-year-old Riki Toyama captured gold with a personal best of 60.19 meters, followed by world record holder Masatoshi Morimoto with 56.04 meters and Takamasa Ishida with 55.51 meters. In the pool, Ryutaro Ibara, a four-time gold medalist at the 2022 Games, added a silver in the men’s 400-meter freestyle with a time of 4:05.11. Toyama, who embraced his senior teammates after securing victory, said he owed his breakthrough to learning from Morimoto and Ishida.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt November 21, 2025 Number of comments0
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Japan Picks Up Five Judo Bronzes, Gold in Men’s 400-metres at Tokyo Deaflympics [Podcast Episode]

Japan’s first judo podium came on Nov. 14, when Kazuma Gamo secured bronze in the men’s 73-kilogram division. The remaining medals followed on Nov. 17, with Yuto Fukasawa taking bronze in the men’s 81-kg class, Mizuki Mizutare in the men’s 90-kg, and Tomoki Takahashi in the men’s 100-kg. In the women’s events, Akira Kinugawa added another bronze in the 70-kg category.

Maki Yamada won the men’s 400-meter race at the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics on Wednesday, earning Japan its first gold medal at the ongoing event.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt November 18, 2025 Number of comments0
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“Starting Light” Developer Voices Hopes for Deaflympics

The developer of the “starting light” device hopes that the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics, which began on Saturday, will raise awareness about the deaf community. The device will be used alongside the starting pistol for track events at the quadrennial sports festival for people with hearing difficulties. “I hope people become more aware of the difficulties that those who are hard of hearing go through,” said Masahisa Takemi, a 50-year-old teacher at the Central School for the Deaf, run by the Tokyo metropolitan government, who was involved in the development of the device.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt November 10, 2025 1
Deaflympics Disability Japan Para Sports Sports

Tokyo Govt Conducts Sign Language Lessons ahead of Deaflympics

The Tokyo metropolitan government is making final preparations to host the Deaflympics, known as the Olympics for people with hearing difficulties, from Saturday, such as conducting sign language lessons for its staff. It aims to facilitate the management of the Deaflympics, in which some 3,000 athletes from over 70 countries and regions are slated to compete, by promoting understanding about people with hearing impairments through the lessons. The upcoming Deaflympics will be the first to be held in Japan.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 26, 2025 Number of comments0
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Japan Crown Prince, Crown Princess Attend Disabled Sports Festival

Japan’s Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko attended the opening ceremony of this year’s national sports festival for people with disabilities, held in the city of Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, western Japan. In an address, the Crown Prince encouraged athletes who gathered from all over Japan, volunteers and local residents to deepen exchanges, create a lot of memories and develop good relations.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 13, 2025 Number of comments0
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The ‘Supōtsu no hi’ One: Typhoons, Dementia and Matsuri! [Podcast Episode]

October 13th is ‘Sports Day’ national holiday in Japan! A Japanese government survey showed Friday that 75.8 pct of the respondents are unaware of the enactment of the country’s basic law on dementia. The result of the public opinion survey by the Cabinet Office revealed that public awareness in Japan remains low even more than a year and a half after the law’s enforcement in January 2024. Of the respondents, 16.4 pct said they are aware of the law’s enactment but do not know its content, while 4.5 pct and 1.0 pct said they know its content “to some extent” and “in detail,” respectively.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 24, 2025 Number of comments0
Disability Japan Para Sports Sports

“Photo-Stimulation Start” Used for the First Time at Track and Field Meet for People with Disabilities in Fukuoka

Held at Fukuoka City’s Hakatanomori Athletic Stadium on September 23rd, approximately 300 athletes aged 12 to 79, including those with physical and intellectual disabilities, competed. Athletes were divided into 15 events based on their disability, including the 50-meter sprint, 1500-meter sprint, long jump, and shot put, and attempted to break their personal records. For the first time, a “photo-stimulation start” system was introduced in a competition for hearing-impaired athletes, using light to signal the start.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 22, 2025 Number of comments0
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Japan names 5-time Paralympic gold medalist Junichi Kawai to head sports agency [Podcast Episode]

Retired visually impaired swimmer Junichi Kawai was named the next commissioner of the Japan Sports Agency on Friday and will become the first Paralympian to assume the post when his appointment takes effect Oct. 1. Kawai expressed his determination to fulfill his role, saying at a press conference in Tokyo, “My goal is to build a society where citizens recognize the value and appeal of sports.” As it is rare for a government body to be led by someone who is totally visually impaired, he added, “The fact that someone like me has been appointed to this position shows that times have changed, and I hope this means a lot to many people.”

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 19, 2025 Number of comments0
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Japan names 5-time Paralympic gold medalist Kawai to head sports agency

Retired visually impaired swimmer Junichi Kawai was named the next commissioner of the Japan Sports Agency on Friday and will become the first Paralympian to assume the post when his appointment takes effect Oct. 1. Kawai expressed his determination to fulfill his role, saying at a press conference in Tokyo, “My goal is to build a society where citizens recognize the value and appeal of sports.” As it is rare for a government body to be led by someone who is totally visually impaired, he added, “The fact that someone like me has been appointed to this position shows that times have changed, and I hope this means a lot to many people.”