July Tournament Day 15 (Final Day) - GRAND SUMO LIVE
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Japan Times
12 hours ago
- Japan Times
From Osaka to the NHL: Jordan Spence hopes to inspire young Japanese hockey players
There was a time when the notion of a Japanese player making it to the top level of hockey was absurd enough that it became the butt of a joke. In 1974, Buffalo Sabres general manager Punch Imlach was so frustrated with the length of the NHL draft and, seeing no players left that interested him, had his organization draft a fictitious player named Taro Tsujimoto with the 183rd overall pick. The ruse was eventually uncovered when the nonexistent Tsujimoto, who was even given a locker, failed to show up for training camp. But the name continues to be a unique part of hockey lore, and for years Tsujimoto was the closest a 'Japanese player' came to making the NHL. Today, young players in Japan have an actual homegrown NHL player they can look up to. Jordan Spence, who was born in Australia but grew up in Osaka, is getting set for his fifth NHL season after being traded from the Los Angeles Kings to the Ottawa Senators earlier in the offseason. Spence, then with the Kings, takes a shot during a game against the Kraken in April. | Imagn Images / via Reuters Spence, who has a Canadian father and Japanese mother, learned to play during a childhood spent in the baseball-mad Kansai region. 'I was lucky because my dad was really big into hockey and he was very passionate about the game, so he was always able to find a lot of ice time,' Spence told The Japan Times. Still, it's fair to wonder how far his career could have taken him in Japan, and the family eventually moved to the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island in large part so he could pursue hockey more seriously. He was able to adapt seamlessly to the more competitive hockey environment in Canada, eventually earning a spot on the blueline with the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL, one of Canada's three top-tier junior hockey leagues. Later, he caught the eye of the Kings, who took him in the fourth round of the 2019 NHL draft. 'It's pretty cool. You kind of have to take a step back and realize the journey that you've overcome,' Spence said. 'Hopefully that can motivate other players, especially in Japan, that it's possible to make it to the NHL.' Indeed, Spence's path to the elite level puts him in rarified air in a sport that produces few talents outside of hot spots in North America and Europe. After the infamous Tsujimoto incident, an actual Japanese player wasn't drafted until defenseman Hiroyuki Miura was taken by the Montreal Canadiens in 1992 — though he never suited up for the storied franchise. Kings goaltender Yutaka Fukufuji makes a save during his first NHL start on Jan. 16, 2007. Fukufuji was the first Japanese player to play in an NHL game. | Reuters Then in 2004, the Kings selected goaltender Yutaka Fukufuji, who played four games with the big club in the 2006-07 season to become Japan's first bonafide NHLer. Fukufuji's brief stint, however, pales in comparison to what Spence has done in his young career. Through 180 games, Spence has produced eight goals and 53 assists while earning a regular role with the Kings over the last two seasons, playing in all but 14 of the team's games over that span. Last month, the 24-year-old defenseman returned to Japan for the first time since his move to Canada to help run a hockey camp in Tomakomai, Hokkaido, and tour his old stomping grounds in Osaka, including the arena in Namba where his hockey career began. The two-day camp in Hokkaido, called Dreamskate Japan and organized by POD, a startup investment firm with an office in LA, saw the participation of 200 boys and girls from elementary school age up to high school. Spence shares a laugh with a young player during the Dreamskate Japan hockey camp in Tomakomai, Hokkaido, last month. | Courtesy of POD While Spence wasn't able to go full gas with the younger players, the intensity of his efforts ramped up when it was time to lead the older players through drills. He also did his own workout before one of the sessions, giving everyone a rare chance to see what NHL speed and skills look like up close. 'I can't explain how exciting it was for them to see a real NHL player,' said POD Americas President Kaz Yamanouchi, who helped organize the camp. 'He was full speed and full power ... the kids were so excited.' In addition to the on-ice training sessions led in part by Spence, the young players were given the opportunity to ask the Senators defenseman about his life and path to the pros. Yamanouchi recalls one player asked the 180-centimeter, 80-kilogram Spence about his relatively average size and weight. 'He said that 'always there's doubters, there's always negative comments or obstacles, but I fought through it and that's why I'm here. As long as you have confidence, you can achieve it.' I think the high school kids took that as a really serious answer. ... That was really inspiring,' Yamanouchi said. Spence demonstrates a shooting drill to participants at the Dreamskate Japan hockey camp in Tomakomai, Hokkaido, last month. | Courtesy of POD Spence signs autographs for young players during the Dreamskate Japan hockey camp in Tomakomai, Hokkaido, last month. | Courtesy of POD Evidently, it wasn't just the children who were impacted by Dreamskate Japan — Spence said he hopes to be part of more camps in Japan going forward. 'Being able to look at their skill and see how they compete, it's an eye-opening experience,' he said. 'They have the skill to compete against North American players. I think at the end of the day it's all about confidence and just being yourself when you're on the ice.' The camp also resonated with him on a more personal level as his status as a role model for young Japanese hockey players hit home. 'Being able to see their faces and see how excited they were to come to the camp and excited to go on the ice with me, take pictures, get autographs, that really caught me off guard a little bit,' Spence said. 'These little things that I do in Japan mean a lot for them and to kind of give back ... I thought it was very cool.'
Japan Times
15 hours ago
- Japan Times
Miyu Yamashita takes slim lead into final round at Women's British Open
Miyu Yamashita of Japan maintained her lead through three rounds of the Women's British Open despite stumbling to a 2-over par 74 on Saturday in Porthcawl, Wales. After holding a three-shot lead through the midway point of the tournament, Yamashita was at 9-under par through three rounds as her advantage was narrowed to a single shot heading into Sunday's final round. "I think one of the main things is not missing in the wrong spots," said Yamashita, whose best finish in a major was a tie for second at the 2024 Women's PGA Championship. "Because I'm able to do that, that means I don't put myself in awkward positions and helps me not make those bogeys which can cost you so much at these championships." Kim A-lim moved into second place at 8 under after a 5-under par 67 in the third round on the back of a nine-hole stretch in which she compiled four birdies. Andrea Lee of the United States also shot a 5-under 67 on Saturday and was alone in third place at 7 under. "So honestly I'm not focused on the leader," Kim said. "I focus on my process and my shot and then my position. That's all." A group of four tied for fourth place at 6 under includes Japan's Minami Katsu and Rio Takeda, England's Charley Hull and American Megan Khang. Yamashita breezed to a 7-under par 65 in the second round to move into the lead but struggled to find that form Saturday. She was 1 over on the front nine with a bogey and eight pars. She was 1 over again on an eventful back nine that included three bogeys and two birdies. Yamashita was even par for the round through 13 holes until she recorded a pair of bogey 5s at No. 14 and 16. "I'll be just looking at what went wrong and what went right and analyzing the day and make the improvements that hopefully will lead to a better round (Sunday)," Yamashita said. Yamashita and Takeda, who was alone in second place through two rounds, were the only members of the top 10 on the leaderboard to shoot over par Saturday. Takeda, who was Yamashita's playing partner, was also 2 over. Katsu had the low round of the day at 7-under 65 to put herself into contention by moving up 31 spots on the leaderboard. She got off to a slow start with a pair of bogeys on the first two holes before going on a red-hot run. Starting with a birdie 3 at No. 4, Katsu was 9 under over her final 15 holes in a stretch that included an eagle 3 at No. 6. "Made two bogeys on the first three holes, but after that I was really focused on my swing," Katsu said. "I just had a really good image of my swing, and I kept that going, and here I am." World No. 1 Nelly Korda stumbled to a 2-under 74 on Saturday to leave her at even par for the tournament in a tie for 36th place. England's Lottie Woad, who turned pro last week then won the Women's Scottish Open, shot a 1-under 71 and is at 3 under for the weekend to sit in a seven-way tie for 11th place. Defending champion Lydia Ko of New Zealand shot a 2-under 70 and was tied for 36th at even par.
Japan Times
2 days ago
- Japan Times
12-year-old swimmer Yu Zidi becomes youngest to win medal at worlds
Twelve-year-old Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi said she felt "quite emotional" after she became the youngest swimmer in history to win a world championships medal. Yu swam in the heats of the women's 4x200-meter freestyle relay but missed Thursday's final as China claimed bronze behind Australia and the United States in Singapore. Yu, who was competing in the women's 200 butterfly final on Thursday — finishing fourth — received a medal as a member of the Chinese relay team. "It feels quite emotional, it's a nice feeling," she said. Yu has turned heads with her performances in Singapore. She qualified for Monday's 200 individual medley final and finished fourth, missing out on a medal by just 0.06 seconds in what is not considered her strongest event. She followed that up with another fourth-place finish in the 200 butterfly final and will also compete in the 400 individual medley. Yu, who turns 13 in October, discovered swimming at age six as a way to cool off during China's roasting summers. She has drawn historical comparisons to Denmark's Inge Sorensen, who at 12 was the youngest-ever winner of an Olympic swimming medal with bronze at the Berlin Games in 1936. But not everyone thinks Yu should be competing in Singapore. Some in the sport have raised questions about the mental and physical impact of high-level training and competing at an age when she is still developing as a person. Under current World Aquatics rules, the minimum age is 14 but younger swimmers can compete at the championships if — like Yu — they are fast enough.
