Figure skating: Retired star Asada to open coaching academy
The 34-year-old hopes to train some of the sport's future stars at her school, the Kinoshita MAO Academy, which is scheduled to open on Aug. 1.
"I'm taking a new step. I want to instruct each skater carefully one-on-one," Asada said at a press conference in Tokyo.
The three-time world champion has stayed active, performing in ice shows since retiring from competition in 2017.
The school has been developed with the backing of the Tokyo-based Kinoshita Group, which operates construction and nursing care businesses.
Asada oversaw the construction of a rink in the western Tokyo city of Tachikawa that was completed in November.
She plans to instruct around 10 pupils aged between 5 and 9 at the school, hoping to "develop skaters who can be world No. 1."
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Japan Times
2 days ago
- Japan Times
The great sports drink debate: What's best for athletes?
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Sho Nakano, an influencer who posts about diet and nutrition, thinks neither is better than the other, noting that they each have their own strengths. 'Pocari Sweat has more sugar, salt and calories than Aquarius, and it's ideal when you're feeling low on energy, like if you have a cold or a hangover. Aquarius contains ingredients that Pocari doesn't have like three essential amino acids and citric acid, and it's effective for mid- and post-workout fatigue recovery,' he said in a video he shared to X that got 1.6 million views. Sports drinks have become a staple in vending machines and on the shelves of almost every supermarket, drug store and convenience store in the country. Consumers in Japan guzzle more than ¥350 billion in sports drinks every year, according to the Japan Soft Drink Association. The equation is simple: the hotter the weather, the more sports drinks people consume. 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A few years ago, he shared a recipe on social media for a refreshing hydrating drink: 1 part water, 1 part pure grapefruit juice and a pinch of salt, telling fans that drinking at shorter intervals is an effective way to prevent heatstroke. Others, most notably endurance athletes such as long-distance runners and road cyclists, are known to use carbonated and caffeinated beverages for performance enhancement during races or training. American Frank Shorter swore by de-fizzed Coke, drinking it on his way to winning the 1972 Olympic marathon. Two-time Ironman world champion Chris McCormack went so far as to call it 'the best sports drink in the world' in one of his interviews. 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'Sports drinks aren't for everyday hydration and average exercisers,' she said. 'Consuming too much sugar can lead to serious health problems. Caution is advised.'
Japan Times
2 days ago
- Japan Times
Candidates preparing to make final pitches for Sawamura Award
The Sawamura Award is the top honor for NPB pitchers, but there are not that many players active in Japanese baseball who have actually won it. The only Sawamura winners active in Japan are Hideaki Wakui, who won in 2009 while with the Seibu Lions, Masahiro Tanaka; a two-time winner (2011 and 2013) during his tenure with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, and the Chunichi Dragons' Yudai Ono, the 2020 winner. The rest are either retired or in MLB. The winners are chosen by a panel of retired pitchers. There is, however, no guarantee of that happening every year. The panel did not deem anyone worthy last year and simply did not give out the award. It was not awarded in 2019 either. The Sawamura committee bases its selections on seven criteria: at least 25 appearances, 10 complete games, 15 wins, a .600 winning percentage, 200 innings pitched, 150 strikeouts and an ERA below 2.50. These are guidelines, not requirements. 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Japan Today
3 days ago
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Beijing's World Humanoid Robot Games show how a human touch is still needed
A robot competes in the 1500m race during the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, China, Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.) By MAHESH KUMAR Humanoid robots raced and punched their way through three days of a multi-sport competition at the World Humanoid Robot Games, wrapping up Sunday in Beijing. But they also toppled, crashed and collapsed, requiring humans' help and leading to questions about how far, after all, the robots can go on their own. The games featured more than 500 humanoids on 280 teams from 16 countries, including the United States, Germany and Japan, that competed in sports such as soccer, running and boxing at the 12,000-seater National Speed Skating Oval, built for the 2022 Winter Olympics. The event comes as China has stepped up efforts to develop humanoid robots powered by artificial intelligence. Robots were often seen close to their operators, whether they were controlled remotely, held, lifted, sorted or separated. Batteries needed replacing and limbs tuned. Although the robots showed off some impressive moves, some tripped and human intervention was never far from the field. One had to be carried out by two people, like an injured athlete, in a display of the limitations the machines are still facing. Their effect on the audience, however, was not unlike that of real athletes. Cheers erupted when a robot landed a punch, scored a goal, or won a game, showing that viewers were genuinely invested in the machines' endeavors. AI-powered robots are expected to be increasingly used in industrial settings. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
