Latest news with #Iwabuchi
The Mainichi
27-04-2025
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Snowboarding: Rivalry, training refinements elevate big air in Japan
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Friendly rivalries and forward-thinking preparation helped Japan's big air snowboarders dominate the recent world championships with five medals, a feat the country aims to replicate or even better at next year's Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Ryoma Kimata led Japan's one-two finish in the men's event while Kokomo Murase headed a women's podium sweep in late March in St. Moritz, Switzerland. The sweep was Japan's first at either the snowboarding or skiing worlds since achieving one in 1999 in men's ski jumping. Reira Iwabuchi, who finished behind Murase in the women's event, credits Japan's success and its deep talent pool to the desire of each snowboarder to rise above the competition as they battle each other for international titles throughout the season. "We only have people aiming high and that provides real motivation to each other," Iwabuchi said. Kimata, who pipped countryman and 2023 champ Taiga Hasegawa for the men's worlds title, added, "When someone gets better, everyone else improves even more." In addition to Japan national team staff, full-time coaches contracted individually by the snowboarders also play their part in raising standards. Yasuhiro Sato, who helps mentor Iwabuchi, women's bronze winner Mari Fukada, and competitors from outside Japan, believes the strong performance by Japanese boarders is down to their "established training methods" and "overwhelming training volume." Outdoor warm-weather big air jumps in Saitama and Toyama prefectures enable the athletes to train year-round, giving Japan a head start on nations that have been slower to build such facilities. "Japan is the frontrunner in the field, having started doing so some 10, 15 years ago," Japan coach Tatsuki Inamura said. "Support from excellent mentors in each region helped build the foundation for the national team's strength."
Kyodo News
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Snowboarding: Rivalry, training refinements elevate big air in Japan
KYODO NEWS - 3 hours ago - 10:11 | Sports, All Friendly rivalries and forward-thinking preparation helped Japan's big air snowboarders dominate the recent world championships with five medals, a feat the country aims to replicate or even better at next year's Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Ryoma Kimata led Japan's one-two finish in the men's event while Kokomo Murase headed a women's podium sweep in late March in St. Moritz, Switzerland. The sweep was Japan's first at either the snowboarding or skiing worlds since achieving one in 1999 in men's ski jumping. Reira Iwabuchi, who finished behind Murase in the women's event, credits Japan's success and its deep talent pool to the desire of each snowboarder to rise above the competition as they battle each other for international titles throughout the season. "We only have people aiming high and that provides real motivation to each other," Iwabuchi said. Kimata, who pipped countryman and 2023 champ Taiga Hasegawa for the men's worlds title, added, "When someone gets better, everyone else improves even more." In addition to Japan national team staff, full-time coaches contracted individually by the snowboarders also play their part in raising standards. Yasuhiro Sato, who helps mentor Iwabuchi, women's bronze winner Mari Fukada, and competitors from outside Japan, believes the strong performance by Japanese boarders is down to their "established training methods" and "overwhelming training volume." Outdoor warm-weather big air jumps in Saitama and Toyama prefectures enable the athletes to train year-round, giving Japan a head start on nations that have been slower to build such facilities. "Japan is the frontrunner in the field, having started doing so some 10, 15 years ago," Japan coach Tatsuki Inamura said. "Support from excellent mentors in each region helped build the foundation for the national team's strength." Related coverage: Snowboarding: Murase, Kimata win as Japan dominates big air at worlds Snowboarding: Japan's Miki wins parallel slalom at worlds
Kyodo News
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Snowboarding: Rivalry, training refinements elevate big air in Japan
KYODO NEWS - 1 hour ago - 10:11 | Sports, All Friendly rivalries and forward-thinking preparation helped Japan's big air snowboarders dominate the recent world championships with five medals, a feat the country aims to replicate or even better at next year's Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Ryoma Kimata led Japan's one-two finish in the men's event while Kokomo Murase headed a women's podium sweep in late March in St. Moritz, Switzerland. The sweep was Japan's first at either the snowboarding or skiing worlds since achieving one in 1999 in men's ski jumping. Reira Iwabuchi, who finished behind Murase in the women's event, credits Japan's success and its deep talent pool to the desire of each snowboarder to rise above the competition as they battle each other for international titles throughout the season. "We only have people aiming high and that provides real motivation to each other," Iwabuchi said. Kimata, who pipped countryman and 2023 champ Taiga Hasegawa for the men's worlds title, added, "When someone gets better, everyone else improves even more." In addition to Japan national team staff, full-time coaches contracted individually by the snowboarders also play their part in raising standards. Yasuhiro Sato, who helps mentor Iwabuchi, women's bronze winner Mari Fukada, and competitors from outside Japan, believes the strong performance by Japanese boarders is down to their "established training methods" and "overwhelming training volume." Outdoor warm-weather big air jumps in Saitama and Toyama prefectures enable the athletes to train year-round, giving Japan a head start on nations that have been slower to build such facilities. "Japan is the frontrunner in the field, having started doing so some 10, 15 years ago," Japan coach Tatsuki Inamura said. "Support from excellent mentors in each region helped build the foundation for the national team's strength." Related coverage: Snowboarding: Murase, Kimata win as Japan dominates big air at worlds Snowboarding: Japan's Miki wins parallel slalom at worlds
Japan Times
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Japan Times
Furious Japan seeks apology after 'no basis' found for chairman's Asia Rugby ban
Furious Japanese rugby chiefs said on Thursday they were demanding an apology from "reckless" Asia Rugby after an independent review found the regional association suspended Japan Rugby Football Union chairman Kensuke Iwabuchi with "no basis." World Rugby was called in to investigate in February when Asia Rugby banned Iwabuchi from its executive committee for a potential code of conduct breach. The independent review by the sport's global governing body cleared Iwabuchi of any wrongdoing and called on Asia Rugby to reinstate him to his executive committee position.
The Mainichi
25-04-2025
- Politics
- The Mainichi
JRFU demands reinstatement of chairman to Asia Rugby, apology for ban
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The Japan Rugby Football Union has demanded the immediate reinstatement of its Chairman Kensuke Iwabuchi to the Asia Rugby executive committee and will seek a public apology after an independent investigation found no basis for his suspension by the regional ruling body in February. In a strongly worded statement released Thursday, JRFU President Masato Tsuchida said the finding by a World Rugby-appointed disciplinary officer of no wrongdoing by Iwabuchi was a rebuke to Asia Rugby over its suspension of the 49-year-old former Japan flyhalf. "The JRFU is delighted that through this independent World Rugby-led investigation, Mr. Iwabuchi's reputation has been restored, and Asia Rugby has been called out for its significant governance failures and lack of transparency," Tsuchida said. Asia Rugby on Feb. 24 announced its temporary suspension of Iwabuchi as vice president over "a potential code of conduct breach" while providing no further details. World Rugby said the allegation stemmed from Iwabuchi raising queries with Asia Rugby "regarding the contents of documents" he was asked to sign as an executive, and that these were "entirely reasonable queries" showing "good governance practice on his part." "While the outcome is a relief for both Mr. Iwabuchi and the JRFU, the reckless behavior of Asia Rugby in suspending Mr. Iwabuchi without any due process and issuing a vague and potentially defamatory press release at the time is very damaging to the reputation of Asia Rugby," Tsuchida said. World Rugby has notified Asia Rugby that it expects Iwabuchi to be reinstated. The JRFU said it will request that the president of Asia Rugby, Qais Al-Dhalai, issue a public apology to Iwabuchi.
