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Yanai Yumiko

Sports writer. Born in 1966 in Hokkaido. After graduating from Hokkaido University she began to work at Sports Nippon Newspapers. She has written several books about the Japan Professional Football League (J. League).

LATEST
Making Olympic History in Milano Cortina: Japan’s Road to a Record Winter Medal CountCULTURE | Mar 11, 2026
Japan’s Ace Speed Skater Takagi Miho Chases Elusive 1,500-Meter Gold at Milano Cortina 2026CULTURE | Feb 7, 2026
Speed Skater Kodaira Nao Determined to Defend 500-Meter Olympic Crown in BeijingCULTURE | Feb 10, 2022
Reporting from the “Olympic Bubble”: A Journalist’s Insider Look at Tokyo 2020INSIGHT | Sep 6, 2021
Momota Kento: Badminton Star Overcomes Suspension and Injury on the Way to TokyoCULTURE | Jul 23, 2021
Seto Daiya: Japanese Swimming Superstar’s Passion for Gold Unchanged by SuspensionCULTURE | Jul 22, 2021
Fujita Yamato: Pitching/Batting Double Threat Aims to Join Japan’s Softball Legends CULTURE | Jul 21, 2021
Uchimura Kōhei: Japan’s Gymnastics King Aims for Perfection in Fourth Olympics CULTURE | Jul 16, 2021
Portrait of a Hopeful Olympian: Young Syrian Escapes War to Pursue Dream in JapanINSIGHT | Apr 3, 2020
Hirano Miu: Key to Japan’s Table Tennis Olympic HopesCULTURE | Feb 26, 2020
Hashimoto Daiki: High School Hero Is Japan’s Newest Gymnastics HopeCULTURE | Feb 12, 2020
Japan Men’s Team Looking to End Soccer Medal Drought in RioINSIGHT | Aug 3, 2016
Japan Soccer Program Looks to ExperienceCULTURE | Sep 16, 2014
The Lessons of Brazil 2014CULTURE | Jul 8, 2014
Brazil 2014: Greener Grass Inside the StadiumsINSIGHT | Jul 1, 2014
A Loss for Japan, But a Clear Path Forward for Its SoccerCULTURE | Jun 18, 2014
Becoming Japanese: Zaccheroni’s Shift to Attacking SoccerCULTURE | Jun 13, 2014
Legendary 41-year-old Powers Japan’s Ski Jumping RevivalINSIGHT | Feb 28, 2014