Naohisa Takato
Nagoya Mayor Takashi Kawamura bites the Olympic gold medal of Miu Goto, a member of Japan softball team who won the event at the 2020 Summer Olympics, at the city office building in Nagoya, central Japan, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. (Kyodo News via AP)
Japan mayor apologizes for biting athlete's gold medal

By Mari Yamaguchi Aug. 12, 2021 11:13 AM EDT

FILE - In this July 23, 2021, file photo, anti-Olympic protesters demonstrate near the National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan where the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics is taking place. A lot of Japanese were reluctant or opposed to holding the Olympics during a worsening pandemic. A series of resignations of Olympic-linked officials over sexism, past bullying and Holocaust jokes also hurt the Games' image ahead of the July 23 opening. There were protests on Tokyo streets and on social media. (AP Photo/Kantaro Komiya, File)
Tokyo's Olympic fears give way to acceptance, to a point

By Mari Yamaguchi Aug. 11, 2021 09:16 PM EDT

FILE - In this July 28, 2021, file photo, Daiki Hashimoto, of Japan, poses with his gold medal for the artistic gymnastics men's all-around final at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Despite the pandemic, the one-year delay and the soaring costs, the Japanese public may still find a sweet spot for these Olympics, the way it did for the storied 1964 Games. Why? A historic haul of medals. Japan had its best Olympics in every category: the most gold medals (27), the most overall (58), and a third-place finish in both categories behind two much larger countries - the United States and China. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, File)
Japan has its best Olympic medal haul: 27 gold, 58 overall

By Stephen Wade Aug. 08, 2021 06:22 AM EDT

Japanese Epee team celebrate defeating Russian Olympic Committee Epee team in the men's individual Epee team final medal competition at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 30, 2021, in Chiba, Japan. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Japan breaks record with gold rush at Tokyo Olympics

Jul. 30, 2021 10:46 AM EDT

Simone Biles, of United States, performs her floor exercise routine during the women's artistic gymnastic qualifications at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Olympics Latest: Rashitov wins taekwondo gold at Tokyo Games

Jul. 24, 2021 08:59 PM EDT

Distria Krasniqi of Kosovo, top, and Funa Tonaki of Japan compete during their women's -48kg championship judo match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 24, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
Naohisa Takato claims Japan's 1st Tokyo gold with judo win

By Greg Beacham Jul. 24, 2021 07:11 AM EDT

Naohisa Takato wins Japan’s 1st gold medal at its home Olympics, beating Taiwan’s Yang Yung-wei in men’s 60kg judo final

Jul. 24, 2021 06:47 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — Naohisa Takato wins Japan’s 1st gold medal at its home Olympics, beating Taiwan’s Yang Yung-wei in men’s 60kg judo final. ...

Yang Qian, of China, reacts after winning the gold medal in the women's 10-meter air rifle at the Asaka Shooting Range in the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 24, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
China's Yang takes first gold at uneasy Tokyo Olympics

By Jake Seiner Jul. 24, 2021 04:48 AM EDT

Funa Tonaki of Japan, left, and Distria Krasniqi of Kosovo compete during their women's -48kg championship judo match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 24, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
Olympics Latest: US men get off to fast start in volleyball

Jul. 23, 2021 08:11 PM EDT

FILE - In this May 16, 2021, file photo, athletes compete during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Game men's basketball 3x3 test event at Aomi Urban Sports Park in Tokyo. The latest stop on the perennial search for a younger, more attention-span-challenged audience for the Olympics might look familiar — the blacktop, and 3-on-3 basketball. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)
Japan's judoka stars look to calm nation's Olympic angst

By Jenna Fryer Jul. 23, 2021 12:03 PM EDT

Workers adjust a camera on the field of play for judo at the Nippon Budokan ahead of the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 23, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
Live at Budokan: Famed arena gets another Olympic spotlight

By Greg Beacham Jul. 23, 2021 04:34 AM EDT

Simone Biles, of the United State, trains on the floor exercise during an artistic gymnastics practice session at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 22, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
A list of Olympians to follow on social media

Jul. 22, 2021 07:21 AM EDT

South Africa's Olympic soccer team members, wearing face masks, leave the training venue in Chiba, east of Tokyo, Monday, July 19, 2021. Two South African soccer players have become the first athletes inside the Olympic Village to test positive for COVID-19. The Tokyo Games open on Friday. (Kyodo News via AP)
Medal predictions for events at the Tokyo Olympics

Jul. 19, 2021 05:57 AM EDT

FILE - Aaron Wolf of Japan walks off the mat after winning against Varlam Liparteliani of Georgia in the men's 100kg category at the World Judo Championships in Budapest, Hungary, in this Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017, file photo. Judo is coming home at the Tokyo Olympics “It’s such a lucky opportunity to attend the Olympics in Japan where judo was born," Japanese Olympian Aaron Wolf recently told Japan's Sportiva magazine. “I want to win on this stage. My goal is a gold medal.” (Tibor Illyes/MTI via AP, File)
Japan sending powerhouse team when judo comes home in Tokyo

By Greg Beacham Jun. 30, 2021 01:03 PM EDT