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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

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Merch v3

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Patrick Redford

Japan's #08 Rui Hachimura leaves the court after being sent off for committing to successive unsporting fouls in the men's preliminary round group B basketball match between Japan and France during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, northern France, on July 30, 2024.

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Olympics

Cheating-Ass France Men’s Basketball Needed A Pair Of Miracles To Beat Japan

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Israel Daramola

Gold medalist Yuto Horigome of Team Japan (C), Silver medalist Jagger Eaton of Team United States (L) and Bronze medalist Nyjah Huston of Team United States (R) pose on the podium uring the Men's Street Finals on day three of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Place de la Concorde on July 29, 2024 in Paris, France.

men’s skateboarding medallists

In Street Skateboarding’s Second Olympics, Japan Cements Itself On Top

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Lauren Theisen

a bloody Minoru Suzuki with Kenoh in a wrestling ring

Pro-Wrestling NOAH

Pro Wrestling

Minoru Suzuki Is Having The Coolest Midlife Crisis Ever

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Barry Petchesky

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Science

I Think I Found The Problem Here: The Rocket Blew Up

2019-01-01 00:15:14.989

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Japan's Mai Yamamoto (C) celebrates the team's victory after the 2024 FIBA Women's Olympic qualifying tournament basketball match between Canada and Japan in Sopron, Hungary on February 11, 2024.

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Women's Basketball

My Basketball GOAT Is 5-Foot-4

New Japan Pro-Wrestling – Wrestle Kingdom 18 in Tokyo Dome

Kazuchika Okada’s Exit Is A Warning Siren For The Rest Of Japan

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Billy Haisley

Ayase Ueda of Japan controls the ball against Thet Hein Soe of Myanmar during the FIFA World Cup Asian 2nd qualifier match between Japan and Myanmar at Panasonic Stadium Suita on November 16, 2023 in Suita, Osaka, Japan.

Japan v Myanmar – FIFA World Cup Asian 2nd Qualifier

Soccer

Japan Is For Real

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Manuela Vanegas of Colombia celebrates after scoring her team's second goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Group H match between Germany and Colombia at Sydney Football Stadium on July 30, 2023 in Sydney, Australia.

Germany v Colombia: Group H – FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023

The 16 Teams Left In The Women’s World Cup, Ranked By Coolness

Mary Fowler of Australia celebrates after scoring a goal with her teammates that was later cancelled as a result of VAR consultation during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 Group B match between Canada and Australia at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in Melbourne, Australia on July 31, 2023.

Canada v Australia – FIFA Women’s World Cup

Canada And Spain Ate Shit And Deserved It

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Chris Thompson

Trevor Bauer pulls a face after giving up a first-inning dinger against a Japanese minor-leaguer.

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Things We Actually Like

Heartwarming: Trevor Bauer Is Getting Lit Up In Japan

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Tom Ley

MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 21: Shohei Ohtani #16 of Team Japan pitches in the top of the 9th inning during World Baseball Classic Championship between United States and Japan at loanDepot park on March 21, 2023 in Miami, Florida.

World Baseball Classic Championship: United States v Japan

Pitches Shohei Ohtani Threw To Mike Trout, Ranked

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The End Of Keiji Muto Was The Rebirth Of Japanese Wrestling

Naoya Inoue taunts Paul Butler during their fight

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Boxing

Fear Won’t Save You From Naoya Inoue

Japan v Croatia: Round of 16 – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Japan Finally Plays A Good Game And Loses Anyway

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Albert Burneko

Japanese players celebrate their Group E win over Spain

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Japan Is The Best Kind Of World Cup Killer

Germany v Japan: Group E – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Japan And Germany Played A Perfect Game

Japan celebrate after the FIFA World Cup Qualifier football match between Australia Socceroos and Japan on March 24, 2022 at Stadium Australia in Sydney, Australia.

SOCCER: MAR 24 World Cup Qualifier – Australia v Japan

Internationals

Fate Has Handed Japan A Nearly Impossible Task

<div class="author-header-content">
<p>Charles P. Pierce is a writer at <em>Esquire</em> and the author of four books, most recently <em>Idiot America</em>, and has been a working journalist since 1976. He lives near Boston with his wife but no longer his three children.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
</div>
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Charles P. Pierce

Kazuyoshi Miura of Japan falls after the FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifier final round match between Iraq and Japan at the Al-Ahly Stadium on October 28, 1993 in Doha, Qatar.

Iraq v Japan – FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifier Final Round

What’s Changed And What Hasn’t Since I Covered Soccer In Qatar 30 Years Ago

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Journalismism

Energetic Verlander Sibling Has Deep Thoughts In Japan

Kaoru Mitoma of Team Japan celebrates scoring their team's second goal during the International Friendly match between Japan and United States at Merkur Spiel-Arena on September 23, 2022 in Duesseldorf, Germany.

Japan v United States – International Friendly

Japan Hands The USMNT A Reality Check

Naoya Inoue fights against Nonito Donaire

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The Fights

Naoya Inoue Is Still The Scariest Little Guy In Boxing

United States v Japan – Baseball Gold Medal Game – Olympics: Day 15

Seiya Suzuki Is Coming To Belt Dingers All Over America

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Kazuchika Okada Reigns In A Silent Empire

Team Japan celebrates their win in a Women's Basketball Semifinals game against France on day fourteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Super Arena on August 06, 2021 in Saitama, Japan.

Japan v France Women’s Basketball – Olympics: Day 14

Olympic Basketball’s Most Entertaining Team Is Going For Gold

Tokyo 2020 Olympics Organising Committee president Seiko Hashimoto speaks during a press conference in Tokyo on July 8, 2021.

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The Tokyo Olympics Organizing Committee Cannot Hire A Single Normal Person

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