insights from frontier Japan

The Tokyo Paralympic Games’ wheelchair rugby third-place play-off match took place on August 29, with Japan – led by star player Ikezaki Daisuke (43) (Mitsubishi Corporation; graduate of Hokkaido Iwamizawa Special-needs High School) beating powerhouse Australia 60-52 to win their 2nd consecutive bronze medal, after also winning bronze at the Rio 2016 Games. Despite it not being the gold medal, to which the host nation aspired, Ikezaki is proud of the team’s fighting spirit, saying “It’s the bronze medal but the players shone on the court; the team shone brighter than gold”.

On August 14, Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo and sports goods manufacturer Mizuno opened a showroom called "Studio Consa in Bangkok" in the capital of Thailand, to serve as a team promotion hub there. For the opening event, Consadole midfielder and Thai national Chanathip joined online from Sapporo to the jubilation of fans.

The new skateboard category generated multiple teenage medalists in the Tokyo Olympics. Even in Tokachi, skateboarders are practicing hard towards future medalist dreams. And Obihiro City skateboard shop "40 Champ" opened up a weekend "Skateboard School" to broaden the ranks of skateboard enthusiasts.

As table-tennis players won Japan’s first ever gold medals in the sport at the Tokyo Olympic Games, attention is now being focused on the SAN-EI Hokkaido Factory in the town of Ashoro in eastern Hokkaido, where the Games’ official table-tennis tables were produced.

The Canada women’s goalball team arrived in Sapporo – the host town of their advance training camp – on August 11, ahead of the Tokyo Paralympic Games. Athletes will base their training around the Minami-ku Gymnasium, to prepare before the competition begins.

‘Kitami Athlete Stays’ a training-camp facility exclusive to sports teams and athletes opened in Kitami High Tech Park in the city of Kitami in eastern Hokkaido on July 30, with a preview event for related parties.

The Tokyo Olympics women's and men's marathons were held in Sapporo on August 7 and 8. Though both marathons unfurled under intense heat, top runners from around the world still put their hearts into inspiring running performances. Also, Sapporo residents and people involved in the marathon helped out in many different ways. This article takes a photographic journey looking back on the two days.

In the Women’s Basketball Final on the last day of the Tokyo Olympic Games on August 8, Japan were beaten 75-90 by USA – who were aiming for their 7th consecutive title – to take the silver medal. Three athletes from Hokkaido, who were the driving force behind the team’s advancement into the final, shed tears as they smiled with joy at their achievement.

The Tokyo Olympics closed Sunday night after more than two weeks of competition held amid extraordinary restrictions and mostly behind closed doors, with athletic feats performed for a world still struggling against the coronavirus.