Naohisa Takato
Nagoya Mayor Takashi Kawamura, left, bites the Olympic gold medal of Miu Goto, right, 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 Aug. 8, 2021, file photo, fireworks illuminate over National Stadium during the closing ceremony of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, in Tokyo. When the Tokyo Olympics began during a worsening pandemic, the majority of the host nation was in opposition, with Emperor Naruhito dropping the word “celebrating” from his opening declaration of welcome. But once the Games got underway and local media switched to covering Japanese athletes' “medal rush,” many were won over. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, 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

Romain Cannone of France, left, and Gergely Siklosi of Hungary compete in the men's individual final Epee competition at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Chiba, Japan. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Olympics Latest: Rashitov wins taekwondo gold at Tokyo Games

Jul. 24, 2021 08:59 PM EDT

Urantsetseg Munkhbat of Mongolia, left, and Distria Krasniqi of Kosovo compete during their women's -48kg semifinal 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

THIS CORRECTS TO GOLD, NOT BRONZE - Naohisa Takato of Japan, left, and Yang Yung-wei of Taiwan compete during their men's -60kg gold medal 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 Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016, file photo, Japan's Naohisa Takato, left, competes against Georgia's Amiran Papinashvili during the men's 60-kg judo competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. “I had enough of the humiliating experience of ending up with a bronze medal in Rio," Takato said. "In the Tokyo Olympics, I’ll definitely seize the gold. With whatever kind of judo, however unrefined that could be, I’ll get a gold medal and play ‘Kimigayo’ (Japan’s national anthem) in the awarding ceremony.” (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)
Japan's judoka stars look to calm nation's Olympic angst

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

A volunteer works outside the Nippon Budokan stadium for judo 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

Ana Vazquez, from Mexico, shoots during practice for the 2020 Summer Olympics at Yumenoshima Park Archery Field, Sunday, July 18, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
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 - In this Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, file photo, a man and a woman walk past the Nippon Budokan arena in Tokyo. Judo is coming home at the Tokyo Olympics, and the Japanese team is under a world of pressure. As if this eight-day tournament wasn’t already significant enough, the players will compete at the Nippon Budokan, the hallowed arena built for the first Olympic judo events. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, File)
Japan sending powerhouse team when judo comes home in Tokyo

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