Sports Talk presented by JAPAN Forward

In the Inoue-Nery fight, the undisputed Japanese super bantamweight champion displayed the full range of his exceptional boxing skills to improve to 27-0.

In his analysis of the Tokyo Dome showdown, Raul Marquez said, "It's a very difficult fight for Nery to figure out how to beat a fighter like Inoue."

Veteran Australian bench boss Shawn Dennis, in his third season at the helm, reviews leading the B.League team to 35 wins in their first 54 games in 2023-24.

The Seoul Series was overshadowed by Shohei Ohtani's interpreter being fired for allegedly stealing millions of dollars from him to pay gambling debts.

Kaori Sakamoto and Shoma Uno are aiming to win their third consecutive figure skating world titles. Other key storylines are also highlighted.

Lopsided wins and narrow victories produced different types of drama in the Japan Series. From start to finish, the series is discussed in a penetrating way.

Naoya Inoue demonstrated his superiority against Fulton throughout the title fight and thrilled the audience by calling out his next challenger.

Owner Shane Barclay outlines his company's baseball tour plans for Japan and elsewhere in 2023, highlighting his joy of sharing fun experiences with fans.

Lord K2 reflects on showcasing the daily rhythm of the tradition-rich sport and capturing its essential characteristics in his new photography book "Sumo."

For more than a decade, Debora Zoli has worked with players, coaches and pro teams around the world. Japan is her agency's biggest market.

After winning the Tenno Sho (Autumn) for the fourth time, Christophe Lemaire dishes out insights about racing, his rapport with horses and the current season.

With exceptional performances in the Junior Grand Prix campaign and a stellar start to the senior events, Japanese figure skating is enjoying a banner season.

The ex-Dodgers GM called Nomo “a history maker and a history changer” related to the relationship between MLB and baseball in Japan.

Possessing an insider's knowledge of the Angels and Ohtani, Fletcher also presents an authoritative summary of the Japanese star's career to date.

Matt Beyer, EASL's CEO, recalls working as a Chinese interpreter for the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and shares insights on the plans for his league's inaugural season.

Motofumi Iguchi, the sports commentator, weighs in on the rapid growth of pro basketball in Japan in recent years, highlighting trends, trademarks and top issues in the league.

Insights on Roki Sasaki's rising fame, other young stars to keep an eye on, Yoshihisa Hirano's brilliant career as a closer, and much more.

Listen in as power forward Luke Evans of the Fighting Eagles Nagoya, a B.League second-division club, reflects on his successful first season with the team.

In his first season in Nagoya, the Australian bench boss has put his stamp on the Diamond Dolphins and elevated expectations for the B. League club.

Easygoing, quirky and a hands-on skipper, Shinjo is a breath of fresh air in Nippon Professional Baseball, which often appears set in its ways, the veteran sports reporter points out.

The head coach, an American, is in his second season with the Robots, and working to establish a blueprint for success after the team's promotion in 2021 to the B. League's top division.

The newly appointed Japan men's basketball bench boss recalls his experience leading the women's national team to a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics and discusses the challenges of his new job.

Listen in as JAPAN Forward sports editor Ed Odeven and International Surfing Association President Fernando Aguerre engage in a wide-ranging talk about surfing, the 2021 World Surfing Games and how being selected as an Olympic sport for the first time has been a positive catalyst.

~~ Listen in as JAPAN Forward sports editor Ed Odeven and guest Mie Kajikawa talk about her career journey. Kajikawa, a volunteer interpreter at the 1998 Nagano Olympics, worked in the Detroit Pistons' community relations division during the 2004-05 season, becoming the first Japanese woman to work in business operations in the NBA. Several years later, Kajikawa established a non-profit organization Next Big Pivot to harness the power of sports, empower women and make a positive impact on society. In March, the world celebrated International Women's Day and Kajikawa's mission is connected to this year's theme, "Choose to Challenge."

Listen in as JAPAN Forward sports editor Ed Odeven and guest Jack Gallagher discuss legendary choreographer David Wilson's recent remarks about Skate Canada and Canadian figure skating leadership.

Gallagher, who wrote his first piece for JAPAN Forward in January, shares his keen insights on two-time defending Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu in the run-up to the 2022 Winter Games.