Alvark rookies Takeki Shonaka, left, and Kohei Ninomiya (The Asahi Shimbun)
DRIVEN TO SUCCEED / Basketball's future depends on Toyota
This is Part 16 of a series on Toyota Motor Corp.'s extensive involvement in sports.
Ryo Ishikawa (The Asahi Shimbun)
GOLF/ Tiger absence makes youth in golf shine
THOUSAND OAKS, California -- The pool of young talent in golf has never looked deeper.
(Japanese Olympic Committee via AP)
OLYMPICS/ Tokyo's 2020 bid turns to 'flower power'
Tokyo's 2020 Olympic bid leaders claim there will be "no mistakes" this time after losing the race to host the 2016 Summer Games as they unveiled a dazzling cherry blossom logo on Nov. 30.
Kosuke Takeuchi (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
DRIVEN TO SUCCEED: Following sign of times--Toyota offers pro contract
This is Part 15 of a series on Toyota Motor Corp.'s extensive involvement in sports.
Ryo Ishikawa congratulates Hideki Matsuyama, who wears the red winner's jacket, for his recent victory in the Taiheiyo Masters. (The Asahi Shimbun)
GOLF / Teenage Matsuyama takes links world by storm
He's got nerves of steel, precision putts and the ability to drive the ball deep--and he's still just a 19-year-old amateur.
Masato Uchishiba (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
JUDO/ Gold medalist fired from coaching for sexual harassment
Retired double Olympic judo gold medalist Masato Uchishiba has been fired as a university coach for sexually harassing a female student.
Kenji Shomen playing for Toyota in 2008 (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
DRIVEN TO SUCCEED / Toyota flies the flag for amateurism
This is Part 14 of a series on Toyota Motor Corp.'s extensive involvement in sports.
Yuzuru Hanyu performs in the men's free skate at the Cup of Russia on Nov. 27. (AP)
FIGURE SKATING/ Hanyu grabs 1st GP win at Cup of Russia
MOSCOW--Sixteen-year-old Yuzuru Hanyu won his first Grand Prix series competition at the Cup of Russia on Nov. 26, the last GP tournament before the Grand Prix Final.
Buena Vista, left, wins the 31st Japan Cup at Tokyo Race Course on Nov. 27. (Pool)
HORSE RACING/ Buena Vista wins Japan Cup ahead of Tosen Jordan
Buena Vista won the Japan Cup on Nov. 27, leading a 1-2-3 finish by Japanese horses in the country's richest race.
Manchester United win their first Toyota Cup in 1999. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
DRIVEN TO SUCCEED: Sponsorships make Toyota key player in sports
This is Part 13 of a series on Toyota Motor Corp.'s extensive involvement in sports.
Mao Asada performs in the women's free skate at the Cup of Russia on Nov. 26. (AP)
FIGURE SKATING/ Asada wins Cup of Russia
MOSCOW -- Mao Asada overcame two errors in her free skate to win the Cup of Russia over Alena Leonova of Russia on Nov. 26 and qualify for the ISU Grand Prix final for the first time in three years.
Mao Asada performs in the women's short program at the Cup of Russia in Moscow on Nov. 25. (AP)
FIGURE SKATING/ Asada leads Cup of Russia after short program
MOSCOW -- Mao Asada skated a clean short program Nov. 25 at the Cup of Russia to lead Alena Leonova of Russia by less than half a point in the last of the season's six Grand Prix competitions.
Tomohiro Kato, right, FC Kariya manager (The Asahi Shimbun)
DRIVEN TO SUCCEED: Ex-Toyota teams struggle financially
This is Part 12 of a series on Toyota Motor Corp.'s extensive involvement in sports.
From left, Akito Watabe, Magnus Krog and Tino Edelmann (AP)
NORDIC COMBINED/ Krog wins World Cup opener, Watabe 2nd
KUUSAMO, Finland -- Magnus Krog of Norway started the new Nordic Combined season with his first World Cup win on Nov. 25.
Bae Sang-moon, left, and Ryo Ishikawa (Asahi Shimbun photos)
GOLF / Young Japanese, S. Koreans fight for moneymaker title
The Japan Golf Tour is heading into the home stretch and the battle for the top moneymaker is heating up.
Mao Asada skates in an official practice session in Moscow. (Photo by Ryusuke Hirai)
FIGURE SKATING / Asada aims to book Grand Prix Final place
MOSCOW--Mao Asada will win a ticket to the Grand Prix Final in Canada next month if she places first or second at the Cup of Russia that starts in Moscow on Nov. 25.
Yuriko Kobayashi, left, works out with her teammates in Kariya, Aichi Prefecture. (The Asahi Shimbun)
DRIVEN TO SUCCEED: Toyota affiliate brings athletes closer to workers
This is Part 11 of a series on Toyota Motor Corp.'s extensive involvement in sports.
BASKETBALL / Japan basketball team hires 1st female head coach
SAITAMA -- A Japanese American woman became the first female head coach in the history of Japan's professional men's basketball league on Nov. 24.
Employees of Toyota affiliates cheer for the Toyota Antelopes in Shizuoka in October. (The Asahi Shimbun)
DRIVEN TO SUCCEED: Automaker pays to get workers to games
This is Part 10 of a series on Toyota Motor Corp.'s extensive involvement in sports.
Hiroshi Neko runs the marathon at the Southeast Asian Games in Palembang, Indonesia, on Nov. 16. (AP)
MARATHON / Comedian still too slow for Cambodia Olympic team
Comedian Hiroshi Neko set a personal best in the marathon at an Olympic qualifier in Indonesia. But his time was not good enough for the country he wants to represent in the London Games next year.