Japan win gold in softball at Beijing Olympics

Japan win gold in softball at Beijing Olympics

BEIJING, China - Japan's outfielder Eri Yamada hits a homer in the fourth inning of the softball final against the United States in the Beijing Olympic Games at the Fengtai Sports Center Softball Field on Aug. 21. Japan beat the U.S. 3-1 to win the gold medal.

(1)Japan crushes Italy in Olympic softball warm-up

(1)Japan crushes Italy in Olympic softball warm-up

SENDAI, Japan - Japan's Eri Yamada hits an RBI double to left-center in the second inning against Italy in Sendai on July 17. Yukiko Ueno and Juri Takayama combined on a one-hitter as Japan thumped Italy 11-0 in a warm-up for the softball tournament of the Athens Olympics.

Tokyo Olympics: Softball

Tokyo Olympics: Softball

Eri Yamada (4th from R) celebrates with teammates after scoring in the eighth inning for Japan's 3-2 walk-off victory over Mexico in the opening round of the Tokyo Olympic softball tournament at Fukushima Azuma stadium in Fukushima, northeastern Japan, on July 22, 2021. (Kyodo)(SELECTION) ==Kyodo

Japan win gold in softball at Beijing Olympics

Japan win gold in softball at Beijing Olympics

BEIJING, China - Japan's outfielder Eri Yamada hits a homer in the fourth inning of the softball final against the United States in the Beijing Olympic Games at the Fengtai Sports Center Softball Field on Aug. 21. Japan beat the U.S. 3-1 to win the gold medal. (Kyodo)

(1)Japan crushes Italy in Olympic softball warm-up

(1)Japan crushes Italy in Olympic softball warm-up

SENDAI, Japan - Japan's Eri Yamada hits an RBI double to left-center in the second inning against Italy in Sendai on July 17. Yukiko Ueno and Juri Takayama combined on a one-hitter as Japan thumped Italy 11-0 in a warm-up for the softball tournament of the Athens Olympics. (Kyodo)

Japanese Olympics superfan Yamada dies at 92

Japanese Olympics superfan Yamada dies at 92

File photo taken Aug. 22, 2016, shows Naotoshi Yamada (C), an Olympics superfan who went to every Summer Games from 1964, posing for photos with Japanese wrestlers Sara Dosho (L) and Eri Tosaka at Galeao airport in Rio de Janeiro. He died of heart failure on March 9, 2019, at 92. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo