Curling: Japan nationals sweeping into big city for 1st time

Japan's national curling championships will be staged in a big city for the first time next month, with Yokohama hosting as part of efforts to raise the sport's profile and broaden its fanbase.Curling is popular in areas of Japan with colder climates, such as Hokkaido and Nagano Prefecture, but has not made similar inroads in other parts of the country.The Feb. 2-9 event in Yokohama has nevertheless "attracted more attention than we expected," Japan Curling Association senior official Satoshi Sakamaki said. "We want to spread the fun of curling across the country."The recently built competi…READ FULL ARTICLE