Sports

Haas Chief Komatsu Talks Team Reforms in Partnership With Toyota

TOKYO, Dec 12 (News On Japan) - As global interest in Formula One continues to surge, with the sport’s reach expanding rapidly across continents, enthusiasm for F1 is also returning in Japan, especially among younger fans on social media and at domestic motorsport events on the rise in recent years, and major Japanese companies including Toyota have begun strengthening their involvement as they look to secure a role in the sport’s next growth phase.

Amid these shifts, Haas team principal Komatsu, who has begun working with Japanese corporations including Toyota to reinforce the team’s competitiveness, spoke about the reforms now under way, the central role of communication in building a winning operation, and broader efforts to strengthen the team from within as reporters were given rare access to the factory floor.

Source: テレ東BIZ

Heavy Snow Continues Along Sea of Japan Coast

Heavy snow continued mainly along the Sea of Japan coast on January 22nd under a strong winter pressure pattern, with some low-lying areas also expected to see significant accumulation, prompting warnings over potential disruptions to transportation.

Abe Shooter Gets Life Sentence

Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, who was charged with murder and other crimes over the shooting death of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, was sentenced to life in prison on January 21st in a lay judge trial at the Nara District Court, in line with prosecutors’ request after proceedings that spanned 15 hearings since October 2025. Yamagami showed no change in expression as the life sentence was handed down.

Inbound Tourists to Japan Top 40 Million for First Time

Japan welcomed more than 40 million foreign visitors in 2025 for the first time, setting a new annual record, even as arrivals from China fell sharply in December.

Straw Serpent Bites Heads in Kyoto

A traditional New Year event known as “Jaduna” was held in Miyazu, Kyoto Prefecture, with local residents praying for a year of good health and protection from illness.

Japan Heads for Snap Election

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced on Monday that she will dissolve the House of Representatives on January 23rd, the opening day of the regular Diet session, and hold a snap general election with voting set for February 8th.

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Honda Returns to F1 With Aston Martin Power Unit

Honda will return to Formula One from the 2026 season, marking a renewed entry into the world’s top level of motorsport as the company positions racing as a direct driver of its future passenger car business.

Kyoto Student Crowned First Lucky Man

A traditional New Year event known as the “Lucky Man Selection,” in which participants compete to be the first to pray for the new year, was held on January 10th at Nishinomiya Shrine in Hyogo Prefecture, the head shrine of “Ebessan,” the deity of prosperous business.

Yokozuna Perform Ring-Entering Ceremony at Meiji Shrine

Both yokozuna, Toyoshoryu and Onosato, performed a dedication ring-entering ceremony on January 6th at Meiji Shrine in Tokyo ahead of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament, which begins on January 11th at Ryogoku Kokugikan, drawing a crowd of around 2,000 spectators under clear skies.