Asian Games Open in Japan for First Time in 32 Years

Sep 19, 2026 | News On Japan

NAGOYA - The 20th Asian Games opened on September 19 with a ceremony at Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya, launching competition across venues in five prefectures through October 4.

The summer event, held in principle once every four years, is taking place in Japan for the third time and the first in 32 years, following Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994.

More than 15,000 athletes and team members from 45 countries and regions are gathering for the Games, which are intended to promote friendship and peace.

Japan has entered a record 932 athletes across all 43 sports, the largest delegation in the country's Asian Games history.

The host nation is aiming for its best performance ever, seeking to surpass the 78 gold medals won at the 1966 Asian Games in Bangkok.

Source: Kyodo

Typhoon No. 26 Threatens Chiba With Heavy Rain

Typhoon No. 26 was moving northeast over waters south of Japan at about 20 kilometers per hour at 9 p.m. on September 29 and is expected to approach and pass through the southern Izu Islands from the night of September 30 into October 1, bringing strong winds, heavy rain and waves exceeding 5 meters in some areas, while southern Kanto, including Chiba Prefecture's Boso Peninsula, could also see periods of intensified rainfall.

Tokyo Sets All-Time Record With Rain for 34 Straight Days

Tokyo recorded rain for a 34th consecutive day on September 29, setting a new all-time record for the capital, but the prolonged wet spell could finally end after Typhoon No. 26 passes the Izu Islands between the night of September 30 and the morning of October 1.

University of Tokyo Names First Female President

The University of Tokyo has selected professor Yuko Fujigaki, 64, as its next president, making her the first woman to lead Japan's most prestigious university.

Beaujolais Nouveau Arrives in Japan a Month Early

Beaujolais Nouveau, France's newly produced wine traditionally associated with autumn, arrived in Japan on September 28 about a month earlier than usual after a record-breaking heatwave accelerated this year's grape harvest.

Onosato Wins Autumn Grand Sumo in Dramatic Showdown

Yokozuna Onosato captured his sixth career championship at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament on September 27, defeating Ukrainian ozeki Aonishiki in a winner-takes-all showdown at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan to finish the 15-day competition with 12 wins and three losses, ending a year-long title drought after a dramatic final weekend.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Sports NEWS

Asian Games Day 11: Japan Wins 4x400m Relay Gold

Japan captured the men's 4x400-meter relay gold medal in driving rain on September 29, clocking 3 minutes, 0.75 seconds to win the Asian Games title for the first time in 12 years as the athletics program came to a dramatic conclusion at Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium in Nagoya.

Asian Games Day 10: Miura Leads Japan One-Two in 3,000m Steeplechase

Ryuji Miura led a Japanese one-two finish in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase on September 28, winning gold in a Games record of 8 minutes, 17.36 seconds as Ryoma Aoki surged late to take silver in 8:17.60 at Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium in Nagoya.

Onosato Wins Autumn Grand Sumo in Dramatic Showdown

Asian Games Day 9: Japan Takes Silver in Table Tennis and Artistic Swimming

Japan's Asian Games campaign continued on September 27 with silver medals in men's table tennis doubles and artistic swimming, while the men's baseball team faced South Korea in the gold-medal final and the athletics program entered one of its busiest evenings.

Asian Games 2026: key sports and stars to watch

The 20th Asian Games started on September 19 in Nagoya, Japan. The extensive competition program features many popular sports, ranging from athletics and football to cricket and martial arts.

Ueda to take on last season’s finalist, Lee Kang-in to face Red Devils: Champions League Matchday 2 preview

Which showdowns on the upcoming matchday of Europe's premier tournament should fans in Asia consider watching? Learn more about them in this 1xBet review.

Asian Games Day 7: Japan Takes Four Skateboarding Medals

Japan's teenage skateboarders delivered two gold medals and two bronze medals on September 25, with 15-year-olds Mizuho Hasegawa and Ian Nagahara winning the women's and men's park competitions at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Asian Games Day 6: Japan Stuns China in Table Tennis

Japan celebrated two landmark performances on Day 6 of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on September 24, with the men's table tennis team defeating China 3-2 to claim its first gold medal in 60 years and 17-year-old swimmer Shin Ohashi breaking the men's 200-meter breaststroke world record.

< 2 3 4 5 >