Shohei Ohtani announces intention to play for Japan at World Baseball Classic

Former Yokozuna Hakuho retirement ceremony held
NHK - Jan 29
A retirement ceremony was held on Saturday for former sumo Grand Champion Hakuho at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.

Tennis: Aoyama, Shibahara lose Australian Open women's doubles final
Kyodo - Jan 29
Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara lost the women's doubles final at the Australian Open on Sunday, falling short in their quest to become the first all-Japanese pair to win a Grand Slam.

Ochiai becomes fastest sumo wrestler to reach juryo division in decades
NHK - Jan 25
The Japan Sumo Association says two wrestlers will be promoted to the second-highest juryo division. One of them has become the fastest to reach the tier in decades.

Ozeki Takakeisho wins 3rd sumo title
NHK - Jan 22
Ozeki Takakeisho won his third title on the final day of the New Year Grand Sumo tournament in Tokyo on Sunday. It was his first title since November 2020.

Boxing: Naoya Inoue vacates 4 belts, moves up to super bantam
Kyodo - Jan 14
Undefeated Japanese boxer Naoya Inoue announced his decision Friday to relinquish all four bantamweight belts and move up to the super bantamweight division.

Tennis star Osaka Naomi announces pregnancy
NHK - Jan 13
Former world number one tennis player Osaka Naomi has announced she is expecting her first child, just days after she pulled out of this month's Australian Open.

New Year Grand Sumo tournament opens in Tokyo
NHK - Jan 08
The New Year Grand Sumo tournament opened in Tokyo on Sunday. This tournament has only one yokozuna, the highest rank, and a single ozeki, the second highest, on the ranking list.

Japanese high school football team fluff unique free-kick routine
theguardian.com - Jan 04
The Takagawa Gakuen high school football team in Japan used a technique of their own invention to take a free-kick, as three players kneeled in front of the wall, while three attackers danced in a circle next to the ball.

55-year-old soccer star 'Kazu' looks forward to 2023 season
NHK - Jan 03
The 55-year-old Japanese soccer star Miura Kazuyoshi, known as "Kazu," has expressed a New Year's resolution to play well in the coming season.

Predictions 2023: Lacking a Dominant Wrestler, Sumo Titles Will Be up for Grabs
japan-forward.com - Jan 03
With yokozuna Terunofuji's future in doubt, the door is wide open for others to move up the ranks, and other sumo New Year predictions for the year to come.

The best players in the history of the Japanese national football team
newsonjapan.com - Jan 03
Heading into the 2022 FIFA World Cup, no one really gave Japan much hope. The Bule Samurai have impressed in recent editions of the tournament.

Japan's Performance at the World Cup
newsonjapan.com - Dec 26
The FIFA World Cup is one of the most, if not the most important sports events in the world.

Aoki's ex-chairman admits paying bribes for Tokyo Games sponsorship rights
NHK - Dec 23
The founder and former chairman of a business suit retailer has admitted that he paid bribes to win sponsorship rights for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Daiya Seto makes history as three more records fall at short-course worlds
Japan Times - Dec 17
Japanese master Daiya Seto became the first swimmer ever to claim six straight world titles in the same event at a short-course championships Saturday as Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte smashed the women’s 50-meter breaststroke record.

Football: J-League 1st division to feature 20 teams from 2024
Kyodo - Dec 15
The J-League first division will feature 20 teams from the 2024 season, an increase from the current 18, as part of a plan to enhance its level and competitiveness, a source familiar with the matter said Wednesday.

Inoue Naoya becomes undisputed world bantamweight champ
NHK - Dec 14
Japanese boxer Inoue Naoya has made history, becoming the first undisputed bantamweight world champion to hold all four major titles.