Isamu Sonoda, the Japanese judoka who captured the gold medal in the middleweight division at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games, has died at the age of 79. A prominent figure in Japanese martial arts, Sonoda was widely recognized for his technical prowess on the tatami and his long-standing commitment to the Fukuoka Prefectural Police, where … Read more
Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami concluded his appearance at the 2026 MLB Home Run Derby with a fifth-place finish, as Jordan Walker claimed the title in a competitive showcase at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. The event, held on July 13, 2026 (local time), brought together a global field of hitters to compete for the prestigious … Read more
Spain national team goalkeeper Unai Simón has defended the squad’s internal cohesion following the decision to start midfielder Pedri on the bench, stating that all 26 players in the group have accepted their specific roles within the team. Simón emphasized that the squad’s unity remains intact despite the tactical rotations implemented by the coaching staff. … Read more
Shintaro Mochizuki has reached the 16強 (round of 16) of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in his career. His advancement follows his progress from the qualifying rounds. Breakthrough Performance on the Grand Slam Stage Mochizuki’s recent ascent reflects his performance in his second consecutive main draw appearance at Wimbledon. The transition to … Read more
Japanese judo star Hifumi Abe has expressed confidence in the Japan men’s national football team, predicting a 2-1 victory for the “Samurai Blue” in their upcoming competitive fixtures. The two-time Olympic gold medalist, who returned to Japan on November 29 following his appearance at the Judo Grand Prix in Qingdao, China, shared his outlook on … Read more
Basketball Card Collectors Eye 2025-26 Topps Chrome Offerings in Japan Collectors in the Japanese basketball card market are currently focused on the release of the 2025-26 Topps Chrome series, with specialized retail outlets in Chiba offering bundled packages that pair the flagship product with the Cactus Jack collaboration. These “lucky bag” style sets, marketed as … Read more
Olympic Judo Gold Medalist Yoko Tanabe Named First Female President of Japan Anti-Doping Agency By Daniel Richardson | Editor-in-Chief, Archysport Updated: June 12, 2025 | Tokyo, Japan (UTC+9) Olympic judo gold medalist Yoko Tanabe has been appointed as the first female president of the Japan Anti-Doping Agency (JADA), a historic milestone for clean sport governance … Read more
PSG’s Ligue 1 Triumph Raises Questions About Paris’ Identity in France’s Football Heartland By Daniel Richardson | Editor-in-Chief, Archysport May 18, 2024 Paris Saint-Germain’s fourth consecutive Ligue 1 title in 2024 has cemented the club’s dominance in French football, but the victory has also reignited a cultural debate: Has the world’s richest club become too … Read more
Ex-Tunisia Defender’s Scathing Criticism of FIFA: ‘A Disaster for World Football’ Former Tunisia international Hatem Ben Hamida has condemned FIFA’s decision to allow Japan and South Korea to host the 2026 World Cup without African representation, calling it a “tragedy” that risks alienating the continent entirely from the sport. In an interview with L’Équipe, Ben … Read more
Japan Regains No. 2 in Asia After FIFA Ranking Surge, Displacing South Korea By Daniel Richardson | Editor-in-Chief, Archysport | Updated October 12, 2023 Japan has reclaimed second place in the Asian FIFA rankings following a 1.8-point increase in the latest update, displacing South Korea, which fell to third. The shift—confirmed in FIFA’s October 2023 … Read more