JADA Appoints Former Olympic Judo Medalist Tanabe Yoko as New President The Japan Anti-Doping Agency (JADA) announced on April 24 that Tanabe Yoko, a 60-year-old former judo Olympic medalist, has assumed the role of president effective April 23, according to an official statement. Tanabe, who competed in the 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta Olympics, becomes … Read more
Saito and Sato Claim Heavyweight Titles at Fukushima Prefecture Elementary Judo Championship Seinosuke Saito of Motomiya Sports Association and Kotone Sato of Koriyama Judo Association secured championship titles in the heavyweight divisions at the Fukushima Prefecture Elementary School Grade-Level Judo Championship. The tournament took place on July 21 at the Koriyama City Seibu No. 2 … Read more
The Physics of the “Dead Ball”: Why Soccer’s Knuckleball Swerves and Dips The “no-spin” free kick, often called a knuckleball or mukaiten shot, remains one of the most difficult challenges for goalkeepers in modern football. When a player strikes the ball with minimal rotation, the lack of spin causes the air flow around the sphere … Read more
Local Middle School Sports Festival Kicks Off in Aizuwakamatsu, Preparing for Prefectural Qualifiers The All Aizuwakamatsu Middle School Sports Festival, serving as a preliminary round for the Fukushima Prefectural Middle School Sports Festival, commenced on July 2 in Aizuwakamatsu City, with events scheduled through July 10. Organized by the Fukushima Prefectural Board of Education, the … Read more
Nara’s Tenri High School Sweeps All Weight Classes in Historic Judo Victory 天理高等学校 secured an unprecedented sweep of all seven men’s and five women’s weight classes at the Nara Prefecture High School Judo Championship, a qualifying event for the 2026 National High School Athletics Meet. The team’s dominance—culminating in a 12-0 record—has set a new … Read more
Kazuki Kyohara, a professional boxer who balances his career in the ring with his daily responsibilities as a nursery school teacher, is set to compete for a Japanese national title. The bout represents a career-defining moment for the Saga-based athlete, who has publicly stated his ambition to return home with the championship belt. The Path … Read more
Pink Ribbon Ladies Tennis: Kyushu Regional Finals Decide 2 Teams for National Championship KUMAMOTO, Japan — Two women’s tennis teams will advance from the Kyushu regional finals of the 23rd Pink Ribbon Ladies Tennis Tournament to compete in the national championship, with the regional finals taking place at Park Dome Kumamoto on September 9. The … Read more
Shizuoka Prefecture Hosts Women’s Judo Exchange to Foster Community and Skill Development The Shizuoka Prefecture Judo Association hosted its annual “Prefectural Women’s Judo Exchange Meeting” on October 14 at the Koryo Arena in Numazu City. The event brought together female judoka from across the region to participate in collaborative training sessions, technical workshops, and social … Read more
Young Judoka Showcase Development at 70th All-Tokachi Youth Judo Tournament Young martial artists from across the Tokachi region gathered in Shikaoi, Hokkaido, to demonstrate their technical progress and competitive spirit during the 70th All-Tokachi Youth Judo Tournament and the 42nd All-Tokachi Girls’ Judo Tournament. The event, a staple of the regional grassroots sports calendar, provided … Read more
Komatsu Claims Women’s First Division Title at All Japan Industrial Judo Championships Komatsu captured the women’s first division title at the All Japan Industrial Judo Championships, held on October 13 at the Athlete Town Nobeoka Arena in Miyazaki Prefecture. The victory marks a significant achievement for the team in one of Japan’s most prestigious corporate … Read more