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Day 1 of the 42nd Iizuka International Wheelchair Tennis Tournament – Emperor’s Cup & Empress’s Cup – Men’s Singles 1st Round: Arai Daisuke Wins 2-0 | Iizuka Sports Resort “The Retreat”, Fukuoka Prefecture Chikuho Green Space

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The 42nd Japan Open wheelchair tennis tournament got underway on Tuesday, April 22, 2026, at the Iizuka Sports Resort Tennis Courts and the Chikuho Prefectural Green Space Tennis Courts in Fukuoka Prefecture, with defending men’s singles champion Dai Arai beginning his title defense with a straight-set victory in the first round. The Japan Open, officially … Read more

FC Machida Zelvia Reaches ACL Final with 1-0 Win Over UAE Champions, Yuki Soma Scores Decisive Goal

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FC Machida Zelvia Advances to ACL Final with 1-0 Win Over UAE Champions, Yuki Soma Scores Winner On April 21, 2026, FC Machida Zelvia secured a historic 1-0 victory over Al-Hilal in the AFC Champions League Elite semifinal second leg, booking their place in the tournament final. The Japanese club, playing away in Saudi Arabia, … Read more

Rena Tanaka Set to Defend Title at All Japan Women’s Open Weight Judo Championships

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Defending Champion Tanaka Rei Aims for Back-to-Back Titles at Japan Women’s Judo Championships The defending champion Tanaka Rei of the Osaka Prefectural Police will seek to repeat as Japan’s top female judoka when the 41st Empress’s Cup All-Japan Women’s Judo Championships get underway on April 19, 2026, at Yokohama Budokan in Yokohama, Japan. Tanaka, who … Read more

Is Baseball Too Long? The Debate Over Shortening the Game to 7 Innings

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Japanese Public High School Baseball Coach Backs 7-Inning Format Amid Nationwide Debate In a surprising turn in Japan’s ongoing high school baseball reform discussion, a public school coach from Ibaraki Prefecture has openly endorsed the proposed shift to 7-inning games, challenging the deeply entrenched tradition of 9-inning play that has defined the sport for generations. … Read more

Rio Shiragane Wins Judo 52kg Title, Affirming Her World Cadet Champion Status

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Shirosato Shirashi Wins National High School Judo Title Following World Cadet Gold Okayama’s Shirosato Shirashi capped a remarkable rise in Japanese women’s judo by winning the women’s 52kg division at the 2026 National High School Judo Championships held at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo on March 27, 2026. The victory marks Shirashi’s second major title in … Read more

43rd Ogi Kanzakura Junior High School Judo Tournament: Results and Highlights

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Shoei Junior High Claims Victory at 43rd Ogi Kan-oh Junior High School Judo Tournament Shoei Junior High School emerged as the champion of the boys’ team division at the 43rd Ogi Kan-oh Junior High School Judo Tournament, securing the top spot in a competitive field of regional talent. The event took place on Saturday, March … Read more

Taira Youth Judo Class Opens in Iwaki City

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Taira Junior Judo Class Kicks Off Fresh Season in Iwaki City The Taira Judo Association has officially launched its youth program for the year, welcoming a new cohort of students to the mats in Fukushima Prefecture. On April 9, the organization held the opening ceremony for the Taira Junior Judo Class at the Iwaki City … Read more

98th Spring Prefectural High School Baseball Tournament: Bracket Draw Results

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Bracket Set for 98th Spring Prefectural High School Baseball Tournament The road to Nagano has officially begun. The draw for the 98th Spring Prefectural High School Baseball Tournament took place on April 14, 2026, establishing the path for 37 teams competing for a coveted spot in the regional championships. For the athletes and coaches involved, … Read more

Olympic Judo Gold Medalist Natsumi Tsunoda Praised for Heartwarming Community Service

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From Gold Medals to Community Roots: Natsumi Tsunoda’s Surprising Post-Retirement Transition For most of the world, Natsumi Tsunoda is defined by a single, explosive moment in Paris: the perfectly executed Tomoe-nage that secured her the gold medal in the women’s 48kg judo category. She was the image of elite athletic intensity, a competitor who scaled … Read more

Olympic Gold Medalists Clash: Naohisa Takato vs. Wolf in Epic Judo Battle

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Wolf Aaron Defends 10 Million Yen Prize, Dominates Judo Gold Medalist Naoto Takato in Hybrid Challenge Wolf Aaron, the Tokyo Olympic gold medalist in the 100kg judo category, successfully defended a 10-million-yen prize on April 11, capping off a dominant performance in a high-stakes combat challenge. In a clash of Olympic champions, Aaron secured a … Read more