Hanshin Tigers’ 5-Game Win Streak Propels Them to Central League Lead as Pacific League Battle Intensifies May 24, 2026 • Updated 10:45 AM JST (UTC+9) Daniel Richardson The Hanshin Tigers have stormed to the top of Japan’s Central League with a commanding five-game win streak, while the Pacific League remains a tightly contested race with … Read more
Breaking the Cycle: Rakuten and Lotte Halt Skids in Pacific League Action In professional baseball, there is a specific, heavy kind of tension that settles over a clubhouse during a losing streak. It isn’t just about the losses in the win-loss column; it is the creeping suspicion that the game has stopped cooperating. For the … Read more
Japan Basketball Association Reports ¥14 Million Financial Misconduct by Former Staffer The Japan Basketball Association (JBA) is facing a governance headache after revealing that a former employee misappropriated funds through a series of improper expense claims totaling ¥14 million. In an announcement made on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, the governing body confirmed the financial discrepancy, … Read more
Beyond the Sidelines: Higashiosaka Brings the Intensity of Wheelchair Basketball to the Public The sound of a basketball game is usually defined by the rhythmic squeak of rubber soles on hardwood. But in Higashiosaka, a city in the heart of Japan’s Osaka Prefecture, that soundtrack shifted. The squeak of sneakers was replaced by the metallic … Read more
Japanese basketball standout Kokoro Tanaka is in active negotiations to secure her first WNBA contract after being selected by the Golden State Valkyries in the 2024 draft, marking a historic moment for Japanese women’s basketball. The Valkyries, entering their inaugural WNBA season in 2025, chose Tanaka with the 27th overall pick in the third round … Read more
Japanese Imperial Couple Host Garden Party Featuring Baseball Legend Sadaharu Oh On a serene Saturday in Tokyo, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako welcomed distinguished guests to a traditional garden party at the Imperial Palace grounds, creating a memorable blend of imperial tradition and sporting excellence. The event, held on April 18, 2026, brought together cultural … Read more
On Monday, to mark Coming of Age Day, a ceremony was held at Hofu Tenmangu Shrine in Hofu Town, Yamaguchi Prefecture, during which young adults shot arrows to drive away evil spirits. In Japan, the legal age of majority was lowered from 20 to 18 in 2022, but many people still celebrate the milestone when … Read more
Children riding wooden horses demonstrated their archery skills at a Shinto shrine in Tokyo on Wednesday. Rokugo Shrine holds this event every year on January 7, to pray for the health and good fortune of children. Around 60 young people dressed as samurai warriors, including students from local primary schools and kindergartens, took part this … Read more
Crowds of spectators were able to attend a representation of traditional Japanese archery on horseback, known as “Yabusame”, in a Shinto sanctuary of the city of Kamakura, near Tokyo. The ritual of the Yabusame took place Tuesday in Tsurugaka Hachimangu. This event usually took place on September 16, during the annual sanctuary festival. However, it … Read more
Both teams practiced the day before at the venue on the 27th at the venue on the 27th, before an international match between the men’s basketball team and the selected Australian league team was held in Ota City for two days starting on the 28th. In order to improve the competitive abilities of the entire … Read more