Ukrainian-born new ozeki Aonishiki, 21, appeared at the winter regional tour’s Amagasaki tournament on December 12th, marking another milestone in a career shaped by displacement and perseverance. (News On Japan)

Gifu Girls High School is aiming to reclaim the national crown at the Winter Cup for the first time in seven years, with the team drawing strength from the remarkable comeback of its on-court leader, who overcame a devastating injury with the support of her family and teammates. (News On Japan)

International betting brand 1xBet has compiled a list of our continent’s top 5 players who have excelled this year. (News On Japan)

As global interest in Formula One continues to surge, with the sport’s reach expanding rapidly across continents, enthusiasm for F1 is also returning in Japan, especially among younger fans on social media and at domestic motorsport events on the rise in recent years, and major Japanese companies including Toyota have begun strengthening their involvement as they look to secure a role in the sport’s next growth phase. (News On Japan)

If you’ve walked around Tokyo recently, you’ve probably noticed something: gyms still exist, but they’re not as crowded as they used to be. (News On Japan)

Shogi player Kana Fukuma, who currently holds six women’s titles, revealed on December 10th that she has submitted a formal request calling for revisions to the Japan Shogi Association’s rule that prevents players from competing in title matches during a set period before and after childbirth. (News On Japan)

Shohei Ohtani announced on November 25th that he will take part in the World Baseball Classic to be held in March 2026, stating on his Instagram account that he intends to join Japan’s national team, Samurai Japan. (News On Japan)

Aonishiki captured his first championship at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on November 23rd, winning a title-deciding playoff against yokozuna Hoshoryu at the Fukuoka International Center and closing the 15-day basho with a 12–3 record. (News On Japan)

A triathlon held in Kin Town on November 16th drew athletes from across Japan and overseas as participants pushed themselves to the limits of physical endurance in the second edition of the Kin Triathlon. (News On Japan)

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani was named the National League’s Most Valuable Player on November 13th (local time), marking his fourth career MVP award and his third consecutive year receiving the honor, including his previous selections in the American League. (News On Japan)

Shogi champion Sota Fujii, who defended his title in the prestigious Ryuo Tournament, expressed his joy on November 11th after becoming the youngest player in history to qualify for the lifetime title of "Eisei Ryuo" (Lifetime Ryuo). (News On Japan)

The world tournament for competitive karuta is under way at Omi Jingu in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, a site widely known as the spiritual home of the game. (News On Japan)

The World Rally Championship (WRC), one of the world's premier motorsport events held on public roads with drivers competing for the fastest combined times over multiple stages, is ready to roar in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture. (News On Japan)

Shinya Matsuyama recorded 46 saves this season, tying the league record, with an earned run average of 1.54. In his first year as a closer, he made an immediate impact. (News On Japan)

Kokoku High School in Osaka has confirmed that several members of its soccer team, which recently won the Osaka tournament of the National High School Soccer Championship, were found to have consumed alcohol. (News On Japan)

The cost of hosting the 2026 Asian and Asian Para Games, to be held mainly in Nagoya, is expected to exceed three times the original estimate, according to officials familiar with the matter. (News On Japan)

The Osaka final of the 104th All Japan High School Soccer Championship, which drew entries from around 200 schools in one of the country’s toughest qualifying blocks, was held on November 1st, with Kokoku defeating Riseisha on penalties to book their place at the national tournament for the first time in six years. (News On Japan)

Okinawa’s traditional karate, now practiced by more than 130 million people across 190 countries, marked 90 years since the martial art’s name was formally adopted. On October 25th, over 3,000 participants gathered along Naha’s Kokusai Street for a mass performance commemorating “Karate Day,” celebrating the legacy of a discipline born in the Ryukyu Kingdom that continues to unite people around the world. (News On Japan)