Kenichiro Fumita won gold in the men's Greco-Roman 59-kg division Tuesday for Japan's first medal of the world wrestling championships in Paris, becoming the country's first male wrestler in 34 years to be crowned world champion. (Japan Times)

A Japanese lawmaker group decided Tuesday to submit a bill to make the opening day of the Tokyo Olympic Games on July 24, 2020, a national holiday, informed sources said. (Jiji)

Organizers of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics are discussing a plan to establish "festival squares" in three locations in Tokyo, where people without tickets can enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of the Games through public viewing events and other gatherings during the competition. (the-japan-news.com)

The organizing committee for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics said Tuesday that it has received a total of 2,042 applications in a campaign to solicit ideas for official mascots for the quadrennial sporting events. (Jiji)

Hideki Matsuyama announced on Monday that he has been married since January and is now a father, news that caught Japanese media and fans by surprise. (Japan Times)

Shinnosuke Abe, a key member on seven pennant-winning Yomiuri Giants teams and the Central League's 2012 MVP, reached Japan's iconic 2,000-hit milestone on Sunday. (Japan Times)

Professional sumo wrestlers visited a university in Tokyo on Tuesday for a demonstration of their traditional sport, aiming to win more fans among the young generation and people from overseas. (NHK)

Hideki Matsuyama warmed up poorly and then turned in the best round of his career at the Bridgestone Invitational, a 9-under 61 that tied the course record and gave him another blowout victory in a World Golf Championship. (Japan Times)

Sumo's former yokozuna Asashoryu has been named as a Mongolian presidential envoy in charge of boosting relations with Japan. (NHK)

Former world number four Kimiko Date has been invited to play in next month's Japan Women's Open barely a fortnight before she turns 47, the Japan Tennis Association said on Wednesday. (Japan Today)

The organizing committee for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games launched a campaign Tuesday to solicit ideas from the public for official mascots for the quadrennial sporting event. (Jiji)

The main venue for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics will likely be used exclusively for team ball sports after the 2020 Games. (NHK)

The new National Stadium being built for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will be used exclusively for team ball sports like soccer and rugby after the games, sources told Kyodo News on Tuesday. (Japan Times)

In professional sumo, Yokozuna Grand Champion Hakuho has clinched his 39th tournament victory. (NHK)

Yokozuna sumo grand champion Hakuho set a new record on Friday by earning the 1,048th win in his professional career in the Japanese national sport. (Jiji)

A Japanese horse has never won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the race which is regarded as the most prestigious turf contest anywhere in the world. However, Satono Diamond could be the first to land that prize later this year as the multiple-time Group One winner has been tipped by many as their fancy in October. (newsonjapan.com)

An informed source in the sumo world says Mongolian Yokozuna Grand Champion Hakuho is considering the option of acquiring Japanese citizenship. The move would allow him to become a stablemaster after retirement and train younger wrestlers. (NHK)

Yokozuna sumo grand champion Hakuho on Monday scored his 1,045th win in the Japanese professional sport, tying late yokozuna Chiyonofuji's second-most career victories. (Jiji)

Japanese teenage shogi sensation Sota Fujii suffered the first loss in his professional career on Sunday, snapping his record-breaking unbeaten streak at 29 games. (Jiji)