Sota Fujii (23) defended the Oi title for a sixth consecutive year after winning Game 6 of the best-of-seven match at the Shogi Kaikan in Tokyo, with Challenger Takuya Nagase (33), a ninth-dan, resigning after 151 moves. (News On Japan)

A post-victory ritual of jumping into Osaka’s Dotonbori River resurfaced after the Hanshin Tigers clinched the league title, with 29 people entering the water despite police warnings and repeated appeals from the city to stop. (News On Japan)

Hanshin Tigers achieved the fastest league championship in history on the milestone of their 90th anniversary, marking their first Central League victory in two years. Streets across Kansai erupted in excitement and celebration as baseball fans gathered to witness the moment. (News On Japan)

The Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center, which served as a venue during the Tokyo Olympics and has been familiar to residents for 30 years, has been converted into an ice rink and will open on Saturday, September 6. (News On Japan)

The Osaka District Court on September 1st sentenced Kenshi Nishimura, a 29-year-old karateka who competed in the Tokyo Olympics, to three years in prison for sexually assaulting a woman who was unable to resist due to intoxication. (News On Japan)

Toyota Arena Tokyo, the new home stadium for B1 B-League Division 1 (B1) team Alvark Tokyo, completed in Aomi, Tokyo, was unveiled to the press on the 28th. (News On Japan)

A breakin competition was held on August 16th at Granship in Shizuoka City, where participants engaged in heated dance battles. Breakin, also known as breakdancing, was added as a new sport at the Paris 2024 Olympics, drawing growing attention worldwide. (News On Japan)

A summer tour of professional sumo was held in Sapporo on August 17th, drawing large crowds who enjoyed the powerful matches up close. (News On Japan)

Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo, which decided to change coaches mid-season, held its first training session under new head coach Shingo Shibata, 40, as it begins its push to return to the J1 league within a year. Despite setting a return to the top division as its highest priority, the club has been languishing in 10th place in the J2 standings. (News On Japan)

Japan has long been known for its rich martial arts tradition. From the precise throws of judo to the striking artistry of karate and the high-paced battles of kickboxing, the country has produced countless fighters and styles that are respected worldwide. (News On Japan)

Miyu Yamashita, 24, secured her first major championship on August 3rd at the AIG Women’s British Open, held at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club in West Wales. The course, a par 72, tested the world’s best, but Yamashita prevailed to become the first Japanese golfer to win the tournament since Hinako Shibuno’s victory in 2019. (News On Japan)

A total of 130 kilograms of trash was collected in a spirited competition in Tokyo on July 26th, as participants raced to pick up garbage in the Tokyo qualifier for "SpoGOMI," a sport that turns litter collection into a team-based contest. (News On Japan)

FC Barcelona has abruptly announced it will not participate in the scheduled match against Vissel Kobe, just three days before kickoff. The Spanish club cited a "serious breach of contract by the promoter" as the reason for the sudden cancellation, which was revealed on the morning of July 24 Japan time. (News On Japan)

Japan’s impact on Major League Baseball is no longer a budding phenomenon—it is a thriving pipeline of world-class talent that continues to evolve and impress. (News On Japan)

Japanese stars Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Shota Imanaga are redefining Major League Baseball through talent, discipline, and cultural resonance. (News On Japan)

The world’s largest obstacle race took place on July 19th at the foot of Mt. Fuji. The Spartan Race, held in the city of Susono in Shizuoka Prefecture, brought together participants from across Japan to compete on a 5-kilometer course packed with 20 obstacles. Racers pushed their physical limits as they raced against the clock. (News On Japan)