Tokyo International News Agency

On the 28th, the Tokyo Yakult Swallows announced the signing of infielder Leandro Cedeño. The acquisition of the powerhouse slugger—who previously played for the Orix Buffaloes (2023–2024) and the Saitama Seibu Lions (2025), boasting 31 career home runs in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB)—has sparked a wave of surprise and high expectations among fans. The Highly Anticipated Right-Handed Power Hitter Takes Number 98 Cedeño is a right-handed hitter whose primary appeal is his explosive batting power, generated from his imposing physique. He will wear number 98 for Yakult, making him a crucial reinforcement for a team looking to climb back up the Central League standings. Having already proven himself across multiple Pacific League clubs, all eyes are now on how his batting style will translate to the Central League stage. An Intense Battle for First Base and Strategic Lineup Options On social media, this sudden signing has sparked lively debate regarding...

On the 22nd, McDonald's Japan Co., Ltd. released a new promotional video featuring the iconic internet anthem "Airman ga Taosenai" (I Can't Defeat Airman). The video has sparked a massive reaction on social media, particularly among former users of the video-sharing site Niconico Douga, with many commenting that it is "so nostalgic it brings tears to my eyes" and expressing shock at its "official corporate adoption." Produced as the "Team.Nekokan [Neko] Premium version," the project features a powerhouse lineup. Original creator Sera Mikaru returned to handle the lyrics, composition, and video production, while nyanyannya provided the vocals and arrangement. Furthermore, the collaboration is a fully sanctioned effort, with Capcom—the developer of the original Mega Man (Rockman) series—serving as supervisor. Nearly 20 years after the song first took the internet by storm in 2007, the masterpiece has been reborn in an official capacity. The...

On May 22, the new "Midnight Shadow" form for Kamen Rider Nox, appearing in the tokusatsu drama Kamen Rider Zets , was officially unveiled. Following the announcement by Bandai's Kamen Rider Toy Web official X (formerly Twitter) account, related terms quickly trended on social media, sparking significant excitement among the fanbase. Shocking New Transformation Gimmicks: Separation, Combination, and Super-Rotation The standout feature of the newly revealed Midnight Shadow is the mechanism embedded in the "Capsem" transformation items. This new form introduces a "Super-Rotation" action where the Capsem is split into two, combined with the belt, and then charged by spinning gears. While the previous "Rise Capsem" focused on light-based effects, fans have praised this new mechanical approach. Comments included, "The distinction between light-focus and rotation-focus is brilliant," and "It has a mechanical charm reminiscent of the ...

Sunday Thoroughbred Club announced on the 22nd that Ascoli Piceno, the five-year-old mare who captured the 2023 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies and the 2025 Victoria Mile, will retire from active competition to begin a new career as a broodmare. The decision comes after a suspected pelvic fracture was discovered. Given the uncertain timeline for her recovery, the club and stakeholders determined that it was the right time for the star mare to conclude her racing career. Ascoli Piceno burst onto the scene in 2023 with an undefeated three-race win streak, culminating in a victory in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies that earned her the title of Champion Two-Year-Old Filly. She remained a central figure in the distaff division, capturing her second career G1 title in the 2025 Victoria Mile. Throughout her illustrious career, she amassed a record of six wins from 12 starts, including five graded stakes victories both in Japan and overseas. Her final race was the Hanshin Himba Stakes on April 11th of t...

On the 22nd, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Matsumoto announced in a press conference that the educational content provided by Doshisha International High School in Kyoto regarding the relocation of the U.S. military base to Henoko, Okinawa, violated the Fundamental Law of Education, which mandates political neutrality. This marks an extremely rare case where the Ministry of Education (MEXT) has officially designated specific educational content as a violation of the law. According to the Ministry's announcement, the school's study trip was judged to be "highly inappropriate" in terms of both safety management and educational content. Consequently, the Ministry issued a guidance notice to the Doshisha educational corporation demanding improvements in governance. The backdrop of this decision involves a tragedy during the study trip where a 17-year-old student lost their life in a boat capsizing accident. Investigations concluded that th...

Nearly a decade after its approval in the United States and widespread use in over 40 countries, a dedicated morning sickness medication is finally set to be introduced in Japan. Mochida Pharmaceutical has announced a contract with a Canadian firm to begin clinical trials, aiming for a domestic launch by 2030. The news has sparked a massive wave of reactions on social media. For years, Japan has grappled with the issue of "drug loss"—a phenomenon where new medications approved abroad remain unavailable domestically. Despite the long-standing track record of this morning sickness drug in the U.S., its absence in Japan led many online commenters to criticize the delay as a reflection of a societal mindset that "women should naturally endure suffering" during pregnancy. Following Mochida Pharmaceutical's announcement, former patients who suffered from severe morning sickness (hyperemesis gravidarum) shared harrowing accounts of their experiences. "It was so pa...

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers showcased another otherworldly performance on the 21st (22nd JST), starting against the Padres in his "two-way" role as both the pitcher and the designated hitter. He kicked things off with a leadoff home run—his 8th of the season—and followed it up with five scoreless innings on the mound. Providing his own run support, Ohtani secured his fourth win of the season in a way only he can. Returning to the two-way role for the first time in about a month, Ohtani delivered an immediate impact. Leading off the bottom of the first inning, he connected on the very first pitch for a center-field blast. Fans marveled at the "out-of-this-world" start, noting how "Hitter Ohtani" stepped up to help "Pitcher Ohtani" before he even touched the rubber. Defensively, Ohtani faced a major crisis in the fifth inning with the bases loaded and one out. However, he escaped the jam by inducing a clutch double play. Pitching with ...