Tokyo International News Agency

The special episode No. 170+1 'More' of the hit anime series My Hero Academia has sparked a massive reaction on social media, driven by the debut of its opening theme song 'THE REVO' by the rock band Porno Graffitti. On the day of the broadcast, 'THE REVO' soared to the number one spot on trending charts across Yahoo! and X (formerly Twitter). As the anime marks its landmark 10th anniversary, fans were ecstatic to see the series return to the artist who helped define its beginning. The newly released non-credit opening sequence serves as a condensed retrospective of the series' journey. It highlights the evolution of the protagonist, Deku (Izuku Midoriya), from his iconic red shoes to his advanced hero suits, alongside the growth of his classmates in Class 1-A. Social media was flooded with emotional praise, with fans commenting, 'It’s a perfect summary of our journey so far,' and 'Just seeing Deku’s boots gets me fired up.' The high level of...

On May 2nd, the Chunichi Dragons' veteran ace Yudai Ohno started against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp at Mazda Stadium, finally achieving his long-awaited 100th career victory. Ohno delivered a masterful performance, pitching six scoreless innings to snap the team’s three-game losing streak. From the start of the game, Ohno displayed the poise of a seasoned veteran. Facing a persistent Hiroshima lineup, he used his wealth of experience to keep the scoreboard clean. This victory marked his first win at Mazda Stadium in 12 years, dating back to 2014. Reaching the 100-win milestone at 37 years and 7 months makes him the fourth-oldest player in NPB history to do so, a testament to the resilience of the left-hander who has anchored the Dragons' rotation for years. The breakthrough came in the seventh inning. The Dragons' bats, which had been silent until then, came alive with a four-run surge fueled by opponent errors and RBI hits from Yutaro Itayama and Seiya Hosokawa. Following Ohn...

Four Seeds Corporation, the operator of the major pizza delivery chain Pizza-La, has issued an official apology after a part-time employee at its Kamata branch in Tokyo posted a video showing inappropriate behavior and pranks on social media. In response to the incident, the branch is currently undergoing a temporary closure. The investigation revealed that the video not only captured the employee's misconduct but also clearly showed order slips containing customers' personal information. This has triggered a wave of backlash online, with critics arguing that a standard corporate apology is insufficient and that the leak of personal data is a grave issue. The public has turned a critical eye toward the current social media climate where such inappropriate behavior is easily recorded and broadcast. The company has emphasized its commitment to a strict response, stating, "We are consulting with external public authorities, including the police and health centers, and are con...

On May 2, 2026, during the "Traditional Rivalry" match against the Yomiuri Giants at Hanshin Koshien Stadium, Hanshin Tigers pitcher Rafael Dolis reached a monumental milestone by recording his 100th career save in NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball). Dolis became the 39th player in history to achieve this feat. At 38 years and 3 months old, he also set a new record as the oldest player to reach the century mark for saves. The Tigers took control early in the game. Starting pitcher Kotaro Otake delivered a steady performance to earn his second win of the season, while slugger Teruaki Sato dominated at the plate. Sato went 4-for-5 with two RBIs, including his eighth solo home run of the year, pushing his season batting average above the .400 mark. However, the final inning brought unexpected drama. Leading 7-1, reliever Moreta took the mound in the ninth but struggled as the Giants mounted a fierce comeback, narrowing the gap to just two runs. In this high-pressure situation, D...

Hanshin Tigers pitcher Kotaro Otake secured his second win of the season, but it was his choice of words during a post-game interview that truly stole the show. The phrase "the catcher person" (kyatcha no hito), used by Otake to describe his batterymate, has gone viral across social media, even trending on X (formerly Twitter) as fans embrace the eccentric expression. The buzz began when Otake was expressing his gratitude for the catchers who supported his strong performance. Instead of using a specific name, he referred to the position as "the catcher person." While newcomer Torai Fushimi was the one behind the plate leading Otake through the game, fans are speculating that the phrase was either a playful jab aimed at Fushimi or a respectful, albeit quirky, way to acknowledge the entire catching staff, including regulars Seishiro Sakamoto and Ryutaro Umeno. Social media was quickly flooded with positive reactions, with fans commenting, "Otake calling him '...

Toronto Blue Jays infielder Kazuma Okamoto put on a power-hitting clinic on May 2 (May 3 JST), recording his first multi-home run game since joining the Major Leagues. Starting as the cleanup hitter and third baseman against the Minnesota Twins, Okamoto blasted his 6th and 7th home runs of the season in consecutive at-bats, driving the Blue Jays to a 6-2 victory. The game broke open in the fourth inning with the score tied at 2-2. Leading off the inning, Okamoto sent a solo shot into the left-center stands to give Toronto the lead. He wasn't done yet. In his next trip to the plate in the fifth inning, with a runner on first and no outs, he crushed the first pitch he saw. The ball screamed into the left-field seats as a line-drive two-run homer, extending the lead. The explosive performance momentarily stunned the home crowd and sparked a social media frenzy, with "MLB First" trending as fans celebrated his milestone. Okamoto remained a threat throughout the night, nearly ...

It has been learned that actress Junko Igarashi, wife of actor Masatoshi Nakamura and a prominent figure in the Japanese entertainment industry, passed away on April 28 due to a sudden illness. She was 73. Her agency announced the news on May 2, stating, "We are still in the midst of deep sorrow following this sudden event." The announcement has sent shockwaves through the industry and among fans who admired the pair as one of Japan’s most famous "devoted couples." Igarashi debuted in the 1970s and quickly rose to fame for her stunning beauty and refined, graceful charm. She married Masatoshi Nakamura after the two co-starred in a TV drama. While she took a brief hiatus from her career after marriage, she eventually returned to the screen, earning long-standing affection for her elegant and intellectual presence—most notably in her role as the mentor to the protagonist (played by Toshihiko Tahara) in the hit drama series Kyoshi Binbin Monogatari . Masatoshi Nakamura...