Tokyo International News Agency

In the opening game of Day 6 at the 108th National High School Baseball Championship at Hanshin Koshien Stadium, Miyazaki Prefecture's Nichinan Gakuen secured a dramatic 2–1 walk-off victory over Kochi Prefecture's powerhouse Meitoku Gijuku to advance to the second round. Traditional powerhouse Meitoku Gijuku took an early 1–0 lead in the top of the first inning, setting the stage for a tense, low-scoring battle. Nichinan Gakuen managed to level the score at 1–1 in the bottom of the seventh. Then, in the bottom of the ninth with two outs and no runners on base, Nichinan Gakuen staged a miraculous rally with three consecutive hits. Second-year player Toyomaru delivered the game-winning walk-off RBI single to left field, bringing the thrilling contest to an end. With this victory, Miyazaki Prefecture earned its first win at Koshien in the Reiwa era across both spring and summer tournaments. This historic milestone means that representative high schools from all 47 prefectures in ...

On April 18, 2026, the Nakayama Grand Jump, the pinnacle of steeplechase racing in Japan, took place at Nakayama Racecourse. Ecoro Duel delivered a dominating performance, securing victory in record-breaking time. However, the most talked-about topic among horse racing fans on social media following the race was the fact that every horse completed the course safely. Steeplechase racing is an intense discipline where the safety of both horse and rider is always the top priority. Fans expressed their relief and shared sentiments such as, 'In a Grade 1 steeplechase, whether all horses can finish is the main concern,' and 'Staying safe and finishing the race is what matters most.' A particularly moving moment occurred when jockey Motoki Mizunuma, riding in his first-ever JG1 race, crossed the finish line with Politonality as the final pair. The warm applause from the crowd triggered a wave of emotional reactions online, with many users posting that they were 'moved to t...

Ikuma Horishima secured a silver medal in the men's dual moguls freestyle skiing event at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. This remarkable achievement marks his second medal at the games, having already earned a bronze, making it an early success story. It is also the first time a Japanese athlete has won a medal in the new event of dual moguls, an historic feat that has electrified the entire nation. Men's dual moguls is an exciting new discipline where two skiers descend simultaneously, competing on time and the perfection of their aerials. In the final, Horishima clashed with the reigning champion, Mikaël Kingsbury of Canada. In a thrilling and suspenseful race, Horishima executed an aggressive run but narrowly missed out on gold, settling for silver. Fellow Japanese representative Takuya Shimakawa also secured a commendable 4th place, showcasing the depth of talent within the Japanese team. Flashing a V-sign and a smile on the podium, Horishima commented, "It wa...

On September 14, 2025, debutant Kana Kobayashi (Otsuka Pharmaceutical) achieved a remarkable 7th-place finish in the women's marathon at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. This extraordinary performance marked Japan's first top-eight finish in the event in six years, spanning three championships. Enduring grueling conditions with temperatures nearing 30 degrees Celsius, Kobayashi's resilient run inspired the entire nation. After the race, a tearful Kobayashi commented, "There was more hardship than joy, but I'm glad I persevered this far. My strength came from the support of those around me." She also expressed deep trust in her training, stating, "I thought I'd be utterly defeated, but I believed in my practice and ran." Her unique personality shone through when she described her mid-race climb through the ranks as "feeling like a game of tag," attracting considerable attention. Kobayashi boasts an unusual background, having s...

On August 17th, a thrilling and captivating battle unfolded at the Summer Koshien National High School Baseball Championship. Okinawa Shogaku High School impressively defeated defending champion Sendai Ikuei High School 5-3 in 11 innings, securing their spot in the top 8. This victory also marked a significant milestone for Okinawa Shogaku, as they achieved their 30th overall win in spring and summer Koshien tournaments combined. The game was intense from the outset, with both teams' ace pitchers battling fiercely on the mound. Okinawa Shogaku's Ryosuke Sueyoshi pitched a masterful 169-pitch complete game, tenaciously shutting down the powerful Sendai Ikuei lineup. On the opposing side, Sendai Ikuei's ace, Haruhi Yoshikawa, also showed great tenacity with his pitching until the late innings. However, Okinawa Shogaku scored two decisive runs in the 11th-inning tie-break, which ultimately sealed their victory. Defensive errors on Sendai Ikuei's part also contributed to th...