News On Japan

Sumo: Ozeki hopeful Baruto steamrolls to stay tied for Osaka lead

AP — 2010-03-18 12:24:21

It wasn't pretty but sekiwake Baruto disposed of Wakanosato to retain his share of the lead alongside grand champion Hakuho in his chase for ozeki promotion at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament on Thursday. The sekiwake giant came flying out of the crouch and almost lost his footing as he tipped off-balance but regrouped to get a hand under his opponent's armpit before toppling the former sekiwake at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium. (AP)

Baseball: Matsui starts over with Angels

Fox News — 2010-03-17 22:12:01

New team. New coast. New lifestyle. New highways to learn. New fans to impress. New nickname, too? Hideki Matsui has been known as "Godzilla" for years, both in Japan and the U.S. But now that he has left the Yankees for the Angels, I wondered if the reigning World Series MVP was in the mood for wholesale change. So, I asked him the other day in the Angels clubhouse. Before Matsui could answer, he was preempted by a teammate who had overheard. (Fox News)

Golf: Move aside Ryo, Ishikawa's sister is new kid on the block

Reuters — 2010-03-17 10:41:54

Japanese teen-ager Ryo Ishikawa's 13-year-old sister Yoko will make her Japan LPGA Tour debut at this week's T-Point Ladies golf tournament. Just a year out of elementary school, Ishikawa had accepted an invitation to play at the 70 million yen ($775,600) event in Kagoshima, southern Japan, organizers said Wednesday. Ishikawa quickly declared she wanted to follow in her multi-millionaire brother's footsteps and turn professional after some initial butterflies over entering the field. (Reuters)

Sumo: Ozeki hopeful Baruto dodges bullet to stay tied for Osaka lead

AP — 2010-03-17 10:38:33

Promotion-chasing sekiwake Baruto dodged a bullet to floor Aminishiki and retain his share of the lead alongside grand champion Hakuho at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament on Wednesday. Baruto looked set to taste his first "kuroboshi" defeat of the 15-day tournament when he was tipped off balance at the start of an absorbing encounter at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium. But the Estonian behemoth dug in deep and neutralized Aminshiki's (1- 3) attacks before getting both arms around the komusubi and squashing him to the sandy surface to improve to 4-0. (AP)

Olympics: Japan's ski officials told to tighten 'morals'

Reuters — 2010-03-15 20:57:57

Japan's skiing officials have been read the riot act after one of their snowboarders wore his Vancouver Olympic uniform in "hip hop" style last month. Dreadlocked boarder Kazuhiro Kokubo narrowly escaped being kicked out of the Games after arriving with his trousers pulled low on his hips, shirt hanging out and his tie loose. The 21-year-old with double nose piercings was banned from attending the opening ceremony and forced to apologize at a news conference before finishing eighth in the men's halfpipe. (Reuters)

Sumo: Hakuho marches on at spring sumo

AP — 2010-03-16 10:21:18

Hakuho enjoyed another easy day at the office Tuesday as the lone grand champion tore down veteran maegashira Wakanosato to preserve his unbeaten start to the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament. Hakuho barely broke sweat in the day's final bout at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, the Mongolian bruiser quickly wrapping up former sekiwake Wakanosato (0-3) to make it three wins out of three. With former yokozuna Asashoryu having retired last month amid allegations that he attacked a man during an alcohol-fuelled rage outside a Tokyo nightspot, Hakuho is the odds-on favorite to win the spring basho and his 13th Emperor's Cup. (AP)

Sumo: Hakuho rolls over Kakuryu on 2nd day of spring sumo

AP — 2010-03-15 11:41:00

Hakuho outmuscled Mongolian countryman Kakuryu to move closer in pursuit of his 13th Emperor's Cup on the second day of action at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament on Monday. Hakuho made it two of two in the absence of former yokozuna Asashoryu, who retired last month amid allegations that he attacked a man outside a Tokyo nightclub. Estonian sekiwake Baruto, meanwhile, charged ahead full throttle in his bid for ozeki promotion with a demolition of local favorite Goeido. (AP)

Marathon: Kano wins Nagoya marathon

AFP — 2010-03-14 07:38:17

Japan's Yuri Kano won the Nagoya International Women's Marathon Sunday and then set her sights on the world's top races including the 2012 London Olympics. Kano crossed the line in 2hrs 27min 11sec ahead of Derartu Tulu of Ethiopia, who clocked 2:28:13, and compatriot Hiromi Ominami in 2:28:35. Japan's Mai Ito was fourth in 2:29:19. The 31-year-old Kano, winner of the 2007 Hokkaido marathon, said she focused on winning the race, not on her time. (AFP)

Sumo: Hakuho off to flying start in Osaka

Japan Times — 2010-03-14 21:55:22

Mongolian yokozuna Hakuho pounced on Aminishiki to start off in the winner's column at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday - the first meet after the retirement of former yokozuna Asashoryu. Hakuho threw the komusubi off-balance with a series of well-placed shoves before sending him packing from the rear in the day's final bout at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium. Sekiwake Baruto, meanwhile, also made an encouraging start out of the blocks in his quest for promotion to ozeki with a bulldozing of second-ranked Russian Aran. (Japan Times)

Sumo: Ticket sales sluggish with Asashoryu gone

Japan Times — 2010-03-13 23:53:14

Things just got really lonely at the top. After perennial troublemaker Asashoryu quit sumo following allegations he attacked a man outside a Tokyo nightspot, Hakuho remains as the sole yokozuna and hot favorite to cart home the Emperor's Cup at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament getting under way on Sunday. Alas, sumo without Asashoryu, who took time out from his reputed street brawling to also win the New Year's meet, could be a lot like watching a one-man show - predictable and lacking the unique pizzazz that the Mongolian firebrand brought to the sport. (Japan Times)

Sumo: Bar set high for Baruto's promotion to ozeki

AP — 2010-03-13 00:43:39

A senior sumo official in charge of promoting wrestlers said Friday that Estonian sekiwake Baruto needs at least 13 wins in the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament starting Sunday to be promoted to ozeki. The consensus in the sumo world is that a sekiwake needs to win 33 bouts in three most recent tournaments to be promoted to sumo's second-highest rank. Baruto has posted nine and 12 wins in the past two meets, leaving him 12 wins shy of 33. (AP)

Sumo: Grand champ Hakuho lonely at the top in post-Asashoryu era

AP — 2010-03-13 00:43:39

After perennial troublemaker Asashoryu quit sumo following allegations he attacked a man outside a Tokyo nightspot, grand champion Hakuho remains as the sole yokozuna and the hot favorite to cart home the Emperor's Cup at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament getting under way Sunday. Alas, sumo without Asashoryu, who took time out from his reputed street brawling to also win the New Year meet, could be a lot like watching a one-man show -- predictable and lacking the unique pizzazz that the Mongolian firebrand brought to the sport. (AP)

Sumo: Asashoryu denies alleged drunken rampage, undecided on future

AP — 2010-03-11 11:02:30

Former Mongolian-born grand champion Asashoryu on Thursday refuted reports of an alleged drunken rampage that preceded his retirement from sumo. "I didn't commit any violent act," Asashoryu said at a press conference in Ulan Bator, referring to Japanese magazine reports in January that said he became extremely drunk before striking and seriously injuring a man outside a nightclub in Tokyo in the early hours of Jan. 16. On rumors that he will go into mixed martial arts, Asashoryu said, "I haven't really thought about what to do next. I don't regret my decision to quit sumo, though." (AP)

Golf: Ishikawa hopes to show improvement in 3 U.S. PGA events

AP — 2010-03-11 11:02:30

Teenage star Ryo Ishikawa said Thursday he is well prepared to play in three U.S. PGA tournaments, including the Masters Tournament, in the next four weeks. "My spirit, technique and physical condition are great," the 18-year- old JGTO money title winner said before flying off to the United States from Narita airport, east of Tokyo. "I want to give all I have got in the upcoming events." (AP)

Sports: Mori to step down as JASA head next year

AP — 2010-03-10 12:22:16

Former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori said Wednesday he will step down as head of the Japan Sports Association when his current term expires at the end of March next year. "Next year will be time to take a new step forward. It will be the JASA's 100th anniversary, a crucial time. I would like to be allowed to serve out my term in March next year," the 72-year-old Mori said at an association board meeting. (AP)

Sumo: Schoolboy tipped to crush opponents

ABC News — 2010-03-09 06:50:37

A 15-year-old Japanese schoolboy tipping the scales at 145 kilograms is set to make his professional sumo debut and is already being tipped as a future 'yokozuna'. National junior high school champion Ryoya Tatsu stands 1.93 metres tall and is expected to take part in the Osaka grand sumo tournament beginning this weekend. The Japan Sumo Association said Tatsu had passed his first health check and was waiting for the results of internal tests to determine if he could wrestle in Osaka. (ABC News)

Soccer: Is J-League about to become one of the world's biggest?

goal.com — 2010-03-08 10:16:15

It is a league that is seeing a growing number of international players in its stadia, it has some of the best facilities in the world and it is already one of the most-watched football leagues around but the J-League is not about to stop there. From the atmospheric old arenas like Shimizu S-Pulse's Nihondaira Sports Stadium where fans can gaze at Mount Fuji if the football is not up to much and Kawasaki Frontale's oddly shaped Todoroki Stadium, located in a picturesque park in the middle of a pleasant residential area to the space age World Cup arenas such as Urawa's Saitama Stadium and the Kashima Soccer Stadium - the J-League is growing in stature and reputation. (goal.com)

Golf: Ishikawa graduates from high school

AP — 2010-03-08 11:03:33

Japan's No. 1 golfer Ryo Ishikawa attended his high school graduation ceremony in Tokyo on Monday, receiving his diploma along with the general student body. The 18-year-old, who became the youngest ever to top the money rankings on the Japanese men's professional tour last year, turned pro while still a freshman at Suginami Gakuin High School in January 2008. He has won six tournaments while enrolled there. (AP)

Tennis: Japan clinches win over Philippines in Davis Cup

Sports Illustrated — 2010-03-06 23:21:00

Japan has taken an insurmountable 3-0 lead over the Philippines in their Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group 1 tie after a straight-sets victory in doubles. Japanese duo Takao Suzuki and Toshihide Matsui beat Treat Huey and Cecil Mamiit 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 Saturday to clinch the best-of-five series. Japan took a 2-0 lead Friday after singles victories by Tatsuma Ito and Go Soeda, and will take on Australia in the second round on May 7-9. (Sports Illustrated)

Japan's teen pro skips PGA for school graduation

AFP — 2010-03-06 00:57:34

Japan's number-one golfer, teenager Ryo Ishikawa, will miss playing in a US PGA competition next week to attend his high school graduation, his agent has said. The 18-year-old, who became the youngest money leader on any of the world's six major tours last year, is due to attend his graduation ceremony at his Tokyo high school on Monday. His agent said attending his graduation would make it difficult for Ishikawa to prepare for the CA Championship, which starts Thursday in Doral, Florida. (AFP)

Soccer: Japan downs Bahrain 2-0 in Asian Cup qualifier

Reuters — 2010-03-03 22:20:21

Shinji Okazaki and Keisuke Honda scored Wednesday to lead Japan to a 2-0 win over Bahrain in an Asian Cup qualifier. Okazaki found the net in the 36th minute with a header from five meters (yards) and Honda doubled the lead with another header, from Naoto Uchida's cross in the 47th. Both teams have already qualified for the Asian Cup, and Japan was using the match to prepare for the World Cup. (Reuters)

Sumo: Are surprises in store at Haru Basho?

Japan Times — 2010-03-02 22:04:35

With all eyes on the shenanigans surrounding Asashoryu in recent weeks, Hakuho's elaborate wedding celebrations in various locations around the country, and a new nationality rule in sumo that essentially limits a stable to one foreign-born rikishi at a time (even if the rikishi does later change his nationality), few have really given any thought as to what might happen down in Osaka starting the end of next week. (Japan Times)

Olympics: Asada aims to break Kim's record score toward Sochi

AP — 2010-03-02 22:40:23

Olympic figure skating silver medalist Mao Asada has set a goal of breaking gold medal winner Kim Yu Na's record score as she looks ahead to the 2014 Sochi Games. Asked if she would prefer that the South Korean champion does not turn pro before a possible Olympic rematch, Asada said Tuesday, "I don't know what she's going to do. But even if she retires from amateur competition, her score will remain in place. I'd like to break it as soon as possible." The 19-year-old was making the comments at a news conference, also attended by the other Japanese medalists, upon their arrival from Vancouver. (AP)

Olympics: Germany denies Japan speedskating team gold

Japan Times — 2010-02-28 21:39:17

Japan's silver medal win in the women's speedskating team pursuit final on Saturday was met with a mixture of joy and frustration after its skaters missed out on the gold by a whisker. Masako Hozumi, Nao Kodaira and Maki Tabata were ahead for most of the final at the Richmond Olympic Oval and looked to be on course to give Japan its first gold medal of the Vancouver Games. (Japan Times)

Marathon: Fujiwara wins Tokyo Marathon

Japan Times — 2010-02-28 21:39:17

Masakazu Fujiwara pulled away with around 2 km remaining to win the men's race at a rain-swept Tokyo Marathon on Sunday. Fujiwara was never in danger after breaking away from the pack and crossed the finish line at Tokyo Big Sight in 2 hours, 12 minutes, 19 seconds. Russia's Alevtina Biktimirova won the women's race in 2:34:39. (Japan Times)