Sports

Who is Munetaka Murakami? 22-year-old Japanese phenom could be next NPB star to draw MLB attention

Aug 24 (MSN) - The crack of the bat when a home run is launched into orbit is a sound like no other. No one has heard that sound more in MLB than Yankees star Aaron Judge. Judge has smacked 47 homers over the wall in just 119 games.

There is another baseball star posting similar numbers across the pond, however. Japanese phenom Munetaka Murakami is the latest NPB batter to drum up MLB interest, crushing 44 dingers in 109 games. That's a pace of 58 homers in a full season. A slight uptick in homers and Murakami can quite easily pass the 60-home run plateau, a mark that has only been hit one other time in NPB history (Wladimir Balentien, 2013).

Munetaka Murakami is a 22-year-old third baseman who plays for the Yakult Swallows in Japan's Central League. Murakami has prodigious power; since being selected in the first round of the 2017 NPB Draft, Murakami has swatted 148 homers in NPB, widely considered the second-best baseball league in the world. For comparison, Shohei Ohtani cleared the fence 48 times over the course of his five-year NPB career. ...continue reading

Do Bears Prefer Acorns or Berries?

Bear sightings across Japan have already climbed to nearly twice the level recorded during the same period last year, prompting entry bans in mountain areas behind Kyoto’s Ninna-ji Temple and the cancellation of hiking events in Kansai, while new research suggests that the key to reducing encounters may lie in understanding what bears eat in each region.

Copper Thieves Target Japanese Shrines

Copper roofing panels were stolen from several shrines in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, including a city-designated cultural property, in the latest case amid a nationwide surge in copper thefts targeting shrines and temples across Japan, where soaring metal prices have fueled crimes that leave historic religious buildings damaged, exposed to the elements, and facing repair costs of millions of yen.

1200-Year-Old Temple on Miyajima Reduced to Ashes

Flames broke out on the morning of May 20th on Miyajima Island in Hiroshima Prefecture, home to one of Japan's World Heritage sites, destroying Reikado Hall near the summit of Mount Misen.

From Bento Boxes to Garbage Bags, Rising Costs Hitting Daily Life Across Japan

Uncertainty surrounding the situation in the Middle East is beginning to affect daily life in Japan, as concerns over crude oil supplies spread to restaurants, cleaning services and even household garbage disposal systems across the Kansai region.

Tochigi Robbery-Murder Suspect’s Wife Posted Dance Videos on Social Media

A 25-year-old woman arrested as a suspected ringleader in a robbery-murder case in Tochigi Prefecture once posted cheerful dance videos on social media and was remembered by those who knew her as an energetic and outgoing young woman.

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Amateur Sumo Draws Thousands to New York Streets

An amateur sumo tournament was held on the streets of New York, highlighting how Japan’s national sport is gaining new popularity in the United States while evolving in distinctly American ways.

National Stone Skipping Contest Held on Nagara River

Under blazing sunshine along the clear waters of the Nagara River, competitors faced off in a serious test of stone skipping skill on May 17th in Gifu City, where temperatures climbed to 31.2 degrees Celsius, marking the city’s first midsummer day of the year.

The Most Anticipated Football Matches Around the World in the Coming Month

May in football is the moment when everyone’s nerves are already stretched to the limit, and mistakes become incredibly costly.

Top 5 Most Unexpected Champions of Recent Years

In modern professional sports, where financial resources and squad depth often determine competitive hierarchy, there are still moments when underdogs disrupt the established order.

Mud-Covered Rugby Deepens Community Bonds

An event allowing participants to enjoy rugby while covered in mud took place in pre-planting rice paddies in Fukuchiyama, Kyoto Prefecture, on May 17th.

Japan Names 26-Man Squad for 2026 World Cup

Japan announced its 26-man squad on May 15th for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be held across the United States, Canada and Mexico, with several key selections drawing attention as injuries continue to affect the national team ahead of the tournament.

Athletes Tackle Sapporo Olympic Ski Jump

A 400-meter race in which participants sprinted up a ski jump slope with a maximum incline of 37 degrees and an elevation difference of 130 meters was held on May 16th at the Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium in Sapporo.

Ceiling Partially Collapses at 'Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena' Ahead of Asian Games

Part of the ceiling at 'Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena' in Nagoya's Minato Ward, which is scheduled to host squash events during the upcoming Asian Games, collapsed on May 11th, raising concerns over whether the venue will be ready in time for the international sporting event opening in September.

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