Sports

Japan national rugby team steps up training one year before World Cup

Sep 09 (NHK) - Thursday marks one year before the Rugby World Cup opens in France. Japan's national team is aiming to bolster its strength with a new goal and a new theme.

The Brave Blossoms have set a target of advancing to the final four in the World Cup that will begin on September 8 next year.

The squad made the final eight for the first time in the 2019 event in Japan under the "One Team" slogan.

One of the team's themes for the current season is "Our Team," meaning each player should be willing to take the initiative to lead.

Head coach Jamie Joseph is seeking to shore up the team's strength through test matches against world powerhouses.

In October and November, the Brave Blossoms will face New Zealand, England and France, whose world rankings are higher than Japan's. ...continue reading

New Recruits Across Japan Mark First Day as Working Adults

Japan's new fiscal year began on April 1st, with companies across the country holding entrance ceremonies to welcome new employees.

Death Toll Could Reach 298,000 in Nankai Trough Megaquake

The Japanese government has released an updated damage forecast for a potential Nankai Trough megaquake, estimating that up to 298,000 people could die in the worst-case scenario. This projection reflects a slight reduction from the previous estimate of 332,000 deaths made 13 years ago.

Tokyo's Cherry Blossoms Bloom Early This Year

The Japan Meteorological Agency announced on March 30th that cherry blossoms (Somei-Yoshino) in central Tokyo have reached full bloom, one day earlier than the historical average and five days earlier than last year.

IG Arena Completed Ahead of July Sumo Debut and 2026 Asian Games

The IG Arena, a new venue that will host events for the 2026 Asian and Asian Para Games in Aichi and other areas, has been completed, with a handover ceremony held on March 29th, 2025.

Japan Pavilion Opens at Expo

An opening ceremony was held Saturday for the Japan Pavilion at the Osaka-Kansai Expo. As the host country's main exhibit, the pavilion is positioned as the symbolic "face" of the Expo, welcoming visitors from around the world with a presentation of Japan's culture of circularity.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Sports NEWS

How Japan CONQUERED the Marathon World... then lost it!

If you were to ask a random person on the street, “Who are the best marathoners on Earth?”, you’d almost certainly hear one answer… The East Africans. Nowadays, they’re synonymous with distance running but until quite recently there was another powerhouse on the global scene… The Japanese. (Ran To Japan)

IG Arena Completed Ahead of July Sumo Debut and 2026 Asian Games

The IG Arena, a new venue that will host events for the 2026 Asian and Asian Para Games in Aichi and other areas, has been completed, with a handover ceremony held on March 29th, 2025.

I Rejoined My Team In Japan

Trevor Bauer, a former Major League Baseball pitcher, has rejoined his team in Japan, the Yokohama DeNA BayStars. In his latest video titled "I Rejoined My Team In Japan," Bauer shares his experiences and the journey back to playing baseball in Japan. (Trevor Bauer)