Sports

Yokohama F Marinos beat Vissel Kobe 3-1 for 5th J.League title

KOBE, Nov 06 (Japan Today) - Yokohama F Marinos sealed the J-League first-division championship on a hectic final day of the season Saturday, beating Vissel Kobe 3-1 as title rivals and two-time defending holders Kawasaki Frontale overcame FC Tokyo 3-2 despite being reduced to 10 men.

Starting the day two points ahead of prefectural rivals Frontale in the standings and with a double-digit lead in goal difference, Marinos were all but guaranteed their fifth title if they could muster a draw on the road at Noevir Stadium.

But Kevin Muscat's side stayed true to form and aggressively pushed for all three points, with Takuma Nishimura poaching the decisive goal after Kobe keeper Yuya Tsuboi spilled a free kick early in the second half.

A miscued clearance gave Elber the opportunity to nod home the opener for Marinos in the 26th minute before Yoshinori Muto headed an equalizer in first-half injury time. Marinos talisman Teruhito Nakagawa tapped in off Kota Mizunuma's cross to complete the scoring in the 73rd minute.

The result secured Marinos' first title since 2019, when another Australian manager, Ange Postecoglou, was at the helm, while ending Frontale's bid for their fifth J1 crown in six seasons. ...continue reading

Shibuya Crowds Subdued in Rain Soaked Halloween

Halloween Eve in Shibuya still drew a festive atmosphere, with people gathering in costume and enjoying the night. Tokyo police deployed several hundred officers, including the well-known “DJ police,” to manage the crowds and prevent congestion at the famous Shibuya Scramble Crossing.

Takaichi and Xi Hold 10-Second Handshake

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi and Chinese President Xi Jinping stood side by side before the cameras on October 31st at 5 p.m. for a moment that drew intense attention. “Hello, please this way,” said Xi as the two leaders exchanged a handshake lasting roughly 10 seconds in front of their national flags. Takaichi’s expression was stiff at first but softened slightly into a faint smile, while Xi’s face remained largely unchanged.

Record 12 Killed in Bear Attacks Across Japan

Bear attacks are reaching unprecedented levels across Japan, with a record 12 fatalities so far this year as sightings continue daily from mountain towns to city centers, disrupting schools and local institutions.

Japan to Introduce Free High School Education Next Year

The Liberal Democratic Party, Nippon Ishin no Kai, and Komeito have reached an agreement on the framework for Japan’s new free high school tuition program, which will begin in fiscal 2026. Under the plan, tuition support for private full-time high schools will be capped at 457,000 yen, while correspondence courses will have an upper limit of 337,000 yen.

Sense of Crisis in World Heritage Shirakawa Village: ‘Never a Year with So Many Bears Before’

Bear sightings have surged across Japan, and in Gifu Prefecture’s Shirakawa Village—home to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Shirakawa-go—local authorities held a nighttime drill on October 28th to prepare for possible emergencies.

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World-Renowned Okinawan Karate Traces 90-Year Legacy

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[SoftBank vs. Hanshin] Japan Series Game 1

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Japan Series Opens on Saturday as Hawks Aim for First Championship in Five Years

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Sadaharu Oh Receives Order of Culture,

Baseball legend Sadaharu Oh, 85, chairman of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, has been awarded this year’s Order of Culture, while voice actress Masako Nozawa, 88, known for voicing the protagonist Son Goku in the anime "Dragon Ball," has been named a Person of Cultural Merit — the first voice actor ever to receive the distinction.