Sports

Ohtani Shohei wins National League's homerun, RBI titles

Oct 02 (NHK) - Major League Baseball star Ohtani Shohei of the Los Angeles Dodgers has won the National League's home run and RBI titles.

The performance of individual players was finalized after the last game of the regular season on Monday.

Ohtani hit 54 home runs, 15 more than Marcell Ozuna of the Atlanta Braves who had the second most. This is Ohtani's second consecutive league home run crown following last season when he was with the Los Angeles Angels in the American League. He is the fourth person to win the title in both leagues.

Ohtani also had 130 RBIs. That was 18 more than Willy Adames of the Milwaukee Brewers who finished second. He is the first Japanese player to clinch this title.

Ohtani had the league's second best batting average at .310 after Luis Arraez of the San Diego Padres who topped the list at .314.

Ohtani also came in second in stolen bases, with 59, after Elly De La Cruz of the Cincinnati Reds who swiped 67.

The superstar topped the league with 134 runs, a .390 on-base average and an on-base plus slugging percentage of 1.036, meaning that he had an outstanding offensive performance.

After undergoing surgery on his right elbow last year, the two-way player focused on batting this season and ended with extraordinary statistics.

US media report that Ohtani may be the leading candidate for the league's MVP award. If he wins the award, it would be his third MVP, including two titles in the American League.

Southern Kyushu Enters Rainy Season Earlier Than Okinawa for First Time in 49 Years

Southern Kyushu has entered the rainy season, marking the first time in 49 years that it has done so earlier than Okinawa. It is also the earliest rainy season start for any region in Japan since the Meteorological Agency began keeping records. Authorities are warning of heavy rainfall not only in Kyushu but across other parts of the country as well.

Saitama Road Collapse Recovery to Take 5-7 Years

A road collapse in Yashio City, Saitama Prefecture is expected to take five to seven years to fully restore, local officials said on Friday, following the recovery of a truck cab that had remained lodged in the sewer system since the January accident.

Eighty Years On, Okinawa Remembers the Battle of Sugar Loaf Hill

Eighty years have passed since the end of World War II, yet the memories of its fiercest battles continue to echo in the heart of Okinawa. The district of Omoromachi in central Naha, now a lively urban hub filled with people, was once the site of one of the bloodiest clashes of the Battle of Okinawa—the Battle of Sugar Loaf Hill.

Aoi Festival Kicks Off in Kyoto

The Aoi Festival, one of Kyoto’s three major traditional festivals, began on May 15th with a vibrant procession of around 500 people dressed in elegant Heian-period garments making their way through the streets of the ancient capital.

Japan Marks 150 Years of Meters

Japan’s prototypes of the kilogram and meter, which once served as national standards for weight and length, were presented to the press this week ahead of the 150th anniversary of the Meter Convention, the international treaty that standardized global measurement systems, to be marked on May 20th.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Sports NEWS

Podium Finish for Local Driver in Revamped Women’s Formula Race

The opening race of the Kyojo Cup, a women-only motorsport competition, was held on May 12th at Fuji Speedway in Shizuoka Prefecture, where Okinawa-born driver Ongane Miki claimed a podium finish.

Men's Sano International Tri-series 2025 (T20)｜Japan vs Thailand FINAL

The Sano International T20I Tri-Series 2025 concluded on May 11 at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Japan, with Thailand emerging as the tournament champions.

Veteran Wrestler Set for Retirement After 17-Year Run

A founding member of Kyushu Pro Wrestling and one of its most recognizable stars, Mentai☆Kid, is preparing to retire after 17 years in the ring.

IOC President Bach Welcomes Japan’s Future Olympic Bids

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach, who is set to retire in June, gave an interview in Tokyo on May 8th, where he expressed a positive stance toward Japan’s potential bid to host future Olympic Games, saying such a move would be "highly welcomed" if the conditions are right.

Softball Teams Light Up Koshien in Historic First Match

To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the national tournament, a high school softball game was held for the first time at Hanshin Koshien Stadium.

Hokkaido Horse Races Canceled for Third Straight Week as Equine Influenza Spreads

Horse races at the Banei Racecourse in Obihiro, Hokkaido, have been canceled for the third consecutive week due to a widespread outbreak of equine influenza among racehorses.

German Adventurers Run Across Japan in Grueling 70-Kilometer Daily Challenge

A group of German adventurers have launched an ambitious trek across Japan as part of what they call "Cybox Season 25," documenting their journey from the northernmost tip of the country in a vlog-style diary rich with cultural observations, physical endurance, and personal reflection.

Rising Stars Debut in Top Division Ahead of Summer Basho

The Japan Sumo Association announced the rankings for the Summer Tournament, which will open at Ryogoku Kokugikan on May 11th. Ozeki Oonosato, who secured his third championship during the Spring Tournament, will aim for his first promotion to yokozuna, starting from the top position on the East side.

< 2 3 4 5 >