Sports

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

NAGOYA, Mar 31 (News On Japan) - 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.

Construction of the IG Arena began in July 2022 as a replacement for the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium. To commemorate its completion, a ceremony was held on March 29th, where the keys were formally handed over to Aichi Governor Omura.

Omura said: "We hope to deliver spectacular moments in sports and entertainment to the people of the prefecture and the city from the IG Arena."

With a maximum capacity of 17,000 people, including standing room, IG Arena is one of the largest arenas in Japan. The first-floor seating is movable, allowing for flexible arrangements depending on the event.

The arena will hold its grand opening on July 13th with the start of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament and will also serve as a venue for judo and wrestling events during the 2026 Asian and Asian Para Games.

Source: Tokai TV

Chinese Tourists Plunge as Travel Warning Takes Effect in Japan

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Tokyo Quake Scenario Projects Up to 18,000 Deaths

The Japanese government is preparing to release a new damage projection for a major earthquake striking directly beneath the Tokyo metropolitan area by the end of the year, and interviews with officials familiar with the assessment indicate that in the worst-case scenario the death toll could reach 18,000, while economic losses are estimated at 83 trillion yen.

Toyota Launches First New Supercar in 17 Years

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Eel Regulation Dropped After Japan Opposition

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EU member states and others had called for tighter controls on all eel transactions under the Washington Convention, citing global resource depletion and the need for stronger international oversight. However, Japan countered that the Japanese eel faces no imminent risk of extinction and opposed the measure.

Tsukiji Outer Market Urges Tourists to Stay Away in December

Tokyo’s Tsukiji Outer Market has taken the unusual step of asking tourists not to visit in December as operators move to prevent crowd-related accidents during the busy year-end shopping season, with local officials also confirming that Shibuya’s New Year’s Eve countdown will be canceled for the sixth consecutive year.

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