Mar 31 (Ran To Japan) - 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.
This is the tale of how they conquered the endurance game and what led to them being dethroned. In other words: “日本のマラソンはなぜダメになったのか”
From April 1st, a new regulation took effect across Osaka Prefecture requiring all restaurants with a customer seating area larger than 30 square meters to become entirely smoke-free indoors—unless they install a designated smoking room. Establishments violating the rule face fines of up to 50,000 yen, while customers may be fined up to 30,000 yen.
The Imperial Household Agency launched an official YouTube channel on April 1st to introduce the activities of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako.
Japan's new fiscal year began on April 1st, with companies across the country holding entrance ceremonies to welcome new employees.
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.
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.
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)
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.
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)
Jon Morosi narrates a short story about the connection that baseball has created between Japan and Major League Baseball. (MLB Network)
Ahead of the Major League Baseball season opener at Tokyo Dome, samurai doll displays featuring Japanese players were unveiled on Tuesday at Kyugetsu's headquarters in Taito Ward, Tokyo.
Ahead of the Major League Baseball season opener at Tokyo Dome, samurai doll displays featuring Japanese players were unveiled on Tuesday at Kyugetsu's headquarters in Taito Ward, Tokyo.
Dodgers pitcher Sasaki made his first start in a Major League Baseball spring training game on March 11th, throwing four scoreless innings against the Guardians in Glendale, Arizona. He allowed just one hit while striking out two and walking two.
SoftBank Hawks pitcher Jun Maeda delivered an outstanding performance against the reigning Central League champion Yomiuri Giants, shutting them out over six innings in a preseason game on March 11th.
