News On Japan

Triathlon Held at Osaka Castle Features Unique Moat Swim

OSAKA, May 26 (News On Japan) - An international triathlon competition featuring a rare moat swim was held on May 25th at Osaka Castle Park.

Shortly after 8 a.m., athletes began their swim in the historic moat surrounding Osaka Castle. This marked the eighth time the triathlon has been held at the site, and it remains the only international triathlon event in Japan to incorporate a castle moat as part of its swimming course. The race consists of swimming, cycling, and running, testing competitors across three disciplines.

This year, 122 top-tier athletes took part. Despite rainy weather, crowds gathered along the route and cheered loudly.

Women's winner Aimi Hayashi said, "In the final stretch, it came down to spirit and determination, and I'm happy I could win. So many people came to support us, and I wanted to meet those expectations—I’m glad I finished strong."

In the afternoon, roughly 700 amateur participants joined the competition, with races continuing into the evening.

Source: YOMIURI

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

Japan plans to release petroleum reserves as early as March 16 in response to surging crude oil prices driven by escalating tensions in the Middle East, with the government also aiming to keep the nationwide average gasoline price at around 170 yen per liter.

A container ship owned by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines that had remained in the Persian Gulf following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz was found to have sustained damage, although no injuries were reported among the crew.

The Japanese government approved a bill on March 10th to revise the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act to establish an electronic travel authorization system called JESTA that would screen foreign visitors before they arrive in Japan.

A blast of midwinter-like cold returned to the Kanto region, bringing rare March snowfall as Utsunomiya recorded its heaviest snow in 21 years for the month, while snow also fell in central Tokyo.

Two men fell while climbing Mount Fuji shortly before 3 p.m. on March 9th near the New Seventh Station, as authorities launched a rescue operation on the mountain where summit routes remain closed for the winter season.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Sports NEWS

JTB on March 10th unveiled to the media the details of a special viewing tour for Japan’s games in the World Baseball Classic (WBC), held at Tokyo Dome.

A compelling matchup has been added to the boxing card as WBC bantamweight champion Takuma Inoue is set to defend his title against WBC bantamweight No. 3 contender Kazuto Ioka at Tokyo Dome on May 2.

Japan’s national team began its World Baseball Classic campaign with a commanding victory on March 6th, defeating Taiwan 13-0 in a seven-inning mercy-rule game in Group C of the first round at Tokyo Dome.

The Tokyo Marathon was held on March 1st along a course running from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building to Tokyo Station, with Suguru Osako, who holds the Japanese national record and competes for Li-Ning, finishing 12th in 2 hours, 5 minutes and 59 seconds to post the best result among Japanese runners in the men’s race.

Olympic gold medalists Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, the pair known as “RikuRyu,” spoke at a press conference at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward on February 25th, reflecting on their victory in pair skating at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics and the determination that carried them through the competition.

Basketball is booming in Japan. The national team has competed in back-to-back Olympics for the first time since the 1970s.

Nearly 35,000 runners raced through the streets of Osaka on February 22nd as the Osaka Marathon, now in its 14th year, was held in unseasonably warm conditions reminiscent of late April.

Ryutaro Hazuki, a player for the Hiroshima Carp who has been indicted on charges of using a designated drug known as “zombie tobacco,” was released on bail on February 18th.