News On Japan

Ohtani Declares on Instagram He Will Play for Japan in the 2026 WBC

TOKYO, Nov 26 (News On Japan) - Shohei Ohtani announced on November 25th that he will take part in the World Baseball Classic to be held in March 2026, stating on his Instagram account that he intends to join Japan’s national team, Samurai Japan.

The tournament, now in its sixth edition, brings together leading national and regional teams from around the world. Ohtani said he is “happy to be able to play for Japan again,” expressing his enthusiasm for returning to the international stage.

Source: テレ東BIZ

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

Japan already classifies days with highs of 30C or above as manatsubi (midsummer days) and those reaching 35C or above as moshobi (extremely hot days). It has now introduced a new term for days when temperatures climb to 40C or higher.

Police investigating the death of an 11-year-old boy whose body was found in a forest in Kyoto Prefecture believe his father moved the remains between several locations over a number of days in an apparent attempt to conceal the crime.

A large and powerful Typhoon No. 4, internationally named Sinlaku, was located near the Mariana Islands and moving north-northeast as of the latest update. The storm is expected to gradually shift its course eastward and pass southeast of the Ogasawara Islands around April 18, before making its closest approach around April 19.

Japan will release around 50 million stockpiled medical gloves from next month as concerns grow over shortages of medical supplies linked to tensions in the Middle East, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said.

The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route connecting Toyama and Nagano fully reopened on April 15th, marking the start of the spring tourism season along one of Japan’s most celebrated mountain routes.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Sports NEWS

The Okinawa Prefectural Cultural Properties Protection Council has submitted a recommendation to the prefectural board of education to newly recognize 16 individuals as holders of the intangible cultural property "Okinawan Karate and Kobudo," aimed at preserving the region’s traditional martial arts.

A bronze statue of Ichiro, who built a stellar career with the Seattle Mariners and became the first Asian player inducted into the U.S. Baseball Hall of Fame, was unveiled at the team’s home stadium in Seattle on April 10th, marking a tribute to his enduring legacy.

The betting company 1xBet presents five basketball players for whom the B.League could become a springboard to achieving greater heights.

A modern training facility equipped with two natural grass pitches sits about a 25-minute drive from downtown Nashville, Tennessee, where Japan’s national soccer team will establish its base camp for the World Cup set to kick off in June across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The Japan Shogi Association is considering new rules to address concerns raised by female players who have effectively been forced to forfeit matches due to pregnancy and childbirth, with a review committee presenting its interim report on March 31st.

Japan’s national football team secured a historic 1-0 victory over England in an international friendly held on March 31st in London, marking their first win in four encounters against the traditional powerhouse known as the “home of football,” and providing valuable momentum ahead of the FIFA World Cup set to begin in June across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Japan’s national soccer team completed final preparations on March 30 ahead of an international friendly against England, scheduled to kick off at 7:45 p.m. on March 31 (3:45 a.m. on April 1 Japan time) at Wembley Stadium in London, marking their last match before the squad announcement for the World Cup set to begin in June across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The first League of Legends Pacific League Spring Split marked the end of CTBC Flying Oyster's dominance and brought several other surprising twists.