Sports

Kyoto Student Crowned First Lucky Man

HYOGO, Jan 12 (News On Japan) - A traditional New Year event known as the “Lucky Man Selection,” in which participants compete to be the first to pray for the new year, was held on January 10th at Nishinomiya Shrine in Hyogo Prefecture, the head shrine of “Ebessan,” the deity of prosperous business.

At 6 a.m., the shrine gates were thrown open to the sound of taiko drums, sending about 5,000 runners surging forward along the stone-paved approach toward the main hall some 230 meters away. Leading the charge were 108 participants chosen by lottery, all sprinting in unison toward the sacred destination.

The gate-opening ritual and Lucky Man Selection are a highlight of the annual Toka Ebisu festival, held to pray for business success. The first three people to reach the main hall are awarded the titles of first, second, and third Lucky Man.

This year’s top honor, known as the First Lucky Man, went to Teppei Toyokawa, a 22-year-old university student from Kyoto.

“I was so surprised that I couldn’t tell if it was a dream or reality,” Toyokawa said. “It was my first time, and I’m truly happy.”

The three men chosen as Lucky Men took part in a ceremonial kagami-biraki, breaking open a sake barrel, and prayed for happiness and good fortune throughout the year ahead.

Source: YOMIURI

Japan To Ban Use of Mobile Batteries on Aircraft

Japan’s transport ministry has decided on a policy to prohibit the use of mobile batteries on aircraft as early as April following a string of incidents in which the devices caught fire during flights.

Online Tutoring Service Megasta Enters Bankruptcy

Online tutoring provider Banzan, which operates the popular service Megasta, received a court decision on February 17th to begin bankruptcy proceedings, triggering confusion and anger among parents and tutors after the company abruptly halted all operations.

Japanese Pair Surge From Fifth To Capture Gold

The pairs free skating event saw the duo known as “Rikuryu,” Riku Miura, 24, and Ryuichi Kihara, 33, of the Kinoshita Group, capture a dramatic gold medal in a stunning comeback, delivering a performance that brought the entire arena to its feet and earning 158.13 points, the highest free skating score in history, as they rose from fifth place after the short program to claim the top of the podium, marking the first medal in the discipline for Japan and overturning a 6.9-point deficit from the short program in what became the largest comeback since the current scoring system was introduced.

'Once-in-30-Years' Drought Grips Japan

Water shortages are worsening across Japan amid what meteorologists describe as 'once-in-30-years' low rainfall, with riverbeds exposed, reservoirs falling to record lows, and dry conditions fueling a renewed surge in influenza infections.

Long Lines in Russia for Japan Tourist Visas

Long lines have been forming daily outside the Japanese Embassy in Russia as people seek tourist visas to visit Japan, with an unprecedented boom in travel interest despite Moscow designating Japan an “unfriendly nation” over sanctions related to the Ukraine invasion.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Sports NEWS

Groundbreaking Held for New Rugby Stadium in Tokyo

A groundbreaking event was held for the new Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, scheduled to open in 2030 at Meiji Jingu Gaien in Tokyo, with operator Mitsui Fudosan and its partners announcing that the facility will carry the secondary name 'SMBC Olive Square'.

Roki Sasaki’s 2025 MLB Decision: What His Posting Means for Fantasy Baseball Managers

Roki Sasaki’s decision to join Major League Baseball has evolved from international speculation into an on-field reality that is already influencing both MLB outcomes and fantasy baseball strategy.

Murase Lands Historic Gold With Daring Final Run in Olympic Big Air

The women’s snowboard big air final was held at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, where Beijing Olympic bronze medalist Murase Kokomo, 21, of TOKIO Inkarami captured the gold medal, becoming the first Japanese woman to win gold in the event and the first in women’s snowboarding history to reach the podium at two consecutive Olympics.

Ohtani Co-Authors Picture Book Starring Beloved Dog Decoy

A picture book co-authored by Shohei Ohtani, featuring his beloved dog Decoy as the main character, has been released in the United States, with all proceeds set to be donated to charity.

Yokozuna Join Annual Bean-Throwing Ceremony

An annual Setsubun ceremony was held on February 3rd at Naritasan Shinshoji temple in Narita, Chiba Prefecture, drawing large crowds as actors Taiga Nakano and Sei Shiraishi joined sumo grand champions Toyoshoryu and Onosato on stage to scatter small bags filled with peanuts and soybeans, praying for an abundant harvest and good fortune while worshippers below raised their voices and reached out eagerly for the offerings.

Japanese Olympic Team Arrives in Milan

With the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics set to open on February 6, the Japanese Olympic team arrived in Milan on February 1, led by head of delegation Hidehito Ito and deputy head Masahiko Harada, marking the start of final preparations for the Games.

Rakuten Team Song to Be Removed as Station Melody

JR East has decided to abolish the departure melody using the Rakuten Eagles’ team song at Miyaginohara Station on the JR Senseki Line in Sendai, a station known as the closest stop to the team’s home stadium, company officials said on February 1st, a move prompted by the introduction of one-driver train operations on the Senseki Line in March due to a shortage of crew members, which will eliminate conductors who press the platform departure buttons, drawing regretful reactions from fans who had grown attached to the melody.

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group to Secure Naming Rights for Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group is set to acquire the naming rights to Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, often described as the spiritual home of Japanese rugby, in a deal worth around 100 billion yen in total.

< 2 3 4 5 >