News On Japan

Ichiro Statue Unveiled at Mariners' Seattle Home Stadium

SEATTLE, Apr 12, 2026 (News On Japan) - 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 statue honors Ichiro, whose real name is Ichiro Suzuki, now 52, and is installed near the main entrance of T-Mobile Park, the Mariners’ home ballpark.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ichiro reflected on the significance of the moment, saying, "Having something like this ensures that I will be remembered in any era," expressing a deep sense of gratitude.

Former Mariners teammates Ken Griffey Jr. and Edgar Martinez joined Ichiro in pulling back the curtain to reveal the statue, though an unexpected moment occurred when the bat on the statue broke during the unveiling.

Source: Kyodo

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

Typhoon No. 31 remained a very strong storm over the western Pacific as of 3 p.m. Japan time on October 27, with forecasts indicating that it could approach Japan's Ogasawara Islands around November 1, bringing potentially violent winds, dangerous waves and disruptions to maritime transportation, while uncertainty over its northward turn raised concerns about prolonged storm conditions.

Travel disruption continued into Tuesday, October 27, as Japan began recovering from heavy rain and rough seas caused by the remnants of Typhoon No. 30, with ferry cancellations confirmed in Nagasaki Prefecture and railway operators monitoring the effects of overnight rainfall in central and eastern Japan.

A controversial penalty shootout decision during the Tokyo qualifiers for Japan's National High School Soccer Championship on October 24 has sparked debate after a team that believed it had secured victory was forced to continue playing and eventually lost, raising questions about whether a hole in the goal net contributed to an incorrect ruling.

The underground platform of the planned Kanagawa Prefecture Station on Japan's Chuo Shinkansen maglev line was opened to the public for the first time on October 24, offering visitors a rare glimpse of the high-speed railway project under construction in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture, with demand for the tour exceeding available places by approximately 12 times.

Japanese drone manufacturer Terra Drone has delivered interceptor drones to Ukraine's Ministry of Defense for the first time, prompting Russia to threaten retaliatory measures on October 21, as Japan considers expanding domestic drone production and strengthening its coastal defenses through thousands of unmanned aircraft.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Sports NEWS

Pillow fighting, once a familiar pastime on Japanese school trips, has evolved into a competitive team sport, with players dressed in traditional yukata competing on tatami mats under unusual rules that include a call of "The teacher is coming!" to freeze opponents for 10 seconds.

Fukuoka-born sumo wrestler Arashifuji has earned his first promotion to the top makuuchi division ahead of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament, which opens on November 8 at the Fukuoka International Center, according to the latest rankings released by the Japan Sumo Association on October 26.

Three national anthem mix-ups occurred on the same day at the ongoing Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games, with Iran's anthem mistakenly played during medal ceremonies for Chinese Taipei and Mongolia, while South Korea's anthem was played instead of China's before a women's sitting volleyball match.

Japan's sporting weekend was dominated by the completion of professional baseball's postseason, with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars securing a remarkable sweep of the Central League champions Hanshin Tigers and the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks advancing from the Pacific League.

Japanese basketball continues to improve year after year. Strong financial backing and steadily growing fan interest have turned the B.League into one of Asia’s most exciting competitions.

Japan's women's national soccer team, Nadeshiko Japan, suffered a 2-1 comeback defeat to Germany in an international friendly in Bremen on October 13, despite taking an early lead through Momoko Tanikawa.

Miku Yamanaka, a 32-year-old veteran of women's sumo who has claimed 34 national titles, continues to compete against younger rivals while balancing work and training, demonstrating remarkable determination as she battles through injuries in pursuit of further success at the All-Japan Women's Sumo Championships.

The new season of Japan’s revamped men’s SV.League begins on October 17. This 1xBet review explains what will change and who is in contention for the title.