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 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.
A horse exercise event aimed at preventing a lack of activity among working farm horses is being opened to the public in Otofuke, Hokkaido, through weekdays until February 20th.
Honda will return to Formula One from the 2026 season, marking a renewed entry into the world’s top level of motorsport as the company positions racing as a direct driver of its future passenger car business.
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.
Both yokozuna, Toyoshoryu and Onosato, performed a dedication ring-entering ceremony on January 6th at Meiji Shrine in Tokyo ahead of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament, which begins on January 11th at Ryogoku Kokugikan, drawing a crowd of around 2,000 spectators under clear skies.
Living in Japan teaches you very quickly how to be intentional with space — and time. Apartments are thoughtfully designed, but let’s be honest, they’re not exactly sprawling.
Japan’s professional baseball business continues to evolve, with teams increasingly adopting aggressive strategies to expand revenue beyond the game itself.