 Kyodo News

 Hiroshima manager Takahiro Arai (48), now in his third year at the helm, is off to a good start in the crowded Central League, but behind the scenes he seems to have his own troubles. ......

Hiroshima&#8217;s Front Office Considering &#8220;Recommendation of Retirement&#8221; for Kosuke Tanaka &#038; Ryuhei Matsuyama: &#8230;&#8230;Arai&#8217;s distress and &#8220;encouragement from his juniors&#8221;.

 On April 15, 36-year-old infielder Hayato Sakamoto of the Giants was struck from the first-team roster for the first time this season. His batting average had been low since the open season. ......

The slumping Yuto Sakamoto of the Giants and Hisayoshi Nagano &#8220;share the same character&#8221;&#8230; Leaders are worried about how to use the two veteran right-handers.

 Masaki Okada

 Rocco Solare, the women's curling team that won medals at two consecutive Winter Olympics, held a fan meeting on the evening of April 16 in Koto-ku, Tokyo. 280 fans filled the venue.

Roco Solare Unveils Curling Daughters and Olympic Dreams at Fan Event

 Inappropriate remarks" that have caused embarrassment to all concerned.

 Daughter of actress Keiko Saito (63), CBC (TBS affiliate) announcer Ayaka Nakamura (24), who has been with the company for two years since this spring, has been serving as the 14th assistant for the Chunichi Dragons' cheering program "Sunday Dragons" since April. ......

Keiko Saito&#8217;s Daughter Ayaka Nakamura Makes Waves with &#8216;Sandra&#8217; Role, CBC Worries About Following Fuji TV&#8217;s Mistakes

 Former Hanshin manager Akifu Okada, 67, who is now an advisor to the team's owner, has been reportedly suffering from "serious health problems" since last week, causing a stir around the team.

Rumors Surrounding Former Hanshin Tigers Manager Akihiro Okada’s Health Spark Concern in Baseball Community

 Kazuhiko Nakamura

 Sadao Furunuma is a legendary high school soccer general who is no stranger to the world of high school soccer. What does he think of the second Moriyasu Japan team?

Legendary Coach Sadao Furunuma Believes Moriyasu Japan Can Reach the World Cup Quarterfinals

 Etsuko Motokawa (soccer writer)

 Hiroyuki Komatsu

 Special Interview

 Eiji Kawashima was selected for the national team for four consecutive World Cups until 2010. Kawashima has experienced adversity many times in his 24-year professional career. Kawashima has been thinking about something he has done every time adversity has come his way.

Kawashima Eiji Former Japan GK and Jubilo Iwata Legend Talks About Overcoming Adversity in J2

 Kim Myeong-woo

 KLPGA

 The "PR Models" who will be the "faces" of the Korean women's golf industry have been announced this year as well. Fans are looking forward to seeing the gravure photos that will be taken based on a concept that changes every year. We obtained these photos on our own.

From sophisticated outfits to precious off-duty looks&#8230; Korean women&#8217;s golf&#8217;s &#8220;PR Model 12&#8221; shows off her dainty photogravure.

 Tsutomu Kishimoto/PICSPORT

 Eight months after the defeat in Paris, the next target is the podium at the World Championships in June.

 Eight months after her lamentation at the Paris Olympics, Abe Uta won her first championship in her return to Japan. With this result, Abe and Seijun Omori were both selected to represent Japan at the World Championships in June. With the humiliation of the Paris Olympics as a lesson, they are now moving toward "the top in Los Angeles!

Abe Uta&#8217;s &#8220;Revenge&#8221; to reach the top in L.A. has begun!

 The Giants' Okoye can't catch a wave. He was in great form during the opening game, but once the season started, his batting average slumped to the .100 mark. Why can't his good form last? A former Giants hitting coach pointed to Okoye's "feeling problem" as a factor.

Former coach reveals how he feels about Okoye, a Giants player with a batting average in the 10% range.

 The arrival of baseball spring! Special project: Softbank officials fear "Japan Series aftereffects" / Seibu's rebuilding starts with "catching the ball", etc.

 With the start of the professional baseball season, FRIDAY recently made a big prediction on the winning teams of both leagues based on past data, but this time we will reveal the "secret behind the bench" that the reporters cannot write about! What SoftBank officials fear, and the key to rebuilding Seibu: ......

Opening Day 2025: Ten times more fun if you read this! Behind the Benches of Professional Baseball&#8217;s Secret Benches that the Reporters Can&#8217;t Write About: Pacific League Edition

 The baseball spring has arrived! Special Report: Giants' Leaders Fear "Ma-kun's Becoming Iwakuma" / Hanshin Manager Fujikawa "Becomes a Young General" / Yakult's "Final Year Combination" is a Perfect Batch!

 With the start of the professional baseball season, FRIDAY recently made a prediction on the winning teams of the two leagues based on past data, but this time we will reveal the secret behind-the-bench information that the reporters can't write about! Is Ma-kun turning into Iwakuma? Yakult's "final year duo" is a perfect match? And more...

Opening Day 2025: Ten times more fun if you read this! Behind the Benches of Professional Baseball&#8217;s Secret Benches that the Reporters Can&#8217;t Write About: Central League Edition

 Takehiko Kohiyama (1st to 3rd, 8th to 12th) Getty Images (4th to 7th)

 We learned from our on-site coverage of the second round of the V-Point x SMBC Ladies! FRIDAY's top 12 players at a glance!

 With no absolute queen in sight this season, a new era in women's golf is underway. Here are the "12 FRIDAY's Favorite Players" that we learned from our on-site coverage of the second round of the "V Point x SMBC Ladies"!

From talented players to promising rookies&#8230; &#8220;Candidates for Heroines of 2025&#8221; on the Women&#8217;s PGA Tour!

 The queen may have lost her fourth consecutive title, but the next generation of stars left their mark!

 At the Women's Figure World Championships, held until March 29th, Japan's top finishers were all Japanese: Kaori Sakamoto in 2nd place, Momone Chiba in 3rd, and Shinba Higuchi in 6th. Japan has now secured three slots for the '26 Milano Olympics, but...

The Sparkle Showcased by Kaori Sakamoto and Mone Chiba Leading to Milan

 The SC Karuizawa Club women's curling team won the Japan Curling Championships one year after starting their activities. They are now competing with the strong teams "Rocco Solare" and "Fortius" for the right to participate in the Cortina Olympics in Milan.

Inside SC Karuizawa Curling Club Women Their Secret Weapon The Sweeping Technique

 Michio Kurose

 To the Olympics for the ninth time! Special Interview

 Ski jumping legend Noriaki Kasai has competed in 8 Olympics. Training for the 26th Olympics in Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo, Kasai is still searching for his ideal jump at the age of 52...

Kasai Noriyaki: Still Chasing the Perfect Jump Vows to Keep Jumping Until He Turns 60!

 Read this and Professional Baseball 2025 will become more interesting! What is the conclusion drawn by "sabermetrics," the science of baseball? Will the new manager Fujikawa's Hanshin team come back? Will "Japan's Best" DeNA win the league? How will the "Shinjo Theater" end? Is Softbank solid? What will happen to Seibu, which lost 91 games last season?

 The professional baseball season has finally begun again this year! While pundits predict the standings on TV and in the newspapers, FRIDAY, with the cooperation of DELTA Corporation, makes a big prediction of the 12 teams' wins and losses! Read it and you will find Professional Baseball 2025 even more interesting!

Data-Driven Predictions Reveal This Year&#8217;s Central and Pacific League Champions in Pro Baseball

 Toshiaki Ichihara

 In this issue of Playback, we take a look back at what this magazine was reporting 10, 20, and 30 years ago. In this issue, we will introduce two "rookies" who had a near-miss during the opening game of the Pacific League season in March 2005.

Playback &#8217;05] &#8220;Scullery maid&#8221; and &#8220;scorer&#8221;&#8230; &#8220;Opening Day&#8221; of the Rookie Dalvish and his team

 The Yakult baseball team, which has been on the verge of regaining the championship, has been sluggish since the start of the season. What is the "secret plan" that manager Takatsu, in such a pinch, has requested from the upper management?

Yakult manager Shingo Takatsu, in a pinch, plans to acquire Richard Sunagawa. &#8230;&#8230;

 AFLO

 A home run in the opposite direction in the opening game of the season at his home base

 The "input swing" has been used by many of the greatest hitters in the history of professional baseball to accomplish great feats. Ohtani reveals that he uses a "cricket swing" to "catch the ball with a plane. What is the advantage of using a plane swing?

Shohei Ohtani&#8217;s Remarkable Cricket Swing Powers High Inside Pitches

 Tsuyoshi Shinjo, 53, the manager of Nippon Ham, suggested the possibility of using Fukuya Yamazaki, 32, as a "two-tool" pitcher in the interchange games. What is his intention?

Shinjo&#8217;s Surprising Move: Yamazaki Fukuya as Top Pitcher in Interleague Play

 Seibu infielder Sousuke Genda, 32, injured his left leg in an open game against Hanshin on March 12 and was diagnosed with a left rectus femoris muscle injury.

The &#8220;affair&#8221; that still lingers behind the poor condition of Sousuke Genda of Seibu.

 Myung-Woo Kim

 Takehiko Kohiyama

 This season, too, the curtain has been raised on the brilliant competition among women's professional golfers. Among them, there are many rookies who have been ranked in the top ranks from the very first round, foreshadowing the arrival of a new era. Sportswriter Kim Myeong-ik looks at the appeal of these "golden eggs.

 The domestic women's golf season has begun again this year. In addition to the talented players who are aiming for the title of queen of the year, young players with shining talents are also making their appearance on the scene. We will take a closer look at the abilities of these golden eggs.

From a gem who competed for the championship from the very first round to the younger sister of a popular pro&#8230; &#8220;Charming Heroine Candidates&#8221; Emerging One after Another in the World of Women&#8217;s Professional Golf

 This season, too, the curtain has been raised on the brilliant competition among women's professional golfers. Among them, there are many young players who have been ranked in the top ranks from the very first round, foreshadowing the arrival of a new era. Sportswriter Kim Myeong-gu looks at the appeal of these "golden eggs.

 The domestic women's golf season has begun again this year. In addition to the talented players who are vying for the title of queen of the year, young players with shining talent are also making their appearance on the scene. In this second part of the series, we will take a closer look at the charms of these golden eggs.

From a top-ranked high school gem to a natural rookie with a solid record of achievement&#8230; &#8220;This Season&#8217;s Heroine Candidates&#8221; in Women&#8217;s Professional Golf

Sports

Hiroshima’s Front Office Considering “Recommendation of Retirement” for Kosuke Tanaka & Ryuhei Matsuyama: ……Arai’s distress and “encouragement from his juniors”.

The slumping Yuto Sakamoto of the Giants and Hisayoshi Nagano “share the same character”… Leaders are worried about how to use the two veteran right-handers.

Roco Solare Unveils Curling Daughters and Olympic Dreams at Fan Event

Keiko Saito’s Daughter Ayaka Nakamura Makes Waves with ‘Sandra’ Role, CBC Worries About Following Fuji TV’s Mistakes

Rumors Surrounding Former Hanshin Tigers Manager Akihiro Okada’s Health Spark Concern in Baseball Community

Legendary Coach Sadao Furunuma Believes Moriyasu Japan Can Reach the World Cup Quarterfinals

Kawashima Eiji Former Japan GK and Jubilo Iwata Legend Talks About Overcoming Adversity in J2

From sophisticated outfits to precious off-duty looks… Korean women’s golf’s “PR Model 12” shows off her dainty photogravure.

Abe Uta’s “Revenge” to reach the top in L.A. has begun!

Former coach reveals how he feels about Okoye, a Giants player with a batting average in the 10% range.

Opening Day 2025: Ten times more fun if you read this! Behind the Benches of Professional Baseball’s Secret Benches that the Reporters Can’t Write About: Pacific League Edition

Opening Day 2025: Ten times more fun if you read this! Behind the Benches of Professional Baseball’s Secret Benches that the Reporters Can’t Write About: Central League Edition

From talented players to promising rookies… “Candidates for Heroines of 2025” on the Women’s PGA Tour!

The Sparkle Showcased by Kaori Sakamoto and Mone Chiba Leading to Milan

Inside SC Karuizawa Curling Club Women Their Secret Weapon The Sweeping Technique

Kasai Noriyaki: Still Chasing the Perfect Jump Vows to Keep Jumping Until He Turns 60!

Data-Driven Predictions Reveal This Year’s Central and Pacific League Champions in Pro Baseball

Playback ’05] “Scullery maid” and “scorer”… “Opening Day” of the Rookie Dalvish and his team

Yakult manager Shingo Takatsu, in a pinch, plans to acquire Richard Sunagawa. ……

Shohei Ohtani’s Remarkable Cricket Swing Powers High Inside Pitches

Shinjo’s Surprising Move: Yamazaki Fukuya as Top Pitcher in Interleague Play

The “affair” that still lingers behind the poor condition of Sousuke Genda of Seibu.

From a gem who competed for the championship from the very first round to the younger sister of a popular pro… “Charming Heroine Candidates” Emerging One after Another in the World of Women’s Professional Golf

From a top-ranked high school gem to a natural rookie with a solid record of achievement… “This Season’s Heroine Candidates” in Women’s Professional Golf