 AFLO

 The biggest battle in history! Kokugakuin aiming for the Triple Crown, Aogaku, the previous champion, and Komazawa, a powerhouse, are the top 3! 

 A back-to-back championship, a long-sought first championship, or the revival of an old powerhouse? The 2013 Hakone Ekiden is shaping up to be the most crowded race in history, with Kokugakuin aiming for the Triple Crown, last year's champion Aogaku, and Komazawa, along with dark horses Soka, Waseda, and Josai, all in pursuit.

2025 Hakone Ekiden: Soka, Waseda, Josai, and the Key Role of Shin-Yama no Kami

 Kyodo News

 Even without Shohei Otani, there are so many great sluggers in the Japanese baseball world!

 The best part of professional baseball is the "home run. Each era has its own legendary sluggers. In this issue, we interviewed current players, alumni, and former managers to determine Reiwa's No. 1 "home run artist.

Determining the Reiwa Era&#8217;s Top Home Run Artist!

 Shinji Tokari

 Professional female golfer Erika Hara, who narrowly missed advancing to the final round of the U.S. Tour's final qualifying round, attended an event held in Tokyo on March 15. She reflected on the final qualifying round and other events. She talked about her "ambitions" for next season.

Erika Hara’s Ambition for the U.S. Lower-Tier Tour

 SoftBank, which is suffering from a shortage of starters, will acquire Naoyuki Uesawa, 30, who was an FA from the Red Sox's 3A affiliate in Major League Baseball.

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters Regret Lack of Interest in Naoyuki Uwasawa&#8217;s Departure

 Hiroyuki Komatsu

 The Second Life of "Mr. Full Swing," who Supported the Ever-Victorious Troops

 Michihiro Ogasawara, nicknamed "Mr. Full Swing" during his playing days, has grand plans for his second life. Why did he become involved in baseball for the handicapped? He talks about his dream, saying, "There is something more important than winning.

Former Giant Michihiro Ogasawara: &#8220;There are more important things than winning&#8221; &#8211; Thoughts as GM of a baseball team for the physically challenged

 Kojiro Yamada

 Masahiro Tanaka chose to part ways with Rakuten this offseason after receiving a contract renewal with a reduction that far exceeded the stipulated limit. Tanaka is now at a crossroads in his professional baseball career, as no team has yet come forward to offer him a contract.

Masahiro Tanaka Its Not About the Money A Glimpse of His Pride

 Yang Dai-Kang, a former member of the Nippon Ham and Giants teams, has been doubtful about whether he will be able to continue his career. He participated in a joint tryout but has not yet decided where he will play next season. Will he retire at this point? ...... However, Yang is expected to have a glorious future. What is his unexpected future?

Yang Dai-kang: Career Over, But Glorious Future Awaits

 On December 3, Motonobu Taniguchi, a regular catcher for Yokohama and Chunichi and manager of Chunichi, was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame at a party in Yokohama. The contents of the party, however, are said to be "too chaotic" and have become a topic of conversation in some circles.

AK-69 Shocks Elderly OBs at Tanishige&#8217;s Party

 Hanshin's new manager, Kyuji Fujikawa (44), has continued to raise his stock among fans since his early days in the job. At the same time, however, some concerns have emerged among those involved. What is Fujikawa's "blind spot"?

Concerns Over Kyuji Fujikawa&#8217;s Hanshin Tigers Appointment and Rejected Coaching Candidates

 Masahiro Tanaka, 36, of the Rakuten baseball team, is on a rocky road as he seeks to join another team as a free agent after being left off the roster pending his contract for 2013. There seems to be a "rumor" behind his failure to find a team that wants to acquire him.

Masahiro Tanaka&#8217;s transfer is hopeless, and the executives of the Central and Pacific League baseball teams have &#8220;true feelings&#8221; about it.

 Manager Kazuki Inoue (53) has already clashed with the team over the coaching policy of Muuto Kanamaru (Kansai University, 21), who was selected first by Chunichi at this year's professional baseball draft.

Yuto Kanemaru&#8217;s Coaching Approach Sparks Conflict Between Manager Inoue and Chunichi Executives

 Kei Kato

 On October 23, at a packed Madison Square Garden in New York City, Yoshida responded to the cheers of her fans by raising her hands in the air after 10 rounds. The Japanese boxer who lives in the U.S. revealed his anguish.

&#8220;Fighting Single Mother&#8221; Reveals the Struggles of a Japanese Boxer Facing Racism in the U.S.

 Yuji Yanagawa

 Sachiko Yasutaka

 Hopes for back-to-back victories at the Paris Olympics were dashed in the first round.

 Yui Suzaki won the bronze medal in the women's 50kg wrestling event at the Paris Olympics in August. She was expected to win the bronze medal for the second year in a row, following Tokyo, and even she had nothing else in mind for the Paris Olympics. When interviewed, she was already looking forward to ......

Yui Susaki: &#8220;Three Months After Paris Olympics Defeat, I Still Love Wrestling&#8221;

 Will Iaton, who is well known in Japan as Shohei Ohtani's interpreter, was surrounded by baseball fans and asked to take pictures with them. He was puzzled and smiled, but when asked for an autograph...

I&#8217;m sorry, I don&#8217;t have your autograph. Shohei Ohtani&#8217;s interpreter, Will Iyaton, who came to Japan to sign autographs, was honest with a flood of fans.

 He was a hot commodity in the draft, but he turned down 12 teams and went overseas... 153 km/h as a pitcher and 45 home runs as a hitter in his high school career.

 Shoutarou Morii, a junior at Toho High School who was a hot prospect for many NPB teams, has decided to challenge the Majors after turning down 12 teams. Morii, who is taking on an unprecedented challenge, talks about his baseball career and his grand dream.

Toho High&#8217;s Shotaro Morii, With Deviation Score of 71, Challenges Prestigious Majors

 Jiji Press

 Masahiro Tanaka's departure from Rakuten was a surprise. He is said to be looking for a new place to play. However, Hanshin and Seibu are reluctant. His ability, which seems to have passed its peak, and his high salary are the bottlenecks. We will introduce a surprising team that is rumored to be interested in acquiring him.

Masahiro Tanaka: &#8220;There&#8217;s no place for him&#8221;&#8230;Masahiro Tanaka, who left Rakuten, &#8220;Hanshin and Seibu are reluctant to sign him&#8221;.

 Haruki Shimokoshi

 Shohei Ohtani (30) ended his '24 season in the best way possible, winning the MVP award for the second year in a row after going "54-59" & achieving the triple-three and winning the home run and slugging titles. Fans are already looking forward to the return of the pitcher next season. ......

Shohei Ohtani will avoid pitching in Tokyo Dome opener&#8230;&#8230;Why Dodgers are cautious

 Jiji Press (1st photo)Getty Images

 Women's World Cup Ski Jumping Opens with a Tough Start, but Still Looking Up--Sarah Takanashi, the Ace of 63 Wins in Women's World Cup Ski Jumping

 The Women's World Cup of Ski Jumping has begun, and ace skier Sara Takanashi, who has won a total of 63 races in the event, made her debut. She has a lot of work to do, including her landing posture, due to the knee injury she sustained last season, but her jumps showed her determination to get on the podium at the Olympics.

Sara Takanashi, the ace with 63 wins in total, is finally ready to go&#8230; &#8220;Determined flight&#8221; to the Milan Cortina Olympics!

 Shinji Hamasaki

 In this issue of Playback, we look back at what this magazine was reporting 10, 20, and 30 years ago. In this issue, we introduce Mr. Shigeo Nagashima's passionate instruction at a baseball school for boys held in Chiba Prefecture in November 2002.

Playback &#8217;14] &#8220;Swing and Boom, Hit and Shoo! Shigeo Nagashima gives &#8220;hot-blooded guidance&#8221; to boys.

 Yusuke Oyama, 29, who exercised his domestic free agent (FA) rights, has decided to stay with Hanshin. What was going on behind the scenes of the "FA battle of the century"? A reporter in charge of baseball for a sports newspaper speaks in a hushed voice.

Hanshin&#8217;s Yusuke Ohyama to Stay: Press Conference Set for 29th Evening

 Jiji Press (Hayata, Ohto) Kyodo News (Zhang)

 Can't wait for the L.A. Olympics in 4 years!

 The WTT Finals Fukuoka 2024, a world table tennis tournament, has come to a close, and the Japanese women's table tennis world is showing signs of a golden age. The triple aces of Hayata, Zhang, and Oto were born!

WTT Finals Fukuoka: Hayata leads the new triple ace lineup.

 Keisuke Nishi

 The 24-25 Nordic ski jumping season has begun. Japan's ace skier Ryoyu Kobayashi had a bittersweet first competition, but he is highly motivated for the next round. This magazine also witnessed the ace's "determined expression".

Ryoyu Kobayashi&#8217;s Steely Resolve as He Sets Off for the World Cup Season

 Masayoshi Katayama (Journalist)

 AP/Afro Courtesy of Nakagawa (4th photo)

 Dr. Teruhiko Nakagawa, former president of the Japanese Shoulder Arthroplasty Society: "His physical ability is definitely No. 1 among the players I have examined.

 Dr. Teruhiko Nakagawa, an orthopedic surgeon who examined Shohei Otani as a team doctor for Nippon Ham, says that "his physical ability is definitely the best among the players I have examined. Ohtani underwent endoscopic surgery, and the timing of his return is...

Nippon Ham Doctor Confirms Ohtani&#8217;s Full Two-Way Recovery!

 Kyodo

 Pitcher Akinori Sasaki is going to challenge Major League Baseball using the posting system from Lotte, a professional baseball team. Meanwhile, Kazuma Okamoto, an infielder for the Giants, is looking at Sasaki with envy. Okamoto has a strong desire to play in the major leagues, but...

Sports

2025 Hakone Ekiden: Soka, Waseda, Josai, and the Key Role of Shin-Yama no Kami

Determining the Reiwa Era’s Top Home Run Artist!

Erika Hara’s Ambition for the U.S. Lower-Tier Tour

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters Regret Lack of Interest in Naoyuki Uwasawa’s Departure

Former Giant Michihiro Ogasawara: “There are more important things than winning” – Thoughts as GM of a baseball team for the physically challenged

Masahiro Tanaka Its Not About the Money A Glimpse of His Pride

Yang Dai-kang: Career Over, But Glorious Future Awaits

AK-69 Shocks Elderly OBs at Tanishige’s Party

Concerns Over Kyuji Fujikawa’s Hanshin Tigers Appointment and Rejected Coaching Candidates

Masahiro Tanaka’s transfer is hopeless, and the executives of the Central and Pacific League baseball teams have “true feelings” about it.

Yuto Kanemaru’s Coaching Approach Sparks Conflict Between Manager Inoue and Chunichi Executives

“Fighting Single Mother” Reveals the Struggles of a Japanese Boxer Facing Racism in the U.S.

Yui Susaki: “Three Months After Paris Olympics Defeat, I Still Love Wrestling”

I’m sorry, I don’t have your autograph. Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter, Will Iyaton, who came to Japan to sign autographs, was honest with a flood of fans.

Toho High’s Shotaro Morii, With Deviation Score of 71, Challenges Prestigious Majors

Masahiro Tanaka: “There’s no place for him”…Masahiro Tanaka, who left Rakuten, “Hanshin and Seibu are reluctant to sign him”.

Shohei Ohtani will avoid pitching in Tokyo Dome opener……Why Dodgers are cautious

Sara Takanashi, the ace with 63 wins in total, is finally ready to go… “Determined flight” to the Milan Cortina Olympics!

Playback ’14] “Swing and Boom, Hit and Shoo! Shigeo Nagashima gives “hot-blooded guidance” to boys.

Hanshin’s Yusuke Ohyama to Stay: Press Conference Set for 29th Evening

WTT Finals Fukuoka: Hayata leads the new triple ace lineup.

Ryoyu Kobayashi’s Steely Resolve as He Sets Off for the World Cup Season

Nippon Ham Doctor Confirms Ohtani’s Full Two-Way Recovery!

Roki Aims for the Majors But When Will 28-Year-Old Kazuma Okamoto Cross the Ocean