 Kyodo News

 Hanshin infielder Teruaki Sato (27), who was selected via fan voting (third baseman category) for the “Mynavi All-Star Game”—his fifth appearance and second in a row—is engaged in a major behind-the-scenes battle over a potential move to Major League Baseball.

Teruaki Sato&#8217;s Future in Question? Contract Negotiations With Other Teams Reportedly Moving Forward Behind Closed Doors

 Kyodo News (first photo), KLPGA (others)

 The “heroine” of South Korean golf has claimed her first victory on the Japan Tour. Her name is Park Hyun-kyung. She is a popular pro who captivates fans not only with her exceptional shot accuracy but also with her charming smile. Let’s look back on her remarkable achievement in Japan.

&#8220;Korea&#8217;s Golf Heroine&#8221; Claims Victory in a Striking Blue Uniform, Impressing Fans on the Japan Tour

 Kazuhiko Nakamura

 A man who used to sell ad slots on ‘ABEMA’ to clients at CyberAgent…

 Kippei Mikawa, who worked in advertising sales at the IT company CyberAgent, left his corporate job to sign a minor league contract with the MLB’s Chicago Cubs. Together with Yusuke Kitagawa, the head of the baseball-specialized gym “DIME,” he is aiming to take the mound in the World Series.

Ex-Salaried Worker Turned Baseball Prospect Kippei Mikawa Aims to Become a 170 km/h Closer, Catches the Eye of U.S. Scouts Online

 SoftBank, Lotte, Kufu Hayate… and Then to the Mariners: The First NPB-Trained Position Player to Become a Major League Outfield Defense and Baserunning Coach!

 For Shuhei Fukuda, the first position player from NPB to become an MLB coach, the United States was the first stop on his journey to deepen his understanding of baseball. He learned techniques from the legendary Ichiro and now passes on the defensive and baserunning skills he honed, supporting the players as they strive to improve.

[Personal Account] Shuhei Fukuda Reveals His &#8220;Sweat and Tears&#8221; MLB Challenge After Years as a Defensive and Speed Specialist

 Ryoji Hanamasa

 Yuki Yanagita, who has won seven league championships and eight Japan Series titles with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, is entering the final year of his seven-year contract this year. What changes does this baseball superstar—now approaching the age of 40—continue to undergo?

Yuki Yanagita&#8217;s Candid Interview: &#8220;I Still Have More to Grow as a Professional Baseball Player&#8221;

 Hide Nishihara

 Eiji Kunieda, the legendary trainer who has won 23 GⅠ races, has started a new chapter in his life as a stablehand at another stable following his retirement. Many in the horse racing industry have expressed surprise at the choice Kunieda made for his second career.

From Stable Boss to Staff Member, Sakae Kunieda Says He&#8217;s Not Ready to Leave Horses Behind

 Hiroyuki Komatsu (first photo)

 A video of her match posted on Instagram went viral with 13 million views!

 K-1 fighter Mena Kimura (25) is making headlines as the “Real Chun-Li.” She’s racked up four straight wins since her debut, and her signature “Mona Kick” has gone viral with 13 million views. Even Snoop Dogg has praised her. Her motto is “Strong and Cute”!

Interview with K-1 Fighter Mena Kimura, Who’s Making Headlines as the “Real Chun-Li”: “My Dream Is to Walk the Runway at ‘TGC’!”

 Reporting and Text by Kei Kato (Nonfiction Writer)

 Hiroki Ioka, a former two-division world champion, began drinking more as gyms remained closed during the COVID-19 crisis. He fell into a cycle of continuous drinking, consuming alcohol even before the effects of previous drinks had worn off, and ended up being hospitalized and discharged four times.

Former Two-Division World Boxing Champion Hiroki Ioka Talks About His Battle With Alcoholism: “I Was Living on the Brink of Death”

 Kei Kato, courtesy of Mr. Ioka

 Former professional boxer Hiroki Ioka continued drinking without realizing he had an alcohol addiction, eventually reaching the point where he began passing blood in his stool. He looks back on his battle to overcome alcoholism alongside his wife.

&#8220;Give me some alcohol!&#8221;—He Went on a Rampage and Was Taken to the Hospital by Ambulance… A Former World Boxing Champion Reveals His Grueling Daily Battle with Alcoholism

 JMPA

 Going into the Round of 32 at the CONCACAF World Cup with an undefeated record, the Samurai Blue—hailed as the strongest team in history—were defeated by Brazil, the soccer powerhouse. While Moriyasu’s Japan’s journey has come to an end, experts say they “saw hope for four years from now.”

They Didn’t Defeat Brazil—They Changed the Way the World Sees Japan Football

 Yusuke Mimura (Sports Writer)

 Kaoru Watanabe, Japan Magazine Publishers Association (Photos 1, 2, and 4)

 [Special Feature: Supporting Japan’s World Cup Team] Massive Stacks of “APA President’s Meals” and “Canned Mackerel” in the Media Room… Who Are These “Two Enemies” More Troublesome Than the Opponents?

 While media representatives are voicing complaints about FIFA’s tournament management—saying, “This is the worst tournament I’ve ever seen!”—the JFA’s response has been at an all-time high. The prime example of this is the clubhouse, built three years ago at a cost of approximately 6.5 billion yen.

Japan’s Secret Weapon Isn’t on the Pitch: Inside Moriyasu Japan’s Clubhouse Advantage

 Spurred by the words, “Kippei can make it to the majors,” he decided to return to baseball…

 Kippei Mikawa played for the Rikkyo University baseball team as a promising right-hander with a top speed of 149 km/h, but after failing to produce results, he left baseball to find a job. However, unable to find a sense of purpose in his corporate career, he realized once again that baseball was his only true calling…

He Walked Away From a Career to Chase a Dream—Now He’s Fighting for an MLB Future

 A Specialist in Defense and Baserunning Who Played for the SoftBank Hawks, Lotte Marines, and Kufu Hayate

 A first for an NPB-trained position player! Shuhei Fukuda, now serving as a coach in MLB, is teaching defensive and baserunning techniques while touring the Mariners’ academy in the Dominican Republic, as well as their rookie league, minor league, and major league teams—all while overcoming the language barrier.

&#8220;Blood, Sweat, and Tears&#8221; — Mariners Coach Shuhei Fukuda Opens Up About Life in the Majors

 Takehiko Kohiyama

 Having advanced past the group stage, the Japanese national soccer team is set to face off against “soccer powerhouse” Brazil in a decisive showdown. Leading these Samurai has been Head Coach Hajime Moriyasu, but…

Hajime Moriyasu&#8217;s Rising Reputation Sparks Global Interest Ahead of the World Cup

 Afro

 Amid the intense competition in the North and Central American World Cup group stage, the Japanese national team has gotten off to a strong start with one win and one draw. While the whole country is buzzing with excitement, specialized media outlets and sponsors are troubled by signs of waning popularity for the national team.

Sponsors Alarmed as Japan&#8217;s National Team Loses Its Shine Amid FIFA&#8217;s Commercial Push

 Afro (Photos 1 and 2)

 Shohei Ohtani has been making headlines for his “bench gesture” with Munetaka Murakami. The two, who played together as members of Samurai Japan in the WBC, had been deepening their friendship off the field as well…

Inside the Secret Chicago Dinner That Brought Ohtani, Yamamoto, Sasaki, and Murakami Together

 Yuki Yanagita, who has won seven league titles and eight Japan Series championships with SoftBank, is entering the final year of his seven-year contract this year. The man who declared in the offseason of 2019 that he would remain with the Hawks for life is now said to be battling the effects of aging that come at him day by day

&#8220;I&#8217;ve Become an Old Guy&#8221; — SoftBank Slugger Yuki Yanagita Reflects on Age, Growth, and Baseball

 Yushi Taguchi

 Last season, following Tommy John surgery, he seemed to be pitching cautiously...

 The Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani has a 0.74 ERA this season and is the top contender for the Cy Young Award. Professor Taku Kawamura of Tsukuba University analyzes the evolution of his pitching form—indicating a full recovery from surgery—using a series of photographs. He masterfully utilizes seven different pitch types by adjusting the tilt of both shoulders.

[Shohei Ohtani] Utilizing a Diverse Repertoire of Pitches, He’s on Track for a Dream 20 Wins… “Unstoppable with His ‘Reverse C-Shape’ Pitching Form”

 Masao Kurihara

 Kōji Watanabe

 Aiming for the Quarterfinals!

 At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Keito Nakamura scored his first World Cup goal—and Moriyasu Japan’s first goal of the tournament—in the June 14 match against the Netherlands. Nakamura, who scored the equalizer off an assist from his close friend Kubo Takefusa, looks back on the match.

Keito Nakamura: “We ’00s-Born Players Will Break Through the World’s Barriers With Our Rise!” — Japan’s World Cup Support Feature

 Following the dismissal of former manager Hajime Miki (49) and the surprise appointment of manager Masato Yoshii (61), Rakuten is reportedly plotting a new “move.”

Rakuten Exploring a Trade for Hanshin Catcher Ryutaro Umeno as Both Sides Seek a Better Fit

 Aiming for the Quarterfinals! Special Feature: Cheering on the Japan National Team at the World Cup—A Heroic Header in the Group Stage’s Toughest Match Against the Netherlands

 Koki Ogawa, who scored the game-winning header against the Netherlands—the toughest opponent in the group stage—says he’s glad he was able to prove through his performance that he is an absolutely indispensable player for Moriyasu’s Japan. Technically, the goal wasn’t credited to him… but Ogawa still held his head high.

“I’ll Bloom When the Time Comes!” Koki Ogawa’s Bold World Cup Declaration

 Kojiro Watanabe

 Japan National Team Support Special

 Japan National Soccer Team Head Coach Hajime Moriyasu and his senior, Ikuo Matsumoto. How does “Hajime Moriyasu” appear in Matsumoto’s eyes? The man who once shaped the history of Japanese soccer in Mexico speaks candidly about Coach Moriyasu and “Moriyasu Japan.”

[Full Interview] The Words Moriyasu’s Mentor Ikuo Matsumoto Gave to a Player Who Makes No Mistakes

 [Aiming for the Quarterfinals! World Cup Japan National Team Support Special] The player meeting led by “Coach” Nagatomo, Kiyo Ueda’s secret training that led to a dramatic goal, and the style of “Endurance Monster” Kaishu Sano…

 Aiming for the Quarterfinals! Behind the scenes of the convincing victory over Tunisia in the second World Cup group stage match: the ace’s hard work, both on defense and offense… With the growth of the “stamina monster” and a pep talk from a veteran, Moriyasu’s Japan’s “full-throttle” run shows no signs of stopping!

The Hidden Ingredients Behind Moriyasu Japan’s World Cup Charge

 This Is His First World Cup! “I Watched the Roster Announcement Live Stream with My Heart Pounding”

 The CONCACAF tournament marks Nakamura’s first World Cup. Although he’s had to fill in on the left wing due to a string of injuries, his partnership with Ito—his former teammate at Stade de Reims in France—seems to be going strong. “I just need to stay focused,” says the national team’s most handsome player, showing not a hint of arrogance.

Sports

Teruaki Sato’s Future in Question? Contract Negotiations With Other Teams Reportedly Moving Forward Behind Closed Doors

“Korea’s Golf Heroine” Claims Victory in a Striking Blue Uniform, Impressing Fans on the Japan Tour

Ex-Salaried Worker Turned Baseball Prospect Kippei Mikawa Aims to Become a 170 km/h Closer, Catches the Eye of U.S. Scouts Online

[Personal Account] Shuhei Fukuda Reveals His “Sweat and Tears” MLB Challenge After Years as a Defensive and Speed Specialist

Yuki Yanagita’s Candid Interview: “I Still Have More to Grow as a Professional Baseball Player”

From Stable Boss to Staff Member, Sakae Kunieda Says He’s Not Ready to Leave Horses Behind

Interview with K-1 Fighter Mena Kimura, Who’s Making Headlines as the “Real Chun-Li”: “My Dream Is to Walk the Runway at ‘TGC’!”

Former Two-Division World Boxing Champion Hiroki Ioka Talks About His Battle With Alcoholism: “I Was Living on the Brink of Death”

“Give me some alcohol!”—He Went on a Rampage and Was Taken to the Hospital by Ambulance… A Former World Boxing Champion Reveals His Grueling Daily Battle with Alcoholism

They Didn’t Defeat Brazil—They Changed the Way the World Sees Japan Football

Japan’s Secret Weapon Isn’t on the Pitch: Inside Moriyasu Japan’s Clubhouse Advantage

He Walked Away From a Career to Chase a Dream—Now He’s Fighting for an MLB Future

“Blood, Sweat, and Tears” — Mariners Coach Shuhei Fukuda Opens Up About Life in the Majors

Hajime Moriyasu’s Rising Reputation Sparks Global Interest Ahead of the World Cup

Sponsors Alarmed as Japan’s National Team Loses Its Shine Amid FIFA’s Commercial Push