 Kyodo News

 Despite the high expectations of the pundits, Chunichi has fallen to the bottom of the standings due to a string of injuries and a lack of leadership. Manager Kazuki Inoue (54), whose departure at the end of the season is already attracting attention, is said to have another source of concern.

Kazuki Inoue Faces Difficult Questions Following Protégé&#8217;s Arrest and Past Misconduct

 Kazuhiko Nakamura Afro (1st)

 The "Riku-Ryu" pair, who held a retirement press conference, will turn professional in the future. They will also work as instructors in order to improve the ground of pairs competitions. We look into the structural problems and expectations of figure skating that await them.

RikuRyu Turns Professional, Sets Sights on Building Japan&#8217;s Pair Skating Pipeline

 This is an unprecedented arrest. On May 25, Shinnosuke Abe, 47, former manager of the Giants, was arrested by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department on suspicion of assault, and on May 26 he tendered his resignation, which was accepted.

Inside the Giants&#8217; Urgent Search for a New Manager Following Shinnosuke Abe&#8217;s Arrest

 Soichiro Takeda (sports writer)

 Hiroyuki Komatsu, AFLO (4th photo)

 Matsutobushi

 Itsuzuki Fujisawa is a member of the curling team "Rocco Solare". While back home in her hometown of Kitami, Hokkaido, she is also an employee of an insurance company. We sat down with her at her favorite sushi restaurant to talk about her job, the Olympics she was unable to compete in, and her future career!

Satsuki Fujisawa Reflects on Identity and Pressure in Candid Sushi Restaurant Conversation

 AFLO

 No need to worry about sluggish batting, the cause was in his lower body!

 It must be a problem only for the greatest player of all time, Shohei Otani, to be criticized as sluggish despite his MLB All-Star level performance. Although he has not shown his true potential as a hitter this season, it seems that this was an adjustment period for him to fully rotate as a dual-threat hitter.

Ren Meguro&#8217;s Busy Schedule Fuels Competition as SHOGUN and Drama Projects Line Up

 Yuji Taguchi

 His batting average and slugging percentage have skyrocketed since he changed his batting position!

 Blue Jays' Kazuma Okamoto's batting average jumped from .188 to .248, and he hit 10 home runs. He lowered his standing position by 17 cm toward the umpire to improve his response to breaking pitches, and he has modified the stiff-legged stance he had when he was with the Giants and evolved into a V-shaped swing with his right shoulder lowered.

Kazuma Okamoto’s Path to 30 Home Runs with the Blue Jays: How Abandoning His “Bow-Legged” Stance Took Him Beyond His Giants Peak

 Keisuke Nishi, Sota Shima (3rd photo)

 Seiji Kobayashi of the Yomiuri Giants, the most handsome catcher in baseball, has a new boyfriend! It was early afternoon one day after the start of the professional baseball season. This magazine witnessed Kobayashi on a date with a slender beauty at a Hakone shrine. When we directly asked him about it, he said...?

[Exclusive] Giants Catcher Seiji Kobayashi Finds New Love as He Eyes a Fresh Start

 Yakult's famous character, Tsubakuro, has finally returned. Behind the long-awaited reappearance of Tsubakuro was a controversial debate among the team's employees.

Tsubakuro’s Comeback Highlights His Importance Both On and Off the Field

 Hanshin manager Kyuji Fujikawa, who is aiming for back-to-back Central League championships, has begun a new information warfare strategy. What is it?

Hanshin Manager Kyuji Fujikawa proposes to &#8220;abolish the interview&#8221; and &#8220;hold a press conference&#8221; to strengthen the &#8220;war of information&#8221; toward back-to-back Central League championships.

 Former Hiroshima professional baseball player Ryutaro Hatsuki, 26, was charged with violating the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act by using the designated drug etomidate, also known as "zombie tobacco," at his first trial on May 15 at Hiroshima District Court.

Why only me&#8230;&#8221; Former Hiroshima defendant Ryutaro Hatsuki&#8217;s &#8220;bombshell statement&#8221; and the &#8220;two players&#8221; whose names were mentioned in the investigation

 Hiroyuki Komatsu AFLO (4th photo)

 Special interview in her hometown, Kitami City, Hokkaido, Japan From her job at her company, the Olympics she couldn't compete in, bodybuilding, and her future career.

 A life dedicated to curling: Canada, USA, Great Britain, Sweden. ...... This season alone, Loco Solare's Mayuki Fujisawa (34) has traveled all over the world, but while back in her hometown of Kitami City, Hokkaido, she has been working for an insurance company, "Consultage.

Exclusive Confession] Mayuki Fujisawa Talks All About It at a Sushi Restaurant! I might be a clunker if I wasn&#8217;t curling.

 Some people are saying that the fact that Tsuyoshi Matsumoto of the Giants, who has been flying low, has not been demoted to the second team is due to manager Shinnosuke Abe's favor, but the actual situation is not as simple as that. ......

The appointment of Tsuyoshi Matsumoto by the Giants is not &#8220;Shinnosuke Abe&#8217;s favoritism&#8221;! A &#8220;Guaranteed 200 at-bats and veto contract&#8221; theory has emerged.

 Hazuki Takeda (nonfiction writer)

 Takayuki Ogawauchi

 On May 10, former makuuchi wrestler Flameho made his first appearance as a juryo in three years at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament. After sustaining a cervical vertebrae injury in 1923, flameho has been working hard on his rehabilitation. He talked about his journey from an early rider to a juryo again for the first time in his career.

“I’ll Be Better Than Before” — Enho Returns to Juryo Three Years After Devastating Neck Injury

 The shocking trade that shook the world of professional baseball has become a hot topic. Behind it all, it seems, was the too-strong voice of the DeNA front office and the too-weak position of the front office.

“I Couldn’t Stop It” — Aikawa on DeNA’s Controversial Yamamoto Trade and Front Office Power

 In the World Table Tennis Final, Hina Hayata cried because she could not win a single game. ......

 At the World Table Tennis Championships in London, Hina Hayata (ranked 10th in the world) cried in the final of the women's team competition, losing just one game short of winning the championship for the first time in 55 years. However, she is not far behind her opponent and has found a powerful weapon to follow her "Hina Drive"!

A New Strength Emerges for Hina Hayata After Emotional Defeat

 Masao Kurihara

 Watanabe Koji

 The World Cup is about to begin! Samurai Blue in Europe: Part 2

 Good news has arrived for Japan's national soccer team in the form of the return of defender Itakura Koh. Itakura, who experienced the Qatar tournament and played a central role in the back three in the final Asian qualifying rounds, has been out of action for a long time due to poor conditions.

“I Finally Made It Back” — Ko Itakura Returns After Two and a Half Months Out, Shares His Honest Feelings

 Moriyasu Japan's "key players in attack and defense" talk about their thoughts on the World Cup! Samurai Blue in Europe Part 1

 The North and Central American World Cup is scheduled to begin on June 11, 2026 (local time). With the announcement of Japan's national team members approaching, we interviewed the "key men" of Moriyasu Japan, brothers Kaiyuu and Kodai Sano, about their thoughts on the World Cup.

Sano Brothers Aim for Historic First as Both Target Japan National Team Selection — Their World Cup Ambitions

 Reuters/Afro (1st photo) Arifumi Taguchi

 He hit 67 homers a year! His swing has changed dramatically since his days with the Yakult baseball team. Professor Taku Kawamura of Tsukuba University, an expert in motion analysis, provides an in-depth analysis.

 Munetaka Murakami of the White Sox (26) reached No. 12 in his first year in the Majors, at a pace of 67 runs per year. Professor Taku Kawamura of Tsukuba University analyzes the evolution of his V-shaped swing, "scooping up from below," with a series of photographs.

What’s Behind His Power Surge? Munetaka Murakami’s “Lift From Below” Hitting Technique

 YUTAKA/Afro Sports (1st), Takahiro Kagawa (2nd)

 Naoya Inoue defeated Jyunjin Nakatani, a former world champion in three weight classes, by a unanimous decision. The heated fight was broadcast in PPV format, and was said to be a big match worth 10 billion yen. Another charismatic fighter, Takemasa, had his retirement match broadcast on terrestrial wave and ......

Naoya Inoue vs Junto Nakatani Profit Gap and Takeru Retirement Fight Highlight Contrasting Viewing Cultures and Fan Reactions

 Samurai Major Leaguers Special

 Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers recorded three hits, including his sixth home run, against the Cubs on April 27. Although he was reported to be in a slump, data shows that Ohtani is actually a slow starter. We analyzed his growth and challenges this season.

Still in the process of development&#8230;!　Shohei Ohtani&#8217;s &#8220;growth and challenges&#8221; this season as revealed by his &#8220;statistical data

 We held a "Minato-ku Girls Who Specialize in Baseball Players" round-table talk session with Lino (insurance company employee), Maki (childcare worker), and Maiko (university student). We asked them to talk about the "night faces" of the stars.

Minato Ward Groupies Expose The Hidden Nightlife Of Baseball Stars

 Kumataro Arai

 On April 25, about 50,000 people filled the streets of Nihonbashi for the Winter Olympic Parade. The star of the parade was the "Riku-Ryu" pair. The climax of the parade was the lift, which was cheered by the crowd. As for the future of the pair, who have announced their retirement...

Rikuryu Shine at Winter Olympic Parade with Gold and Silver Medals and Overwhelming Star Presence

 Hiroshima manager Takahiro Arai, 49, is likely to have his career in jeopardy if he fails to win a championship in his fourth year in charge of the team. The season demands results, but the pinch points continue to mount.

Was it a directive from the baseball team?　Hiroshima manager Takahiro Arai, who has had &#8220;a string of mishaps,&#8221; selects three rookies for a generational change.

 DeNA, led by new manager Ryoji Aikawa (49), has not been able to make much of a splash since the start of the season. Behind this is the "disunity crisis" of the nine members, who have lost their spiritual pillar.

Sports

Kazuki Inoue Faces Difficult Questions Following Protégé’s Arrest and Past Misconduct

RikuRyu Turns Professional, Sets Sights on Building Japan’s Pair Skating Pipeline

Inside the Giants’ Urgent Search for a New Manager Following Shinnosuke Abe’s Arrest

Satsuki Fujisawa Reflects on Identity and Pressure in Candid Sushi Restaurant Conversation

Ren Meguro’s Busy Schedule Fuels Competition as SHOGUN and Drama Projects Line Up

Kazuma Okamoto’s Path to 30 Home Runs with the Blue Jays: How Abandoning His “Bow-Legged” Stance Took Him Beyond His Giants Peak

[Exclusive] Giants Catcher Seiji Kobayashi Finds New Love as He Eyes a Fresh Start

Tsubakuro’s Comeback Highlights His Importance Both On and Off the Field

Hanshin Manager Kyuji Fujikawa proposes to “abolish the interview” and “hold a press conference” to strengthen the “war of information” toward back-to-back Central League championships.

Why only me…” Former Hiroshima defendant Ryutaro Hatsuki’s “bombshell statement” and the “two players” whose names were mentioned in the investigation

Exclusive Confession] Mayuki Fujisawa Talks All About It at a Sushi Restaurant! I might be a clunker if I wasn’t curling.

The appointment of Tsuyoshi Matsumoto by the Giants is not “Shinnosuke Abe’s favoritism”! A “Guaranteed 200 at-bats and veto contract” theory has emerged.

“I’ll Be Better Than Before” — Enho Returns to Juryo Three Years After Devastating Neck Injury

“I Couldn’t Stop It” — Aikawa on DeNA’s Controversial Yamamoto Trade and Front Office Power

A New Strength Emerges for Hina Hayata After Emotional Defeat

“I Finally Made It Back” — Ko Itakura Returns After Two and a Half Months Out, Shares His Honest Feelings

Sano Brothers Aim for Historic First as Both Target Japan National Team Selection — Their World Cup Ambitions

What’s Behind His Power Surge? Munetaka Murakami’s “Lift From Below” Hitting Technique

Naoya Inoue vs Junto Nakatani Profit Gap and Takeru Retirement Fight Highlight Contrasting Viewing Cultures and Fan Reactions

Still in the process of development…!　Shohei Ohtani’s “growth and challenges” this season as revealed by his “statistical data

Minato Ward Groupies Expose The Hidden Nightlife Of Baseball Stars

Rikuryu Shine at Winter Olympic Parade with Gold and Silver Medals and Overwhelming Star Presence

Was it a directive from the baseball team?　Hiroshima manager Takahiro Arai, who has had “a string of mishaps,” selects three rookies for a generational change.

DeNA Faces Team Cohesion Questions After Departure of Masayuki Kuwahara

Sports

Kazuki Inoue Faces Difficult Questions Following Protégé’s Arrest and Past Misconduct

RikuRyu Turns Professional, Sets Sights on Building Japan’s Pair Skating Pipeline

Inside the Giants’ Urgent Search for a New Manager Following Shinnosuke Abe’s Arrest

Satsuki Fujisawa Reflects on Identity and Pressure in Candid Sushi Restaurant Conversation

Ren Meguro’s Busy Schedule Fuels Competition as SHOGUN and Drama Projects Line Up

Kazuma Okamoto’s Path to 30 Home Runs with the Blue Jays: How Abandoning His “Bow-Legged” Stance Took Him Beyond His Giants Peak

[Exclusive] Giants Catcher Seiji Kobayashi Finds New Love as He Eyes a Fresh Start

Tsubakuro’s Comeback Highlights His Importance Both On and Off the Field

Hanshin Manager Kyuji Fujikawa proposes to “abolish the interview” and “hold a press conference” to strengthen the “war of information” toward back-to-back Central League championships.

Why only me…” Former Hiroshima defendant Ryutaro Hatsuki’s “bombshell statement” and the “two players” whose names were mentioned in the investigation

Exclusive Confession] Mayuki Fujisawa Talks All About It at a Sushi Restaurant! I might be a clunker if I wasn’t curling.

The appointment of Tsuyoshi Matsumoto by the Giants is not “Shinnosuke Abe’s favoritism”! A “Guaranteed 200 at-bats and veto contract” theory has emerged.

“I’ll Be Better Than Before” — Enho Returns to Juryo Three Years After Devastating Neck Injury

“I Couldn’t Stop It” — Aikawa on DeNA’s Controversial Yamamoto Trade and Front Office Power

A New Strength Emerges for Hina Hayata After Emotional Defeat

“I Finally Made It Back” — Ko Itakura Returns After Two and a Half Months Out, Shares His Honest Feelings

Sano Brothers Aim for Historic First as Both Target Japan National Team Selection — Their World Cup Ambitions

What’s Behind His Power Surge? Munetaka Murakami’s “Lift From Below” Hitting Technique

Naoya Inoue vs Junto Nakatani Profit Gap and Takeru Retirement Fight Highlight Contrasting Viewing Cultures and Fan Reactions

Still in the process of development…! Shohei Ohtani’s “growth and challenges” this season as revealed by his “statistical data

Minato Ward Groupies Expose The Hidden Nightlife Of Baseball Stars

Rikuryu Shine at Winter Olympic Parade with Gold and Silver Medals and Overwhelming Star Presence

Was it a directive from the baseball team? Hiroshima manager Takahiro Arai, who has had “a string of mishaps,” selects three rookies for a generational change.

DeNA Faces Team Cohesion Questions After Departure of Masayuki Kuwahara

Still in the process of development…!　Shohei Ohtani’s “growth and challenges” this season as revealed by his “statistical data

Was it a directive from the baseball team?　Hiroshima manager Takahiro Arai, who has had “a string of mishaps,” selects three rookies for a generational change.