 Ryoji Shigemasa

 Encountering the "Ideal Form

 Hotaka Yamakawa of SoftBank won the long-sought Japan championship and the MVP of the series, but struggled during the season with a .226 batting average, 23 runs, and 62 runs batted in. He found his "ideal form," which he had not found until the end of the season, in an unexpected place.

Hotaka Yamakawa on His Breakthrough Moment—It All Started with Sato

 Shuichi Masuda (1st and 3rd), Shinya Inui (2nd)

 In this issue of Playback, we take a look back at what this magazine was reporting 10, 20, and 30 years ago. This time, we report on the "victory party night" of Waseda University's Goromaru, who won the 2006 National University Rugby Championship for the second year in a row.

Playback &#8217;06] On the night of the record-breaking Japanese university championship, Goromaru, the Waseda University ace, was eating a beef bowl at Yoshinoya.

 Hiroyuki Komatsu

 This year's Hakone Ekiden was won by Aoyama Gakuin University for the third year in a row. The attention was not only on the Aoyama Gakuin University runners, but also on Takuma Akiyoshi, a senior at the University of Tokyo, who ran the 7th section of the race and finished in 4th place, and was cheered by the crowd. After the race, we interviewed Akiyoshi directly. What did he have to say?

University of Tokyo Runner Talks About Overwhelming Cheers and Future After Hakone Ekiden

 Kyodo News

 The World Cup in North and Central America begins in June. Etsuko Motokawa, a writer who has covered the World Cup on the field, looks back on the history of the fierce battles.

Japan&#8217;s World Cup Year Begins] Inamoto&#8217;s left foot, which brought joy to all of Japan, and the tragic fate of Shunsuke Nakamura&#8230; World Cup Famous Scenes from &#8220;The Fierce Struggles of Japan&#8217;s National Team

 The World Cup in North and Central America begins in June. Writer Etsuko Motokawa, who has covered the World Cup on the field, looks back on the history of Japan's fierce battles.

The opening of the World Cup year: Uchida&#8217;s solitary struggle, Kagawa&#8217;s true value, Qatar&#8217;s joy&#8230; Famous scenes from the World Cup: &#8220;The Fierce Struggle of Japan&#8217;s National Team&#8221;.

 Sota Shima

 After the 25-year love scoops, Yakult's "star of promise" is in trouble with his adulterous partner.

 It was in September 1925 that Yakult pitcher Yuto Kanegubo, who was said to be a "promising star" of the Yakult baseball team, had an affair and "pregnancy trouble. What did Kanegubo say in a direct interview with this magazine? We look back.

Yakult’s Former Rising Star Faces Fallout from Scandal After Season Ends

 Afro (Nakajima) Kyodo News (Forever Young)

 Year-End and New Year's Special Program

 Special Program! Japan national soccer team's victory over Brazil in a friendly match, Loco Solare's tearful defeat, Yuki Nakajima setting a new Japanese record, Ami Nakai winning her first race, and the first Japanese-trained horse winning the BC Classic...

Defining Sports Moments of Reiwa 7 Japan Beats Brazil and Loco Solare’s Tearful Loss

 Yamaguchi Finito Hiroaki/Afro (Inoue) Jiji Press (Oh-nosato) AFLO (Abe)

 Special "New Year's Eve and New Year's Eve and New Year's Day" program! The BEST 12 sports defining moments of Reiwa 2025 (2) -- Naoya Inoue defending his 4-team world super bantamweight title, Naoya Ohnosato winning the May Tournament and promotion to Yokozuna, Abe Uta winning the Women's 52kg Judo World Championship...

Ōno Sato Wins Big, Inoue Shocks Fans—Relive Reiwa 7’s Sports Highlights

 AFLO (Otani, Ichiro, Okinawa Shogaku) Jiji Press (Hanshin)

 Year-end and New Year's Special Programs

 Special "Year-End and New Year's Eve and New Year's Day" program! (1) Shohei Otani hits 3 homers and steals 10 bases in one game in the League Championship Series, Ichiro is inducted into the Ichiro Hall of Fame, and the Hanshin Tigers win the Koshien championship and become the fastest league champions in history.

The &#8220;2025 Decisive Moments in Sports&#8221; &#8211; The famous games and heart-warming scenes that changed the course of history!

 Keitaro Haga

 A book titled "Introduction to Baseball for the Culture-Based: Dissecting "Baseball Teams Suck"" was released in March and has been attracting a lot of attention. We interviewed the author, Toshi Nakano, a writer who is also an active baseball coach.

Ex-Player Breaks Down the Criticism of University Baseball Clubs

 AP/Afro

 The family and the baseball team reached a settlement in the case of the sudden death of a former starting pitcher for the Angels. The pitcher died in July 2007. It is believed that an overdose of drugs was the proximate cause. The drugs were given to the pitcher by the team's public relations department (......). The team's structure has been called into question.

Sudden Death of Angels Pitcher Sparks Court Battle Over Alleged PR Staff Drug Transfer

 The professional baseball "active player draft" was held on December 9. This year marked the fourth time this system, which began in 2022 with the aim of stimulating the transfer of players who lack opportunities to compete, but some have complained about the "limits of the system.

Leagues Consider Reforms as Draft Timing and Structure Face Backlash

 There are reports that Takumi Kuriyama (42), who has announced his retirement at the end of next season, and Takaya Nakamura (42), who will begin his 25th year as a professional player next season, may not be protected by the Seibu team.

Controversy as Seibu Fails to Protect Star Players Nakamura and Kuriyama

 Shinji Tokari

 The LPGA Awards, an annual event to close out the season, was held in Tokyo on March 16. Here we report on the spectacular performances of the female pros who dress up for the event, which you don't usually get to see.

A Night of Elegance: Japan’s Top Women Golfers Dazzle at the JLPGA Awards

 Tsutomu Kishimoto (PICSPORT)

 The fastest world champion in the history of Japanese boxing and the first Japanese boxer to win 2 weight classes and the fastest boxer to win 3 weight classes and the first Japanese boxer to win 4 weight classes

 Kazusho Ioka, 36, is the world's fastest boxer and the first Japanese boxer to win four weight classes. This legendary boxer is about to take on an unprecedented challenge in the world of Japanese boxing, winning five weight classes in the final stages of his career. Close-up shots and long interview

Exclusive Photos &#038; Interview: Ioka Shares the Heart Behind His Historic Challenge

 Kotaro Tajiri

 After finishing his third year with the New York Mets, Kohdai Senga is already moving on to the next season. The possibility of being traded has been in the news every day this offseason, but Senga is positive.

Mets’ Star Pitcher Senga Talks Daily Grind and Unyielding Sense of Urgency

 Kyodo News, Jiji Press

 The All-Japan champion Komazawa, Izumo winner Kokugakuin, last year's winner Aogaku, and Waseda led by the "Mountain Detective" are all in the mix in this historic race!

 The "Hakone Ekiden" 2026 Prediction! Komazawa, the All-Japan champion, Kokugakuin, the winner of Izumo, Aogakuin, the previous champion, and Waseda, led by the "Mountain Detective," are all in the mix. A big battle is sure to ensue! With each of them having their own concerns...the key to victory will be held by the aces of the 5th and 6th wards!

The key to victory in the Hakone Ekiden 2026 is&#8230; &#8220;mountain specialists&#8221;! Hakone Ekiden 2026] The key to victory&#8230; &#8220;Mountain Specialists&#8221;!

 Soichiro Takeda

 The final qualifying round for the Milan Cortina Olympics, held in Kelowna, Canada, ended on March 18 (local time), and the Japanese women's national team ("Fortius") has qualified for the Olympics for the eighth consecutive time. We take a look behind the scenes.

Angel is in our house&#8221;&#8230; The key player of curling &#8220;Fortius&#8221; in the Milan Olympics is a &#8220;beloved sister character&#8221;.

 Masashi Hosoda

 Tombstone 2025] This year, too, a national star, a famous actor, and a famous host passed away. We bring you his words of regret along with his treasured photos.

 Choshu went to Florida to train as soon as he joined New Japan Pro-Wrestling... where he met Hogan. After returning to Japan, he had a surprise reunion with him as the first new foreign wrestler to come to Japan. Choshu said, "I think I had a good life. I was able to do everything I wanted to do..." Choshu looks back.

“A Life Well Lived” – Riki Choshu Pays Heartfelt Tribute to Hulk Hogan

 Tombstone Epitaph 2025] This year, too, a national star, a famous actor, and a great presenter have departed. We bring you his words of regret along with his treasured photos.

 Koichi Tabuchi was a player for three years when Yoshio Yoshida first became manager of the Hanshin team. When he hit a home run, Tabuchi would come off the bench and greet him on his way home, and he said that he felt deeply happy to have been the manager.

In Memoriam 2025: Koichi Tabuchi Remembers Yoshio Yoshida – “Just You Wait, That Guy!”

 Ryu Kanzaki

 Tombstone Epitaph 2025] This year, too, a national star, a famous actor, and a great host passed away. We bring you his words of regret along with his treasured photos.

 Saburo Kawabuchi still remembers the shock he felt when he saw Kunishige Kamamoto for the first time. At the time, Kamamoto was still in high school, but he was completely taken out of his position. Many athletes have played in the world, but his scale was on another dimension and he was special.

Remembering Kunishige Kamamoto — Saburo Kawabuchi on the Legendary Talent

 Hiroaki Fujiuchi

 Tombstone Epitaph 2025] This year, too, a national star, a famous actor, and a famous TV host have passed away. Here are some of their fond farewells, along with some treasured photos.

 Manager Nagashima loved Dave Okubo's fighting spirit. Dave says that the director had his back and allowed him to live his life without bending himself. The godfather of Dave Company is also Mr. Nagashima. Dave laughed and said, "As expected, I can't say no.

Shigeo Nagashima’s Supportive Words That Left a Lasting Impression on Dave Okubo

 On November 28, the Giants, eager to regain their championship lead next season, announced that Seung-Yeob Lee (49), who participated in the fall training camp as a temporary coach, will be named hitting coach of the first team.

Giants Appoint Lee Seung-Yeop as Batting Coach, Sending Final Warning to Manager Abe

 Okoye's departure and Yamase's contract renewal pending...... this year's off-season for the Giants has been more noisy than usual. Some say the cause of this was the sudden departure of second-unit manager Kuwata.

Sports

Hotaka Yamakawa on His Breakthrough Moment—It All Started with Sato

Playback ’06] On the night of the record-breaking Japanese university championship, Goromaru, the Waseda University ace, was eating a beef bowl at Yoshinoya.

University of Tokyo Runner Talks About Overwhelming Cheers and Future After Hakone Ekiden

Japan’s World Cup Year Begins] Inamoto’s left foot, which brought joy to all of Japan, and the tragic fate of Shunsuke Nakamura… World Cup Famous Scenes from “The Fierce Struggles of Japan’s National Team

The opening of the World Cup year: Uchida’s solitary struggle, Kagawa’s true value, Qatar’s joy… Famous scenes from the World Cup: “The Fierce Struggle of Japan’s National Team”.