Sumo's Answer To Beckham | Sports | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
A new star was born at the 2005 Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament. Bulgarian wrestler Kotooshu was promoted to the rank of ozeki after compiling an 11-4 record in the tournament and a combined 36-9 record in his last three tournaments.

Let the Games Begin! | Sports | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
The twentieth Winter Olympics get underway on February 10 in Torino, Italy. As the world's eyes and ears turn to this grand stage, hopes are high for Japan's athletes. This is particularly true in women's figure skating.

Trainer to the Champs | Sports | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
There is a Japanese female trainer employed by an American pro football team in the NFL. Her name is Iso Ariko. It is rare enough to have a female trainer looking after the physical condition of the athletes who compete at America's most popular sport, but being Japanese makes Iso doubly unique.

Dreaming of Germany | Sports | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
The 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany begins on June 9, and Japan's 23-man squad for the event will be announced on May 15. A rising star by the same of Sato Hisato (Sanfrecce Hiroshima) has shot into contention with a prolific run of goal scoring.

Keeping Mountains Clean | Sports | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
A climbing team led by alpinist Noguchi Ken recently completed a one-month cleaning expedition on Nepal's Mt. Manaslu (elevation 8,163 meters).

Grappling for the Top Spot | Sports | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
At the sumo tournament scheduled for July in Nagoya, ozeki (the second-highest rank) Hakuho is looking to do well enough to earn a promotion to yokozuna (highest rank).

600 Million Yen Baby | Sports | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
The Select Sale 2006 auction of major top-breed racehorses was held on July 11 in Tomakomai city, Hokkaido, where To The Victory 2006, a foal born this spring, was sold for a record fee of ¥600 million ($5.2 million at ¥115 to the dollar).

Capital Bid | Sports | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Tokyo has won the race to become Japan's candidate to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. Tokyo will now be vying with other candidate cities around the world in the hope of hosting the Olympics for the second time, following the highly successful 1964 Summer Games.

Clothes that Keep You Fit | Sports | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Consumers are giving a big thumbs-up to new types of clothing that can tighten muscles and change the shape of a person's body just by wearing them, all while that person goes about his or her daily routine.

Strength In Numbers | Sports | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
It is the golden age of Japanese women's figure skating. Asada Mao of Chukyo High School won the ladies' division of the NHK Trophy, held from November 30 to December 3, 2006, in Nagano.

League Without Borders | Sports | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Good news for ice hockey fans in Asia: A full-fledged Asian ice hockey league has been inaugurated for the current hockey season. Eight participating teams from four Far Eastern countries - Japan, China, South Korea, and Russia - will battle against one another atop the ice.

Dreaming of J. League Glory | Sports | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
The J. League, Japan's professional soccer league, will expand to 30 clubs for its 2005 season, a three-fold increase from the 10 clubs that began the inaugural 1993 season.

Queens of Golf | Sports | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
The first Women's World Cup golf tournament, an international team event, was won by the Japanese duo of Miyazato Ai, 19, and Kitada Rui, 23.

Taking Baseball to Africa | Sports | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Several Japanese pioneers are fostering international exchange with African countries through the medium of baseball.

Three Cheers for the Champions! | Sports | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
In April a Japanese cheer and dance team won the Chick-fil-A Cheer & Dance Collegiate Championship in the United States.

Big in China | Sports | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
On June 5, 2005, Japanese table tennis prodigy Fukuhara Ai, 16, made her debut in China's Super League, where the sport's elite players compete.

Germany, Here We Come! | Sports | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Japan has become the first team in the world to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, which will be held next June and July in Germany. Many Japanese were glued to their TVs on June 8 for the decisive qualifying game, and there was widespread joy at the team's achievement.

Walking to Fitness | Sports | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Walking is enjoying newfound popularity, particularly among people in their forties and over, as a way of staying fit or losing weight that costs nothing and is easy to do.

Marines Claim Asian Baseball Crown | Sports | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
The Chiba Lotte Marines have won the Konami Cup Asia Series to clinch the first regional professional baseball championship in Asia.

Athens, Here We Come! | Sports | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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