Kids Web Japan

Q. Which sports are played professionally in Japan?

A professional soccer match in Japan's J. League.

A.

The most popular professional sports in Japan are baseball, soccer, and sumo. There are 12 professional baseball teams - six in the Central League and six in the Pacific League.

Japan's professional soccer league, the J. League, was launched in May 1993. As of 2020, there are 59 teams in the J-League.

In tennis, the number of professional Japanese players who take part in international tournaments has increased. Osaka Naomi has been number one in global rankings. In men's tennis, Nishikori Kei has become famous.

Participation in Japan's volleyball league was opened up to professionals with the inauguration of the V League in December 1994. The V League also allows the participation of independent teams in addition to corporate-sponsored teams, as before. However, the V League hasn't become fully professional so far.

Japan also has a national rugby league of corporate teams called the “Japan Rugby Top League” (15 players, playing according to Rugby Union rules). The popularity of rugby has been stoked by the Rugby World Cup, held in Japan in 2019.

Meanwhile, Japan's professional basketball league, the “B. League”, was founded in 2015. Basketball is already popular in Japan, and the B. League will help it become even more so.

Other professional sports in Japan include sumo, boxing, figure skating, and golf.

Photo:PHOTO KISHIMOTO