Japan Sports Weekend: Baseball, Football, Golf…

The two golf equipment will meet within the Japan Series starting October 24, whereas the J.League continued its autumn marketing campaign, Japan’s skilled basketball and volleyball seasons produced a number of commanding victories, and main titles have been determined in golf and horse racing.

The Yokohama DeNA BayStars accomplished probably the most placing postseason performances of the 12 months, defeating Hanshin 8-5 at Koshien Stadium on October 17 to safe their fourth consecutive victory within the Central League Climax Series closing stage.

DeNA, which completed third within the common season with 71 victories, 69 defeats and three ties, overturned the league hierarchy by eliminating the first-place Tigers, who had completed with 79 wins. The BayStars had already swept the Yomiuri Giants within the opening spherical, profitable 2-1 and 4-1 at Tokyo Dome.

Their success in opposition to Hanshin was constructed initially on excellent pitching. DeNA shut out the Tigers 2-0 on October 14, 1-0 on October 15 and 4-0 on October 16 earlier than profitable the fourth sport 8-5. The four-game sweep overcame Hanshin’s automated one-win benefit as regular-season champions.

SoftBank additionally secured its Japan Series berth after defeating the Nippon-Ham Fighters within the Pacific League closing stage. The Hawks received their three video games 6-4, 6-2 and 6-2, including to the two-win benefit awarded underneath the league’s postseason format.

The best-of-seven Japan Series will open at Yokohama Stadium on October 24, with Game 2 scheduled for October 25. The competitors then strikes to Fukuoka for Games 3 by 5, starting October 27, earlier than returning to Yokohama if further video games are required.

In soccer, Vissel Kobe and FC Machida Zelvia recorded 3-0 victories within the J1 League on October 18, whereas Kawasaki Frontale produced one of many highest-scoring outcomes of the weekend with a 4-2 away win over Cerezo Osaka.

Kobe traveled to Okayama and defeated Fagiano Okayama 3-0, amassing three factors within the tenth spherical of the league’s autumn competitors. Machida have been equally convincing at residence, defeating Avispa Fukuoka by the identical scoreline.

The earlier day, Kawasaki overcame Cerezo Osaka 4-2 in a six-goal match. Nagoya Grampus additionally impressed with a 3-1 away victory over Kashiwa Reysol, whereas Urawa Reds secured a slender 1-0 win in opposition to Mito HollyHock. Shimizu S-Pulse and Gamba Osaka shared the factors in a 2-2 draw, finishing a weekend that includes a number of vital ends in the highest division.

In males’s golf, Yusaku Hosono claimed the Japan Open Golf Championship on October 18, finishing a outstanding home main double on the age of 23.

The left-handed golfer completed at 13-under-par 267 at Tarao Country Club in Shiga Prefecture, securing a two-stroke victory over Yusuke Sakamoto. Hosono carded an even-par 70 within the closing spherical, with 5 birdies and 5 bogeys, to resist stress from his nearest challengers.

The victory adopted his breakthrough triumph on the Japan PGA Championship in May, making him solely the second left-handed golfer after Yutaka Hagawa in 1981 to assert the 2 Japanese titles in the identical 12 months.

Sakamoto completed second at 11 underneath, whereas Shugo Imahira and South Korea’s Lee Sang-hee shared third place at eight underneath. Hosono earned 42 million yen in prize cash and secured locations within the 2027 Masters and British Open.

The victory represents one other milestone in Hosono’s fast emergence as one among Japan’s main younger golfers and strengthens his place within the home season rankings.

In ladies’s golf, Ai Suzuki received the Fujitsu Ladies event on October 18, ending at 15 underneath par to assert her first victory of the season and the twenty third title of her profession on Japan’s ladies’s skilled tour.

Playing at Tokyu Seven Hundred Club in Chiba Prefecture, Suzuki started the ultimate spherical tied for the lead and produced 4 birdies and one bogey for a three-under-par 69.

Nana Suganuma completed two strokes behind at 13 underneath, whereas Ayaka Furue, Minami Hiruta, Kotone Hori and South Korea’s Lee Min-young shared third at 12 underneath.

The event carried further significance as a result of the highest 35 gamers within the home factors standings following the occasion certified for the TOTO Japan Classic, an LPGA co-sanctioned occasion scheduled for November 5 in Ibaraki Prefecture.

In basketball, Kyoto Hannaryz delivered one of many greatest victories of the weekend in Japan’s top-tier competitors, defeating Saga Ballooners 115-70 on October 18.

SeaHorses Mikawa have been equally dominant, profitable 99-56 away in opposition to Toyama Grouses, whereas Levanga Hokkaido recorded a 109-78 street victory over Yokohama B-Corsairs. Ibaraki Robots additionally loved a convincing afternoon, defeating Osaka Evessa 98-63.

Saturday’s video games included a 100-86 away victory for Alvark Tokyo in opposition to Gunma Crane Thunders, whereas Chiba Jets beat Shimane Susanoo Magic 97-78. Akita Northern Happinets edged Shinshu Brave Warriors 102-95, and Sendai 89ERS defeated Utsunomiya Brex 85-81.

In B.League One, Yokohama Excellence scored 111 factors in opposition to Gifu Swoops, holding the guests to 67. Tokushima Gambarous defeated Fukushima Firebonds 99-72, and Tokyo United Basketball Club beat Yamagata Wyverns 82-63.

The outcomes underline the rising aggressive depth of Japan’s skilled basketball construction, with established golf equipment and creating regional groups competing throughout the reorganized league system.

Japan’s SV.League additionally started its new males’s volleyball season on October 17, with Tokyo Great Bears defeating new entrant Hokkaido Yellow Stars in an entertaining five-set match.

Tokyo recovered from shedding the primary and third units to win 22-25, 25-22, 19-25, 25-23, 15-8, finishing a comeback victory within the opening match of the 2026-27 season. The Great Bears adopted that outcome with a extra convincing 3-0 victory in opposition to Hokkaido on October 18, taking an early place among the many unbeaten groups.

In the ladies’s competitors, Osaka Marvelous defeated Okayama Seagulls 3-1 on October 18 to register their second consecutive victory.

Toyama additionally made a profitable begin, recording a second straight three-set victory in opposition to Aranmare Yamagata’s renamed Akita Shonai crew. NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki recovered from their opening defeat in opposition to Victorina Himeji to win the return fixture 3-1, leveling their early-season file at one victory and one defeat.

In athletics, Toyo University secured first place within the qualifying competitors for the 103rd Hakone Ekiden, ending forward of 44 different college groups on October 17 in Tachikawa, western Tokyo.

The college recorded a mixed time of 10 hours, 31 minutes and 30 seconds over the half-marathon course, incomes a spot within the prestigious two-day relay race scheduled for January 2027.

Chuo Gakuin University certified second, adopted by Tokai University, Senshu University and Tokyo University of Agriculture. Yamanashi Gakuin, Daito Bunka, Kanagawa, Nippon Sport Science and Hosei universities accomplished the ten qualifying positions.

Senshu University returned to the primary occasion after a two-year absence, qualifying fourth with a time of 10:33:42. Hosei University additionally earned its first berth in two years, securing the ultimate qualifying place at 10:40:08.

Kokushikan University narrowly missed qualification in eleventh place, whereas Rikkyo, Meiji and Tokyo International universities have been among the many distinguished establishments eradicated.

The Hakone Ekiden stays one among Japan’s hottest annual sporting occasions, with college distance runners competing on the demanding route between Tokyo and Hakone over the New Year vacation.

In horse racing, Monroe Walk maintained her unbeaten file with victory within the thirty first Shuka Sho at Kyoto Racecourse on October 18, finishing a fifth consecutive win and claiming her first Grade 1 title.

Ridden by Keita Tosaki, the three-year-old filly accomplished the two,000-meter turf race in 1 minute, 56.1 seconds, setting a race file and matching the course file.

Monroe Walk was positioned round fifth place through the early phases earlier than shifting ahead and overtaking Gallaborg within the ending straight. Gallaborg completed second by a neck, with Dream Core third.

The victory made Monroe Walk the fourth horse to win the Shuka Sho with out struggling a earlier defeat, becoming a member of a choose group that features Fine Motion, Kawakami Princess and Daring Tact.

Tosaki claimed his second Shuka Sho title, having beforehand received aboard Akaitorino Musume in 2021. The race represented the ultimate leg of Japan’s three-year-old filly Triple Crown sequence, though neither the Oka Sho winner Star Anise nor the Japanese Oaks winner Juryoku Pierrot competed within the occasion.

Overseas, Shohei Ohtani’s hopes of profitable a 3rd consecutive World Series ended when the Los Angeles Dodgers have been swept by the Milwaukee Brewers within the National League Championship Series.

The Dodgers misplaced the fourth sport 6-4 on October 15 within the United States, regardless of Ohtani ending a 25-game residence run drought with a three-run homer.

The Japanese celebrity had struggled through the playoffs whereas coping with accidents to his proper biceps and left knee. He entered the ultimate sport batting simply .174 through the postseason and had been moved down the batting order as Los Angeles sought to revive its offense.

Ohtani’s season however included 30 residence runs and a formidable return as a pitcher, recording eight victories and two defeats with a 1.79 earned run common over 14 begins.

The 32-year-old is concentrating on a return to full two-way duties in 2027 after making his closing pitching look of the 2026 season in July. The Dodgers’ elimination ensures a brand new World Series champion after Los Angeles received consecutive titles in 2024 and 2025.

In boxing, Japanese fighter Tomoki Kameda suffered a serious setback on October 18 when his scheduled WBA featherweight world title problem in opposition to Brandon Figueroa was canceled on the day of the occasion.

Kameda, 35, had traveled to Las Vegas looking for to change into a three-division world champion. However, Figueroa was unable to compete due to sickness.

The American had already misplaced his championship after failing to make the required weight on the official weigh-in on October 16 native time. Despite the load failure, Kameda had remained prepared to combat earlier than the next cancellation.

The vacant title and preparations for Kameda’s subsequent championship alternative remained unresolved following the cancellation, bringing an surprising conclusion to months of preparation for one among Japan’s most skilled worldwide boxers.

In tennis, Japan’s Shintaro Ogaki reached the boys’s closing of the Roland-Garros Junior Series in Tokyo on October 18, ending runner-up after a three-set contest in opposition to South Korea’s Dongjae Kim.

Kim received the opening set 6-4, however Ogaki responded with a convincing 6-1 victory within the second. The South Korean recovered to take the deciding set 6-2.

The event, staged on purple clay courts at Dai-ichi Life’s tennis services in Setagaya, introduced collectively 32 main junior gamers from throughout Asia. The males’s and girls’s champions secured entry into the 2027 Roland-Garros junior event in Paris.

Ogaki’s efficiency positioned him among the many main opponents within the regional occasion and offered useful expertise in opposition to worldwide opposition.

Meanwhile, Japan’s main sumo wrestlers continued their autumn regional exhibition tour with an look in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, on October 18.

The occasion was held at Yamato Kogyo Arena Himeji, following an look in Osaka on October 17. The tour strikes to Akashi on October 20 earlier than persevering with by Okayama Prefecture and western Japan later within the month.

These regional appearances enable followers outdoors the six annual Grand Sumo Tournament host cities to observe skilled wrestlers and expertise the game’s traditions.

The subsequent official event, the November Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka, shall be preceded by the discharge of the brand new rankings on October 26.