Japan's representatives for the men's and women's marathon races at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo were revealed on Wednesday, March 26.
The Japan Association of Athletics Federations (JAAF) announced that Yuya Yoshida and Ryota Kondo will represent the Hinomaru in the men's race. Yuka Ando, Kana Kobayashi and Sayaka Sato were selected as Japan's women's marathon participants.
Of the five chosen marathon runners after a thorough qualification process, Ando and Sato will both return as competitors at worlds for the second time.
Ando placed 17th at the 2017 World Athletics Championships in 2 hours, 31 minutes, 31 seconds. She ran a personal-best time of 2:21:18 at the 2024 Nagoya Women's Marathon, finishing as the winner.
Sato made her world championships debut in 2023 at the global meet in Budapest. She finished 20th in the Hungarian capital with a time of 2:31:57. At the 2025 Nagoya Women's Marathon on March 9, clocked 2:20:59 to place second.
After the race, Sato acknowledged it strengthened her self-assurance.
"I've always wanted to have a race that can satisfy myself, and I'm so happy that I managed to keep running without dropping my pace late in the race," Sato was quoted as saying by Kyodo News. "Being able to set a new personal best gives me a confidence boost."
Getting Ready for Marathon Debuts at the World Championships
In Tokyo, the women's marathon at the world championships is set for September 14, followed by the men's race a day later.
And with less than six months now until the global extravaganza begins on September 13, athletes are busy preparing for various events.
Kondo, 25, insisted he'll be ready, including for uncomfortable weather conditions.
"My strength is that I am not affected by the conditions," Kondo said at a news conference in Tokyo on Thursday, March 27, according to Jiji Press. "I will find an opportunity to win in the heat and aim for a higher ranking."
In February, Kondo established a Japan record for first-time marathon runners (2:05:39) en route to a second-place finish in the Osaka Marathon.
Noting that it's his first world championships, Yoshida, who turns 28 on April 23, said he will be "very nervous." At the same time, he told reporters he aims to have a successful appearance in the track and field meet.
"I will focus on what I have to do and prepare myself to the best of my ability to achieve a high ranking," Yoshida was quoted as saying by NHK.
Another Chance to Race in the Marathon at Worlds
Eight years after her world championships debut, Ando is looking forward to the opportunity to compete again on the global stage.
"Last time, I was still inexperienced and felt frustrated because I was overwhelmed by the atmosphere," recalled Ando, according to NHK. "So this time I want to prepare as much as I can so that I can give it my all to win a prize."
Marathon Alternates for Japan
The JAAF picked Kyohei Hosoya, who was fourth in the 2025 Osaka Marathon in February and ran a personal-best time of 2:05:58, as the host nation's alternate for the men's race.
For the women's race, Yuka Suzuki, sixth-place finisher at the 2024 Paris Olympics, was named Japan's alternate. She placed third at January's Osaka Women's International Marathon.
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Grand Slam Track Unveils Global Broadcast Deals
For its inaugural season, Grand Slam Track has finalized deals with 21 broadcast partners in 189 nations and territories, the upstart circuit announced in a news release on Friday, March 28.
TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System) is Japan's broadcast partner for Grand Slam Track, according to the announcement.
"We've been busy getting Grand Slam Track ready for the world to see, and we're delighted that these efforts have come to fruition with these new global television deals," said legendary Olympian Michael Johnson, Grand Slam Track's founder and commissioner.
Added Johnson, "We set out to make Grand Slam Track viewable for fans all across the globe, and these deals reinforce that idea."
The season-opening meet will be held in Kingston, Jamaica (April 4-6), followed by stops in Miami (May 2-4), Philadelphia (May 30-June 1) and Los Angeles (June 27-29).
As reported earlier on SportsLook, female long-distance runner Nozomi Tanaka became the first Japanese athlete to join Grand Slam Track.
On February 8, Tanaka set a national indoor record in the 3,000 meters at the 117th Millrose Games in New York, clocking 8:33.52 and finishing sixth.
Basketball
Career Milestones for B.League's Parker and Cooley
Gunma Crane Thunders forward Michael Parker collected his 700th career B.League steal against the Ryukyu Golden Kings on Saturday, March 29 at Okinawa Arena. He's the first player in league history to reach that milestone. It's also a reminder of his talents as a defensive force on the court.
One of the elder statesmen of B.League players, Parker appeared in his first league match with the Chiba Jets in the fall of 2016 during the inaugural season.
Parker, 43, finished with eight points, four rebounds and a steal in the Crane Thunders' 87-68 loss at Okinawa Arena.
In the same game, Golden Kings big man Jack Cooley grabbed his 3,500th B.League career rebound, becoming just the fifth player to reach that plateau. Cooley had 18 points and 12 rebounds, helping Ryukyu (33-13) win its fifth straight.
The Crane Thunders slipped to 31-15.
Also Saturday, Akita Northern Happinets veteran guard Takuya Nakayama collected his 600th B.League steal, becoming the fifth player in league history to do so. The 30-year-old playmaker had four steals in the Northern Happinets' 84-77 road win over the Sendai 89ers.
Akita improved to 22-24; Sendai fell to 8-38, the worst record in the Eastern Conference.
Japan's Ozawa Sets 3x3 Scoring Record
In Japan's opening match on the fourth day of the 2025 FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup, Ryo Ozawa poured in 20 points against Iran in Singapore. He established an officially recognized record for FIBA-sanctioned 3x3 games.
Ozawa led Japan to a 21-17 triumph on Saturday, March 29. The 26-year-old added 10 points and four assists in Japan's 21-16 victory over Australia later in the day.
The tournament wraps up on Sunday.
Baseball
Pitching Notes from MLB
Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto held the Detroit Tigers to five hits and two runs (two solo homers) and struck out 10 in five innings on Friday, March 28.
When Yamamoto departed the game, the reigning champion Dodgers trailed 2-0. They rallied for an 8-5 victory.
Yamamoto, who threw 91 pitches (58 for strikes) in his second start of the season, got a no-decision.
"I somehow kept myself in the game," Yamamoto said, according to Kyodo. He then said, "I felt I could have pitched a bit better, but it was positive we managed to win today's game. I've been able to throw my splitters with confidence this season."
The Dodgers won for the fourth time in as many games this season, including back-to-back victories over the Chicago Cubs in the MLB Tokyo Series on March 18 and 19.
Elsewhere, Los Angeles Angels southpaw Yusei Kikuchi took the loss in his new team's season-opening game against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday, March 27. Kikuchi scattered five hits and three runs over six innings in the Angels' 8-1 defeat in the Windy City. He struck out five.
It was the Angels' fourth straight Opening Day loss.
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Japanese Players on MLB Rosters on Opening Day
There were 12 Japanese players on MLB teams' 2025 Opening Day rosters, The Associated Press reported, referring to March 27.
The dozen players were the most for Japan when an MLB season began since it had 13 at the start of the 2013 campaign.
NPB Issued Fines for Online Gambling
Sixteen unnamed persons employed by eight of NPB's 12 teams have been issued fines for gambling at online casinos, it was announced on Monday, March 24.
During spring training, the story surfaced when Orix Buffaloes pitcher Taisuke Yamaoka's suspension was revealed on February 21 for wagering at an online casino. Yamaoka was permitted to return to training in mid-March.
The names of other NPB players and team officials who've gambled at online sites have not been revealed. (Online casino gambling is illegal in Japan.)
A total of ¥10.2 million JPY ($68,000 USD) in fines were handed out. In addition, NPB said it will donate money to a group focused on combating gambling addiction.
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Soccer
Disappointing Start for J.League's Vissel Kobe
After winning back-to-back J.League titles in 2023 and '24, Vissel Kobe are off to a poor start this season.
With just one victory in their first six matches, Vissel are in 18th place out of 20 clubs.
In Vissel's latest match, the Kashima Antlers handed Kobe manager Takayuki Yoshida's side a 1-0 loss on Saturday, March 29. Leo Ceara scored the lone goal in the 33rd minute.
Up next: Yokohama FC vs Vissel on Wednesday, April 2.
Briefly...
Masamichi Yabuki captured the IBF world flyweight title with a 12th-round technical knockout of Mexico's Angel Ayala on Saturday, March 29 in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture. Yabuki improved to 18-4 (17 knockouts).
Quotes of the Week
"I was able to attack from the first run and I feel I've really matured, nailing the second one too. [And] I kept getting second and third this season so I'm really glad to have won for the first time in a while."
―Snowboarder Kokomo Murase, on winning the women's big air title at the 2025 FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships in St Moritz, Switzerland, on March 28, Kyodo News reported. Japan's Reira Iwabuchi and Mari Fukada placed second and third, respectively, to complete a Japan medal sweep.
"I was in good form from training, so I thought I just had to do as usual. It really feels great to end the season getting the top spot."
―Snowboarder Ryoma Kimata, on claiming the world title in the men's big air event at the world championships on March 28. Japanese rising star Taiga Hasegawa was the runner-up. Kimata amassed 176.75 points and Hasegawa had 174.50.
Author: Ed Odeven
Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.
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