[JAPAN SPORTS NOTEBOOK] Rio Takeda Continues to Shine on the JLPGA Tour

How successful has Rio Takeda been during the 2024 JLPGA Tour season? To quantify it, consider the following: She has as many tournament titles this season (seven) as the four players behind her in the money rankings. 

Takeda also has more than twice as many victories this season as the two golfers with the second-most victories on the tour, Akie Iwai and Haruka Kawasaki (three wins apiece).

September was a glorious month for Takeda, who is 21.

On September 8, Takeda triumphed in the Sony JLPGA Championship with a 19-under 269 at Kanehide Kise Country Club in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture. It was her first victory in a major in her blossoming career.

Three weeks later, Takeda added to her growing list of accomplishments in 2024 by winning the Japan Women's Open Golf Championship at Ohtone Country Club in Bando, Ibaraki Prefecture. 

She was tied for the lead with two-time defending tour champion Miyuu Yamashita at 8-under 208 heading into the final round on Sunday, September 29.

Takeda closed out the four-round event with a 2-under 70. Her 8-under 278 bested Iwai's 280 and Yamashita's 281.

Keeping Focused One Round at a Time

What was Takeda's mindset entering the final round at Ohtone Country Club?

She later described it as a plan to "concentrate on my game and play without giving up until the end."

Takeda was delighted to win the Japan Women's Open Golf Championship.

"I've always wanted to win this tournament, so I'm very happy that I was able to achieve it," Takeda said, according to NHK. 

She added, "The course was difficult, and there were times when I couldn't get a birdie, but I tried not to show it on my face, and I'm glad that I was able to hold on well."

A Season of Success for Rio Takeda

Takeda leads the JLPGA Tour in scoring average (69.2793 heading into October) and is No 1 in top-10 finishes (17) tournaments). She's competed in 24 tournaments and made the cut in all but two of them.

What's also notable is the fact that Takeda leads all golfers in average birdies per round (4.2394).

It shouldn't be surprising based on her seven tournament titles this season that Takeda has also had the best results in the final round, which is often the deciding round. Specifically, Takeda is No 1 in scoring average in the final round (69.2472). Only Yamashita (69.2727) and Chisato Iwai, Akie's twin (69.5006), also have below-70 averages in the final round.

In a breakthrough season for Rio Takeda ― all seven of her career titles have been won this year ― she remains humble and appreciative of her supporters.

"I want to play well for the people who support me and cheer me on, and I think that's why I was able to win seven times," Takeda was quoted as saying by NHK.

"I'll continue to do my best in every [tournament], and I want to win an overseas major tournament someday, so I'll work hard again to get there."

RELATED:

• [ODDS and EVENS] Rio Takeda Having a Breakthrough Season on the JLPGA Tour
• [ODDS and EVENS] Saiki Fujita Makes JLPGA History with Her 7th Hole-in-One

Soccer

Hot Streak Improves Vissel's Title Hopes

Reigning J.League champion Vissel Kobe took a seven-match unbeaten streak into October.

As a result, the Kansai-based club now sits one point behind league-leading Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the standings.

Both clubs have six matches remaining in the 2024 season.

Vissel manager Takayuki Yoshida's club faces Kyoto Sanga on Sunday, October 6 with five straight wins, and Sanfrecce take on Jubilo Iwata at Yamaha Stadium in Shizuoka Prefecture.

Hiroshima has 62 points (17 wins, 11 draws, four defeats). Kobe has 61 points (18 wins, seven draws, seven defeats). 

After a 3-0 loss to Kawasaki Frontale on August 7, Vissel bounced back with a 2-1 triumph over Yokohama F Marinos on August 17, then earned a 2-2 draw against Gamba Osaka on August 25.

A 2-0 decision over Avispa Fukuoka on September 1 started Vissel's current win streak.

Yoshinori Muto (11 goals), Yuya Osako (10) and Taisei Miyashiro (nine) are Vissel's scoring leaders.

In their most recent victory, a 1-0 triumph over the Urawa Reds on September 28, Muto kept Vissel's unbeaten streak alive with a 16th-minute header at Noevir Stadium Kobe.

It was Muto's 11th goal of the season, surpassing his total of 10 in 2023.

After the match, Yoshida spoke glowingly of Muto's impact on the team.

"Muto does not play selfishly, but he is a team player," Yoshida was quoted as saying by Sports Hochi. "His influence on the team is significant. He never misses a beat, even in practice."

RELATED:

• [ODDS and EVENS] Yuya Osako Set the Tone for Title-Winning Vissel Kobe
• [JAPAN SPORTS NOTEBOOK] Vissel Kobe Capture Their First J.League Title

Baseball

Ohtani Had More Homers and Steals Than Anyone in MLB After the All-Star Game

In an MLB season filled with numerous statistical firsts, add this to the list of Shohei Ohtani's incredible accomplishments: He became the first player to lead the majors in home runs and stolen bases in any season after an All-Star Game, which was first held in 1933.

All-time great Willie Mays, who passed away in June 2024 at age 93, was the first player to have the most homers and steals in the second half of an MLB season. Mays did this in 1955 with 24 homers and 16 steals. 

Ohtani had 25 round-trippers and 36 stolen bases after the Midsummer Classic in Arlington, Texas, on July 16.

Fueled by his strong second-half performance, Ohtani became the first player in MLB history to finish with more than 50 homers and 50 steals in the same season.

Asked about making his first appearance in an MLB postseason game, the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar told reporters he's not nervous.

"It's always been my childhood dream to be in an important situation, to play in important games," Ohtani said at a Friday news conference at Dodger Stadium. "So I think the excitement is greater than anything else that I could possibly feel."

Sugano Eyes Move to the Majors

Yomiuri Giants ace Tomoyuki Sugano intends to pursue signing with an MLB team in the offseason.

The veteran pitcher informed the Giants of his plans on Saturday, October 5. 

Sugano had a 15-3 record and a sparkling 1.67 ERA for the Central League pennant-winning Giants in 2024.

The right-hander made his NPB debut in 2013. He has a career record of 136-74 with a 2.43 ERA and has had nine double-digit win seasons.

"I have conveyed my intent to the team," Sugano was quoted as saying by Kyodo News at Tokyo Dome. 

The Kanagawa Prefecture native, who turns 35 on October 11 added, "I personally desire to play over there."

Sugano can sign with an MLB team as an international free agent (after nine seasons per NPB rules) rather than via the posting system for players who are not yet eligible to be a free agent.

Basketball

Lakers' Hachimura Shares Thoughts on Upcoming Season

Coming off a calf injury sustained at the Paris Olympics against France on July 30, Rui Hachimura said he's in good shape physically. He also said he's in an upbeat mood as the Los Angeles Lakers make preparations for the 2024-25 NBA season.

Hachimura participated in the team's media day on Monday, September 30 at UCLA Health Training Center.

The sixth-year pro said new Lakers coach JJ Reddick has told him he wants him to shoot more 3-pointers.

"He thinks I'm a great shooter and I believe that and he believes it, so I think that's going to be really the key for us," Hachimura told reporters. "Offensively and defensively, I have to be involved more. I think it's going to be a great year for me."

Hachimura averaged 13.6 points and 4.3 assists in 68 games (39 starts) in 2023-24. He shot 42.2% from 3-point range.

Asked about his approach to playing this season, Hachimura said, "I feel like my body is stronger [and] I can be more physical on the glass." 

This will involve being a more active presence as an offensive rebounder, Hachimura said.

"I have the size and the speed to do that," he added, noting as a scorer the team also "wants him to find the mismatch" to capitalize on his skills.

Speaking about the team's mix of veteran talent (led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis) and younger players, Hachimura said "staying healthy" will be the key for the team this season as it seeks to be a title contender. 

The Lakers went 47-35 last season and were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.

Hachimura's Admiration for Japanese MLB Players

During his NBA career, Hachimura has expressed admiration for Ohtani and Darvish. He acknowledged this week that he has an interest in following the Dodgers and the Padres in the playoffs because of the teams' Japanese players.

Hachimura singled out Padres starter Yu Darvish as a mentor, the Los Angeles Times reported.

"When I got to the league he was always supporting me," Hachimura said of Darvish, according to the newspaper. "He was always there [and] he came to the game, too, one time. I remember that."

Hachimura continued: "He had like the whole [outfit], my jersey, everything. It's just one of those [things] where I'm just happy to see those Japanese athletes — they're playing against each other on one of the biggest stages in the world. So, yeah, I'm just happy to see it and I'm so proud of them, those two."

Olympics

Japanese Companies End Olympic Sponsorship Deals

World-renowned corporations Toyota, Bridgestone and Panasonic have discontinued their sponsorship of the Olympics.

Recent media reports have shined a spotlight on the departure of three of the International Olympic Committee's 15 top sponsors.

As a result, the IOC does not have a top-tier Japanese sponsor for the current four-year cycle, which concludes with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and Paralympics.

Auto giant Toyota's Olympic sponsorship deal began in 2015 and ran through the end of the Paris Olympics and Paralympics. The Associated Press reported that Toyota's financial support over the past decade was $835 million USD (¥124 billion JPY).

Bridgestone, a tiremaker, had been an Olympic sponsor since 2014, while electronics manufacturer Panasonic's financial commitment to the IOC started in 1987.

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe reacted to the news during an interview with Kyodo News on Wednesday, October 2.

"That has an impact not just on the Olympic movement or the IOC," Coe told the news agency. "It has an impact on the landscape of sport because there are interdependencies here. So this is worthy of more than just reflection."

RELATED:

• EDITORIAL | Merci! Paris Gave Us the Olympics As They Were Meant to Be

Quote of the Week

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I wanted to savor every minute and every second [and] I think we played a high-quality game."

―Chiba Jets newcomer Yuta Watanabe on the team's 91-84 season-opening overtime victory over the Utsunomiya Brex on October 5 at LaLa arena TOKYO-BAY in Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture. The former NBA player scored 16 points and pulled down eight rebounds in the B.League game.

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.