Thirteen and Still Counting:
Japan Meets the United States in the VNL Semifinal
Japan’s men enter the VNL semifinal 13–0 and meet the United States again after June’s five-set thriller. Today’s sports edition brings ten new long reads, four selected stories from August 1 and an Art Choice tracing Yusaku Kamekura’s Japanese sports modernism.
Four Stories to Read First
Volleyball, Ohtani, Koshien and Nishikori
Four Selections From August 1
The yen, intelligence, Hayabusa2 and school-gym cooling
Today’s News: 14 Stories
10 new stories + 4 selections from August 1
Thirteen and Still Counting: Japan Meets the United States in the VNL Semifinal
Unbeaten Japan meets the United States again in the VNL semifinal. We examine the June five-set win, the China quarterfinal, America’s serving power and the history behind the matchup.
One Left Knee, Two Clocks: The Pain Pausing Shohei Ohtani’s Two-Way Season
Left-knee soreness has cost Shohei Ohtani a start at designated hitter and delayed his return to the mound. We examine the separate workloads, his 2019 surgery and the case for caution.
Forty-Nine Summers, One Shaken Prefecture: Ariake’s Road to Koshien
A guide to the 49-school field for the 108th Summer Koshien—contenders, four debutants, the draw and new rules—plus Ariake’s first Kumamoto title after the earthquake.
One More Comeback: Kei Nishikori’s Final Washington Run
After announcing his retirement, Kei Nishikori opened his final Washington appearance with a comeback win. We revisit 12 titles, the 2014 U.S. Open final, injuries and a 20-year legacy.
Not a Comeback, a New Osaka: From Washington’s First Quarterfinal to Tokyo
Naomi Osaka reached her first Washington quarterfinal and confirmed a four-year return to the Toray Pan Pacific Open. We examine her evolving game and complex homecoming to Japan.
The Rookies Who Were Never Rookies—Okamoto, Murakami and the Summer They Passed Ohtani
Kazuma Okamoto has 24 home runs and Munetaka Murakami 23, both passing Shohei Ohtani’s Japanese-born MLB rookie record. We trace their NPB careers and different adjustments.
Seventeen Against the Wind—Kuwaki’s 66 and Yamashita’s AIG Women’s Open Defense
Seventeen Japanese golfers contest the season’s final major. Shiho Kuwaki opened with 66, while defending champion Miyu Yamashita leads a generation reshaping Japan’s major history.
Three Bouts, One Last Man Standing: Aonishiki Reclaims Ozeki and the Emperor’s Cup
After losing in regulation, Aonishiki defeated Atamifuji and Kirishima back-to-back in a three-way playoff. We trace his Ukrainian roots, technique, ozeki return and yokozuna ambition.
A Summer With No Separation: Hanshin and Yomiuri Reopen Japan’s Pennant Race
Hanshin and Yomiuri enter the second half tied at 50–40. We compare their styles, revisit a rivalry born in 1936 and assess SoftBank’s controlled Pacific League lead.
The Season That Turns the Calendar: J.League Enters Its First Autumn-to-Spring Era
On August 7, the J.League begins its first season spanning two calendar years. We examine scheduling, transfers, heat, snow-country support, club finances and the supporter experience.
The Yen’s 3% Rebellion: Intervention Shock and the BOJ’s Day of Reckoning
The yen surged from near ¥164 per dollar to ¥158.34. We examine intervention speculation, the BOJ’s policy choice and the history of defending the currency since the ¥360 era.
Japan’s Intelligence Brain Goes Live: What a 700-Person Bureau Can—and Cannot—Do
Japan is launching a roughly 700-person National Intelligence Bureau and drafting its first national intelligence strategy. We examine its authority, limits and institutional history.
Threading the Needle at 18,000 km/h: Hayabusa2’s Record 400-Meter Pass
Hayabusa2 passed about 400 meters above asteroid Torifune, setting a record for the closest flyby of a solar-system body.
The Gym as a Community Lifeboat: Two-Thirds of Japan’s School Shelters Lack Air Conditioning
Air conditioning covers 99.6% of regular public-school classrooms, yet 19,530 designated gymnasium and martial-arts-hall shelters still have none.
15. Today’s Art Choice
Yusaku Kamekura / Sports / Modernism
The Red Disc and the Split Second: Yusaku Kamekura’s Sports Modernism Reimagined for 2026
The visual language unifying today’s sports edition draws on Kamekura’s Tokyo 1964 design: the red disc, disciplined geometry, split-second photography and a modern identity Japan projected to the world. We trace the history and explain a respectful reinterpretation for the AI era.
Read the Art Choice →