Japanese Rugby Star Speaks Before His Last Season

Japanese rugby star speaks before his last season

Japanese rugby star Goromaru Ayumu is set to retire after the coming season that starts in January. He spoke about the sport and his legacy.

Goromaru said, "It is sad that I'll finish my rugby career as a player, which I started when I was 3 years old. But I have been running with all my might for 32 years."

Honda To Quit Formula 1 After Conclusion Of 2021 Season

Honda to quit Formula 1 after conclusion of 2021 season

Honda is ending its participation in Formula 1 in order to focus its research and development on fuel cells and battery EV technologies, the company announced. It currently builds the turbocharged hybrid power units for Red Bull Racing, which sits in second place in the F1 constructor standings, along with Red Bull's adjacent team Scuderia AlphaTauri.

Honda said that it achieved its goal of earning victories with three wins last season and two so far in 2020. However, it believes that the auto industry is going through a "once-in-one-hundred-years" period of transition and it has decided to strive for carbon neutrality by 2050. As such, it will funnel its R&D money into green power unit and energy tech like fuel cell and battery EV technology. All the knowledge it amassed in F1, particularly in the areas of energy management and fuel technologies, will be transferred to its new research center.

Mlb: Ohtani Hits 1st Homer Of The Season

MLB: Ohtani hits 1st homer of the season

In US Major League Baseball, Japanese two-way player Ohtani Shohei of the Los Angeles Angels has hit his first homerun of the season.

Ohtani batted cleanup as a designated hitter in a game against the Seattle Mariners at the Angels' home stadium in Anaheim, California, on Wednesday.

Pro Baseball Season To Open With No Spectators

Pro baseball season to open with no spectators

Japan's professional baseball teams have agreed to hold games without spectators this season due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Representatives of the 12 clubs reached the agreement in an online meeting on Thursday. They discussed recommendations from infectious disease experts that games be held without spectators for a while once the season opens.

Start Of Cherry Blossom Season Declared In Tokyo

Start of cherry blossom season declared in Tokyo

Japan's Meteorological Agency has declared the start of cherry blossom season in Tokyo.

Agency officials confirmed on Saturday afternoon that at least five blossoms had opened on the benchmark tree of the Somei-yoshino variety at Yasukuni Shrine in central Tokyo.

Start Of Japanese Pro Baseball Season Postponed

Start of Japanese pro baseball season postponed

Japan's professional baseball season will start later than scheduled amid fears of the new coronavirus outbreak. The season was due to open on March 20.

Representatives of 12 pro baseball clubs met in Tokyo on Monday and unanimously decided to delay the start of the season and aim to open in April.

Soccer, Baseball Advised To Delay Season Openings

Soccer, baseball advised to delay season openings

A panel of experts says Japan's professional baseball and J-League soccer should postpone the start of their official seasons scheduled for next week due to the spread of the new coronavirus.

A liaison task force of the two sports groups held a second meeting behind closed doors on Monday to work together in responding to the outbreak.

Warm Winter Brings Pollen Season Earlier

Warm winter brings pollen season earlier

Unusually warm weather in parts of Japan has resulted in an earlier start of the pollen season.

Private weather forecaster Weather News says cedar pollen became prevalent in Tokyo last week. It says the high season for cedar pollen in the area arrived 10 days earlier than average.

Tourist Train Starts For Season In Hokkaido

Tourist train starts for season in Hokkaido

A railway operator on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido has started a service offering tourists views of ice floes that wash up on the shores of Okhotsk.

The first train of the season departed from Abashiri Station on the JR Senmo Line after a ceremony on Saturday. About 100 people were on board.