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 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.
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.
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.