Japan Sports Weekend: Baseball, Football, Golf and More

The two clubs will meet in the Japan Series beginning October 24, while the J.League continued its autumn campaign, Japan’s professional basketball and volleyball seasons produced several commanding victories, and major titles were decided in golf and horse racing.

The Yokohama DeNA BayStars completed one of the most striking postseason performances of the year, defeating Hanshin 8-5 at Koshien Stadium on October 17 to secure their fourth consecutive victory in the Central League Climax Series final stage.

DeNA, which finished third in the regular season with 71 victories, 69 defeats and three ties, overturned the league hierarchy by eliminating the first-place Tigers, who had finished with 79 wins. The BayStars had already swept the Yomiuri Giants in the opening round, winning 2-1 and 4-1 at Tokyo Dome.

Their success against Hanshin was built initially on outstanding pitching. DeNA shut out the Tigers 2-0 on October 14, 1-0 on October 15 and 4-0 on October 16 before winning the fourth game 8-5. The four-game sweep overcame Hanshin’s automatic one-win advantage as regular-season champions.

SoftBank also secured its Japan Series berth after defeating the Nippon-Ham Fighters in the Pacific League final stage. The Hawks won their three games 6-4, 6-2 and 6-2, adding to the two-win advantage awarded under the league’s postseason format.

The best-of-seven Japan Series will open at Yokohama Stadium on October 24, with Game 2 scheduled for October 25. The competition then moves to Fukuoka for Games 3 through 5, beginning October 27, before returning to Yokohama if additional games are required.

In football, Vissel Kobe and FC Machida Zelvia recorded 3-0 victories in the J1 League on October 18, while Kawasaki Frontale produced one of the highest-scoring results of the weekend with a 4-2 away win over Cerezo Osaka.

Kobe traveled to Okayama and defeated Fagiano Okayama 3-0, collecting three points in the 10th round of the league’s autumn competition. Machida were equally convincing at home, defeating Avispa Fukuoka by the same scoreline.

The previous day, Kawasaki overcame Cerezo Osaka 4-2 in a six-goal match. Nagoya Grampus also impressed with a 3-1 away victory over Kashiwa Reysol, while Urawa Reds secured a narrow 1-0 win against Mito HollyHock. Shimizu S-Pulse and Gamba Osaka shared the points in a 2-2 draw, completing a weekend featuring several significant results in the top division.

In men’s golf, Yusaku Hosono claimed the Japan Open Golf Championship on October 18, completing a remarkable domestic major double at the age of 23.

The left-handed golfer finished at 13-under-par 267 at Tarao Country Club in Shiga Prefecture, securing a two-stroke victory over Yusuke Sakamoto. Hosono carded an even-par 70 in the final round, with five birdies and five bogeys, to withstand pressure from his nearest challengers.

The victory followed his breakthrough triumph at the Japan PGA Championship in May, making him only the second left-handed golfer after Yutaka Hagawa in 1981 to claim the two Japanese titles in the same year.

Sakamoto finished second at 11 under, while Shugo Imahira and South Korea’s Lee Sang-hee shared third place at eight under. Hosono earned 42 million yen in prize money and secured places in the 2027 Masters and British Open.

The victory represents another milestone in Hosono’s rapid emergence as one of Japan’s leading young golfers and strengthens his position in the domestic season rankings.

In women’s golf, Ai Suzuki won the Fujitsu Ladies tournament on October 18, finishing at 15 under par to claim her first victory of the season and the 23rd title of her career on Japan’s women’s professional tour.

Playing at Tokyu Seven Hundred Club in Chiba Prefecture, Suzuki began the final round tied for the lead and produced four birdies and one bogey for a three-under-par 69.

Nana Suganuma finished two strokes behind at 13 under, while Ayaka Furue, Minami Hiruta, Kotone Hori and South Korea’s Lee Min-young shared third at 12 under.

The tournament carried additional significance because the top 35 players in the domestic points standings following the event qualified for the TOTO Japan Classic, an LPGA co-sanctioned event scheduled for November 5 in Ibaraki Prefecture.

In basketball, Kyoto Hannaryz delivered one of the biggest victories of the weekend in Japan’s top-tier competition, defeating Saga Ballooners 115-70 on October 18.

SeaHorses Mikawa were similarly dominant, winning 99-56 away against Toyama Grouses, while Levanga Hokkaido recorded a 109-78 road victory over Yokohama B-Corsairs. Ibaraki Robots also enjoyed a convincing afternoon, defeating Osaka Evessa 98-63.

Saturday’s games included a 100-86 away victory for Alvark Tokyo against Gunma Crane Thunders, while Chiba Jets beat Shimane Susanoo Magic 97-78. Akita Northern Happinets edged Shinshu Brave Warriors 102-95, and Sendai 89ERS defeated Utsunomiya Brex 85-81.

In B.League One, Yokohama Excellence scored 111 points against Gifu Swoops, holding the visitors to 67. Tokushima Gambarous defeated Fukushima Firebonds 99-72, and Tokyo United Basketball Club beat Yamagata Wyverns 82-63.

The results underline the growing competitive depth of Japan’s professional basketball structure, with established clubs and developing regional teams competing across the reorganized league system.

Japan’s SV.League also began its new men’s volleyball season on October 17, with Tokyo Great Bears defeating new entrant Hokkaido Yellow Stars in an entertaining five-set match.

Tokyo recovered from losing the first and third sets to win 22-25, 25-22, 19-25, 25-23, 15-8, completing a comeback victory in the opening match of the 2026-27 season. The Great Bears followed that result with a more convincing 3-0 victory against Hokkaido on October 18, taking an early position among the unbeaten teams.

In the women’s competition, Osaka Marvelous defeated Okayama Seagulls 3-1 on October 18 to register their second consecutive victory.

Toyama also made a successful start, recording a second straight three-set victory against Aranmare Yamagata’s renamed Akita Shonai team. NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki recovered from their opening defeat against Victorina Himeji to win the return fixture 3-1, leveling their early-season record at one victory and one defeat.

In athletics, Toyo University secured first place in the qualifying competition for the 103rd Hakone Ekiden, finishing ahead of 44 other university teams on October 17 in Tachikawa, western Tokyo.

The university recorded a combined time of 10 hours, 31 minutes and 30 seconds over the half-marathon course, earning a place in the prestigious two-day relay race scheduled for January 2027.

Chuo Gakuin University qualified second, followed by Tokai University, Senshu University and Tokyo University of Agriculture. Yamanashi Gakuin, Daito Bunka, Kanagawa, Nippon Sport Science and Hosei universities completed the 10 qualifying positions.

Senshu University returned to the main event after a two-year absence, qualifying fourth with a time of 10:33:42. Hosei University also earned its first berth in two years, securing the final qualifying position at 10:40:08.

Kokushikan University narrowly missed qualification in 11th place, while Rikkyo, Meiji and Tokyo International universities were among the prominent institutions eliminated.

The Hakone Ekiden remains one of Japan’s most popular annual sporting events, with university distance runners competing on the demanding route between Tokyo and Hakone over the New Year holiday.

In horse racing, Monroe Walk maintained her unbeaten record with victory in the 31st Shuka Sho at Kyoto Racecourse on October 18, completing a fifth consecutive win and claiming her first Grade 1 title.

Ridden by Keita Tosaki, the three-year-old filly completed the 2,000-meter turf race in 1 minute, 56.1 seconds, setting a race record and matching the course record.

Monroe Walk was positioned around fifth place during the early stages before moving forward and overtaking Gallaborg in the finishing straight. Gallaborg finished second by a neck, with Dream Core third.

The victory made Monroe Walk the fourth horse to win the Shuka Sho without suffering a previous defeat, joining a select group that includes Fine Motion, Kawakami Princess and Daring Tact.

Tosaki claimed his second Shuka Sho title, having previously won aboard Akaitorino Musume in 2021. The race represented the final leg of Japan’s three-year-old filly Triple Crown series, although neither the Oka Sho winner Star Anise nor the Japanese Oaks winner Juryoku Pierrot competed in the event.

Overseas, Shohei Ohtani’s hopes of winning a third consecutive World Series ended when the Los Angeles Dodgers were swept by the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series.

The Dodgers lost the fourth game 6-4 on October 15 in the United States, despite Ohtani ending a 25-game home run drought with a three-run homer.

The Japanese superstar had struggled during the playoffs while dealing with injuries to his right biceps and left knee. He entered the final game batting just .174 during the postseason and had been moved down the batting order as Los Angeles sought to revive its offense.

Ohtani’s season nevertheless included 30 home runs and an impressive return as a pitcher, recording eight victories and two defeats with a 1.79 earned run average over 14 starts.

The 32-year-old is targeting a return to full two-way duties in 2027 after making his final pitching appearance of the 2026 season in July. The Dodgers’ elimination guarantees a new World Series champion after Los Angeles won consecutive titles in 2024 and 2025.

In boxing, Japanese fighter Tomoki Kameda suffered a major setback on October 18 when his scheduled WBA featherweight world title challenge against Brandon Figueroa was canceled on the day of the event.

Kameda, 35, had traveled to Las Vegas seeking to become a three-division world champion. However, Figueroa was unable to compete because of illness.

The American had already lost his championship after failing to make the required weight at the official weigh-in on October 16 local time. Despite the weight failure, Kameda had remained willing to fight before the subsequent cancellation.

The vacant title and arrangements for Kameda’s next championship opportunity remained unresolved following the cancellation, bringing an unexpected conclusion to months of preparation for one of Japan’s most experienced international boxers.

In tennis, Japan’s Shintaro Ogaki reached the men’s final of the Roland-Garros Junior Series in Tokyo on October 18, finishing runner-up after a three-set contest against South Korea’s Dongjae Kim.

Kim won the opening set 6-4, but Ogaki responded with a convincing 6-1 victory in the second. The South Korean recovered to take the deciding set 6-2.

The tournament, staged on red clay courts at Dai-ichi Life’s tennis facilities in Setagaya, brought together 32 leading junior players from across Asia. The men’s and women’s champions secured entry into the 2027 Roland-Garros junior tournament in Paris.

Ogaki’s performance placed him among the leading competitors in the regional event and provided valuable experience against international opposition.

Meanwhile, Japan’s leading sumo wrestlers continued their autumn regional exhibition tour with an appearance in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, on October 18.

The event was held at Yamato Kogyo Arena Himeji, following an appearance in Osaka on October 17. The tour moves to Akashi on October 20 before continuing through Okayama Prefecture and western Japan later in the month.

These regional appearances allow fans outside the six annual Grand Sumo Tournament host cities to watch professional wrestlers and experience the sport’s traditions.

The next official tournament, the November Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka, will be preceded by the release of the new rankings on October 26.

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