Blab Sports
September 8, 2026: Japans Sports Calendar Ramps Up Ahead of Asian Games
A flurry of action marked Japan’s sporting calendar on September 8, 2026, as professional leagues pushed ahead, international championships unfolded, and preparations for the Aichi‑Nagoya Asian Games accelerated.
In Nippon Professional Baseball, the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks dismantled the Hokkaido Nippon‑Ham Fighters 14‑1 at Mizuho PayPay Dome, lifting their record to 76‑45‑3 and extending a six‑game lead over the Saitama Seibu Lions and a seven‑game cushion ahead of Nippon‑Ham. Cuban left‑hander Livan Moinelo earned the win while Nippon‑Ham starter Sachiya Yamasaki took the loss. Meanwhile, the Seibu Lions swept the Orix Buffaloes 2‑0, with Kaima Taira notching his 11th victory and Hiromu Kaino his 20th save, moving the Lions to 71‑52‑3. Orix fell to 59‑65‑2.
The Chiba Lotte Marines edged the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles 3‑2 at ZOZO Marine Stadium, with Tatsuya Yokoyama credited with the win. A scheduled clash between the Hanshin Tigers and Hiroshima Carp at Koshien Stadium was cancelled, leaving Hanshin at 69‑52‑1. The Chunichi Dragons shut out the Yomiuri Giants 3‑0 at Tokyo Dome, giving Yuya Yanagi his sixth win and Raidel Martinez his 27th save; Yomiuri dropped to 67‑56‑2, three games behind Hanshin. The Tokyo Yakult Swallows defeated the Yokohama DeNA BayStars 3‑1, keeping the Swallows at 54‑67‑2 and the BayStars at 57‑63‑3.
Shohei Ohtani announced that he would “most likely” not pitch again during the 2026 season, focusing on hitting for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He had not taken the mound since July 3 because of a left‑knee problem and discomfort in his right biceps and neck. Through 14 starts, he posted an 8‑2 record, a 1.79 earned‑run average, and 95 strikeouts in 85 ⅔ innings. At the plate he was batting .277 with a .380 on‑base percentage, 30 home runs and 80 RBIs, though he had fallen into a 2‑for‑26 slump over his previous seven games. Ohtani returned as a designated hitter after missing four games, going 0‑for‑3 with a walk as Los Angeles beat Cincinnati 6‑3.
Japan’s men’s volleyball team completed a perfect preliminary round at the Asian Men’s Volleyball Championship in Fukuoka, dispatching Australia 25‑20, 25‑13, 25‑21. The win placed Japan first in Group A with three victories and only one set lost, positioning the squad strongly as the tournament entered its decisive phase. Earlier, Japan had beaten Bahrain 25‑15, 25‑15, 25‑23 and Oman 25‑18, 25‑13, 20‑25, 25‑9.
The Japan Volleyball Association announced that Okayama won the men’s beach volleyball competition and Tokyo claimed the women’s title at the 80th National Sports Festival. Two days earlier, Asami Shiba and Reika Murakami earned bronze at the Asian Beach Volleyball Championship. The National Sports Festival in Aomori also staged finals and third‑place matches in women’s and boys’ water polo, men’s senior and girls’ handball, women’s senior hockey and boys’ hockey, showcasing the breadth of domestic competition.
The B.League declared the Basketball Champions League Asia 2026 cancelled, a decision that will affect Utsunomiya Brex. The domestic league is preparing for the 2026‑27 season under a new “B. Innovation” format and has released its draft applicant list; three additional players submitted declarations by September 8.
The Japan Football Association highlighted the men’s and women’s national‑team campaigns ahead of the Asian Games. The women’s squad will open against Thailand, then face Vietnam and Chinese Taipei. The men’s team is also scheduled to compete. The senior men’s national team will play Uruguay in Miyagi on September 24, Venezuela in Hiroshima on September 28, and Ecuador in Yokohama on October 1. Japan’s 2022 World Cup campaign ended with a 2‑1 defeat to Brazil. The U‑20 women’s team is in Poland for the FIFA U‑20 Women’s World Cup, with a group‑stage match against the United States approaching.
In women’s tennis, Naomi Osaka’s U.S. Open run concluded in the fourth round when she fell to Elena Rybakina 6‑1, 6‑4; an Achilles problem hampered Osaka. Rybakina advanced to the quarterfinals, and no Japanese singles player remained in the draw. Aryna Sabalenka progressed to a U.S. Open semifinal.
Sumo preparations for the September tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan included Aonishiki’s return to ozeki after two tournaments away. Atamifuji retained his sekiwake rank for a third consecutive tournament, and Fujinokawa earned his first promotion to sekiwake, becoming the first wrestler from Isenoumi stable to reach the rank since 2016.
In golf, Masakatsu Miyamoto opened the IASS Senior Pro‑Am at Izumi Kokusai Golf Club with a 10‑under‑par 62, four strokes ahead of Hiroo Okamo’s 66. Dinesh Chand was third at five under with a 67, and a group on four under included Takashi Iwamoto, Daisuke Uemori and Hidezumi Shirakata, who had turned 60 two days earlier.
The Super Rizin 5 event is scheduled for September 10 at Kyocera Dome Osaka, headlined by a featherweight title bout between Rajabali Shaidullaev and former Bellator champion A.J. McKee. The card also features Mikuru Asakura vs. Shinya Aoki, Ren Hiramoto vs. Karshyga Dautbek, Roberto de Souza vs. Shunta Nomura, Yutaka Saito vs. Ya‑Man, and Rena.
Horse racing had no central JRA meeting on September 8. The previous weekend’s Centaur Stakes at Hanshin was won by Flicker Jab with Hiroki Matsuyama aboard. The JRA summer series concluded, with Puro Magic crowned Summer Sprint Series champion and Mirai Iwata winning the Summer Jockeys Series with 40 points. Upcoming races include the Challenge Cup at Hanshin on September 12, the St. Lite Kinen at Nakayama and the Rose Stakes at Hanshin on September 13, and the Sprinters Stakes on September 27.
Super GT coverage on September 8 focused on the fifth round at Suzuka, with the GT300 race remaining in the broadcast rotation as the championship prepares for its remaining rounds.
September 8 reflected the breadth of Japan’s sports calendar, as professional leagues pushed forward, international championships unfolded, and preparations for the Asian Games accelerated, positioning the country for its busiest sporting period of the year.
In Nippon Professional Baseball, the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks dismantled the Hokkaido Nippon‑Ham Fighters 14‑1 at Mizuho PayPay Dome, lifting their record to 76‑45‑3 and extending a six‑game lead over the Saitama Seibu Lions and a seven‑game cushion ahead of Nippon‑Ham. Cuban left‑hander Livan Moinelo earned the win while Nippon‑Ham starter Sachiya Yamasaki took the loss. Meanwhile, the Seibu Lions swept the Orix Buffaloes 2‑0, with Kaima Taira notching his 11th victory and Hiromu Kaino his 20th save, moving the Lions to 71‑52‑3. Orix fell to 59‑65‑2.
The Chiba Lotte Marines edged the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles 3‑2 at ZOZO Marine Stadium, with Tatsuya Yokoyama credited with the win. A scheduled clash between the Hanshin Tigers and Hiroshima Carp at Koshien Stadium was cancelled, leaving Hanshin at 69‑52‑1. The Chunichi Dragons shut out the Yomiuri Giants 3‑0 at Tokyo Dome, giving Yuya Yanagi his sixth win and Raidel Martinez his 27th save; Yomiuri dropped to 67‑56‑2, three games behind Hanshin. The Tokyo Yakult Swallows defeated the Yokohama DeNA BayStars 3‑1, keeping the Swallows at 54‑67‑2 and the BayStars at 57‑63‑3.
Shohei Ohtani announced that he would “most likely” not pitch again during the 2026 season, focusing on hitting for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He had not taken the mound since July 3 because of a left‑knee problem and discomfort in his right biceps and neck. Through 14 starts, he posted an 8‑2 record, a 1.79 earned‑run average, and 95 strikeouts in 85 ⅔ innings. At the plate he was batting .277 with a .380 on‑base percentage, 30 home runs and 80 RBIs, though he had fallen into a 2‑for‑26 slump over his previous seven games. Ohtani returned as a designated hitter after missing four games, going 0‑for‑3 with a walk as Los Angeles beat Cincinnati 6‑3.
Japan’s men’s volleyball team completed a perfect preliminary round at the Asian Men’s Volleyball Championship in Fukuoka, dispatching Australia 25‑20, 25‑13, 25‑21. The win placed Japan first in Group A with three victories and only one set lost, positioning the squad strongly as the tournament entered its decisive phase. Earlier, Japan had beaten Bahrain 25‑15, 25‑15, 25‑23 and Oman 25‑18, 25‑13, 20‑25, 25‑9.
The Japan Volleyball Association announced that Okayama won the men’s beach volleyball competition and Tokyo claimed the women’s title at the 80th National Sports Festival. Two days earlier, Asami Shiba and Reika Murakami earned bronze at the Asian Beach Volleyball Championship. The National Sports Festival in Aomori also staged finals and third‑place matches in women’s and boys’ water polo, men’s senior and girls’ handball, women’s senior hockey and boys’ hockey, showcasing the breadth of domestic competition.
The B.League declared the Basketball Champions League Asia 2026 cancelled, a decision that will affect Utsunomiya Brex. The domestic league is preparing for the 2026‑27 season under a new “B. Innovation” format and has released its draft applicant list; three additional players submitted declarations by September 8.
The Japan Football Association highlighted the men’s and women’s national‑team campaigns ahead of the Asian Games. The women’s squad will open against Thailand, then face Vietnam and Chinese Taipei. The men’s team is also scheduled to compete. The senior men’s national team will play Uruguay in Miyagi on September 24, Venezuela in Hiroshima on September 28, and Ecuador in Yokohama on October 1. Japan’s 2022 World Cup campaign ended with a 2‑1 defeat to Brazil. The U‑20 women’s team is in Poland for the FIFA U‑20 Women’s World Cup, with a group‑stage match against the United States approaching.
In women’s tennis, Naomi Osaka’s U.S. Open run concluded in the fourth round when she fell to Elena Rybakina 6‑1, 6‑4; an Achilles problem hampered Osaka. Rybakina advanced to the quarterfinals, and no Japanese singles player remained in the draw. Aryna Sabalenka progressed to a U.S. Open semifinal.
Sumo preparations for the September tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan included Aonishiki’s return to ozeki after two tournaments away. Atamifuji retained his sekiwake rank for a third consecutive tournament, and Fujinokawa earned his first promotion to sekiwake, becoming the first wrestler from Isenoumi stable to reach the rank since 2016.
In golf, Masakatsu Miyamoto opened the IASS Senior Pro‑Am at Izumi Kokusai Golf Club with a 10‑under‑par 62, four strokes ahead of Hiroo Okamo’s 66. Dinesh Chand was third at five under with a 67, and a group on four under included Takashi Iwamoto, Daisuke Uemori and Hidezumi Shirakata, who had turned 60 two days earlier.
The Super Rizin 5 event is scheduled for September 10 at Kyocera Dome Osaka, headlined by a featherweight title bout between Rajabali Shaidullaev and former Bellator champion A.J. McKee. The card also features Mikuru Asakura vs. Shinya Aoki, Ren Hiramoto vs. Karshyga Dautbek, Roberto de Souza vs. Shunta Nomura, Yutaka Saito vs. Ya‑Man, and Rena.
Horse racing had no central JRA meeting on September 8. The previous weekend’s Centaur Stakes at Hanshin was won by Flicker Jab with Hiroki Matsuyama aboard. The JRA summer series concluded, with Puro Magic crowned Summer Sprint Series champion and Mirai Iwata winning the Summer Jockeys Series with 40 points. Upcoming races include the Challenge Cup at Hanshin on September 12, the St. Lite Kinen at Nakayama and the Rose Stakes at Hanshin on September 13, and the Sprinters Stakes on September 27.
Super GT coverage on September 8 focused on the fifth round at Suzuka, with the GT300 race remaining in the broadcast rotation as the championship prepares for its remaining rounds.
September 8 reflected the breadth of Japan’s sports calendar, as professional leagues pushed forward, international championships unfolded, and preparations for the Asian Games accelerated, positioning the country for its busiest sporting period of the year.
