2022's Top 20 Sports Stories on JAPAN Forward: Numbers 10-6

Warm gratitude to readers around the world for following JAPAN Forward's sports coverage in 2022, including on our dedicated sports website, SportsLook. Your interest helped decide 2022's Top 20 sports stories for the year.

From the Beijing Olympics to six grand sumo tournaments to professional baseball and basketball to golf and tennis tournaments, a Formula One auto race, world title boxing fights and the recently completed FIFA World Cup, among numerous other topics, our sports reporting team had no shortage of news to chronicle in 2022.

What's more, figure skating is popular in Japan, but Japanese figure skaters are also immensely popular around the world. Skating fans far and near reminded us of that throughout the past 12 months. That popularity is reflected in our Top 20 most popular sports articles.

Thank you for reading.

10. [ICE TIME] Kaori Sakamoto Ends Partnership with Choreographer Benoit Richaud

By: Jack Gallagher

The move is somewhat puzzling, considering the innovative and iconic programs Richaud created for her since they began working together in 2017.

Read the full story

Advertisement

9. [ICE TIME] Junior Skater Taira Shinohara Poised for Success On and Off the Ice

By: Jack Gallagher

Inspired by standouts Yuzuru Hanyu, Shoma Uno and others, the teenager strives for greatness in the sport while pursuing ambitious educational goals.

Read the full story

8. [ICE TIME] Designer Satomi Ito Making Her Mark with Innovative Costumes for Top Skaters

By: Jack Gallagher

Yuzuru Hanyu and Shoma Uno both wore her costumes at the Pyeongchang Olympics, a reminder of Ito's gravitas in her chosen field.

Read the full story

Advertisement

7. [ICE TIME] Grafstrom's Family Wishes Hanyu the Best in Quest to Equal Legend's Third Olympic Gold

By: Jack Gallagher

"It would be really wonderful if he (Hanyu) could win again," the Swedish great's step-daughter Vera Schieckel said in an exclusive interview.

Read the full story

6. Ayumu Hirano Captures Gold in Men's Halfpipe

By: Ed Odeven

After consecutive runner-up finishes in Sochi and Pyeongchang, the 23-year-old collects the top Olympic prize in Beijing.

Read the full story

Advertisement

RELATED:

• 2022's Top 20 Sports Stories On JAPAN Forward: Numbers 20-16
• 2022's Top 20 Sports Stories On JAPAN Forward: Numbers 15-11
• 2022's Top 20 Sports Stories On JAPAN Forward: Numbers 5-1

Author: Ed Odeven

Follow Ed on JAPAN Forward's [Japan Sports Notebook] here on Sundays, in [Odds and Evens] here during the week, and Twitter ＠ed_odeven, and find him on JAPAN Forward's dedicated sports website, SportsLook.