Ed Odeven 
Mao Saigo is Japan's top-ranked golf on the LPGA Tour. (©Stacy Revere/GETTY IMAGES/via SANKEI)
Week after week, the headlines underscore the fact that an increasing number of Japanese women are making their mark on the LPGA Tour.
Exhibit A: Victories by Rio Takeda (at March's Blue Bay LPGA in China) and by Mao Saigo (on April 27 at the Chevron Championship in Texas) delivered recent reminders of the nation's substantial women's golf talent.
And don't forget that Akie Iwai placed second at the LA Championship on April 27.
Moreover, the ShopRite LPGA Classic (June 6-8) served to hammer home the point that this is a successful era for Japanese LPGA Tour members.
In the tournament's opening round on Friday, in Galloway, New Jersey, Akie Iwai carded a 6-under 65 and was two strokes off the lead. Compatriots Ayaka Furue and Saki Baba were a further shot adrift following their 5-under 66 efforts.
Akie Iwai shot a 31 on the front nine and had six birdies in the first half of the round, including the par-4 second hole.
"So [the second hole] is definitely a tough hole, but I gave myself a birdie chance," she told reporters after the first round. "It wasn't an easy putt. But since I made that putt, it did set the tone for the rest of my round."
Takeda carded a 67 in the first round.
Miyuu Yamashita, a two-time winner of the JLPGA Tour title in her homeland, also had a positive start, shooting a 68. Chisato Iwai, Akie's twin, also had a 68.
9 Japanese LPGA Tour Players Ranked in the Top 50
When you take a quick glance at the latest Rolex Women's Golf World Rankings (updated on June 2), you quickly notice that Japan is well represented.
In fact, nine Japanese LPGA Tour players are in the top 50.
Saigo is 10th, Takeda is 14th, Furue is 16th and Yamashita is 18th.
Also in the top 50: Akie Iwai (24th), Chisato Iwai (36th), Yuka Saso (39th), Nasa Hataoka (44th) and Sakura Koiwai (49th).
RELATED:
- ODDS and EVENS | Mao Saigo Captures Maiden Major in a Five-Player Playoff
- SPORTS SHORTS | Akie Iwai Finishes 2nd at the LA Championship
- [ODDS and EVENS] Rio Takeda Showcases Talent at Blue Bay LPGA in China
Tennis
Oda Wins 3rd Straight French Open Wheelchair Singles Title
World No 1 Tokito Oda secured a spot in the French Open men's wheelchair singles final against rival Alfie Hewett by beating Spain's Martin de la Puente 6-4, 6-4 in the semifinals on Friday, June 6.
On Saturday, Oda, who turned 19 on May 8, returned to the spotlight, vying for his third straight French Open singles title.
Mission accomplished.
Oda defeated second-seeded Hewett 6-4, 7-6 (8-6).
The Japanese teenager joined elite company, becoming the third man to win the wheelchair singles Grand Slam title in Paris three or more times. Shingo Kunieda won it eight times, while Hewett has captured the title on three occasions.
"I was able to see many Japanese people, children, etc., today, and I am glad to have won three consecutive championships in front of them," Oda was quoted as saying by Nikkan Sports.
He continued: "I was kind of tired at the end, so I am relieved. I will do my best again in this tournament, yes. [And] I will do my best to win the championship for the 10th year in a row!"
After the match, Hewett commended Oda for their spirited showdown.
"Congratulations Tokito, thank you again for another amazing match [in] an arena like this," Hewett stated in an on-court interview. "I want to say thank you to my team who are here this week and back at home cheering me on, supporting and I hope to see you next year."
At the 2024 Paris Paralympics, Oda also beat Hewett in the men’s singles final.
Kamiji Captures 5th French Open Singles Title
Also on Saturday, top-seeded Yui Kamiji competed in the French Open women's wheelchair singles title match against longtime rival Aniek van Koot of the Netherlands. Kamiji triumphed 6-2, 6-2 to win the event for the fifth time in her banner career.
Saturday's victory also produced Kamiji's 10th Grand Slam singles title.
Hozumi, Doubles Partner Reach French Open Semis
Japanese veteran Eri Hozumi and Norway's Ulrikke Eikeri advanced to the French Open women's doubles semifinals as an unseeded tandem. On Friday, June 6, Serbia's Aleksandra Krunic and Kazakhstan's Anna Danilina spoiled the duo's title hopes, winning 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 7-5.
The 31-year-old Hozumi had her best French Open doubles performance in 2018, when she teamed up with Makoto Ninomiya for a runner-up finish.
Soccer
Australia Edges Japan in World Cup Qualifier
Nearly three months after Japan qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, manager Hajime Moriyasu's squad resumed competition on Thursday night, June 5.
In an Asian Group C qualifier against Australia in Perth, the Samurai Blue lost 1-0. Aziz Behich ended the stalemate in the 90th minute.
Japan (six wins, two draws, one loss) in third-round qualifying matches and still leads Group C with 20 points. Australia (four wins, four draws, one loss) is in second place with 16 points.
The pressure was on the Socceroos to earn a win as they seek to secure a berth in the 2026 World Cup.
Japan gave several younger players a chance to compete without the added pressure of a high-stakes environment.
For instance, Wataru Endo and Takefusa Kubo were among Japan's key players not given starting assignments.
In addition, forward Yu Hirakawa (Bristol City), midfielder/forward Kota Tawaratsumida (FC Tokyo) and defender Hiroki Sekine (Stade de Reims) all earned their first caps.
Moriyasu made no excuses after Japan's defeat.
"I don't believe there are any matches where it's acceptable for the national team to lose," Moriyasu told reporters. "No matter who takes the pitch, we are expected to win."
He also spoke about the team's concurrent goal of building for the future.
"That said, we shouldn't always rely solely on our core players out of fear of defeat," Moriyasu stated. "Instead, we must take responsibility for the development of Japanese football while also striving for victory as a team."
In its final World Cup qualifier, Japan faces Indonesia on Tuesday, September 10. Kickoff is 7:35 PM in Suita, Osaka Prefecture.
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Baseball
Ohtani Leads the NL in Homers
Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Shohei Ohtani only hit one home run in the team's first six games of June, a quiet stretch for the power-hitting superstar.
That said, Ohtani is the National League leader in homers (23) through games of June 6.
A day earlier, Bill Arnold's Beyond the Box Score newsletter noted that Ohtani was on pace to hit 59 home runs this season. In 2024, he smacked a career-high 54.
The fan favorite and MLB leader Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners (24 round-trippers) were the focal point of the newsletter's introduction, with Arnold pointing out that they could become only the seventh and eighth players in MLB history to hit 60 or more homers.
Stay tuned.
In related news, Ohtani was named the NL's Player of the Month for June. An announcement was made on Tuesday, June 3.
Ohtani had an MLB-best 15 homers in May and also led all players with 31 runs scored while batting .309. He was second in RBIs (27).
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Mets' Senga Among MLB's ERA Leaders
New York Mets starter Kodai Senga is third among MLB starters in ERA through games of Friday, June 6.
Senga has a 1.59 ERA. He trails only Kansas City Royals left-hander Kris Bubic (1.43) and Texas Rangers hurler Nathan Eovaldi (1.56). All three men have made 12 starts.
In his latest start, Senga got a no-decision against the Colorado Rockies on Friday. He pitched six innings of one-run ball, allowing five hits. Senga, who has a 6-3 win-loss record, walked two and struck out six.
The Mets rallied for a 4-2 victory in the ninth inning in Denver.
New York manager Carlos Mendoza said he's confident whenever Senga steps on the pitcher's mound.
"[Senga gives] an ace-type outing every time he takes the baseball," Mendoza said, according to the New York Post, on Friday. "I feel good with all our guys, too, but with Kodai, he continues to get better."
Mendoza added, "I feel he's getting to a point now where, since [the] first pitch, there is intensity there, the way the ball is coming out and he's using all his pitches."
Basketball
Tominaga Joins B.League's Levanga
Former University of Nebraska sharpshooter Keisei Tominaga has signed a contract to play for the B.League's Levanga Hokkaido in the 2025-26 season.
Tominaga, 24, received limited playing time in his rookie season as a pro with the NBA G League's Indiana Mad Ants. He averaged 5.4 points and 8.7 minutes in 14 games. Indiana had a 34-game G League season.
Now, Tominaga, who played for the Japan national team at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympics, looks ahead with a fresh outlook.
The Aichi Prefecture native said he wants to help the Levanga qualify for the B.League playoffs for the first time.
"Together with the fans, [new] head coach [Torsten] Loibl and my teammates, I will do my best in all green using my 3-point shot as my weapon to achieve our immediate goal of the club's first championship appearance," Tominaga said in a statement.
He added that the team's bigger goal is to win the league championship.
The Levanga missed the playoffs this past season, finishing with a 21-39 record.
RELATED:
- Nebraska's Keisei Tominaga Finishes College Career With a Strong Performance in NCAA Tournament Loss
Author: Ed Odeven
Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.
