Kaori Sakamoto performs her free skate at the 2026 World Figure Skating Championships on March 27, 2026, in Prague. (©KYODO)
Kaori Sakamoto frequently delivered her best performances in the biggest competitions. And for figure skating fans in Japan and throughout the world, this was an endearing trait, an exciting spectacle to witness.
Sakamoto wrapped up her career with a title-winning effort in the women's singles competition at the 2026 World Figure Skating Championships in Prague on Friday, March 27. It was her fourth world title.
The Kobe native, who turns 26 on April 9, topped the chart with a personal-high score of 238.78 points. Her score in the Czech capital included 158.99 in Friday's free skate.
Mone Chiba, the world bronze medalist in 2025, claimed the silver with 228.47 points. Belgium's Nina Pinzarrone placed third (215.20).
Ami Nakai, the 2026 Olympic silver medalist, finished a disappointing ninth (200.00).
In 2024, Sakamoto became the first woman since American Peggy Fleming from 1966-68 to win three straight world titles. A year later, Sakamoto was the runner-up to Alysa Liu of the United States at the world championships.
Then, at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, Liu collected another gold medal, with Sakamoto taking the silver.
A Fitting Locale for Sakamoto's Finale
In October 2013, Sakamoto made her Junior Grand Prix debut in Ostrava. She placed sixth at that meet.
This time, as her career had come full circle, Sakamoto appreciated the spotlight and the warm support of skating fans in the Czech Republic.
Two days after winning the short program with 79.31 points, her highest score for the opening portion of an event in the 2025-26 season, Sakamoto returned to the ice.
On Friday night, the three-time Olympian skated to a compilation of Edith Piaf songs and demonstrated her well-honed skills that included seven triple jumps in the free skate.
Following her title-winning performance, Sakamoto summed up the experience as she bids farewell to competitive skating.
"Today I actually didn't care about the results," Sakamoto commented. "Of course I wanted to skate with no regrets and to do my best, but there were so many people supporting me and watching and I wanted to do my best for them.
"There are no regrets at all, I can say goodbye with this performance."
Pinzarrone was moved by the storybook ending to Sakamoto's career.
"We were all crying," Pinzarrone said, according to NBC Sports. "It was so special to see it one more time, and she did so well."
The Belgian skater added, "It's unbelievable what she does and what she brings to skating. We will all miss her."
Among the All-Time Greats
With her fourth world title, Kaori Sakamoto moved past retired legend Mao Asada for the most by a Japanese female skater.
Now, Sakamoto is tied with Germany's Katarina Witt and Hungary's Lily Kronberger for the third-most world titles among women. Norway's Sonja Henie captured 10 consecutive world titles from 1927-36 to set the gold standard.
A six-time Japan Championships titlist, Sakamoto said she concluded her career on a high note.
"After [the free skate], I had a feeling I've done everything that I could and this is a really good way to end a career," Sakamoto told a news conference."
As for her future plans, Sakamoto said, "I received a lot of support from others and now it's my time to support others and be the help for others. I'm still going to do a lot of ice shows. If you guys are not tired of watching me skate, then please come to the ice shows."
Sakamoto has also expressed interest in becoming a skating coach.
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Kagiyama Places 2nd, Sato 3rd at World Championships
Japanese Olympians Yuma Kagiyama and Shun Sato earned the silver and bronze medals, respectively, in men's singles at the world championships on Saturday, March 28.
American Ilia Malinin, who had a stunningly poor performance in his 2026 Olympic free skate and slipped from first to eighth place, won his third consecutive world title with 329.40 points. Malinin led by 9.44 points over France's Adam Siao Him Fa after Thursday's short program.
"I definitely felt pushed and loved, thank you so much," Malinin said to the crowd after his free skate, Agence France-Presse reported. "It was really challenging and really hard. But with you guys, I was able to make it through."
Kagiyama collected his fourth silver medal at the annual competition after previous runner-up finishes in 2021, 2022 and '24. He vaulted from sixth place after the short program to second overall with a stellar showing in the free skate, finishing with a two-day total of 306.67 points.
Sato, who was fourth after the short program, earned the bronze, his first world championship medal, with 288.54.
Baseball
Rookies Takemaru, Mouri Win Season-Opening Games
Yomiuri Giants left-hander Kazuyuki Takemaru, the team's first Opening Day starting pitcher in 62 years, won his NPB debut on Friday night, March 27.
Takemaru held the reigning Central League champion Hanshin Tigers to three hits and a run in six innings. He walked two batters and struck out six in the Giants' 3-1 win at Tokyo Dome.
Yomiuri leadoff hitter Trey Cabbage belted a solo homer off Hanshin starter Shoki Murakami in the first inning for the game's first run.
Giants pitching coach Toshiya Sugiuchi said Takemaru had a gutsy performance.
"He went out there and took risks," Sugiuchi was quoted as saying by Sankei Sports. "Instead of trying to throw to specific spots, he trusted his pitches and kept them in the zone. I think that’s what led to the good result. He's the type who doesn’t show his emotions. [And] he was probably a little nervous, but even so, he pitched well."
Also Friday, Chiba Lotte Marines rookie Kaito Mouri pitched five scoreless innings in his team's 3-1 victory against the visiting Saitama Seibu Lions at Zozo Marine Stadium.
The 22-year-old Mouri, who became the franchise's first rookie starting pitcher in a season-opening game since 1950, allowed four hits and recorded two strikeouts. He walked one.
Blue Jays' Okamoto Shines in MLB Debut
In his first MLB game, Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Kazuma Okamoto scored the winning run on Friday, March 27.
Okamoto, who joined the reigning American League pennant-winning club in the offseason, went 2-for-3 in his new team's season-opening game. He had a pair of hits, including a ninth-inning single, and also reached on a walk against the Athletics in Toronto's 3-2 triumph.
It was a memorable MLB debut for Okamoto.
"I'm just glad I could contribute," Okamoto was quoted as saying by Canada's Sportsnet through an interpreter. "Great vibes overall today."
The former Yomiuri standout also impressed his new teammates on defense. In particular, he demonstrated his defensive skills on a slow-hit ball in the fourth inning. After grabbing the ball, Okamoto made a strong off-balance throw to first.
"A heck of a play on both ends," Blue Jays second baseman Ernie Clement said, according to Sportsnet. "He just seems really comfortable. I think he understands who he is as a player, and it doesn't look like he's trying to do too much out there. The internal clock on that play was great. It's been fun to watch. I think he's only going to get better."
A brief reminder: The Athletics dropped the longstanding geographical reference in their official name after leaving Oakland in 2024 and relocating to West Sacramento while their future ballpark in Las Vegas is being built.
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Soccer
Tanikawa Lifts Bayern in Women's Champions League
Midfielder Momoko Tanikawa provided a big spark for Bayern Munich in a UEFA Women's Champions League quarterfinal first-leg match versus Manchester United on Wednesday, March 25.
Tanikawa, who entered the match as a second-half substitute, assisted on Pernille Harder's 71st-minute goal. And after Manchester United tied it at 2-2, Tanikawa notched the go-ahead goal in the 84th minute, drilling the ball into the far corner of the net in the visitors' 3-2 triumph.
Bayern manager Jose Barcala praised the 20-year-old Tanikawa's impactful performance after the final whistle.
"Momoko is an exceptional player," the Spaniard boss told reporters. "She's so comfortable on the ball, even under pressure, [and] she brought a lot of consistency to our play when we were in possession and injected a new rhythm into the game."
Tanikawa scored the lone goal in Nadeshiko Japan's triumph over Australia in the Women's Asian Cup final on March 14 in Sydney.
The second leg of the Bayern-United quarterfinal is at Allianz Arena in Munich on April 2.
Basketball
Crane Thunders Bolster Playoff Hopes with Win Streak
The Gunma Crane Thunders extended their win streak to five with an 88-79 road victory over the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins on Saturday, March 28.
Gunma (29-16) is fourth among B.League teams in the hunt for wild-card berths for the playoffs. The SeaHorses Mikawa (31-14) lead the pack, followed by the Ryukyu Golden Kings and the Alvark Tokyo, both of whom have 30-15 records.
In Nagoya, veteran forward Kerry Blackshear Jr paced the Crane Thunders with 19 points and handed out six assists. Nine teammates also put points on the board in a well-balanced offensive attack featuring four double-digit scorers.
Gunma guard Yuma Fujii had an active presence at both ends of the floor, chipping in with five points, 10 rebounds, three assists and four steals.
After the game, Crane Thunders coach Kyle Milling analyzed his team's performance.
"We played very well in the first half, but we knew Nagoya would come back strong in the second half," Milling told reporters at IG Arena. "Sure enough, they demonstrated the strength of a team currently leading the league in the third quarter. But even so, we didn't panic and were able to close out the game in the end."
The Crane Thunders are set to face the Diamond Dolphins (35-10) again on Sunday to wrap up the weekend series.
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Author: Ed Odeven
Follow Ed's [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and he can be found on X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.
