Japan guard Norika Konno shoots a layup in the first quarter against Denmark in the first game of the teams' Mitsui Fudosan Cup series on July 3, 2025, at Ariake Arena in Tokyo. (©KYODO)
The Japan women's basketball national team dominated the second and third quarters against Denmark on Thursday night, July 3. In the opener of the teams' Mitsui Fudosan Cup series, Japan and Denmark settled for a 65-65 tie.
Japan overcame a 10-point deficit at the end of the first quarter, then outscored the visitors 41-24 in the middle two periods.
Denmark trailed 54-47 entering the fourth quarter, but outplayed world No 9 Japan to avoid defeat.
Minami Yabu, a 20-year-old small forward, paced Japan with 12 points off the bench. She sank 3 of 4 3-point shots in 10-plus minutes. Stephanie Mawuli added eight points and Kokoro Tanaka and Monica Okoye finished with seven apiece.
Akatsuki Japan head coach Corey Gaines utilized a deep bench in this game, giving 15 players court time, with 13 players putting points on the board.
Gaines' squad made 9 of 34 shots from 3-point range. Japan had 16 assists and 18 turnovers. It also made 11 steals.
World No 55 Denmark outrebounded Japan 50-40.
Guard Alberte Rimdal led Denmark with 20 points. Teammate Frida Formann poured in 19 points.
Basketball Tournament Preparing Japan for FIBA Women's Asia Cup
"We made mistakes and uncharacteristic things we don't usually do, we did tonight," Gaines said, according to Kyodo News, after Thursday's game before adding, "we have a game tomorrow, which we'll play much better. [And] we won't make those mistakes."
Japan defeated Denmark 89-55 in the second game of their Mitsui Fudosan Cup exhibition series on Friday night at the same venue. Yuki Miyazawa had a team-best 15 points for Japan.
With a pair of games on back-to-back nights against Denmark, Japan began final preparations for the 2025 FIBA Women's Asia Cup, an eight-nation basketball tournament. Event dates: July 13-20 in Shenzhen, China.
World No 4 China is the highest-ranked team in the tourney. Joining China in Group A for the preliminary round are South Korea, New Zealand and Indonesia.
Group B is comprised of Japan, Australia, the Philippines and Lebanon.
"The Asia Cup is important," Gaines told reporters. "We'll be ready to play our best basketball."
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Baseball
Yoshida Begins Rehab Stint with Starts at DH and in Left Field
Rehabbing Boston Red Sox slugger Masataka Yoshida appeared in his first regular-season game of the 2025 season in the opener of a Triple-A doubleheader on Wednesday, July 2.
Yoshida, who had offseason surgery on his right shoulder, batted second and went 0-for-2 with a walk for the International League's Worcester Red Sox in a 5-2 home loss to the Syracuse Mets.
In Wednesday's Game 2, Yoshida didn't play.
The doubleheader was necessitated when Tuesday's game, which was to mark Yoshida's return to the field, was rained out.
Yoshida was back in the lineup for Worcester on Thursday. He batted second once again and started in left field in Syracuse's 7-4 win over Worcester.
The former Orix Buffaloes star went 1-for-3 and scored a run. He reached base on a first-inning force play at second and scored in the same inning. Yoshida stroked a line-drive single to left in the third.
Boston management asked Yoshida to get some "light work" at first base during his injury rehab assignment, MassLive.com reported. He donned a first baseman's mitt and took grounders before Wednesday's doubleheader, getting some defensive work at a position he hasn't played in his 10 seasons as a pro.
The website quoted Boston manager Alex Cora as saying that Yoshida is practicing at first base "just in case, in an emergency" he'd be available.
Cora added, "I don’t anticipate him starting at first base, but if something crazy happens, at least he can catch throws and knock down a ground ball."
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Golf
Sakuma Leads JLPGA in Tournament Titles This Season
In the ongoing 2025 JLPGA Tour season, rising star Shuri Sakuma leads all golfers with three tournament titles. Twelve individuals have collected one win apiece.
The 22-year-old Sakuma, who has played in 15 tournaments to date, sits atop the money rankings chart with ¥116 million JPY ($804,000 USD) in earnings this season.
Sakuma has had eight top-10 finishes, which is tied for the JLPGA Tour lead with Sakura Koiwai.
A native of Saitama Prefecture, Sakuma made her pro debut in June 2021.
She's won one tournament in each of the past three months.
In April, Sakuma triumphed in the KKTcup VANTELIN Ladies Open, a three-round event, with an 11-under 205.
She won May's Bridgestone Ladies Open with a 20-under 268, shooting under 70 in all four rounds.
Then she won the Earth Mondahmin Cup on June 29 with an 11-under 277.
Horse Racing
Lemaire Pilots Mikki Fight to a Narrow Victory in the Teio Sho
In a midweek evening showcase event of older horses (ages 4 and up) at Oi Racecourse in Tokyo's Shinagawa Ward, Mikki Fight, ridden by veteran French jockey Christophe Lemaire, won the Teio Sho by a neck. Mikki Fight covered the 2,000 meters in 2 minutes, 3.1 seconds.
Outrange, guided by Kohei Matsuyama, placed second on Wednesday, July 2. Japanese racing legend Yutaka Take was third aboard Notturno, 2½ lengths behind the runner-up.
The Teio Sho, which is contested on dirt, was first run in 1978. Japan Racing Association and National Association of Racing (local) horses and jockeys compete against one another.
Wednesday's race included thoroughbreds from Oi Racecourse, Urawa Racecourse and Kochi Racecourse.
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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.
