Yuma Kagiyama poses with his silver medal after the men's competition at the 2026 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Prague on March 28. (©David W Cerny/REUTERS)
Yuma Kagiyama, a four-time world silver medalist and a two-time Olympic men's runner-up, will skip the 2026-27 figure skating season, he announced on Monday, April 13.
In a social media post, Kagiyama said he's looking forward to taking a break from competition.
"I want to use this time to rediscover what makes figure skating so special, take on new challenges, and reflect on myself as I look toward the future," Kagiyama wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
The talented skater, who turns 23 on May 5, intends to keep busy.
"I'm working on various projects, so I'd be grateful if you could look forward to them with anticipation," Kagiyama added in his post. "There will continue to be ice shows and events going forward, so I'm excited for the chance to appear before you all again!"
Career Highlights for Yuma Kagiyama
Before his second-place finish at the 2026 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Prague, Kagiyama was the runner-up at worlds in 2021, 2022 and '24.
As a teenager, he earned the silver medal at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, then repeated as runner-up at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games.
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Basketball
Tanaka Selected in 3rd Round of the WNBA Draft
Guard Kokoro Tanaka, one of the rising stars of Japan's women's national team, was the 38th overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft on Monday, April 13 in New York.
The Golden State Valkyries made Tanaka the eighth pick in the third round.
An Osaka native, Tanaka has played for the WJBL's Eneos Sunflowers since 2024.
Tanaka's offensive talents have gained greater visibility in international competitions. She scored 14.8 points per game and dished out 5.5 assists per game in the 2025 FIBA Women's Asia Cup.
More recently, Tanaka averaged 10.8 points for Japan in five games at the 2026 FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Istanbul in March.
"Kokoro is a fearless young leader, and watching her from afar at the 2025 FIBA Women's Asia Cup made it clear she is something special," Valkyries general manager Ohemaa Nyanin said in a news release. "She is calm under pressure, she can knock it down from [3-point range], and she attacks the basket without hesitation."
Tanaka, 20, is the first Japanese player drafted by a WNBA team since guard Mikiko Hagiwara in 1997, when the Sacramento Monarchs made her the 14th pick.
Golden State, which had a 23-21 record as an expansion team in 2025, opens its second season on May 8 versus the Seattle Storm.
Horse Racing
Sakai to Ride Wonder Dean in Kentucky Derby
Ryusei Sakai, who guided Forever Young to victory in the 2025 Breeders' Cup Classic, is making preparations to compete at the Kentucky Derby. He'll ride Wonder Dean in the opening leg of America's Triple Crown on May 2.
The Japanese jockey is set to make his second appearance in The Run for the Roses. Forever Young placed third in 2024 in Sakai's Derby debut.
Wonder Dean is coming off a victory in the G2 UAE Derby, which covered 1,900 meters on dirt at Meydan Racecourse, on March 28. Italian jockey Cristian Demuro handled the riding assignment in that race.
Sakai and trainer Daisuke Takayanagi will work together in pursuit of a win in the 152nd Kentucky Derby.
Wonder Dean has two wins and two runner-up finishes in six career starts. Sired by Dee Majesty, he is a grandson of Deep Impact and a great grandson of Sunday Silence.
According to published reports, Sakai has started training with Wonder Dean at Churchill Downs a few weeks ahead of the race in Louisville, Kentucky.
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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.
