Soccer: Japan rank 15th in world, top in Asia in 2005
December 19, 2005Japan were ranked 15th in the 2005 world soccer ranking, up from 17th last year and continuing to hold the top position in Asia, according to FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking announced Monday. Brazil, which are in the first-round Group F with Japan along with Croatia and Australia for next year's World Cup, took the Top Team title for the fourth consecutive year, with Croatia coming to 20th and Australia 48th.
Baseball: N.Y. Mets release left-handed pitcher Ishii
December 19, 2005The New York Mets said Monday they have released left-handed pitcher Kazuhisa Ishii. The Mets said last month they had not exercised the option on the 32-year-old Japanese for the next season.
Figure skating: Koizumi hopes Asada to skate in Turin Olympics
December 19, 2005Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi voiced hope Monday that Japanese teen figure skater Mao Asada will be able to compete in the upcoming Winter Olympics, though the latest Grand Prix Final victor is barred from the games by an age limit. ''I wonder why she cannot take part in the Olympics,'' Koizumi told reporters at his office. ''I hope she will be allowed to participate, because her skating and performance are splendid.''
Short track: Terao, Kamino win national titles, Olympic berths
December 19, 2005Short-track speed skaters Satoru Terao and Yuka Kamino comfortably booked their places in the upcoming Winter Olympics after winning the national championships on Monday. Terao won the men's 1,000 meters for his third victory in the two-day championships and became the overall winner for a record ninth time, while Yuka Kamino completed a sweep of the women's four races for the third straight year.
Abe, Miyazato, Kaneshiro among Newsweek's top newsmakers of 2006
December 19, 2005Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, pro golf player Ai Miyazato and actor Takeshi Kaneshiro were among those who will make headlines in 2006 in politics, business, science and the arts, Newsweek magazine said Sunday in its annual ''Who's Next.'' Also named the up-and-comers in those fields in the magazine's Dec. 26-Jan. 2 issue were Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown and Chilean presidential candidate Michelle Bachelet.