Wrestling: World champ Sakamoto defends 51-kg title at nationals
December 22, 2005World champion Hitomi Sakamoto successfully defended her 51-kilogram title at the national wrestling championships Thursday. Sakamoto beat Sachiko Akasaka 2-0 in the final at Yoyogi national gymnasium annex for her second consecutive and fourth national crown.
Soccer: JFA plans to put 60% of World Cup tickets on general sale
December 22, 2005The Japan Football Association said Thursday it plans to put on general sale around 60 percent of its allocation of tickets for Japan's first-round matches at next year's World Cup finals in Germany. The JFA expects soccer's world governing body FIFA to give it around 10,000 tickets for Japan's three Group F matches against Australia, Croatia and five-time world champions Brazil.
Baseball: Yomiuri set to acquire infielder Dillon
December 22, 2005The Yomiuri Giants are poised to acquire infielder Joe Dillon, who made his major league debut with the Florida Marlins this year, according to the Marlins' official website. ''Dillon has decided to play in Japan for the Yomiuri Giants. In return, the Marlins will receive cash considerations,'' the website said Tuesday.
Soccer: Japan striker Yanagisawa mulling Kashima return
December 22, 2005Japan striker Atsushi Yanagisawa is considering a move back to former club Kashima Antlers from Italian Serie A side Messina, his agent revealed Wednesday. ''It seems as though Kashima are hoping he will come back and Yanagisawa is also giving it some thought,'' agent Oberto Petricca said, adding that the player is set to hold talks with Kashima officials when he returns to Japan at the end of the year.