Hokkaido Nipponham Fighters southpaw Haruki Hosono threw the first no-hitter of the 2026 NPB season on Tuesday, March 31.
In Kitahiroshima, Hokkaido Prefecture, Hosono handcuffed the Chiba Lotte Marines, striking out 12 batters in the Fighters’ 9-0 victory.
Nipponham snapped a three-game losing streak, picking up its first win of the season. The reigning Japan Series champion Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks swept the Fighters in the teams’ season-opening series from March 27-29.
Nipponham starter Haruki Hosono pitches in the first inning. (©KYODO)
Fighters manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo enjoyed watching his club’s first home game of the season.
“I was surprised,” the fifth-year skipper said, according to Nikkan Sports before adding, “I was happy to see such a good game.”
Hosono, a third-year pro, walked Marines leadoff hitter Akito Takabe in the first inning. He also hit a batter in the fourth. But the 24-year-old dominated on the mound throughout his 128-pitch outing.
Kotaro Kiyomiya bashed a three-run homer and Franmil Reyes added a bases-empty shot in the Fighters’ seven-run second inning at Es Con Field Hokkaido.
Fighters southpaw Haruki Hosono reacts after striking out the final batter in the ninth inning. (©SANKEI)
Fighters catcher Yua Tamiya congratulates pitcher Haruki Hosono after the final out in the ninth inning. (©KYODO)
Completing the NPB No-Hitter
In the ninth, Lotte’s Koki Yamaguchi reached on a two-out error by Fighters first baseman Kiyomiya, who mishandled a grounder.Â
Hosono then sealed the win with his 12th strikeout of the night, fanning Kyota Fujiwara on a called third strike on a fastball for the final out.
“It’s gradually sinking in that I’ve actually done something amazing,” Hosono said during his postgame hero interview, Jiji Press reported.
“It would be difficult to throw another no-hitter, so I hope to continue pitching in a way that allows me to rack up as many zeros (scoreless innings) as possible…”
The Tokyo native had a combined eight pitching appearances in his first two NPB seasons, including a 3-1 record in 2025.
Hosono is the 91st pitcher in NPB history to toss a no-hitter.
Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami hits a homer in the second inning on March 29 against the Milwaukee Brewers in Milwaukee. (©KYODO)
Murakami Becomes 4th MLB Rookie to Homer in 1st Three Games
Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami joined an exclusive MLB fraternity on Sunday, March 29, when he homered for the third straight game.
Only three other MLB rookies have ever hit home runs in their first three games: Trevor Story of the Colorado Rockies (2016), Kyle Lewis of the Seattle Marines (2019) and Cleveland Guardians right fielder Chase DeLauter (2026), The Associated Press reported. Story set the record by homering in four consecutive games.
From March 26-28, DeLauter belted four round-trippers against the Seattle Mariners in his first three games.
Murakami, the 2022 Central League Triple Crown winner with NPB’s Tokyo Yakult Swallows, smacked a solo homer in the second inning against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday in the White Sox’s 9-7 road loss.
Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Murakami’s power-hitting ability is extraordinary.
“The park doesn’t seem big enough to hold him, you know what I mean?” Murphy was quoted as saying by The Associated Press. “He’s impressive.”
The 26-year-old Murakami, who hit 246 homers in 892 NPB games, is focused on getting better.
“There’s still a long way to go and lots of ways to improve, so that’s what I’ll keep on doing in the upcoming days,” Murakami said, according to The Associated Press.Â
Murakami’s streak ended when he went 1-for-5 with a single against the Miami Marlins on Monday.
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Yuto Totsuka competes in the men’s halfpipe event in the FIS Snowboard World Cup season finale on March 28 in Silvaplana, Switzerland. (©KYODO)
Snowboarding
Totsuka Claims 4th Halfpipe World Cup Season Title
Snowboarder Yuto Totsuka won his first Olympic gold medal in the men’s halfpipe at the Milan Cortina Olympics on February 13. Six weeks later, Totsuka celebrated another major achievement in his career, winning his fourth FIS Snowboard World Cup season title in the halfpipe.
In Silvaplana, Switzerland, Totsuka triumphed in the final round of the 2025-26 season on Saturday, March 28. The 24-year-old earned a victory-clinching 94.00 points on his first run.Â
Australia’s Valentino Guseli was the runner-up with 91.00.
Totsuka had a trio of World Cup wins this season. He finished with five top-three finishes en route to his first World Cup season title in his specialized event since 2020-21.
Yuto Totsuka, four-time World Cup halfpipe champion (©KYODO)
Totsuka also won the 2017-18 and 2018-19 season titles.
After his stellar performance on Saturday, the snowboarder expressed joy.
“I’m so happy to have won the last event of the season,” Totsuka said, according to Kyodo News. “[And] I’m incredibly happy to have also won the Crystal Globe (season title).”
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Former University of Hawaii placekicker Kansei Matsuzawa participates in the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on February 25. (©Kirby Lee/IMAGN IMAGES/via REUTERS)
American Football
NFL Draft Guru Ranks Matsuzawa 5th Among Kickers
Mel Kiper Jr, a longtime NFL draft expert, lists former University of Hawaii player Kansei Matsuzawa fifth among kickers in his latest positional rankings.
In the run-up to the 2026 NFL draft, which will be held April 23-25 in Pittsburgh, Matsuzawa has solidified his reputation as a kicker with strong credentials.
Matsuzawa made 27 of 29 field-goal attempts in his senior season. He was selected to The Associated Press All-America first team in December 2025.
Chris Sailer, a top kicking instructor in the United States, told ESPN that he expects Matsuzawa to be given a shot via the draft or free agency to become the first Japanese player in the NFL.
“I speak to basically every NFL team every year when it comes to the upcoming draft and free agency,” Sailer said, according to ESPN, in a recent profile of Matsuzawa. “It’s always going to be hard for any rookie to break in. There’s only so many spots in the NFL that are going to come up and be available. But every coach I speak with, he’s in that conversation of the top guys coming out. It’s not like other guys are being valued above him. He’s right there with them.”
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Forever Young (left) competes in the Dubai World Cup on March 28 at Meydan Racecourse. (©KYODO)
Horse Racing
Forever Young Places 2nd in Dubai World Cup
Magnitude, guided by Jose Ortiz, defeated race favorite Forever Young (Ryusei Sakai) by one length to win the Dubai World Cup on Saturday, March 28.
At Meydan Racecourse, the Not This Time progeny completed the 2,000-meter race on dirt in 2 minutes, 4.38 seconds.
Forever Young entered the prestigious event after winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic in November 2025 and the Saudi Cup in February 2026.
On this night, Magnitude was the better thoroughbred.
“Everything went the way we planned but the winner was good,” Sakai said, according to Sky Sports.
Yoshito Yahagi, Forever Young’s longtime trainer, said the 5-year-old had an outstanding effort.
“There are no excuses. Ryusei gave him a perfect ride,” Yahagi told reporters.
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Yuma Kagiyama attends the ISU Figure Skating Awards ceremony in Prague on March 29. (©ISU)
Figure Skating
Kagiyama, Nakai Honored at ISU Awards Banquet
Four-time world silver medalist Yuma Kagiyama received the Most Entertaining Program accolade at the 2026 ISU Figure Skating Awards on Sunday, March 29.
Kagiyama, who also collected the silver in men’s singles at February’s Olympics, was honored for his short program’s rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “I Wish” (Figure Skating Remix).
The program, featuring “a bespoke arrangement by pianist Hayato Sumino and guitarist Marcin Patrzalek, was rewarded for its enchanting and playful character,” the International Skating Union website reported. Choreographed by Lori Nichol and Carolina Kostner, the program combined the highest technical difficulties with a sense of lightness and effortless ease that captivated audiences throughout the season.”
Kagiyama said, “I am really honored to have been chosen but I would like to emphasize that this is not about a program that is better than the others.”
He added, “I love every one of my competitors’ programs, and everybody’s program is special.”
Ami Nakai (©ISU)
On the same night in Prague, Ami Nakai, 17, was recognized for her strong international debut season, which included a silver medal in women’s singles at the Grand Prix Final in Nagoya and a bronze at the Milan Cortina Games. Nakai took home the Best Newcomer accolade.
“In my senior debut season, I was able to go to the Olympics and the World Championships,” said Nakai. “Next season I want to challenge myself again to be able to finish with a smile on my face like I did this season.”
More than 93,000 votes cast by fans and a panel of skating experts determined the winners of the awards.
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Author: Ed Odeven
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