The Japan men’s national soccer team’s 1-0 victory over Iceland delivered a happy finish for the fans at Tokyo’s MUFG Stadium on Sunday night, May 31. In the Samurai Blue’s last match before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Koki Ogawa scored on an 87th-minute header.
It was Japan’s fifth consecutive clean-sheet victory dating back to November 2025.
Indeed, a scoreless draw would’ve provided a more mundane emotional exit for Japan boss Hajime Moriyasu’s men.
But 28-year-old substitute Ogawa shattered the stalemate with his late heroics.
Koki Ogawa scores an 87th-minute header. (©SANKEI)
Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki in action in the first half. (©KYODO)
“Iceland is a good side, and it was a tough match,” Moriyasu said after Sunday’s match. “They were difficult to break down, and there were moments when we came under pressure, particularly from their counterattacks.
“What pleased me was that we remained patient throughout, kept a clean sheet and never lost sight of the need to keep attacking.”
Samurai Blue manager Hajime Moriyasu (©KYODO)
The manager continued: “I think this was good preparation for the World Cup because matches like this are bound to happen during the tournament. It was a valuable rehearsal in staying composed, finding a way through and ultimately winning the game.”
Tomiyasu Back in the Spotlight
Defender Takehiro Tomiyasu, formerly with Arsenal and now employed by Dutch club Ajax, made his first international appearance in nearly two years, playing in front of a crowd of 62,200-plus spectators.
“I think I probably could have played the full match if needed,” said Tomiyasu, who was replaced by substitute Shogo Taniguchi in the 83rd minute.
Tomiyasu, who has overcome injuries to return to the national team, added, “I still felt I had more in me when I came off. I’ve been training consistently, so I felt I had built a good foundation going into the game.”
A Look Ahead to the World Cup
In preparation for the opening round of the World Cup, the Samurai Blue left Japan on Tuesday, June 2. The squad will hold a training camp in Monterrey, Mexico, before setting up its base camp in Nashville, Tennessee, on June 8.
Playing in Group F, Japan kicks off its World Cup campaign against the Netherlands on June 14, followed by fixtures against Tunisia and Sweden on June 20 and 25, respectively.
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From left, Aeon Mall President Keiji Ohno, Chiba City Mayor Shunichi Kamiya and Chiba Lotte Marines CEO Genichi Tamatsuka attend a news conference on June 2 in Chiba. (©KYODO)
Baseball
Marines to Play at a New Domed Stadium in 2034
Plans for the Chiba Lote Marines’ future ballpark were unveiled on Tuesday, June 2.
The Marines will play at a new domed stadium, starting in 2034, it was announced. It will be built on the site of the current parking lot at Makuhari Messe.
Previously, Chiba City, owner of the current and future stadiums, said it would construct a new open-air stadium. But after reviewing public feedback about the future stadium, with citizens requesting a domed facility, plans changed, Kyodo News reported.
At a news conference on Tuesday, Chiba City Mayor Shunichi Kamiya highlighted the vision for the NPB team’s future venue.
“We will create a comfortable viewing environment that is not affected by the weather,” Kamiya was quoted as saying by Kyodo News.
Marines chief executive Genichi Tamatsuka also commented on the updated plans.
“Given the ongoing extreme weather conditions, building a domed stadium was unavoidable when considering the fans and players,” Tamatsuka said, according to Kyodo News.
Since 1992, the Pacific League club has played at Zozo Marine Stadium, an outdoor facility.
Chiba City, the Marines and Aeon Mall will pay for the construction of the new domed stadium. And the estimated cost will be ¥100 billion JPY ($625 million USD), it was announced at the news conference.
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Naomi Osaka competes against Aryna Sabalenka in a women’s singles fourth-round match at the French Open on June 1 in Paris. (©Stephane Mahe/REUTERS)
Tennis
Osaka Falls to Sabalenka in French Open 4th Round
World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka ended Naomi Osaka’s best-ever showing at the French Open, winning 7-5, 6-3 in their round of 16 women’s singles match on Monday, June 1.
In Paris, Sabalenka kept her title hopes alive with a stellar all-around performance, including 12 aces.
For Osaka, struggling with Sabalenka’s formidable drop shot was one of the factors in her defeat.
“All of the people I have played this tournament have hit drop shots,” Osaka said, according to Kyodo News. “Obviously she’s the hardest-hitting one. Like, when she hits a drop shot, it works better, I think, because she obviously could hit a winner too if she wanted to.”
Prior to the 2026 French Open, the 16th-ranked Osaka had never advanced past the third round at the Grand Slam tournament. Heading into this tournament, her last third-round match on the Roland Garros clay was in 2019.
Chisato Iwai sinks a birdie putt on the third hole in the final round of the LPGA Tour’s ShopRite Classic on May 31 in Galloway, New Jersey. (©KYODO)
Golf
Iwai Ties for 4th in ShopRite Classic
In the final round of the LPGA Tour’s ShopRite Classic, Chisato Iwai finished with a flourish, making par on 15 consecutive holes to wrap up the tournament. She shot a 2-under 69 on Sunday, May 31, placing her in a four-way tie for fourth place (6-under 207) in Galloway, New Jersey.
France’s Celine Boutier won the three-day tournament with a 9-under 204.
For Iwai, it was her second-best result in an LPGA event in 2026. She was the runner-up in the Honda LPGA Thailand tourney in February.
Kubota Spears’ Halatoa Vailea scores a try in the 36th minute against the Saitama Wild Knights in the Japan Rugby League One semifinals on May 31 at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo. (©KYODO)
Rugby
Spears Advance to League One Final
The Kubota Spears defeated the Saitama Wild Knights 26-24 in the Japan Rugby League One semifinals on Sunday, May 31 in Tokyo.
As a result, the Spears secured a berth in the League One championship match against the Kobelco Kobe Steelers.
The title game is on June 7 at Tokyo’s National Stadium, aka MUFG Stadium.
In the Spears-Wild Knights semifinal, the victors led 10-7 at halftime, then extended the advantage to 26-12 at the 31-minute mark of the second half.
Moments later, Yusaku Kihara cut it to 26-17 on a try, igniting Saitama’s spirited comeback effort.
The Wild Knights scored the final points of the semifinal duel on Takaya Saito’s two-point conversion in the penultimate minute.
Kubota manager Frans Ludeke’s squad, the title runner-up a year ago, has quickly shifted its focus to the upcoming final.
“We’ve got an opportunity next weekend and we want to make the most of that,” Ludeke was quoted as saying on Sunday, according to Kyodo News. “[And] we’ve learned a lot from last year, so this week is all about us just recovering, getting the boys ready, so we can go do battle again next week.”
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.
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