1. The major sports

Four hubs, one nation of fans.

Explore our core hubs: Football (J.League and Samurai Blue), Basketball (the B.League and Akatsuki Japan), F1 & Motorsport, and the Development hub for everything else — from baseball to sumo.

2. How the systems work

The structures behind the success.

Understand the machinery: Japan at the Olympics, how Japan funds its athletes, why Japan excels at distance running, and the school pipeline through Koshien and the Inter-High.

3. The legends

The greatest names, by sport.

Browse our index guides: the greatest Japanese athletes, greatest footballers, baseball legends, combat-sport champions, winter-sport stars, motorsport legends and boxing champions.

4. Watch & visit

Follow it from anywhere — or come and see it.

Learn how to watch Japanese sport from abroad, or plan a trip with our Travel hub, sport bucket list and ticket-buying guide.

Frequently asked questions

What are Japan’s most popular sports?
Baseball and football are the biggest, with sumo as the national sport and strong followings for basketball, motorsport and more.

What is SportsPulse Global?
An English-language guide to Japanese sport — its leagues, systems, legends and how to follow or visit.

Where should I start?
Pick a hub — football, basketball, F1 or development — or browse our “greatest” index guides by sport.