(PARIS2024) FRANCE-LILLE-OLY-BASKETBALL

(PARIS2024) FRANCE-LILLE-OLY-BASKETBALL

(240727) -- LILLE, July 27, 2024 Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM) -- Hirotaka Yoshii (L) of Japan interacts with the referee during men's basketball group B match between Germany and Japan at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Pierre Mauroy Stadium at Lille, France, on July 27, 2024. Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM/Meng Dingbo)

Inauguration of the Tokyo Atacama Observatory - TAO

Inauguration of the Tokyo Atacama Observatory - TAO

SANTIAGO, CHILE – APRIL 30: Professor Emeritus YOSHII Yuzuru speaks during the opening ceremony of the University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory project - TAO on April 30, 2024 in Santiago, Chile. (Photo by Sebastián Vivallo Oñate/Agencia Makro)

Inauguration of the Tokyo Atacama Observatory - TAO

Inauguration of the Tokyo Atacama Observatory - TAO

SANTIAGO, CHILE – APRIL 30: Professor Emeritus YOSHII Yuzuru speaks during the opening ceremony of the University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory project - TAO on April 30, 2024 in Santiago, Chile. (Photo by Sebastián Vivallo Oñate/Agencia Makro)

Inauguration of the Tokyo Atacama Observatory - TAO

Inauguration of the Tokyo Atacama Observatory - TAO

SANTIAGO, CHILE – APRIL 30: Professor Emeritus YOSHII Yuzuru speaks during the opening ceremony of the University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory project - TAO on April 30, 2024 in Santiago, Chile. (Photo by Sebastián Vivallo Oñate/Agencia Makro)

Inauguration of the Tokyo Atacama Observatory - TAO

Inauguration of the Tokyo Atacama Observatory - TAO

SANTIAGO, CHILE – APRIL 30: Professor Emeritus YOSHII Yuzuru speaks during the opening ceremony of the University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory project - TAO on April 30, 2024 in Santiago, Chile. (Photo by Sebastián Vivallo Oñate/Agencia Makro)

Inauguration of the Tokyo Atacama Observatory - TAO

Inauguration of the Tokyo Atacama Observatory - TAO

SANTIAGO, CHILE – APRIL 30: Professor Emeritus YOSHII Yuzuru speaks during the opening ceremony of the University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory project - TAO on April 30, 2024 in Santiago, Chile. (Photo by Sebastián Vivallo Oñate/Agencia Makro)

Inauguration of the Tokyo Atacama Observatory - TAO

Inauguration of the Tokyo Atacama Observatory - TAO

SANTIAGO, CHILE – APRIL 30: (L-R) Ambassador of Japan in Chile Mrs. ITO Takako, Rector of Pontifical Catholic University of Chile Mr. Ignacio Sánchez, President, Parliamentary League of Friendship Chile - Japan Mr. SHIONOYA Ryu, Minister of State of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan Mr. IMAEDA Soichiro, Minister of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation of Chile Aisén Etcheverry, President of the Comprehensive Research Institute of Natural Sciences in Japan, RIKEN Mr. GONOKAMI Makoto, Rector of the University of Tokyo Prof. FUJII Teruo, Former President of Chile Eduardo Frei, Vice President of the University of Tokyo Mrs. HAYASHI Kaori, Rector of the University of Chile Mrs. Rosa Devés, and Prof. Emeritus YOSHII Yuzuru, pose for the official photograph at the end of the ceremony inauguration of the Tokyo Atacama Observatory project - TAO of the University of Tokyo on April 30, 2024 in Santiago, Chile. (Photo by Sebastián Vivallo Oñate/Agencia Makro)

(SP)JAPAN-OKINAWA-BASKETBALL-FIBA WORLD CUP-CLASSIFICATION ROUND-JPN VS CPV

(SP)JAPAN-OKINAWA-BASKETBALL-FIBA WORLD CUP-CLASSIFICATION ROUND-JPN VS CPV

(230902) -- OKINAWA, Sept. 2, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Yoshii Hirotaka (C) of Japan competes during the classification round 17-32 match between Japan and Cape Verde at the FIBA World Cup 2023 in Okinawa, Japan, Sept. 2, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

(SP)JAPAN-OKINAWA-BASKETBALL-FIBA WORLD CUP-CLASSIFICATION ROUND-JPN VS CPV

(SP)JAPAN-OKINAWA-BASKETBALL-FIBA WORLD CUP-CLASSIFICATION ROUND-JPN VS CPV

(230902) -- OKINAWA, Sept. 2, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Yoshii Hirotaka (L) of Japan celebrates with his teammate Joshua Hawkinson during the classification round 17-32 match between Japan and Cape Verde at the FIBA World Cup 2023 in Okinawa, Japan, Sept. 2, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

Basketball: World Cup

Basketball: World Cup

Japan's Hirotaka Yoshii (C) takes a shot during the third quarter of a FIBA Basketball World Cup classification round game against Venezuela at Okinawa Arena in Okinawa, southern Japan, on Aug. 31, 2023.

Basketball: World Cup

Basketball: World Cup

Japan's Hirotaka Yoshii (C) captures a rebound during the second quarter of a FIBA Basketball World Cup classification round game against Venezuela at Okinawa Arena in Okinawa, southern Japan, on Aug. 31, 2023.

Basketball: World Cup

Basketball: World Cup

Japan's Hirotaka Yoshii (R) blocks a shot from behind during the third quarter of a FIBA Basketball World Cup Group E game against Finland at Okinawa Arena in Okinawa, southern Japan, on Aug. 27, 2023.

(Chengdu Universiade)CHINA-CHENGDU-WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES-SWIMMING (CN)

(Chengdu Universiade)CHINA-CHENGDU-WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES-SWIMMING (CN)

(230804) -- CHENGDU, Aug. 4, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Yoshii Momoka (L) and Matsumoto Shiho of Japan react during the awarding ceremony for the Women's 4x200m Freestyle Relay of swimming at the 31st FISU Summer World University Games in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)

Baseball: Lotte warm-up game against Taiwan pro team

Baseball: Lotte warm-up game against Taiwan pro team

Lotte Marines manager Masato Yoshii (C) high-fives players of Taiwanese pro baseball team Rakuten Monkeys after a warm-up game during the Japanese Pacific League team's pre-season training in Ishigaki in Okinawa Prefecture, southern Japan, on Feb. 11, 2023.

World Baseball Classic

World Baseball Classic

Teammates and pitching coach Masato Yoshii (front R) gather around Japan starter Yu Darvish (C) during a mound visit in the third inning of a World Baseball Classic Pool B game against South Korea at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on March 10, 2023.

World Baseball Classic

World Baseball Classic

Japan starter Yu Darvish (C) gets a mound visit from pitching coach Masato Yoshii (R) after working himself into a jam in the third inning of a World Baseball Classic Pool B game against South Korea at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on March 10, 2023.

(1)Yoshii, Kobayashi 1st-time winners at sprint c'ships

(1)Yoshii, Kobayashi 1st-time winners at sprint c'ships

CHINO, Japan - Up-and-coming 20-year-old Sayuri Yoshii waves at audiences after winning the first title of her speed skating career at the national sprint championships at Chino sports park skate center in Nagano Prefecture on Dec. 29.

(2) Yoshii, Kobayashi 1st-time winners at sprint c'ships

(2) Yoshii, Kobayashi 1st-time winners at sprint c'ships

CHINO, Japan - Masaaki Kobayashi skates in the men's 1,000-meter race at the national sprint championships at Chino sports park skate center in Nagano Prefecture on Dec. 29. He won the overall title at the meet for the first time after finishing fourth in the second leg of the 500 and third in the 1,000. He earned 144.180 points for victory.

Ahn wins Sankyo Ladies

Ahn wins Sankyo Ladies

TAKASAKI, Japan - South Korea's Ahn Sun Ju holds the winner's plate after her victory in the Sankyo Ladies Open golf tournament at Yoshii Country Club in Gunma Prefecture on Oct. 10, 2010. Ahn beat compatriot Park In Bee in a playoff.

Antitank missile fired accidentally in Japan

Antitank missile fired accidentally in Japan

MAEBASHI, Japan - This August 2008 photo shows an antitank missile being fired during a review of the Ground Self-Defense Force in Shizuoka Prefecture. A weapon of the same model was erroneously fired during a check April 22, 2010, at the GSDF's Yoshii ammunition depot in Gunma Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, but no one was injured.

Antitank missile fired accidentally in Japan

Antitank missile fired accidentally in Japan

MAEBASHI, Japan - This photo shows a gate at the Yoshii ammunition depot of the Ground Self-Defense Force in Gunma Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, on April 22, 2010. An antitank missile was erroneously fired during an equipment check in the camp the same day, but no one was injured.

Yoshii 15th in women's 1,000m speed skating

Yoshii 15th in women's 1,000m speed skating

RICHMOND, Canada - Japan's Sayuri Yoshii reacts after finishing the race in the women's 1,000-meter speed skating event at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games at the Richmond Olympic Oval in Richmond, Canada on Feb. 18, 2010. Yoshii placed 15th with a time of 1 minute, 17.81 seconds.

Yoshii 15th in women's 1,000m speed skating

Yoshii 15th in women's 1,000m speed skating

RICHMOND, Canada - Japan's Sayuri Yoshii competes in the women's 1,000-meter speed skating event at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games at the Richmond Olympic Oval in Richmond, Canada on Feb. 18, 2010. Yoshii placed 15th with a time of 1 minute, 17.81 seconds.

Yoshii finishes 5th in women's 500-meter speed skating

Yoshii finishes 5th in women's 500-meter speed skating

RICHMOND, Canada - Japan's Sayuri Yoshii skates in her second and final race in the women's 500-meter speed skating event at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games at the Richmond Olympic Oval in Richmond, Canada, on Feb. 16, 2010. Yoshii came in fifth place with an overall time of 76.99 seconds.

Yoshii finishes 5th in women's 500-meter speed skating

Yoshii finishes 5th in women's 500-meter speed skating

RICHMOND, Canada - Japan's Sayuri Yoshii skates in the first of her two runs in the women's 500-meter speed skating event at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games at the Richmond Olympic Oval in Richmond, Canada, on Feb. 16, 2010. Yoshii came in fifth place with an overall time of 76.99 seconds.

Yoshii finishes 5th in women's 500-meter speed skating

Yoshii finishes 5th in women's 500-meter speed skating

RICHMOND, Canada - Japan's Sayuri Yoshii skates in the first of her two runs in the women's 500-meter speed skating event at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games at the Richmond Olympic Oval in Richmond, Canada, on Feb. 16, 2010. Yoshii came in fifth place with an overall time of 76.99 seconds.

Japan Olympic speed skaters leave for Canada

Japan Olympic speed skaters leave for Canada

NARITA, Japan - Japanese speed skaters Miho Takagi (L) and Sayuri Yoshii wave as they leave Narita airport, east of Tokyo, for Canada along with other skaters on Jan. 20, 2010. The Japanese team plans to arrive in Vancouver on Feb. 4.

Yoshii 2nd overall at world sprint championships

Yoshii 2nd overall at world sprint championships

OBIHIRO, Japan - Japan's Sayuri Yoshii skates in the women's 1,000 meters at the World Sprint Speed Skating Championships at the Meiji Hokkaido-Tokachi Oval in Obihiro, Hokkaido, on Jan. 17, 2010. Yoshii won the 1,000 meters for the second day in a row, finishing second in the overall standings.

Yoshii wins women's 1000 meters at world sprint speed skating

Yoshii wins women's 1000 meters at world sprint speed skating

OBIHIRO, Japan - Sayuri Yoshii of Japan skates during the women's 1000 meters at the World Sprint Speed Skating Championships at the Meiji Hokkaido-Tokachi Oval in Obihiro, Hokkaido, on Jan. 16, 2010. Yoshii won the race in 1:17.26 in the absence of top skaters in the distance.

Yoshii 2nd at season-ending World Cup

Yoshii 2nd at season-ending World Cup

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - Anni Friesinger of Germany (R), the gold medalist in the women's 1,000 meters at the ISU World Cup Speed Skating, and Sayuri Yoshii of Japan, the silver medalist, wave on the podium at the Utah Olympic Oval in Salt Lake City on March 6.

Speed skating: Yoshii 2nd at season-ending World Cup

Speed skating: Yoshii 2nd at season-ending World Cup

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - Sayuri Yoshii of Japan competes during the women's 1,000 meters at the season-ending ISU World Cup Speed Skating at the Utah Olympic Oval in Salt Lake City on March 6. Yoshii took second place with a time of 1 minute, 14.05 seconds.

Speed skating: Yoshii 2nd at season-ending World Cup

Speed skating: Yoshii 2nd at season-ending World Cup

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - Sayuri Yoshii of Japan competes during the women's 1,000 meters at the season-ending ISU World Cup Speed Skating at the Utah Olympic Oval in Salt Lake City on March 6. Yoshii took second place with a time of 1 minute, 14.05 seconds.

Yoshii secures double for second straight year

Yoshii secures double for second straight year

NAGANO, Japan - Sayuri Yoshii defends her women's 1,000-meter crown at the speed skating single-distance championships at M-Wave ice arena in Nagano on Oct. 26 after claiming the 500-meter title the previous day. Yoshii clocked a time of 1 minute, 17.52 seconds in the 1,000-meter event.

Yoshii defends women's 500 national title

Yoshii defends women's 500 national title

NAGANO, Japan - Sayuri Yoshii set a new meet record of 38.25 seconds to successfully defend her women's 500-meter crown at the speed skating national single-distance championships at M-Wave ice arena in Nagano on Oct. 25.

Kato, Yoshii win national sprint titles

Kato, Yoshii win national sprint titles

KUSHIRO, Japan - Sayuri Yoshii held onto her opening-day lead to complete victory at the speed skating national sprint championships at Yanagimachi speed skating track in Kushiro on Dec. 23.

Kato, Yoshii win national sprint titles

Kato, Yoshii win national sprint titles

KUSHIRO, Japan - Former 500-meter world record holder Joji Kato throws up his arms in joy after winning his first national sprint crown at the speed skating national sprint championships Yanagimachi speed skating track in Kushiro on Dec. 23.

Former major leaguer Yoshii to retire

Former major leaguer Yoshii to retire

TOKYO, Japan - File photo of veteran right-hander and former major leaguer Masato Yoshii, who has decided to end his playing career and join the coaching staff of the Nippon Ham Fighters next season, baseball sources said Nov. 5. The photo shows Yoshii pitching for the New York Mets in April 1998, scoring a win in his debut game as a major leaguer.

Yoshii bags 2nd title at single-distance nat'ls

Yoshii bags 2nd title at single-distance nat'ls

NAGANO, Japan - Sayuri Yoshii cruises to victory in the women's 1,000 meters on the final day of the speed skating national single-distance championships at Nagano's M-Wave ice arena on Oct. 28.

Baseball: Veteran Yoshii traded to Lotte

Baseball: Veteran Yoshii traded to Lotte

CHIBA, Japan - Veteran right-hander Masato Yoshii (R), 42, poses with Lotte Marines manager Bobby Valentine at a news conference at the Chiba Marine Stadium on July 2 after it was announced that he is being traded to the Marines for Orix Buffaloes infielder Koji Hirashita.

Buddhist temples urged to become relevant again to locals

Buddhist temples urged to become relevant again to locals

KAWAGUCHI, Japan - Mothers and children make ''miso,'' a fermented soybean paste commonly used in Japanese cooking, at the word of command from Joko Yoshii (far right), a 33-year-old Buddhist priest at a hands-on class held in the main hall of Zengyoji, a Buddhist temple in Kawaguchi, Saitama Prefecture on Feb. 19.

Aoki hits go-ahead homer as CL wins All-Star Game 1

Aoki hits go-ahead homer as CL wins All-Star Game 1

TOKYO, Japan - Yakult Swallows outfielder Norichika Aoki watches the ball after hitting a go-ahead solo homer off went 2-for-4 with a go-ahead solo homer the right-field seats off veteran Orix Buffaloes right-hander Masato Yoshii in the third inning, leading the Central League to a 3-1 win over the Pacific League in the first game of the All-Star series at Jingu Stadium on July 21. Aoki was named the MVP of the game.

Netherlands' Timmer wins women's 1,000m speed skating race

Netherlands' Timmer wins women's 1,000m speed skating race

TURIN, Italy - The Netherlands' Marianne Timmer (R) is congratulated by Japan's Tomoni Okazaki (L) and Sayuri Yoshii after winning the women's 1,000-meter speed skating race at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games at the Oval Lingotto rink in Turin, Italy, on Feb. 19.

Japanese speed skaters arrive in Milan

Japanese speed skaters arrive in Milan

MILAN, Italy - Japanese speed skaters Jogi Kato (L), Sayuri Osuga (C) and Sayuri Yoshii (L), who will participate in the upcoming Winter Olympic Games, arrive at Milan airport en route to Turin on Feb. 1.

Yoshii 2nd as Kato loses it at World Cup meet

Yoshii 2nd as Kato loses it at World Cup meet

MILWAUKEE, United States - Japan's Sayuri Yoshii smiles on the podium after grabbing the silver medal in the women's 500 meters at a World Cup speed skating meet in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Nov. 26.

Yoshii 2nd as Kato loses it at World Cup meet

Yoshii 2nd as Kato loses it at World Cup meet

MILWAUKEE, United States - Japan's Sayuri Yoshii grabs second place in the women's 500 meters at a World Cup speed skating meet in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Nov. 26.

Orix rehires former major leaguer Yoshii

Orix rehires former major leaguer Yoshii

KOCHI, Japan - The Orix Buffaloes said Feb. 21 they have rehired veteran right-hander Masato Yoshii (L), just months after releasing the former major-league player. Yoshii shakes hands with team manager Akira Ogi (R) in a news conference in Kochi, southwestern Japan, the same day.

JCP lawmaker to quit party post for failure to pay pension premiums

JCP lawmaker to quit party post for failure to pay pension premiums

TOKYO, Japan - Hidekatsu Yoshii (fore), a senior House of Representatives member of the Japanese Communist Party, walks out after giving a press conference in the Diet building May 6. He admitted that he has not paid pension premiums for more than 15 years and will quit the post of vice chairman of the Diet affairs committee in the party's lower house caucus.

Yoshii shows conviction to help Orix

Yoshii shows conviction to help Orix

KOBE, Japan - Veteran right-hander Masato Yoshii (L) poses for a photograph with Orix BlueWave manager Hiromichi Ishige at a news conference in Kobe on Jan. 10 after striking a deal with the Pacific League club. Yoshii, who was released by the Montreal Expos in December, said he is determined to help the Orix BlueWave win games next season.

Yoshii strikes deal with Orix

Yoshii strikes deal with Orix

KOBE, Japan - Masato Yoshii, who was released by the Montreal Expos last month after five seasons in the major leagues, speak to reporters in Tokyo on Jan. 7 about his one-year contract with the Orix BlueWave. Yoshii became the second former major leaguer to join the Pacific League club next season following a recent deal with pitcher Makoto ''Mac'' Suzuki. (MLB)

Yoshii rocked for eight runs

Yoshii rocked for eight runs

FORT LAUDERDALE, United States - Masato Yoshii was rocked for eight runs and 10 hits in two innings as the Montreal Expos fell in a 10-2 decision to the Baltimore Orioles in a preseason game at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on March 26. (MLB)