Baseball: Buffaloes' Yamamoto wins 1st Sawamura Award

Orix Buffaloes pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto meets the press in Tokyo on Nov. 22, 2021. The 23-year-old ace pitcher of the Pacific League champion and the Olympic gold medal-winning Japan national team won the Eiji Sawamura Award as Japan's most impressive starting pitcher for the first time the same day.

Baseball: Buffaloes' Yamamoto wins 1st Sawamura Award

Orix Buffaloes pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto poses for a photo in Tokyo on Nov. 22, 2021. The 23-year-old ace pitcher of the Pacific League champion and the Olympic gold medal-winning Japan national team won the Eiji Sawamura Award as Japan's most impressive starting pitcher for the first time the same day.

Baseball: Buffaloes' Yamamoto wins 1st Sawamura Award

Orix Buffaloes pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto poses for a photo in Tokyo on Nov. 22, 2021. The 23-year-old ace pitcher of the Pacific League champion and the Olympic gold medal-winning Japan national team won the Eiji Sawamura Award as Japan's most impressive starting pitcher for the first time the same day.

Speed skating: World Cup event in Norway

Japan's Nao Kodaira (C) poses with her gold medal after winning the women's 500 meters at a World Cup speed skating event in Stavanger, Norway, on Nov. 21, 2021, alongside second-placed American Erin Jackson (L) and third-placed Russian Angelina Golikova.

Figure skating: Internationaux de France

Gold medalist Anna Shcherbakova of Russia (C), silver medalist Alena Kostornaia of Russia (L) and bronze medalist Wakaba Higuchi of Japan pose after the Internationaux de France women's figure skating competition, the fifth event of the Grand Prix series, on Nov. 20, 2021, in Grenoble, France.

Figure skating: Internationaux de France

Gold medalist Yuma Kagiyama of Japan (C), silver medalist Shun Sato of Japan (L) and bronze medalist Jason Brown of the United States pose on the podium after the Internationaux de France men's figure skating competition, the fifth event of the Grand Prix series, on Nov. 20, 2021, in Grenoble, France.

Figure skating: Internationaux de France

Yuma Kagiyama of Japan poses after winning gold at Internationaux de France, the fifth event of this season's Grand Prix figure skating series, on Nov. 20, 2021, in Grenoble, France.

Figure skating: Internationaux de France

Yuma Kagiyama of Japan performs in the men's free program en route to winning gold at Internationaux de France, the fifth event of this season's Grand Prix figure skating series, on Nov. 20, 2021, in Grenoble, France.

Figure skating: Internationaux de France

Yuma Kagiyama of Japan performs in the men's free program en route to winning gold at Internationaux de France, the fifth event of this season's Grand Prix figure skating series, on Nov. 20, 2021, in Grenoble, France.

Figure skating: Internationaux de France

Yuma Kagiyama of Japan performs in the men's free program en route to winning gold at Internationaux de France, the fifth event of this season's Grand Prix figure skating series, on Nov. 20, 2021, in Grenoble, France.

Speed skating: Nao Kodaira and her coach

Olympic speed skating gold medalist Nao Kodaira (R) and her coach Masahiro Yuki are pictured during official practice for the single-distance national championships at the M-Wave ice arena in Nagano, central Japan, on Oct. 21, 2021.

Speed skating: Nao Kodaira and her coach

Olympic speed skating gold medalist Nao Kodaira (R) and her coach Masahiro Yuki are pictured during official practice for the single-distance national championships at the M-Wave ice arena in Nagano, central Japan, on Oct. 21, 2021.

Figure skating: NHK Trophy

Japanese figure skater Shoma Uno poses after winning gold in the NHK Trophy, the fourth event of the Grand Prix series, at Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo on Nov. 13, 2021.

Figure skating: NHK Trophy

Japanese figure skater Shoma Uno performs in the men's free program en route to winning gold in the NHK Trophy, the fourth event of the Grand Prix series, at Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo on Nov. 13, 2021.

Figure skating: NHK Trophy

Japanese figure skater Shoma Uno poses after winning gold in the NHK Trophy, the fourth event of the Grand Prix series, at Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo on Nov. 13, 2021.

Figure skating: NHK Trophy

Japanese figure skater Shoma Uno performs in the men's free program en route to winning gold in the NHK Trophy, the fourth event of the Grand Prix series, at Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo on Nov. 13, 2021.

Figure skating: NHK Trophy

Japanese figure skater Shoma Uno performs in the men's free program en route to winning gold in the NHK Trophy, the fourth event of the Grand Prix series, at Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo on Nov. 13, 2021.

Figure skating: NHK Trophy

Japanese figure skater Shoma Uno performs in the men's free program en route to winning gold in the NHK Trophy, the fourth event of the Grand Prix series, at Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo on Nov. 13, 2021.

Figure skating: NHK Trophy

Japanese figure skater Kaori Sakamoto waves to the crowd after performing in the women's free program during the NHK Trophy, the fourth event of the Grand Prix series, at Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo on Nov. 13, 2021. She won gold.

Figure skating: NHK Trophy

Japanese figure skater Kaori Sakamoto is pictured after performing in the women's free program during the NHK Trophy, the fourth event of the Grand Prix series, at Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo on Nov. 13, 2021. She won gold.

Figure skating: NHK Trophy

Japanese figure skater Kaori Sakamoto is pictured after performing in the women's free program during the NHK Trophy, the fourth event of the Grand Prix series, at Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo on Nov. 13, 2021. She won gold.

Figure skating: NHK Trophy

Japanese figure skater Kaori Sakamoto poses after winning gold in the NHK Trophy, the fourth event of the Grand Prix series, at Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo on Nov. 13, 2021.

Figure skating: NHK Trophy

Kaori Sakamoto of Japan performs in the women's free program en route to winning gold in the NHK Trophy, the fourth event of the Grand Prix figure skating series, at Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo on Nov. 13, 2021.

Figure skating: NHK Trophy

Kaori Sakamoto of Japan performs in the women's free program en route to winning gold in the NHK Trophy, the fourth event of the Grand Prix figure skating series, at Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo on Nov. 13, 2021.

Figure skating: NHK Trophy

Kaori Sakamoto of Japan performs in the women's free program en route to winning gold in the NHK Trophy, the fourth event of the Grand Prix figure skating series, at Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo on Nov. 13, 2021.

Figure skating: NHK Trophy

Kaori Sakamoto of Japan performs in the women's free program en route to winning gold in the NHK Trophy, the fourth event of the Grand Prix figure skating series, at Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo on Nov. 13, 2021.

Figure skating: Gran Premio d'Italia

Japanese figure skater Yuma Kagiyama reacts after performing in the men's free skate at Gran Premio d'Italia, the third event of the Grand Prix series, in Turin, Italy, on Nov. 6, 2021. Kagiyama bounced back from a shaky short program to win gold.

Figure skating: Gran Premio d'Italia

Yuma Kagiyama of Japan performs in the men's free skate en route to winning gold at Gran Premio d'Italia, the third event of the Grand Prix figure skating series, in Turin, Italy, on Nov. 6, 2021.

Figure skating: Gran Premio d'Italia

Anna Shcherbakova of Russia performs in the women's free program en route to winning gold in Gran Premio d'Italia, the third event of the Grand Prix figure skating series, in Turin, Italy, on Nov. 6, 2021.

Figure skating: Gran Premio d'Italia

Anna Shcherbakova of Russia performs in the women's free program en route to winning gold in Gran Premio d'Italia, the third event of the Grand Prix figure skating series, in Turin, Italy, on Nov. 6, 2021.

Figure skating: Gran Premio d'Italia

Anna Shcherbakova of Russia performs in the women's free program en route to winning gold in Gran Premio d'Italia, the third event of the Grand Prix figure skating series, in Turin, Italy, on Nov. 6, 2021.

Figure skating: Gran Premio d'Italia

Anna Shcherbakova of Russia performs in the women's free program en route to winning gold in Gran Premio d'Italia, the third event of the Grand Prix figure skating series, in Turin, Italy, on Nov. 6, 2021.

Figure skating: Gran Premio d'Italia

Yuma Kagiyama of Japan reacts after performing in the men's free program during Gran Premio d'Italia, the third event of the Grand Prix figure skating series, in Turin, Italy, on Nov. 6, 2021. He won gold.

Figure skating: Gran Premio d'Italia

Yuma Kagiyama of Japan reacts after performing in the men's free program during Gran Premio d'Italia, the third event of the Grand Prix figure skating series, in Turin, Italy, on Nov. 6, 2021. He won gold.

Figure skating: Gran Premio d'Italia

Yuma Kagiyama of Japan performs in the men's free program en route to winning gold in Gran Premio d'Italia, the third event of the Grand Prix figure skating series, in Turin, Italy, on Nov. 6, 2021.

Figure skating: Gran Premio d'Italia

Yuma Kagiyama of Japan waves after performing in the men's free program during Gran Premio d'Italia, the third event of the Grand Prix figure skating series, in Turin, Italy, on Nov. 6, 2021. He won gold.

Figure skating: Gran Premio d'Italia

Yuma Kagiyama of Japan performs in the men's free program en route to winning gold in Gran Premio d'Italia, the third event of the Grand Prix figure skating series, in Turin, Italy, on Nov. 6, 2021.

Figure skating: Gran Premio d'Italia

Yuma Kagiyama of Japan performs in the men's free program en route to winning gold in Gran Premio d'Italia, the third event of the Grand Prix figure skating series, in Turin, Italy, on Nov. 6, 2021.

Figure skating: Gran Premio d'Italia

Yuma Kagiyama of Japan performs in the men's free program en route to winning gold in Gran Premio d'Italia, the third event of the Grand Prix figure skating series, in Turin, Italy, on Nov. 6, 2021.

Gold-colored mailbox in Olympic gold medalist's home town

A gold-colored mailbox is unveiled in front of the city hall of Matsubara, Osaka Prefecture, on Nov. 2, 2021, in tribute to the gold medal won by Momiji Nishiya, who hails from the western Japan city, in the women's street skateboarding at the Tokyo Olympics at the age of 13.

Rhythmic gymnastics: World championships

Russian gymnasts pose after winning gold in the group all-around competitions at the rhythmic gymnastics world championships at West Japan General Exhibition Center Annex in Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture on Oct. 29, 2021.

Artistic gymnastics: World championships

(From L) Silver medalist Pauline Schaefer-Betz of Germany, gold medalist Urara Ashikawa of Japan and bronze medalist Mai Murakami of Japan pose with their medals for the women's balance beam on the final day of the artistic gymnastics world championships on Oct. 24, 2021, at Kitakyushu General Gymnasium in Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan.

Swimming: Olympic gold medalist Hagino retires

Japanese swimmer Kosuke Hagino, the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic gold medalist in the men's 400-meter individual medley, poses for photos after announcing his retirement at a press conference in Tokyo on Oct. 24, 2021.

Swimming: Olympic gold medalist Hagino retires

Japanese swimmer Kosuke Hagino, the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic gold medalist in the men's 400-meter individual medley, announces his retirement at a press conference in Tokyo on Oct. 24, 2021.

Artistic gymnastics: World championships

Rebeca Andrade of Brazil poses after winning gold in the women's vault on the sixth day of the artistic gymnastics world championships on Oct. 23, 2021, at Kitakyushu General Gymnasium in Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan.

Artistic gymnastics: World championships

Rebeca Andrade (C) of Brazil celebrates after winning gold in the women's vault on the sixth day of the artistic gymnastics world championships on Oct. 23, 2021, at Kitakyushu General Gymnasium in Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan.

Artistic gymnastics: World championships

Nicola Bartolini of Italy reacts after competing in the men's floor exercise final on the sixth day of the artistic gymnastics world championships on Oct. 23, 2021, at Kitakyushu General Gymnasium in Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan. He won gold.

Artistic gymnastics: World championships

(From L) Silver medalist Daiki Hashimoto of Japan, gold medalist Zhang Boheng of China and bronze medalist Illia Kovtun of Ukraine stand during the medal ceremony for the men's all-around final on the fifth day of the artistic gymnastics world championships on Oct. 22, 2021, at Kitakyushu General Gymnasium in Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan.

Speed skating: Single-distance Japanese c'ships

Nao Kodaira competes in the women's 500 meters at the single-distance national speed skating championships at the M-Wave ice arena in Nagano, central Japan, on Oct. 22, 2021. The 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic gold medalist won the race.

Speed skating: Single-distance Japanese c'ships

Nao Kodaira competes in the women's 500 meters at the single-distance national speed skating championships at the M-Wave ice arena in Nagano, central Japan, on Oct. 22, 2021. The 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic gold medalist won the race.