Snowboarding: Ayumu Hirano

Snowboarding: Ayumu Hirano

Ayumu Hirano, the 2022 Beijing Olympic men's snowboard halfpipe gold medalist, attends an event in Tokyo on Dec. 15, 2025, ahead of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in February 2026. Hirano won the World Cup opener in the current season in China earlier in the month.

Snowboarding: Ayumu Hirano

Snowboarding: Ayumu Hirano

Ayumu Hirano, the 2022 Beijing Olympic men's snowboard halfpipe gold medalist, attends an event in Tokyo on Dec. 15, 2025, ahead of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in February 2026. Hirano won the World Cup opener in the current season in China earlier in the month.

Snowboarding: World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou

Snowboarding: World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou

Rise Kudo of Japan poses after winning silver in the women's halfpipe at the World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou, China, on Dec. 12, 2025.

Snowboarding: World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou

Snowboarding: World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou

Rise Kudo of Japan performs en route to winning silver in the women's halfpipe at the World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou, China, on Dec. 12, 2025.

Snowboarding: World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou

Snowboarding: World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou

Rise Kudo of Japan poses after winning silver in the women's halfpipe at the World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou, China, on Dec. 12, 2025.

Snowboarding: World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou

Snowboarding: World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou

Rise Kudo of Japan performs en route to winning silver in the women's halfpipe at the World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou, China, on Dec. 12, 2025.

Snowboarding: World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou

Snowboarding: World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou

Ayumu Hirano (C) of Japan celebrates after winning gold in the men's halfpipe at the World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou, China, on Dec. 12, 2025, alongside compatriots Yuto Totsuka (L) and Ruka Hirano, who won silver and bronze, respectively.

Snowboarding: World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou

Snowboarding: World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou

Ayumu Hirano (C) of Japan celebrates after winning gold in the men's halfpipe at the World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou, China, on Dec. 12, 2025, alongside compatriots Yuto Totsuka (L) and Ruka Hirano, who won silver and bronze, respectively.

Snowboarding: World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou

Snowboarding: World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou

Ayumu Hirano of Japan poses after winning gold in the men's halfpipe at the World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou, China, on Dec. 12, 2025.

Snowboarding: World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou

Snowboarding: World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou

Ayumu Hirano of Japan poses after winning gold in the men's halfpipe at the World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou, China, on Dec. 12, 2025.

Snowboarding: World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou

Snowboarding: World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou

Ayumu Hirano of Japan smiles after winning gold in the men's halfpipe at the World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou, China, on Dec. 12, 2025.

Snowboarding: World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou

Snowboarding: World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou

Ayumu Hirano of Japan smiles after winning gold in the men's halfpipe at the World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou, China, on Dec. 12, 2025.

Snowboarding: World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou

Snowboarding: World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou

Ayumu Hirano of Japan celebrates after winning gold in the men's halfpipe at the World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou, China, on Dec. 12, 2025.

Snowboarding: World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou

Snowboarding: World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou

Ayumu Hirano of Japan celebrates after winning gold in the men's halfpipe at the World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou, China, on Dec. 12, 2025.

Snowboarding: World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou

Snowboarding: World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou

Ayumu Hirano of Japan performs en route to winning the men's halfpipe final at the World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou, China, on Dec. 12, 2025.

Snowboarding: World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou

Snowboarding: World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou

Ayumu Hirano of Japan performs en route to winning the men's halfpipe final at the World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou, China, on Dec. 12, 2025.

Snowboarding: World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou

Snowboarding: World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou

Ayumu Hirano of Japan performs en route to winning the men's halfpipe final at the World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou, China, on Dec. 12, 2025.

Snowboarding: World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou

Snowboarding: World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou

Ayumu Hirano of Japan performs en route to winning the men's halfpipe final at the World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou, China, on Dec. 12, 2025.

Snowboarding: World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou

Snowboarding: World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou

Ayumu Hirano of Japan performs en route to winning the men's halfpipe final at the World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou, China, on Dec. 12, 2025.

Snowboarding: World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou

Snowboarding: World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou

Ayumu Hirano of Japan performs en route to winning the men's halfpipe final at the World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou, China, on Dec. 12, 2025.

Snowboarding: World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou

Snowboarding: World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou

Ayumu Hirano of Japan performs en route to winning the men's halfpipe final at the World Cup opener in Zhangjiakou, China, on Dec. 12, 2025.

Freestyle skiing: World Cup in Ruka

Freestyle skiing: World Cup in Ruka

Ikuma Horishima of Japan celebrates after winning the men's moguls season opener at the Freestyle Ski World Cup in Ruka, Finland, on Dec. 7, 2025.

Freestyle skiing: World Cup in Ruka

Freestyle skiing: World Cup in Ruka

Ikuma Horishima of Japan celebrates after winning the men's moguls season opener at the Freestyle Ski World Cup in Ruka, Finland, on Dec. 7, 2025.

Baseball: Division Series between Dodgers and Phillies

Baseball: Division Series between Dodgers and Phillies

Los Angeles Dodgers players celebrate after beating the Philadelphia Phillies 5-3 in the opener of their Division Series at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Oct. 4, 2025.

Baseball: Division Series between Dodgers and Phillies

Baseball: Division Series between Dodgers and Phillies

Los Angeles Dodgers players celebrate after beating the Philadelphia Phillies 5-3 in the opener of their Division Series at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Oct. 4, 2025.

Football: Spanish La Liga

Football: Spanish La Liga

Real Sociedad's Takefusa Kubo (R) celebrates with teammate Pablo Marin after scoring an equalizer in the second half of the Spanish La Liga team's season opener against Valencia on Aug. 16, 2025, in Valencia, Spain.

Football: Spanish La Liga

Football: Spanish La Liga

Real Sociedad's Takefusa Kubo (R) scores an equalizer in the second half of the Spanish La Liga's season opener against Valencia on Aug. 16, 2025, in Valencia, Spain.

Football: Club World Cup

Football: Club World Cup

Joao Neves (R) of Paris Saint-Germain scores the opener during the first half of a Club World Cup round of 16 football match against Inter Miami in Atlanta on June 29, 2025.

Football: Club World Cup

Football: Club World Cup

Joao Neves (R) of Paris Saint-Germain scores the opener during the first half of a Club World Cup round of 16 football match against Inter Miami in Atlanta on June 29, 2025.

Football: Club World Cup

Football: Club World Cup

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior (R) celebrates with teammates after scoring the opener in the first half of a Club World Cup Group H football match against Salzburg in Philadelphia on June 26, 2025.

Football: Club World Cup

Football: Club World Cup

Former England star David Beckham waves during the FIFA Club World Cup opener between Inter Miami and Al Ahly in Miami, Florida, on June 14, 2025.

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Daichi Kamada (15) of Japan reacts after scoring the opener during the first half of a football World Cup Asian qualifier against Indonesia at Panasonic Stadium in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, on June 10, 2025.

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Daichi Kamada (C) of Japan scores the opener during the first half of a football World Cup Asian qualifier against Indonesia at Panasonic Stadium in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, on June 10, 2025.

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Daichi Kamada (R) of Japan reacts after scoring the opener during the first half of a football World Cup Asian qualifier against Indonesia at Panasonic Stadium in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, on June 10, 2025.

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Daichi Kamada (R) of Japan reacts after scoring the opener during the first half of a football World Cup Asian qualifier against Indonesia at Panasonic Stadium in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, on June 10, 2025.

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Football: Indonesia vs. Japan

Daichi Kamada (L, top) of Japan scores the opener during the first half of a football World Cup Asian qualifier against Indonesia at Panasonic Stadium in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, on June 10, 2025.

Baseball: Japan vs. Netherlands

Baseball: Japan vs. Netherlands

Japan's Seiya Hosokawa scores on an RBI double by Takashi Umino in the eighth inning of the opener of a two-game baseball exhibition series against the Netherlands at Kyocera Dome Osaka in Osaka, western Japan, on March 5, 2025.

Baseball: Japan vs. Netherlands

Baseball: Japan vs. Netherlands

Japan's Akito Takabe hits a two-run single in the sixth inning of the opener of a two-game baseball exhibition series against the Netherlands at Kyocera Dome Osaka in Osaka, western Japan, on March 5, 2025.

Baseball: Japan vs. Netherlands

Baseball: Japan vs. Netherlands

Japan's Takashi Umino hits an RBI double in the eighth inning of the opener of a two-game baseball exhibition series against the Netherlands at Kyocera Dome Osaka in Osaka, western Japan, on March 5, 2025.

Baseball: Japan vs. Netherlands

Baseball: Japan vs. Netherlands

Japan players high-five each other after winning the opener of a two-game baseball exhibition series against the Netherlands at Kyocera Dome Osaka in Osaka, western Japan, on March 5, 2025.

Baseball: Japan vs. Netherlands

Baseball: Japan vs. Netherlands

Japan's Shun Mizutani rounds the bases after hitting a leadoff solo home run in the first inning of the opener of a two-game baseball exhibition series against the Netherlands at Kyocera Dome Osaka in Osaka, western Japan, on March 5, 2025.

Baseball: Japan vs. Netherlands

Baseball: Japan vs. Netherlands

Japan's Shun Mizutani hits a leadoff solo home run in the first inning of the opener of a two-game baseball exhibition series against the Netherlands at Kyocera Dome Osaka in Osaka, western Japan, on March 5, 2025.

Baseball: Japan vs. Netherlands

Baseball: Japan vs. Netherlands

Japan's Shun Mizutani reacts after hitting a leadoff solo home run in the first inning of the opener of a two-game baseball exhibition series against the Netherlands at Kyocera Dome Osaka in Osaka, western Japan, on March 5, 2025.

Baseball: Japan vs. Netherlands

Baseball: Japan vs. Netherlands

Japan's Shun Mizutani hits a leadoff solo home run in the first inning of the opener of a two-game baseball exhibition series against the Netherlands at Kyocera Dome Osaka in Osaka, western Japan, on March 5, 2025.

Baseball: Japan vs. Netherlands

Baseball: Japan vs. Netherlands

Japan's Hiroya Miyagi throws in the opener of a two-game baseball exhibition series against the Netherlands at Kyocera Dome Osaka in Osaka, western Japan, on March 5, 2025.

Baseball: Japan vs. Netherlands

Baseball: Japan vs. Netherlands

Japan's Seiya Hosokawa hits an RBI single in the eighth inning of the opener of a two-game baseball exhibition series against the Netherlands at Kyocera Dome Osaka in Osaka, western Japan, on March 5, 2025.

Baseball: Japan vs. Netherlands

Baseball: Japan vs. Netherlands

Japan's Seiya Hosokawa hits an RBI single in the eighth inning of the opener of a two-game baseball exhibition series against the Netherlands at Kyocera Dome Osaka in Osaka, western Japan, on March 5, 2025.

Baseball: Japan vs. Netherlands

Baseball: Japan vs. Netherlands

Japan's Hiroya Miyagi throws in the opener of a two-game baseball exhibition series against the Netherlands at Kyocera Dome Osaka in Osaka, western Japan, on March 5, 2025.

Baseball: Japan vs. Netherlands

Baseball: Japan vs. Netherlands

Japan's Akito Takabe hits a two-run single in the sixth inning of the opener of a two-game baseball exhibition series against the Netherlands at Kyocera Dome Osaka in Osaka, western Japan, on March 5, 2025.

Football: Premier League

Football: Premier League

Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma reacts after scoring in the second half of an English Premier League football match against Ipswich Town on Jan. 16, 2025, in Ipswich, England. Mitoma tied former Leicester forward Shinji Okazaki for most goals scored by a Japanese player in the league at 14 after netting the opener in their 2-0 win at Ipswich.