Capital of Aichi Prefecture, Japan; major port and industrial hub
Six nations teams start the Nations Championship by facing off against southern teams in July, with Scotland playing Argentina in Córdoba and a slate of matchups that will define the tournament’s early tone. The inaugural event will be broadcast on ITV and STV in the UK, with daily live coverage.
Three female lions die at Tama Zoological Park in Tokyo amid a record heatwave. Ten lions have fallen ill since mid-July, and staff are treating several others while air-conditioned enclosures and cooling measures are being deployed.
A seven-year-old boy on Mount Fuji was found sitting on a bench near a mountain hut after his father left him to continue the ascent with his older son. The child, from Nagoya, was rescued by staff and police with no injuries reported. Authorities urge groups to pace themselves to protect all climbers.
A magnitude 5.8–5.9 earthquake struck southern Ibaraki and rattled Tokyo, injuring dozens across five prefectures. Trains faced delays; Shinkansen service remains normal. Authorities set up a task force to assess damage as residents brace for possible aftershocks.
Japan’s Earthquake Research Committee has updated risk projections for the Kinki region, including Osaka and Kobe, citing a 50–60% chance of a magnitude 6.8+ quake over the forecast period. The assessment, based on 45 active faults, places Kinki’s risk on par with Tokyo’s region, amid broader concerns about a Nankai Trough megathrust event that could devastate coastal areas.
In a five-over first official, India has defeated Japan by two runs after a controversial wide was overturned by umpires in the final over. Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel have led India with key contributions, while Japan's chase ends at 30-3.
The Asian Games opening events have been overshadowed by a misplayed national anthem for South Korea before a men’s hockey match against Bangladesh. The error prompted formal protests, quick apologies, and healthily chaotic scenes as teams prepared for competition.
A wave of doping cases has affected athletes across multiple sports this week, with legal actions and disciplinary rulings shaping careers and competition. The stories highlight how authorities are tightening rules and how athletes respond to allegations and sanctions.
Typhoon Dujuan has brought sustained winds of 130–144 km/h, prompting evacuations across multiple prefectures. Airports have canceled dozens of flights, trains are suspended, and power cuts affect tens of thousands as officials warn of record rainfall and landslide risk. The storm is moving northeast, with authorities forecasting further heavy rain.
Fariba Hashimi, an Afghan-born cyclist based in Italy, has won silver in the women’s road race near Nagoya, Japan. She trained in disguise during her teenage years to pursue cycling after fleeing the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Hashimi aims to inspire Afghan women and hopes for further progress in Kabul and beyond.
Ohashi has secured multiple golds at the Asian Games, including a world-record 200m breaststroke and a series of freestyle titles, highlighting Japan and China’s ongoing supremacy in swimming as Tokyo hosts a broader sports programme.
At Nagoya, Wang Xiyu defeats Eala to reach the women's singles final, while Zhang Shuai advances to face Wang in the all-Chinese final. Eala may face a WTA fine for skipping the China Open as she represented the Philippines.