Overview
- Japan Football Association announced 23 players for the U-23 Asian Cup starting January 6 in Saudi Arabia, including Ryuu Sato (FC Tokyo) and Ozeki (Kawasaki).
- The Japan Sports Agency will launch a new system to channel sports lottery proceeds to every municipality, with expected use in shifting public junior-high club activities to community groups.
- Tunisia lost 2–3 to Nigeria in Group C of the African Championship in Fez, dropping to 1–1 in the first stage as Nigeria secured a knockout berth.
- National high school soccer opened at Tokyo’s National Stadium, where Tokushima Municipal defeated Waseda Jitsugyo 4–1 to reach the second round.
- IBF flyweight champion Masamichi Yabuki recorded his first title defense and said he felt relieved in a news conference the following day.