SUMO Nagoya University has reconfirmed in an autopsy that the death of a 17-year-old sumo wrestler who died last June allegedly due to hazing was caused by shock resulting from multiple trauma, sources close to the matter said Monday. [KYODO]

SOCCER Midfielder Naoya Kikuchi, who was released by J-League club Jubilo Iwata last summer after being arrested for having sex with a 15-year-old girl, has signed for German second-division club FC Carl Zeiss Jena. [KYODO]

SUMO The Aichi prefectural police have decided to arrest the former stablemaster Tokitsukaze and three sumo wrestlers by early next month, after concluding that their beatings and assaults over two days on a 17-year-old junior wrestler led to his death in June. [YOMIURI]

SUMO The Mongolian yokozuna pair appear to be heading for a climatic rumble at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament. [KYODO]

SOCCER Former Japan coach Ivica Osim has been recovering steadily from a stroke he suffered last November and could be released from a hospital in late February, Japan Football Association President Saburo Kawabuchi said Wednesday. [KYODO]

SUMO Top-ranked maegashira Kisenosato played spoiler on Asashoryu’s comeback by handing the Mongolian yokozuna a shock first loss on the second day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Monday. [KYODO]

SPORTS China’s less-than-sparkling reputation for air pollution and food safety have led Olympic teams from 20 countries to plan to hold their training camps in Japan rather than in China in the weeks leading up to this year’s Beijing Games. [YOMIURI]

SPORTS Links prodigy Ryo Ishikawa announced on Thursday he has turned pro, becoming Japan’s youngest-ever golf professional. [MAINICHI]

SUMO Yokozuna Asashoryu said Monday that he intends to return to his native Mongolia during the year-end and New Year holidays ahead of his scheduled comeback in a tournament next month. [KYODO]

SPORTS Nippon Ham Fighters right-hander Yu Darvish became the youngest player in Japanese baseball history to reach 200 million yen in annual salary when the 21-year-old received a hefty pay raise of 128 million yen from the club on Saturday. [KYODO]

SUMO Yokozuna Asashoryu made clear Thursday he will wrestle in the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament, saying his fitness level has improved steadily since he suffered a fresh injury. [KYODO]

SOCCER New Japan coach Takeshi Okada began the first training session for his side on Wednesday with the ambitious goal of finishing in the top three at the 2010 World Cup finals. [KYODO]

BASEBALL New York Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui caused a car crash in Tokyo earlier this month, police said Wednesday.r [MAINICHI]

SOCCER Goalkeeper Ryota Tsuzuki went from villain to hero as Japan’s Urawa Reds beat Tunisia’s Etoile Sahel 4-2 in a penalty shootout to finish third at the Club World Cup on Sunday. [KYODO]

SOCCER Urawa Reds defender Marcus Tulio Tanaka will be sidelined for three to four weeks because of a hamstring injury and miss Sunday’s Club World Cup match, soccer officials said Saturday. [KYODO]

BASEBALL The Lotte Marines announced Friday they have agreed on a one-year 70 million yen deal with Yakult Swallows right-hander Brian Sikorski.

SOCCER Norio Sasaki is set to be promoted to head coach of the Japan women’s national team, it was learned Wednesday. [KYODO]

SUMO Mongolian grand champion Asashoryu returned to the raised- ring Sunday after a two-tournament ban was lifted, participating in the winter regional tour. [KYODO]

SPORTS Brendan Jones shot a scintillating final-round 61 to win the Nippon Series JT Cup by one shot over Toru Taniguchi, who clinched his second money title on the JGTO tour. [KYODO]

BASEBALL The Los Angeles Dodgers sent a three-man contingent that included closer Takashi Saito to meet with free-agent pitcher Hiroki Kuroda in Tokyo last week, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday. [KYODO]