Surge in Japan's Interest for Dodgers vs Diamondbacks MLB Division Series: Japanese fans show a huge spike in interest for MLB Division Series games, particularly Dodgers versus Diamondbacks, driven by Shohei Ohtani's stellar
Regional Pulse in Japan
Country pulse digest
Saturday, July 11, 2026
Regional Pulse in Japan
In Japan, significant search spikes reveal strong engagement with major league baseball games featuring Shohei Ohtani and other teams, interest in celebrities' career developments and recoveries, curiosity about women's volleyball transfers abroad.
Active topics
24
Search volume
650K
Leading topic
Sports
Attention mix
What the country is searching
24
Sports46% (11)
Entertainment21% (5)
World13% (3)
Life8% (2)
Weather4% (1)
Money4% (1)
Technology4% (1)
Why people are curious
The dominant curiosity in Japan is driven by intent to watch and follow live sports events, particularly baseball games showcasing Japanese talent and international competitions. Entertainment-related searches often focus on following favorite celebrities’ career updates, new roles, and live performances, reflecting a desire for ongoing engagement with popular culture. There is also an explanatory intent behind searches concerning events such as voice actress health, climate phenomena like the super El Niño, and geopolitical military activities, indicating people's need to understand and make sense of current affairs.
What to know now
The pulse, explained
Rise in Searches on Voice Actress Shizuka Furuya's Return from Accident: Fans actively seek information about Shizuka Furuya returning to voice acting after an accident, showing concern and support for her recovery.
Heightened Attention on Volleyball Player Yukiko Wada's Overseas Transfer: Volleyball fans follow Yukiko Wada's move from NEC Red Rockets to Italy, eagerly tracking her career progression.
Increased Interest in Actress Satou Honami's Latest Work: Growing curiosity surrounds Satou Honami’s roles in live-action dramas and recent projects, highlighting increased audience engagement.
Japanese Audience Tracks White Sox vs. Athletics Baseball Highlights: Searches on White Sox vs Athletics game and highlights focus on Japanese and international baseball players and key moments.
Curiosity About Leading Boxing YouTubers in 2026: People are exploring top boxing YouTubers like Takunori Hatayama to grasp the current leaders in boxing digital content.
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Ranked searches
What people are curious about in Japan
The leading searches, their context, and the related questions forming around them.
01
SportsPeaking
ドジャース 対 dバックス
There is a strong interest in the MLB Division Series games between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks, especially among Japanese fans following Shohei Ohtani's performance.
200K+ searches · 1,000% growthSearch volume up 1900%
02
EntertainmentSurging
古谷静佳 事故
Fans are searching about Shizuka Furuya, the voice actress known for 'Nichijou' character Nano, due to news about her returning to voice acting after an accident.
100K+ searches · 1,000% growthSearch volume up 100%
古谷静佳頭蓋骨
03
SportsSurging
女子 バレー ネーションズ リーグ
Japanese and international volleyball fans are following Yukiko Wada's career as she announces her move from NEC Red Rockets in Japan to a club in Italy for the upcoming season.
50K+ searches · 500% growthSearch volume up 100%
女子バレーボールネーションズリーグバレーボールトルコ女子代表和田由紀子
04
EntertainmentSurging
さとうほなみ
People are searching for information about Satou Honami including her roles in live-action and drama adaptations.
20K+ searches · 1,000% growthSearch volume up 100%
柄本時生ほな・いこかほな いこか
05
SportsSurging
ホワイトソックス 対 アスレチックス
Searchers are tracking the latest baseball highlights and team achievements, including notable players and game outcomes in Japanese and international leagues.
20K+ searches · 1,000% growthSearch volume up 100%
村上宗隆バルガス本塁打
06
SportsSurging
畑山隆則
The trend shows interest in top boxing YouTubers, likely to understand who leads digital boxing content in 2026.
20K+ searches · 1,000% growthSearch volume up 100%
07
WorldSurging
ロシア海軍
Searches about the Russian Navy surge in Japan as people track its activities and deployments in nearby waters.
20K+ searches · 1,000% growthSearch volume up 100%
08
EntertainmentSurging
ちゃん みな 東京 ドーム
Increased interest in Chanmina's Tokyo Dome events reflects fans eager to watch her live performances.
20K+ searches · 1,000% growthSearch volume up 100%
ちゃんみな 東京ドーム
09
SportsSurging
パドレス 対 ブルージェイズ
More people in Japan are following the Padres versus Blue Jays game, indicating a surge in baseball engagement.
20K+ searches · 1,000% growthSearch volume up 100%
10
EntertainmentNew
告白-25年目の秘密-
The drama '告白-25年目の秘密-' has surged in popularity in Japan, highlighted by a recent trailer release and cast updates.
20K+ searches · 1,000% growthFirst recent appearance
告白 ドラマ塩野瑛久岡崎紗絵
11
WorldNew
成田 駿河屋 2 号 店
A fire at 成田 駿河屋 2 号 店 near 成田山新勝寺 has caused concern among local communities in Japan.
20K+ searches · 300% growthFirst recent appearance
成田山 うなぎ屋 火事成田うなぎ駿河屋火事成田山新勝寺
12
WorldSurging
ギリシャ
Greece has become a focus of global news with multiple events including a building collapse and airport fee changes.
20K+ searches · 200% growthSearch volume up 100%
ライアンエアー 事故旅客機ライアンエアー
Technology / Explaining | 3 hours ago
openai
Why it matters
NewThis topic has only just appeared in the recent pulse, backed by 10K+ recent searches and 300% growth. People are searching to understand what happened and why.
First recent appearance
Reporting and context
Source coverage helping explain why this topic is moving.
Apple sues OpenAI, two former employees for trade secrets theft - Reuters
Yet Another Safety Leader at OpenAI Has Left - Gizmodo
Sam Altman Says Elon Musk Is ‘Obsessed’ With Him In Boast About Latest GPT Model - Forbes
‘Hysteria’ Grips San Francisco’s Housing Market as A.I. Wealth Pours In - The New York Times
OpenAI Just Declared ChatGPT as You Know It Dead - inc.com
The wider weekly pattern
Curiosity trail
Related searches that led here, appeared alongside it, or followed.