Bungeishunju Ltd. Issue 1128 of Bungeishunju’s comprehensive sports magazine, Sports Graphic Number, titled “Inoue Naoya: Countdown to the Japanese Showdown,” will be released on Thursday, September 25th!

[Bungeishunju Ltd.] Issue 1128 of Bungeishunju’s comprehensive sports magazine, Sports Graphic Number, “Inoue Naoya: Countdown to the Japanese Showdown,” goes on sale Thursday, September 25th! ​
Bungei Shunju Co., Ltd. Press release: September 25, 2025 To Members of the Press Issue 1128 of Bungeishunju’s general sports magazine, Sports Graphic Number, “Inoue Naoya: Countdown to the Japanese Showdown,” goes on sale Thursday, September 25th! Bungeishunju Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Shigeyuki Iikubo) will release issue 1128 of its general sports magazine “Sports Graphic Number,” entitled “Naoya Inoue: Countdown to the Japanese Showdown,” on September 25th.
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■Number1128 issue Comment from Editor Kosuke Nishiki Naoya Inoue’s victory over the formidable Akhmadaliev, in which he never gave his opponent even a chance to make a last-ditch move throughout the 12 rounds, is arguably even more impressive than a KO. In an exclusive interview the day after the bout, the champion spoke in detail about what he was thinking as he fought. Having overcome this challenge, Inoue’s post-victory bout with Junto Nakatani, scheduled for next spring at the Tokyo Dome, is now a reality. In this issue, we explore the team behind this monster’s strength, as well as the previously untold secrets and roots of Junto Nakatani’s strength. This issue is a must-read ahead of the dream match between Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani, which is attracting attention not only from Japan but also overseas.
Sports Graphic Number Issue 1128 Naoya Inoue: Countdown to the Japanese showdown.
【CONTENTS】 SPECIAL FEATURES [Exclusive Post-Match Interview] Written by Atsushi Shibuya Naoya Inoue “I was convinced my opponent couldn’t do anything.” [The Truth Behind the Shocking KO Loss] Written by Masayuki Sugizono Yuki Takei “Unexpected Tears” [A Thorough Analysis of the MJ Game] Written by Masayuki Sugizono The Shock of Hiroto Kyoguchi & Ryosuke Iwasa “Hitting Without Allowing the Opponent to Hit” [From Parent and Child Hawks to a Large Family] Text by Atsushi Shibuya The Reality of TEAM INOUE [The Origin of a Three-Division Champion] Text by Hisao Ninomiya Junto Nakatani “Opening Up His Destiny” [Similarities with the legendary champion Genaro] Text by Masanori Moriai The DNA infused into Junto Nakatani [The Secret History of the Chairman Supporting Big Bang] Text by Masanori Moriai The Gentle Convictions Residing in Weeds [Japanese Edition: Leonard vs. Hearns] Text by Daisuke Sugiura An American journalist predicts next spring’s dream match [Maniac Roundtable] Text by Ninomiya Toshiro Let’s talk about the greatest Japanese showdowns: Yakushiji vs. Tatsuyoshi, Hatayama vs. Sakamoto… [The ’95 Group’s Fierce Fighter] Text by Keigo Amemiya Seiya Tsutsumi “I want to be a champion with true strength” [As a Star in the Middleweight Division] Text by Atsushi Shibuya Andy Hiraoka: “If it’s decided, I’ll definitely win it.” [The High Wall for Japanese Boxers] Text by Hisao Ninomiya Ryota Murata’s Four Requirements for Dominating the Middleweight Class [Rising Stars Talk About the Future] Text by Masayuki Sugizono Reito Tsutsumi & Yuta Sakai “The Talent That Saudi Arabia Loved” [Canelo vs. Crawford] Text by Daisuke Sugiura The Champion’s Shocking Complete Defeat
[World Athletics Review] Text by Kensaku Wakui and Yumiko Yanai Ryuji Miura “A treasure that resonated with my body and mind” Muratake Rashid “As Far as My Legs Will Allow” [Number Nonfiction] Text by Tanaka Kou Ryuzo Setoyama “Involved in the Management of Three Baseball Teams” REGULARS [Series No. 10] Written by Tadahei Suzuki Heartbeat: Takahiro Arai and the Hiroshima Carp’s 2025 “On the Night the Championship Was Decided” [Every other issue] Kasumi Ishikawa’s I Want to See You 7. Kaori Sakamoto “I want to give it my all, skating in my own style” FACE Tomoharu Kado(gymnastics)
BEYOND THE GAME Yasushi Washida “Considering Manager Fujikawa’s Proposal” SCORE CARD INTERVIEW SOCCER Text by Satoshi Hojo Hiroyuki Mae (FC Machida Zelvia) A seasoned warrior never shows signs of weakness. VOLLEYBALL Text by Yuko Tanaka Hayashi Kotona, league MVP in her first year, says her chances of returning to the national team are “10% (laughs).” GOLF Text by Keigo Amemiya Norimasa Hirata: A Smelly Shower and a Fierce Birdie Battle KAKUTOGI Text◎Fuse Koji Wakamatsu Yuya: The New Champion’s True Strength and Uesugi Kenshin’s View of Life and Death
From overseas sites MLBWritten by Mamoru Shigama FOOTBALL Written by Susumu Toyofuku TENNISWritten by Hidehiro Akiyama
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■Media information Magazine name: “Sports Graphic Number” No. 1128 Release date: Thursday, September 25, 2025 (Tokyo metropolitan area standard) Special price: ¥800 (tax included) Related URL:
https://number.bunshun.jp/
■ 『Sports Graphic About “Number” Founded in 1980, “Number” is Japan’s only comprehensive sports magazine. It conveys the appeal of sports and athletes, from major to minor sports, through “beautiful and bold visuals” and “unique writing.” Published every other Thursday. Number Web has been publishing timely and original sports columns since 1999.