The 2025-26 League H regular season continues with seven men’s matches scheduled for May 14, 16, and 17, featuring a pivotal showdown between two teams fighting for playoff positioning.
**Daido Phoenix Tokai vs. Osol Saitama**
Date: Saturday, May 16 at 15:00 (local time)
Venue: Tokai Civic Gymnasium
Fifth-placed Daido PX Tokai hosts seventh-placed Osol Saitama in a direct duel for a playoff spot. Only the top six teams advance to the playoffs, making this match a must-win for both sides.
Daido PX Tokai holds a record of 14 wins, 2 draws, and 8 losses (30 points). They suffered a 30-38 defeat against BK Kariya in the previous round and are desperate to avoid back-to-back losses. The team boasts explosive backcourt players, with national team members CB Naoki Fujisaka, CB Daiki Kani, and RB Shuto Kawahara combining for 356 goals this season—one of the most potent attacks in the league. On defense, young goalkeepers have stepped up: 21-year-old Sho Notsuyama excels at stopping field shots, while 23-year-old Seiya Tanaka shines in 7-meter throws. Notably, GK Naoya Tomogane and LB Motoi Ozawa have announced their retirement at the end of this season.
Osol Saitama enters with 13 wins, 3 draws, and 7 losses (29 points). Their previous meeting with Daido PX Tokai ended in a home draw, and they aim to secure an away victory to boost their playoff chances. Their backcourt is equally formidable, featuring CB Hirotaka Matsuoka and CB Hibiki Fujita with sharp drives, RB Yuto Ide and LB Naoki Nishiyama with long-range shooting prowess. Physical and agile players like RW Yuma Yamazaki and PV Reo Kubota anchor a fierce defense. RB Takuma Anhira and PV Sojiro Kagawa have announced their retirement after this season.
**Other Matches on the Schedule:**
– **Zikstar Tokyo vs. Toyota Motor East Japan Legoroso Miyagi**
Date: Thursday, May 14 at 19:00 | Venue: Higashin Arena (Sumida City General Gymnasium)
– **Golden Wolves Fukuoka vs. Toyama Dreams**
Date: Saturday, May 16 at 13:00 | Venue: Itoshima City Sports Park Multipurpose Gymnasium
– **Fukui Eiheiji Blue Thunder vs. Albamos Osaka**
Date: Saturday, May 16 at 14:00 | Venue: Hokuriku Electric Power Fukui Gymnasium Flare
– **Red Tornado Saga vs. Akitakata Wakunaga Handball Club**
Date: Saturday, May 16 at 14:00 | Venue: SAGA Plaza (General Gymnasium)
– **Daido Phoenix Tokai vs. Osol Saitama** (listed again above)
– **Earth Friends BM Tokyo/Kanagawa vs. Brave Kings Kariya**
Date: Saturday, May 16 at 16:00 | Venue: Ota City General Gymnasium
– **Ryukyu Corazon vs. Toyoda Gosei Blue Falcon Nagoya**
Date: Sunday, May 17 at 15:30 | Venue: Okinawa Prefectural Budokan Arena
**Milestone Watch:**
– Hiroki Shinta (Zikstar) – 4 goals away from 800 career goals
– Hyunjang Cho (Zikstar) – 8 goals away from 800 career goals
– Naoshi Demura (Toyoda Gosei) – 9 goals away from 800 career goals
– Shuto Kawahara (Daido PX Tokai) – 8 goals away from 500 career goals
– Tetsuya Oyama (Zikstar) – 3 goals away from 400 career goals
– Goki Ojio (Toyoda Gosei) – 5 goals away from 300 career 7-meter goals
– Yui Nojiri (Ryukyu Corazon) – 8 goals away from 100 career 7-meter goals
All matches are part of League H’s regular season, with playoff implications heating up the competition.
