24th All Japan General Champion Awards announced

The General Champion Award is decided by a points assessment based on marked (mark) pigeons placing within the top 20% across four spring-season races. The target races are set as the spring regional (Rg), regional national (N), Grand Prix (GP) and either the Sakura Award or the Grand National (GN); one point is awarded per race and a maximum of 10 points can be obtained. According to the announcement dated September 24, 2026, this year’s winner (Diamond Mark Award) was the loft of Ohashi Norio (Nobi Union – Gifu Prefectural Union); total 8 points (0.54511). Second (Platinum Mark Award) was the loft of Suzuki Shuichi (Saitama Union – Saitama Chuo Union) with 8 points (0.56461), and third (Gold Mark Award) was the loft of Sotoyama Yoshikazu (Saitama Regional Union – Saitama Yoshikawa Union) with 8 points (0.63031). Fourth through tenth places were announced as "Best Mark" awards. The rankings and points are as follows: 4. Suzuki Takashi (7 points, 0.40389), 5. Miyake Ryoji (7 points, 0.50772), 6. Oda Yoshimitsu (7 points, 0.51608), 7. Tomita Yoshihiro (7 points, 0.53088), 8. Nagasaka Takashi (7 points, 0.73715), 9. Shibasaki Motoaki (7 points, 0.95727) and 10. Lee Konho (6 points, 0.09574). The association says the award was established in 2003 inspired by the "General Champion" award given by the Royal Belgian Pigeon Federation (KBDB); the hit rate of the selected mark pigeons is evaluated together with breeding, selection eye and husbandry management. Detailed race and bird records, rings and rankings are included in the list published by the association.