The Tokyo Grand Slam: The first major judo competition in the Japanese capital since the Summer Olympics. The first six gold medals all went to local judoka.
In the weight category up to 57 kilograms, Haruka Funakubo made the most of her home advantage. The 24-year-old defeated world champion Tsukasa Yoshida, also from Japan, in the final. Princess Tomohito of Mikasa handed over the medals.
Gold 6 for Japan and it’s just day 1!
Could Japan make judo history and claim all 14 golds here in Tokyo?
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– Judo (@Judo) December 3, 2022
There was also a Japanese final in the men’s weight category up to 73 kilograms. The pairing was Soichi Hashimoto against Hayato Koga. The experienced Hashimoto, 2017 World Champion and last silver medallist at the World Games in October, had to go into overtime against his compatriot. There, the previously strong Koga ran out of steam a bit and Hashimoto won.
Hungarian Minister Gergely Gulyás, head of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s office, took over the award ceremony.
“I was able to attach my Tai-Otoshi, it was the right moment for it. I felt the audience here at home supporting me,” said Hashimoto.
And once again Japan versus Japan: Miku Takaichi won in the women’s up to 63 kilograms against Seiko Watanabe. Marius Vizer, the chairman of the World Judo Federation, presented the gold plaque.
Olympic champion Nagase defeated
No change in the men’s competition up to 81 kilograms: two judoka from the organising federation faced each other in the final. Kenya Kohara won against Olympic champion Takanori Nagase. The reward was presented by Ernö Schaller-Baross, Member of the European Parliament.
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– Marius Vizer (@MariusVizer) December 3, 2022
Saki Niizoe took on Aoife Coughlan of Australia in the final of the 70 kilogram weight class. The performance of the largely unknown Coughlan in Tokyo resembled a big surprise, but she could not get past Niizoe. Yasuhiro Yamashita, who heads the Japanese Judo Federation, honoured the winner.
She had very much noticed how people cheered her on from the stands, Niizoe said. She also felt the support of the people watching from home. That helped her a lot, the 26-year-old said.
90 kilograms: Trippel in the final
In the men’s 90-kilogram category, Germany’s Eduard Trippel reached the final. However, the Olympic silver medallist lost to Kosuke Mashiyama from Japan. And he received gold from the hands of Haruki Uemura, member of the Executive Committee of the World Judo Federation.
Six gold medals for Japan in Tokyo: that was quite an announcement, and the youngsters not only watched attentively, but also gave a sample of their skills. One can be sure: The future of Japanese judo is secure.