The technical excellence of the Japanese team was evident this Saturday, December 7, 2024 during the opening day of the International Judo Federation (IJF) Grand Slam in Tokyo. The event, which takes place at the iconic Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, marks the culmination of the World Judo Tour 2024 calendar and positions the Japanese capital as the spiritual epicenter of this martial art turned Olympic sport.

The day began with high-level combats in which the Japanese judokas dominated in all the categories disputed, making it clear that technical quality and discipline are their main weapons.

En la categoría de -48 kg, el enfrentamiento entre Koga Wakana y Kondo Mitsuki mantuvo al público al borde de sus asientos. Finalmente, Koga logró llevarse la victoria en un combate muy cerrado, gracias a un waza-ari en puntuación de oro. Al finalizar, la ganadora expresó su gratitud hacia los aficionados: “Me están apoyando calurosamente, eso me da mucha fuerza. “I want to have your support for the remainder of the tournament.”

En -60 kg, la joven promesa Nakamura Taiki sorprendió al campeón del año pasado, Nagayama Ryuju al ganar el oro por shidos. The young competitor dedicated his victory to his friends and family, who traveled from Yamanashi prefecture to support him: “It’s great to be able to say that a superhero was born in Yamanashi,” he declared excitedly.

The -52 kg category also went to Japan thanks to Kisumi Omori, who won the title after a fight in which he demonstrated incredible technical brilliance. Además, en -66 kg, Takeoka Takeshi venció a Taikoh Fujisaka en una final emocionante que culminó con un espectacular ippon.

In -57 kg, Mika Adachi beat Megumi Fuchida with a waza-ari that defined the final and in -63 kg, Haruka Kaju took the gold after a close duel with Megu Danno decided in the penalty shootout.

Finally, in the -73 kg category, Ryuga Tanaka achieved a brilliant victory over Tatsuki Ishihara, closing the opening day with an impressive seventh gold for Japan.

Kyoto, the cultural heart of Japan

Con siete medallas de oro en la primera jornada, Japón demostró por qué es considerado una potencia mundial en este deporte. During the fights, the technical superiority of the athletes and also the spirit of judo could be clearly seen: respect, discipline and friendship.

In this year’s edition, Japan seeks to repeat or even surpass its great feat of 2023, when it managed to win 13 of the 14 gold medals at stake. With the participation of prominent athletes such as two-time world champion Mao Arai and Olympic medalist Sanshiro Murao, the competition is sure to continue to be a great spectacle.

The Judo Grand Slam: summit of the World Judo Tour

The Tokyo Grand Slam is part of the international circuit of the World Judo Tour, a series of events organized by the International Judo Federation. Este torneo es importante porque otorga puntos cruciales para la clasificación mundial y olímpica.

Con eventos anuales en ciudades como París, Abu Dabi y Bakú, los Grand Slams cuentan con competidores de la élite del judo competitivo. Cada torneo reúne a los mejores judocas del mundo, quienes compiten en categorías de peso tanto masculinas como femeninas. In addition to ranking points, these competitions offer monetary prizes and international recognition.

Además, el Grand Slam de Tokio tiene un significado especial al ser organizado en la cuna espiritual del judo. Creado por Jigoro Kano en 1882, este arte marcial tiene sus raíces en la filosofía japonesa del autocontrol, la disciplina y el respeto mutuo. These values ​​should be seen not only on the tatami, but also in the way athletes and the public interact during the tournament.