Sports | Tokyo Weekender

Japan Ends the Paris Olympics Third in the Table With 20 Golds

Matthew Hernon — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 02:27:46 +0000

Prior to the Paris Games, Mitsugi Ogata, the Japanese Olympic Committee’s secretary, told the media that the nation was aiming for 55 medals, including 20 golds. The team fell 10 short of the former, but did top the podium 20 times to finish third in the medal table. It was an impressive showing for a […]

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Nao Kusaka Wins Japan’s Second Greco-Roman Wrestling Gold at Paris Olympics

Matthew Hernon — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 03:21:16 +0000

On Wednesday, Nao Kusaka won Japan’s 12th gold medal of the Paris Olympics by defeating Demeu Zhadrayev of Kazakhstan 5-2 in the Greco-Roman wrestling 77 kg final. To celebrate, the 23-year-old Takamatsu city native plans to have a few glasses of alcohol. “Champagne is not something I’m familiar with,” he said after the victory. “I’m more of […]

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Kenichiro Fumita Wins Wrestling Gold, Cocona Hiraki Settles for Skateboarding Silver

Matthew Hernon — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 07:13:13 +0000

For the first time in 40 years, Japan has an Olympic men’s Greco-Roman wrestling champion. Kenichiro Fumita went one better than the silver he won in Tokyo, defeating China’s Cao Liguo to top the podium in the 60 kg category. The key moment in the contest came when the Yamanashi Prefecture native pinned his opponent […]

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Shinnosuke Oka Wins Third Gold at Paris Olympics in Bizarre High Bar Final

Matthew Hernon — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 06:38:59 +0000

On Monday, Shinnosuke Oka won his third gold medal of the Olympics, becoming the most decorated male gymnast of the Paris Games. Following on from his victories in the team and all-around events, the 20-year-old Okayama Prefecture native went into the horizontal bar final full of confidence. It turned out to be a somewhat bizarre competition, […]

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Japanese Social Media Users Claim Olympic Team Judo Selection Was Rigged

Matthew Hernon — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 08:43:02 +0000

For the second Olympics in succession, Japan had to settle for silver in the mixed team judo final as France once again claimed the gold. With the two nations locked at 3-3 after six bouts, a roulette wheel was used to decide the weight category for the pivotal golden score duel. A huge roar then […]

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Japan Becomes First Non-European Nation To Win Men’s Team Foil Gold

Matthew Hernon — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 03:43:22 +0000

Japan’s men’s foil team made history on Sunday, becoming the first non-European nation to top the podium in the event. They defeated Italy 45-36 in the final to claim the nation’s second fencing gold in France and fifth medal in total. That’s more than the country managed in its entire fencing history at the Olympics […]

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Shinnosuke Oka Wins Surprise All-Around Gymnastics Gold at Paris Olympics

Matthew Hernon — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 08:27:13 +0000

It was billed as a battle between China’s Zhang Boheng and Japan’s Daiki Hashimoto. In the end, though, it was Hashimoto’s compatriot Shinnosuke Oka who stood on top of the podium after the men’s all-around gymnastics final on Wednesday. The 20-year-old Okayama city native finished with an impressive score of 86.832 to edge out Zhang […]

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Legendary Judoka Takanori Nagase Defends His Title at Paris Olympics

Matthew Hernon — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 01:49:36 +0000

After competing at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, many athletes naturally took an extended break to recharge their batteries. Takanori Nagase, however, was already thinking about defending his crown in Paris. The legendary judoka was back practicing on the mats only a month after the closing ceremony had ended. His dedication to the sport is […]

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Yuto Horigome Wins Gold to Retain Street Skateboarding Title at Paris Olympics

Matthew Hernon — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 08:41:37 +0000

With one trick left to perform, Japan’s Yuto Horigome had to pull something special out of the bag to retain the men’s street skateboarding title he won in Tokyo. He lay fourth after the two opening runs of the final and then led following the first of his five tricks. Falling in his next three, however, […]

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Japan Team Edge Out China in Dramatic Men’s Gymnastics Final at Paris Olympics

Matthew Hernon — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 01:00:02 +0000

It looked like Japan’s chance had gone. Going into the final apparatus — the horizontal bar — China had a significant lead of 3.267. Barring anything dramatic happening, they would be taking home their first men’s team all-around artistic gymnastics gold since 2012. The Japanese gymnasts had to focus on their own routines and hope China […]

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