Baker, Tachimoto win judo gold for Japan

Awesome wins, especially Tachimoto's victory by ippon. Lovely to see an outright win. Plus Baker really dug in for his gold.

Two tomorrow and one over heavy women's Saturday ? **** Ippon judo Japan

Video snippets here Tachimoto > Baker > Fukukhara Ai http://sports.nhk.or.jp/video/element/video=29035.html Fukuhara looked like she was playing her dad.

Amazing performance from both athletes. Take back the sport!

Great job, Japan, in getting back some of the Judo glory. I heard a few people snicker about the young man who won the nation gold because of his background, but they sure don't mind counting the gold, and hopefully will cause said people to rethink their views a little bit, but judging by the focus on the "ippon" and once again "real Juudo" I'm STILL hearing... I'm not sure some people are ready yet.

and hopefully will cause said people to rethink their views a little bit, but judging by the focus on the "ippon" and once again "real Juudo" I'm STILL hearing... I'm not sure some people are ready yet.

So true. I've been hearing from some clueless Americans how he shouldn't be considered a Japanese and that he is "one of our own" from America and it feels like America got the gold here, and not Japan. Seems like sour grapes to me.

Haafu!

Like the Reed brother and sister

Young Mashuu seems like a lovely young man from his interviews, its great to see the good guys with a gold around their neck! Unique name too - dare I say there will be a few kids here with the name Mashuu in 9 months time!

So Tachimoto was penalized for passivity, but its Baker that gets roundly criticized by his fellow Japanese for not fighting straight up, despite winning all his other matches by ippon (not to take anything away from Tachimoto, who seemed to injure her hand and so had her own reasons as well). Maybe he got a bit anxious in the final match and danced around a bit, but his opponent just didn't do enough either way. No doubt if he was "full" Japanese, people would have looked at it that way, but instead he gets branded as fighting like a "foreigner", and one pundit even refused to comment about his performance.

As for the American claims, from what I have read and seen his father was barely in his life, which is why he said he was giving his gold medal to his mom. Not to mention the obvious fact that he spent his whole life in Japan.

So Tachimoto was penalized for passivity

Yes, but she won by ippon.

So Tachimoto was penalized for passivity, but its Baker that gets roundly criticized by his fellow Japanese for not fighting straight up,

The boos in Rio were coming from many of the locals as well as other tourists in attendance.

Yes, but she won by ippon.

So what? As already mentioned Baker won all of his matches except for the final by ippon, and nearly the final as well. He's a 21 year old who dominated the competition and didn't deserve to be booed, but certainly doesn't deserve to have some of his fellow Japanese turn against him.

The boos in Rio were coming from many of the locals as well as other tourists in attendance.

Again, they booed Tachimoto as well. They also booed like maniacs against the Japanese fencer. In fencing, of all sports! So really the local crowd booing holds no weight as far as I'm concerned.

Shumatsu Samurai: "Yes, but she won by ippon."

So what? Does that make her more 'Japanese' in your books? Because if so, keep in mind he won ALL his other bouts by ippon, and I don't think SHE did, which would mean HE is more Japanese than she is. Just something for you and others to chew on when using "ippon" as a way to undermine Mashuu's performance because he's "hafu".

So what? Does that make her more 'Japanese' in your books? Because if so, keep in mind he won ALL his other bouts by ippon, and I don't think SHE did, which would mean HE is more Japanese than she is. Just something for you and others to chew on when using "ippon" as a way to undermine Mashuu's performance because he's "hafu".

Exactly. It's why I don't get some Americans whining on blogs that he is 'one of theirs' and that America won the gold and not Japan. A lot of those booing of the way in which he won were coming from those who mistakenly believe that Japan should not be given a medal because he is not pure Japanese. Pathetic reasoning if you ask me.

So what? Does that make her more 'Japanese' in your books?

What are you drivelling about?

The point is that I can see why Baker might be criticised more for the way he fought in the final if Tachimoto won her match outright by ippon. No one gives a damn about a single penalty if you get an ippon.

timtak: "Fukuhara looked like she was playing her dad."

Yeah, I feel sorry for her. She's been under pressure to get the gold for at least three Olympics now, even being the flag-bearer once, and she has never managed to pull through. I don't know if she ended up getting the bronze or not and haven't seen any articles related to her loss against China (saw some in the Japanese media).