Judo team carries Japan to record-setting Olympic start

No wonder. They've had an unfair advantage in not having to endure the long, grueling and stressfull crossborder journey, with endless covid protocols. Also, their foreign competitors were given shorter periods than normal for acclimatization before the matches. They are under orders to fly in quickly then fly out quickly.

Anyway, I recall that Japan usually gets big medal hauls around the start of the Olympics, due to the many judo, gymnastics and other events that japan does well in on the schedule. And then, its medals ranking tends to fall from then on.

China and the USA are tied for the number of medals! (at this point)

As a side note:

“Congratulations!” TEAM JAPAN ..

おめでとうございます!!!..

(“omedetou gozaimasu”)

Three cheers for ALL!

GO athletes of USA !!..

GO people of CHINA !!..

GO JAPAN !!..

Judo World:

1) Japan- 48 Gold medals

2) France -16 Gold medals

And we had a poster claiming Japanese Judo is in decline due to "recent decades of overseas dominance"!

Nuff said.

No wonder. They've had an unfair advantage in not having to endure the long, grueling and stressfull crossborder journey, with endless covid protocols. Also, their foreign competitors were given shorter periods than normal for acclimatization before the matches. They are under orders to fly in quickly then fly out quickly.

Prior to the Tokyo Games the 2021 World Judo Championship was held in June 6-13 in Hungary. There then the same anti-virus protocol was applied to all visiting teams including the Japanese. Result: Japan was predominating with the total 12 medals (6 golds, 4 silvers, 2 bronzes), followed by The Netherlands with 5 medals (yet all bronzes). The host Hungary had only one bronze.

Tokyo's great stats are not surprising regardless of any effects of home advantage.

It was a great performance. I'm just a little sad at the result of the team mixed events.

Ono Shohei was placed so higher up he couldn't even fight.

Aaron Wolf, despite losing, shows no fear against such a big opponent, Teddy Riner.

Great victory for France !

Anyway, I recall that Japan usually gets big medal hauls around the start of the Olympics, due to the many judo, gymnastics and other events that japan does well in on the schedule. And then, its medals ranking tends to fall from then on.

I said exactly that a few days ago, that Japan will have nearly no medal in the second week.

Peeping_Tom

Japan's lower weights are good, the issues are the heavier weight classes.

Japan must work harder and have answer to big guys like Teddy Riner.

Akira Sone is awesome though, she never fails to impress, and should be the most celebrated japanese athlete this year next to Mima Ito/Jun Mizutani.

@didou, you are talking about gold right? Because Japan is still pulling in medals. Not to mention Japan already broke their record by surpassing the 16 gold mark. Is already pretty exciting.

And do not forget, wrestling and karate will also give Japan a huge boast.

Japan relies on judo. China relies on badminton and table tennis. Korea relies on archery. There is nothing wrong with nations being good in something. In fact Japan did incredibly well compare to all the previous olympics. They gave it all they got in every game and event. I was super hype during the epee and saber matches. Same with softball, football and baseball.

Is all about gaining experiences and showing other nation teams that you can still compete in their area of expertise and slowly catching up. Which i think Japan had made one hell of a impression in certain sports.

Hiro

All the big great got humbled this year.

China with table tennis (lost to Japan mixed) and volleyball (eliminated)

Japan with judo (lost to France in team)

Korea with archery (the men's single candidates got eliminated)

This is a good year for self-reflection.

Now that judo is over, are we going to see the well dry up?

China relies on badminton and table tennis.

Er, you'll find that China does pretty well in diving, weightlifting and shooting. Sometimes in gymnastics too.

JeffLee:

No wonder. They've had an unfair advantage in not having to endure the long, grueling and stressfull crossborder journey, with endless covid protocols. Also, their foreign competitors were given shorter periods than normal for acclimatization before the matches. They are under orders to fly in quickly then fly out quickly.

Exactly. This was on top of the usual perks given to the host country like more athletes in more events. Have you seen the line-up for karate? Thank god karate is only going to be a one-off. I'm surprised they didn't manage to enter kendo, sumo and shogi into the games. I don't recall Beijing trying to enter kung-fu into the games in 2008.

All in all, I think it's GB which has suffered the most. Of course there's still athletics, but they were second in the medal table in Rio. I really can't see them getting anywhere near that (for the forseable future). Rowing was disastrous.

Pukey2

Karate and kendo should be new additions.

Olympics need more contact sports, the IOC is even wanting to retire wrestling.

Judo. The dominance is evident. There is no 'unfair' advantage. Indeed it is cultural.

Look at track. There is an unfair advantage, as Victor Comte noted: In the final of the 100 meters, no one is clean. There will be no Japanese in the men's 100 meter finals.

And men's weightlifting. I once heard the coach of the USA Olympic weightlifting team say, "The Bulgarians and other eastern European countries persevere due to the used of PEDs." I was standing across from him at the gym, when he said that.

The Japanese judokas, are the best in the world due to talent, training, discipline, skill and history. They do not require nor cultivate an unfair advantage.

I noticed that the article on Aaron Wolf's victory from a few days ago didn't mention the incredible sportsmanship that his South Korean opponent, Cho Gu Ham, exhibited. Cho was very gracious in defeat, repeatedly congratulating and hugging Aaron.

Those salty Chinese netizens moaning about Hashimoto's gold medal could learn a thing or two from Cho on what class means.