by Larry EderJapan was a gracious host for the 20th World Athletics Outdoor Championships, September 13-21, 2025. Held in the National Stadium, the large crowds each day were entertained and enthalled by the agony and ecstacy of the competition.
Japan Takes Two Medals in Tokyo 2025
Japan gave the home fans two bronze medals and eleven top-8 finishes in Tokyo, which was just about equal to their performances in Budapest 2023 (one gold, one bronze, and 11 top-8 placings).
The crowds of 56-59,000, mostly Japanese fans, had athletes to cheer for each night! For many Japanese fans, the Tokyo World Championships helped alleviate the ill feelings caused by the pandemic’s impact on the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
Medal performances
Hayato Katsuki, JPN, gave Japan its first medal in the World Championships on day one! Katsuki walked 2:29.16 for the bronze medal in the 35-kilometer Men’s Race Walk.
Nanako Fujii, JPN, took the bronze in the Women’s 20 kilometer race walk, in 1:26:18.
Fifth places
Rachid Muratake, JPN, finished in 5th in the 110m hurdles in 13.18.
Sixth places
Ririka Hironaka, JPN, was 6th in Women’s 10,000m in 31:09.62.
Yuki Joseph Nakamura, JPN, was 6th in the M 400 meters in 44.62.
The Japan Men’s 4x100m team ran 38.55 for sixth place.
Seventh places
Kana Kobayashi, JPN, was seventh in the Women’s marathon in 2:28:50.
Kento Yoshikawa, JPN, was 7th in Men’s 20k race walk in 1:19:46.
Eighth places
Japan Mixed Relay ran 3:17.53 for 8th.
Ryuji Miura was 8th in a very tactical men’s steeplechase in 8:35.90!
The Fans of Japan should have been given a medal!
Special thanks to Japan Running News (http://japanrunningnews.blogspot.com) for their research on the Japanese performances in Tokyo 2025.
