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A Promising Turnaround After Olympic Setback
In a significant comeback following a disappointing performance at the Tokyo Olympics, the Japanese women’s judo team made an emphatic statement at the World Judo Championships held in Budapest this June. Under the guidance of newly appointed head coach Maki Tsukada, the team achieved a historic featâsecuring medals in every one of the seven individual weight categories. Among the standout performances was Haruka Kajuu (from V Technology), who claimed gold in her debut appearance in the 63kg division.
This remarkable achievement is a powerful testament to the new generation of talent emerging in Japan’s judo scene. Alongside Kajuu, Uta Abe (52kg, representing Park24) and Shiho Tanaka (70kg, from JR East) also clinched gold medals. Their success signifies a strong foundation being built for the future, signaling that Japan is on track to reassert itself as a dominant force in womenâs judo.
The result is especially meaningful considering the teamâs underwhelming performance at the Paris Olympics, where Japan’s women secured only two medalsâtheir lowest haul in history. Tsukada, herself a former Olympic gold medalist, took over the reins last fall and wasted no time in rejuvenating the team with fresh perspectives and a renewed emphasis on fundamentals and mental fortitude.
The World Championships were not just a demonstration of talent, but of a team on the riseâstrategically reshaped and mentally recalibrated. With new stars rising and established judokas rediscovering their form, the future looks bright once again for Japanese womenâs judo.
What Undercode Say:
Japanâs dominant showing at the 2025 World Judo Championships is more than just a winâitâs a signal of resurgence and recalibration in a post-Olympic world. After the disappointment of Paris, where the women’s judo team underperformed, the immediate pivot under Tsukadaâs leadership shows the effectiveness of strong management and strategic adaptation.
Maki
The emergence of athletes like Haruka Kajuu not only adds depth to the roster but signals that Japan is effectively nurturing its next generation. Kajuu’s victory in her very first world championship outing is especially noteworthyâher composure and agility suggest sheâs already on track to become a fixture in the international judo circuit.
Moreover, the return to gold by seasoned fighters like Uta Abe demonstrates how Tsukadaâs regime is also helping veterans regain their form. This balance between new blood and experienced champions is vital in any sport, and Japan seems to have struck it at the perfect moment.
From a macro perspective, Japanâs performance hints at a broader pattern of restructuring across its sports institutions. Learning from the harsh Olympic feedback, the judo federation has acted swiftlyâan anomaly in traditionally slower-moving sports bureaucracies. This could potentially serve as a model for other national programs seeking redemption after poor showings on the global stage.
Additionally, Tsukadaâs tenure also represents a shift in gender dynamics within coaching leadership. Her success could inspire greater representation of women in high-performance coaching rolesâespecially in martial arts, which historically tend to be male-dominated.
As we look ahead to the next Olympics, itâs clear that Japan is building not just for medals, but for legacy. The cultural importance of judo in Japan adds weight to this resurgence; itâs not just sport, itâs national identity. Reclaiming dominance is as much about pride as it is about podium finishes.
In sum, this is more than a medal tally.
đ Fact Checker Results:
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Japan won medals in all 7 womenâs weight classes at the 2025 World Championships.
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Maki Tsukada was appointed head coach in fall 2024 after the Paris Olympics.
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Haruka Kajuu won gold in her world championship debut in the 63kg division.
đ Prediction
Given the depth of talent and momentum under Coach Tsukada, Japan is poised for a dominant showing at the 2028 Olympics. Expect at least 5 medals from the womenâs teamâpossibly even sweeping multiple weight classes if the current trajectory holds. Haruka Kajuu, in particular, is likely to become a breakout global judo star, with endorsements and media attention to follow. The federation may also expand Tsukadaâs training methodology to the menâs division, aiming for a broader national resurgence across the sport.
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