Judo Champion Tani to Run in Election on DPJ Ticket

[Tuesday 11th May, 04:07 AM JST TOKYO] Two-time Olympic judo champion Ryoko Tani said Monday she will run in the proportional representation section of the House of Councillors election this summer on the ruling Democratic Party of Japan ticket.

At a press conference with DPJ Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa at the party’s headquarters, Tani, 34, a seven-time world champion, said she will continue her judo career even after running in the upper house election. The DPJ is apparently aiming to appeal to nonaligned voters through the candidate’s high name recognition.


Tani failed in her bid for a third consecutive gold medal at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 but will continue her career with an eye to competing at the 2012 London Games. She gave birth to her second child last October.