Just one year ago, they suffered the embarrassment of not winning a single gold medal at the world championships in Rotterdam—the first time they failed to claim a title in any of the weight categories since the multiweight class system was introduced at the Rio de Janeiro meet in 1965.
With the worlds getting under way in Tokyo for the first time in 52 years from Sept 9-12 at Yoyogi national gymnasium, Japan’s men will be seeking more than just a little redemption in a bid to reverse their fortunes on the world scene.
After an emasculation of dire proportions, losing is no longer an option.
Featuring a total of 32 male and female Japanese judoka, it will be the first time that the world championships will be hosted by the country since the 2003 Osaka meet.
‘‘We have to avenge the humiliation we felt last year. The veteran and younger judoka have been vying to push each other to fight harder,’’ said Japanese men’s coach Shinichi Shinohara.
The key will be if they can open the meet with a bang. Shinohara said recently he will be aiming for two golds on the opening day in the men’s over 100 kilogram and 100 kg classes.
That would appear a realistic goal with Athens Olympic champion Suzuki Keiji (over 100 kg), national champion Kazuhiko Takahashi (over 100 kg) and Takamasa Anai (100 kg) waiting in the wings.
But the problem of dealing with international competitors who often rely on unorthodox styles of judo (to the detriment of the Japanese men’s team) can’t be ignored.
‘‘I want them to grab up the gold medals from the first day. The first day will determine which direction Japan heads in,’’ Shinohara said.
Suzuki, who is the oldest member of the Japanese team at 30, has aimed to make the final in the over 100 kg class while Anai, who took the bronze last year, has declared revenge after falling to Elmar Gasimov of Azerbaijan by ippon in the quarterfinals.
‘‘Win or lose, this will be a really big meet for me. But unless I win, there is no going forward,’’ Suzuki said.
Suzuki knows both the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. He won gold in the over 100 kg class in Athens, then tasted bitter defeat when as captain of the delegation he was sent crashing with a leg pullout by Mongolian Tuvshinbayar Naidan in his first match in Beijing four years later. Naidan took the gold.
He considered retirement but made a comeback this year when he claimed the title at over 100 kg in the national weight-class championships in April.
Shinohara would like to pin his hopes on Suzuki this time, even though he realizes he has lost some of his step.
‘‘His strength isn’t what it used to be in his heyday but he has experience, persistence and skill. It’s up to him to find a way to make a comeback,’’ Shinohara said.
Suzuki said he won’t make any excuses for his age. ‘‘I don’t want my age to be a factor or use it as an excuse. If I can win this time my whole outlook will change. If I didn’t have the confidence to win the gold medal, I would have dropped out of the meet.’‘
Takahashi beat both Suzuki and Anai in the open weight category at the national championships in April to claim his first title and hopes to be a success in his world championships debut.
‘‘I feel a lot of pressure. Even if I am No. 1 in Japan, I won’t gain any respect unless I can beat the foreign judoka,’’ said the 25-year-old Takahashi, who claimed the over 100 kg title at a Grand Slam meet in Rio de Janeiro in May.
‘‘I don’t like to think of this as being the world championships but rather an international meet where a lot people have gathered to fight it out,’’ he said.
Anai, who has lost in his last three international meets, is hoping to bounce back after the birth of his first son on Aug 12. ‘‘I think this (my son’s birth) has made me stronger. I feel like I can challenge myself no matter the circumstances,’’ Anai said.
The Japanese men have captured gold in all Olympic competitions they have participated in but won only two of seven weight categories in Beijing.
The picture was even bleaker at the worlds last year when they managed just two medals—silver from Hiroaki Hiraoka at 60 kg and Anai’s bronze while the Japanese women came home with three gold and two bronze medals.
On the women’s side, Tomoko Fukumi will be aiming not only to defend her title at 48 kg but to step out of the shadow of Olympic champion Ryoko Tani, who is now a member of the House of Councillors after having given birth to her second child.
Tani, who apparently still has aspirations of competing at the 2012 London Olympics, is sitting out the worlds since she is busy in her new job with the Democratic Party of Japan.
‘‘I will give all my energy to judo. Instead of focusing on Tani-san, I am concentrating on the world championships. I will go there in the best condition to get the best result,’’ Fukumi said.
Despite her diminutive stature, Fukumi dominates with her trademark ‘‘seoinage’’ shoulder throws and foot sweeping techniques.
Japanese women’s coach Ryuji Sonoda said what makes Fukumi great is her quest for perfection.
‘‘She is a perfectionist. Compared with in the past, there is little difference between her good performances and poor performances,’’ Sonoda said.
Fukumi is also brimming with confidence. ‘‘I have more experience than the other judoka, so I know I definitely can win the 48 kg class. I will be fighting at the world championships with the London Olympics in mind.’’
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