World and Olympic champions converge
The entry list for Tokyo is littered with decorated judoka, with no fewer than 5 current Olympic champions (all from the host nation) and 8 current world champions on the roster. Among those who claimed Olympic glory are Naohisa Takato at -60kg, who will be looking to bounce back after a somewhat disappointing performance at the World Judo Championships – Doha 2023, and Aaron Wolf at -100kg, who has struggled to find form since his Olympic triumph and whose only silverware since then has been a bronze medal at the Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam 2023.
The incumbent world champions competing in Tokyo this weekend include tomoe-nage specialist Natsumi Tsunoda (JPN) at -48kg, the Georgian powerhouse Luka Maisuradze at -90kg and the forces of nature Arman Adamian and Inal Tasoev at -100kg and +100kg, respectively. Despite their titles, however, their success is never guaranteed and all will face numerous tests if they are to stand atop another World Tour podium this weekend. What is guaranteed is that these champions will produce plenty of ippon judo, drama and surprises; everything we love about elite judo. Expect all of this and more in Tokyo.
The return of the Abes
Though it has only been 6 months since they each claimed their 4th world titles, on the 2nd day of the 2023 World Championships, we can be forgiven for saying it feels like a lot longer since we last saw the unstoppable Abe siblings on an IJF World Judo Tour tatami, such is the attention their presence demands. Uta and Hifumi, both absent from international and domestic competition since sweeping aside their opposition in Qatar in May, will make their return at their home grand slam having already secured their selection for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics at -52kg and -66kg, respectively.
Only two people in her weight category have ever defeated Uta in international competition, the last being Amandine Buchard (FRA) in Osaka in the 2019 edition of this event. With Buchard absent this time around, this monumental task now falls to the other top seeds, Reka Pupp (HUN), Gefen Primo (ISR), Larissa Pimenta (BRA) and Astride Gneto (FRA). Can any of them do the unthinkable and prevent Uta from strolling to her 8th grand slam gold medal?
Though Hifumi has suffered a few more defeats across his career than his sister, he remains unbeaten since Osaka in 2019. Standing in his way in Tokyo this time will be current world number 1 Denis Vieru, (MDA) should they both make the quarter-final stage, and possibly either Battogtokh (MGL) or Garcia Torne (ESP) in the semi-final. A potential final with either Baskhuu Yondonperenlei (MGL) or Vazha Margvelashvili (GEO) would round off a category full of mouth-watering potential match-ups. Can any of the challengers take down the king?
The race between Canada’s two world-beaters at -57kg continues
Christa Deguchi and Jessica Klimkait have already endured one brutal (and extended) Olympic qualifying period in competition ahead of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, one which went right down to the wire and culminated in Klimkait earning Canada’s spot at -57kg with victory at the 2021 Budapest World Championships. Deguchi had to settle for 5th place on that occasion. The current qualifying race for the Paris 2024 Olympics has been just as dramatic, the two remaining neck-and-neck as 2023 comes to a close, with Deguchi ranked 1st and Klimkait 2nd in the world rankings.
2023 has already added numerous plot twists to their story. Deguchi appeared to take the lead in Doha, where she stormed to her second world title, while Klimkait could only manage bronze, but the pair have also faced off in three grand slam finals already this year, with Klimkait coming out on top in two of them, most recently in Abu Dhabi in October.
Everything points towards another such final in Tokyo, but there will be plenty of stiff opposition looking to disrupt proceedings, not least from the home team. Japan’s Momo Tamaoki has made it onto the podium every single time she has participated in her home grand slam but comes into the event unseeded. Rio Olympic champion Rafaela Silva (BRA) has already defeated both Canadians in international competition this year, most notably beating Deguchi in the final of the Antalya Grand Slam. The ever-dangerous Eteri Liparteliani (GEO) and the relentless Timna Nelson Levy (ISR) will also have eyes on the top spot. Outside of the top seeds, the recently-crowned European champion Daria Kurbonmamadova (AIN) is also a threat.
Whatever happens, the -57kg category will be hotly contested and will no doubt add another exciting twist to this Deguchi-Klimkait saga, one that keeps on giving.
Japan tries a new strategy ahead of Paris 2024
Organising a grand slam provides a boost for the host nation’s medal prospects, not only because of home advantage, but also because they are permitted to enter four athletes in each weight category rather than the usual one or two. No country is more efficient at converting these extra entries into medals than Japan, such is their depth of talent across the board. In the 2022 edition of this event, they took full advantage and came away with a staggering 39 medals out of the 56 available, including 12 golds.
Japan’s selections for their grand slam typically combine that year’s winners of the prestigious Kodokan Cup and the National Junior Championships, along with two other members of the national team in each weight category. Unusually this year, however, in those weight categories where they have already named their Olympic candidate for Paris 2024, the home team has entered only that athlete and the aforementioned junior champion. This means only two Japanese athletes will be present in Tokyo in half of the 14 weight categories and therefore the podia at this year’s edition of the event are likely to be more diverse than ever.
Many of the visiting athletes will relish this improved opportunity to demonstrate their abilities on one of the biggest stages in judo and gain yet more Olympic qualification points in the process. The -73kg class in Tokyo is dripping with talent, with 14 of the world’s top 20 present, while defending champion Soichi Hashimoto is the sole seeded entrant for the hosts. The same can be said of the -81kg and -90kg categories, where multiple former world champions are present; current Olympic champion Takanori Nagase and compatriot Sanshiro Murao will be holding their respective forts for the Japanese. At -48kg, Tsunoda will have to fend off challenges from the consistent Catarina Costa (POR) and the triple 2023 grand slam winner Blandine Pont (FRA).
Last year the Republic of Korea and Italy were the only two countries other than Japan to earn a gold medal in Tokyo but will we see more achieving that feat this year? And which of the other 87 nations present will take the biggest medal share from the Japanese?
All of these questions and more will be answered this weekend, as the 2023 Tokyo Grand Slam kicks off at 09:00 local time on Saturday 2nd December. The hosts have switched up the format again this year, so day 1 will see the -57kg, -70kg, +78kg, -73kg, -81kg and -90kg categories take the stage at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, with the remaining categories in action on day 2. Don’t miss a beat; catch all the action live on JudoTV.com