Judo Grand Slam Tokyo representatives announced: 56 people selected, including Paris Olympics silver medalist Sanshiro Murao and bronze medalist Soichi Hashimoto
The All Japan Judo Federation held a training committee meeting on the 5th and announced the players who will be representing the Tokyo Grand Slam, which will be held from December 7th (Saturday) to December 8th (Sunday) at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. 56 people participated, including Sanshiro Murao (24, JES Group), who won the silver medal in the men’s 90kg class at this summer’s Paris Olympics™, and Soichi Hashimoto (33, Park 24), who won the bronze medal in the 73kg class.
Grand Slam Tokyo is the only international judo tournament held in Japan, and as the host country, only four people can enter per class. As Japanese athletes compete fiercely for national team spots within Japan, they have limited opportunities to participate in international tournaments, so this tournament is a valuable tournament that allows many athletes to gain experience competing against overseas players. On the other hand, three members of the Paris Olympic team, Murao, Hashimoto, and men’s 60kg bronze medalist Tatsuki Nagayama (28, SBC Shonan Beauty Clinic), were selected, while the other athletes did not participate.
Keiji Suzuki, head coach of Japan’s men’s national team, said, “Now that the Paris Olympics are over, we’re starting anew for the Los Angeles Olympics. There are some weight classes where there are athletes who have entered the competition.With that in mind, I hope that this will lead to the next competition, with the Los Angeles Olympics being the goal.”
Maki Tsukada, coach of the Japan women’s national team, said, “This is the only international tournament to be held in Japan, so it has a very deep meaning.It will be an important part of the process leading up to the 2025 World Championship, so I would like to express my gratitude to the players who have seized the opportunity. I hope they will prepare for overseas and compete in the selection process.”
Regarding the fact that most of the members of the Paris Olympic team, including Hifumi Abe (27, Park 24), Uta (24, Park 24), and Natsumi Tsunoda (32, SBC Shonan Beauty Clinic) did not participate, Toshihiko Yamada, chairman of the training committee, said, “ Each of them risked their lives to compete in the Olympics. Some athletes had injuries and others were not mentally prepared. Both the men’s and women’s coaches confirmed their intentions to compete this time. I became a participating player.”
[List of Judo Grand Slam Tokyo applicants]
man
◇60kg level
Tatsuki Nagayama (28, SBC Shonan Beauty Clinic)
Taiki Nakamura (22, Kokushikan University)
Daigo Fukuda (25, Japan Ace Support)
Kenta Sekimoto (22, Meiji University)
◇66kg grade
Ryoma Tanaka (22, SBC Shonan Beauty Clinic)
Tsuyoshi Takeoka (25, Park 24)
Hinata Ono (20, Nippon Sport Science University)
Yasitsune Fujisaka (28, Park 24)
◇73kg grade
Soichi Hashimoto (33, Park 24)
Itsuki Ishihara (23, JES Group)
Ryuga Tanaka (20, University of Tsukuba)
Hidetoshi Uchimura (24・Self-Defense Forces Sports School
◇81kg grade
Yuhei Oono (23, Asahi Kasei)
Sotaro Fujiwara (26, Asahi Kasei)
Yoshito Hojo (22, Park 24)
Kaito Amano (21, Tokai University)
◇90kg grade
Sanshiro Murao (24, JES Group)
Goki Tajima (27, Park 24)
Hidejun Tokumochi (22, Meiji University)
Tomoaki Kawabata (19, Kokushikan University)
◇100kg level
Michihiro Arai (19, Tokai University)
Green Kalani Kaito (22/Park 24)
Nozomi Miki (18, Kokushikan University)
Mitsuki Kumasaka (24, Senko)
◇100kg super
Hiomasa Ota (26, Asahi Kasei)
Yuta Nakamura (22, Tokai University)
Takuto Kimoto (27, Nippon Steel)
Kanta Nakano (24, Asahi Kasei)
girls
◇48kg grade
Wakana Koga (23, JR East)
Hikaru Yoshioka (22, Tokai University)
Mizuki Kondo (19, Tokai University)
Kano Miyagi (19, Nihon University)
◇52kg grade
Hibiki Shiraishi (23, Komatsu)
Izumi Omori (JR East)
Suzu Takeuchi (27, Park 24)
Shin Fujishiro (23, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance)
◇57kg grade
Momo Tamaki (30, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance)
Moe Hachida (24・Self-Defense Forces Sports School)
Mika Adachi (24, Osaka Prefectural Police)
Moa Ohno (20, Fukuoka University)
◇63kg grade
Megumi Horikawa (29, Park 24)
Kashigeharukaba (24 Buoy Technology)
Meiko Danno (23, Komatsu)
Minami Aono (24, Fukuoka Prefectural Police)
◇70kg grade
Shiho Tanaka (26, JR East)
Utana Terada (25, JR East)
Manyu Honda (20, Tokai University)
Rin Maeda (19, Pacific Rim University)
◇78kg grade
Naori Soda (34・Self-Defense Forces Sports School)
Umeki is so beautiful (29・ALSOK)
Beni Ikeda (21, Tokai University)
Misuki Sugimura (20, Tokai University)
◇78kg super
Wakaharu Tomita (27, Komatsu)
Mao Arai (21, Nippon Sport Science University)
Ruri Takahashi (24, SBC Shonan Beauty Clinic)
Mayu Segawa (27・ALSOK)
