Japan’s Rising Judo Stars Shine at the 2026 World Cadet Tour Event
The 2026 World Cadet Tour event, held February 14-15, 2026, at Tenri University’s Somanouchi First Gymnasium, showcased promising young talent in the 60kg weight class. With 96 entries, the competition was fierce, culminating in a thrilling final and a clear demonstration of Japan’s continued strength in Judo.
60kg Category Results
The tournament saw a dominant performance from Takuya Takubo (筑波大2年) of Tsukuba University, who secured the gold medal. Kiyoya Shimohira (山梨学院大3年) from Yamanashi Gakuin University took silver, while Masao Uchiyama (国士舘大3年) of Kokushikan University and Haruto Shimobuki (東海大2年) from Tokai University shared the bronze.
The top seven finishers included Kiki Kogone (東洋大3年) and Rento Tamiya (専修大3年) in fifth place, followed by Rundai Mukaihara (国士舘大3年) and Yuki Hara (明治大2年) in seventh.
Early Round Highlights
The first round was marked by decisive victories. Eiki Kawada (佛教大3年) defeated Kokoro Matsui (東海大2年) with a skillful seoi nage (shoulder throw). Kai Ooyama (帝京大1年) won against Kyoto Shibuya (鹿屋体育大3年) using an effective ippon seoi nage (one-point shoulder throw). Junshi Suzaki (駒澤大1年) secured a win over Ryouto Omura (熊本学園大2年) with a kesa-gatame (scarf hold) submission at 3 minutes and 32 seconds.
Several matches ended with ippon (full point) throws, demonstrating the high technical level of the competitors. Eito Ochiai (順天堂大1年) won against Katsuya Ueda (同志社大2年) with a kata-guruma (shoulder wheel) technique. Ryuya Goto (日本体育大2年) secured a victory over Ryusei Takao (新潟食料農業大3年) with a kata-gatame (shoulder hold) at 2 minutes and 42 seconds.
Notable First Round Bouts
Tatsuya Iwasaki (中京大3年) advanced due to his opponent, Daiwa Hirose (北陸大2年), being unable to compete. Hyōru Hatomura (東洋大2年) won against Kokoro Miyazaki (姫路獨協大3年) with a combination of uchi-mata (inner thigh throw) and soto-gari (outer reap) at 2 minutes and 20 seconds. Rundai Mukaihara (国士舘大3年) defeated Kenji Iwami (京都産業大1年) with a yoko-shihō-gatame (side four-corner hold) at 3 minutes and 15 seconds.
Yūsaku Fujiwara (愛知大2年) won against Motomi Nishino (仙台大1年) with a soto-gari (outer reap) technique. Sōta Shioya (東海大3年) also advanced without a match, as did Daichi Nagata (日本体育大3年). Masao Uchiyama (国士舘大3年) secured a win over Tomoaki Koga (清和大1年) with an ude-hishigi-juji-gatame (armbar) at 2 minutes and 4 seconds.
The Future of Japanese Judo
This tournament underscores the depth of talent within Japanese university Judo programs. The consistent production of skilled athletes suggests a robust training system and a strong commitment to the sport. The techniques displayed – seoi nage, ippon seoi nage, kesa-gatame, kata-guruma, and kata-gatame – represent the core skills emphasized in Japanese Judo training.
Did you understand?
Judo, meaning “the gentle way,” was created by Jigoro Kano in 1882 as a physical, mental, and moral pedagogy. It’s a modern martial art and combat sport, and an Olympic sport.
Pro Tip
Focus on mastering fundamental techniques before attempting more complex throws. A solid foundation in basics is crucial for long-term success in Judo.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is seoi nage? A shoulder throw technique where the practitioner lifts and throws the opponent over their shoulder.
- What is ippon? A full point awarded in Judo, typically achieved by throwing the opponent on their back with force and control.
- What is kesa-gatame? A scarf hold submission technique where the practitioner controls the opponent’s neck and arm.
The performance of these young athletes signals a bright future for Japanese Judo. Continued investment in training and development will undoubtedly lead to further success on the national and international stage.
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