From technical brilliance to mental strength, Japan once proved its depth in youth development, finishing a head of Brazil and IJF athletes at the Junior Judo Worlds in Lima.
The Junior Judo World Championships concluded in the Peruvian capital with Japan once again asserting its dominance on the tatami. The Japanese junior team captured five gold, four silver, and four bronze medals, comfortably securing the top position in the overall standings. Brazil finished second, while athletes competing under the IJF flag earned a historic third place.
Held in Lima with the participation of judoka from 64 countries, the championships showcased the impressive depth of Japan’s young talent, particularly in the women’s division. The Japanese women’s team shone brightly, with Sachiyou Yoshino (-48 kg), Mio Shirakane (-57 kg), and So Morichika (-63 kg) each claiming gold. They were joined by two compatriots who earned bronze medals, underlining Japan’s continued dominance in women’s judo.
The men’s division also saw Japan on top form. Retsu Matsunga (-60 kg) and Haru Akira (-81 kg) added two more gold medals, reinforcing Japan’s status as the undisputed powerhouse of world judo and highlighting the emergence of a new generation of Olympic hopefuls.
Brazil delivered one of its strongest performances in years, finishing ahead of traditional European heavyweights such as Serbia, France, the Netherlands, and Georgia. Nicole Marques and Jesse Barbosa claimed gold, while João Segatelle added silver to round off an excellent campaign for the South Americans.
Junior Judo World Championships 2025
Athletes competing under the IJF flag also impressed, securing third place in the team rankings. Their success was led by Bislan Katamardov, who took gold in the +100 kg category, along with silver medallists Abdullakh Parchiev, Akhmed Turluev, and Viktoria Martynenko.
According to the International Judo Federation, 45 percent of all victories were achieved by direct ippon, a statistic that reflects the high technical standard and physical preparation of the competitors. The IJF also confirmed that no serious injuries occurred throughout the event, which highlights the discipline of the athletes and the professionalism of the organisers.
The championships, which included both individual and mixed team events, took place in Lima from October 5 to 9. The competition ended with the Mixed Team final, where Japan and France faced each other after overcoming Turkey and Brazil in the semifinals.
Mixed team final
The final began with Dayyan Boulemtafes giving France an early 1–0 lead over Ryusei Arakawa following a golden-score victory with a perfectly executed o-uchi-gari. Japan quickly levelled the score through Rin Maeda, who pinned Teophila Darbes-Takam for ippon. Haru Shibata then put Japan ahead, capitalising on a ground exchange to secure another ippon.
In the fourth match, Hikaru Yamaguchi overcame France’s world champion Célia Cancan, countering for waza-ari before finishing on the ground for ippon and extending Japan’s advantage to 3–1. In the final heavyweight contest, Gai Hatakeyama sealed victory over Matheo Akiana Mongo, clinching a 4–1 win and another Junior World Mixed Team title for Japan.
France, despite their valiant effort and flashes of brilliance, settled for silver but left Lima with immense credit after an impressive display of skill, spirit, and determination.
