Record-high 273 Japanese athletes to compete in Nov.

TOKYO – A record 273 athletes will represent Japan at the 2025 Tokyo Deaflympics to be held in November, the host country said Thursday.

Among them are Ryutaro Ibara, who won four men’s swimming events at the previous Deaflympics in 2022 in Caxias do Sul, Brazil, and Takuma Sasaki, who will try to retain his 100-meter sprint title.

About 3,000 athletes from 70 to 80 countries and regions plan to compete at the Nov. 15-26 meet. Most events will be held in Tokyo, with Fukushima Prefecture’s J-Village hosting football and Shizuoka Prefecture staging cycling races.

Japan aims to win at least one more than its record 30 medals it collected three years ago.

At a press conference at the Tokyo metropolitan government building, Ryo Ogura, winner of two women’s karate golds in Brazil, said in sign language, “I’m proud to represent Japan on this big stage. I’ll do my best with a sense of awareness and responsibility.”

Yosuke Ota, head of the Japan Deaf Sports Federation, will serve as Team Japan’s leader. The Asian country will compete in all sports for the first time in Deaflympic history.

“I hope these athletes will be role models for the next generation of athletes,” Ota said. “We’ll work hard to help create a vibrant and inclusive society.”