Below is every women’s freestyle representative at the World Championships or Olympic Games from Japan. The first World Championships took place in 1987, with Japan finishing in third place, followed by a team title in 1989. Overall, Japan has won 28 out of 35 contested World Championships.
Japan’s Team Standings At The World ChampionshipsYearJapanTeam Champion19873rdNorway19891stJapan19901stJapan19911stJapan19921stJapan19931stJapan19941stJapan19952ndRussia19961stJapan19971stJapan19982ndRussia19992ndUSA20001stJapan20012ndChina20021stJapan20031stJapan20051stJapan20061stJapan20071stJapan20081stJapan20092ndAzerbaijan20101stJapan20111stJapan20122ndChina20131stJapan20141stJapan20151stJapan20171stJapan20181stJapan20191stJapan20211stJapan20221stJapan20231stJapan20241stJapan20251stJapan
2025 Worlds – Zagreb, Croatia
50 kg: Remina Yoshimoto – 5th
53 kg: Haruna Okuno – Gold
55 kg: Sowaka Uchida – Bronze
57 kg: Himeka Tokuhara – 5th
59 kg: Sakura Onishi – Gold
62 kg: Sakura Motoki – Gold
65 kg: Miwa Morikawa – Gold
68 kg: Ami Ishii – Gold
72 kg: Masako Furuichi – 11th
76 kg: Nodoka Yamamoto – 10th
Team finish: 1st
2024 Worlds – Tirana, Albania
55 kg: Moe Kiyooka – Gold
59 kg: Risako Kinjo – Gold
65 kg: Miwa Morikawa – Bronze
72 kg: Ami Ishii – Gold
Team finish: 1st
2024 Olympics – Paris, France
50 kg: Yui Susaki – Bronze
53 kg: Akari Fujinami – Gold
57 kg: Tsugumi Sakurai – Gold
62 kg: Sakura Motoki – Gold
68 kg: Nonoka Ozaki – Bronze
76 kg: Yuka Kagami – Gold
2023 Worlds – Belgrade, Serbia
50 kg: Yui Susaki – Gold
53 kg: Akari Fujinami – Gold
55 kg: Haruna Okuno – Gold
57 kg: Tsugumi Sakurai – Gold
59 kg: Sae Nanjo – 11th
62 kg: Sakura Motoki – Silver
65 kg: Nonoka Ozaki – Gold
68 kg: Ami Ishii – 5th
72 kg: Miwa Morikawa – Bronze
76 kg: Yuka Kagami – Gold
Team finish: 1st
2022 Worlds – Belgrade, Serbia
50 kg: Yui Susaki – Gold
53 kg: No entry
55 kg: Mayu Mukaida – Gold
57 kg: Tsugumi Sakurai – Gold
59 kg: Sakura Motoki – Bronze
62 kg: Nonoka Ozaki – Gold
65 kg: Miwa Morikawa – Gold
68 kg: Ami Ishii – Silver
72 kg: Masako Furuichi – Bronze
76 kg: Yuka Kagami – Bronze
Team finish: 1st
2021 Worlds – Oslo, Norway
50 kg: Remina Yoshimoto – Gold
53 kg: Akari Fujinami – Gold
55 kg: Tsugumi Sakurai – Gold
57 kg: Sae Nanjo – Bronze
59 kg: Akie Hania – Silver
62 kg: Nonoka Ozaki – Bronze
65 kg: Miwa Morikawa – Silver
68 kg: Rin Miyaji – Silver
72 kg: Masako Furuichi – Gold
76 kg: Yasuha Matsuyuki – 8th
Team finish: 1st
2020 Olympics – Tokyo, Japan (held in 2021)
50 kg: Yui Susaki – Gold
53 kg: Mayu Mukaida – Gold
57 kg: Risako Kawai – Gold
62 kg: Yukako Kawai – Gold
68 kg: Sara Dosho – 5th
76 kg: Hiroe Minagawa – 5th
2019 Worlds – Astana, Kazakhstan
50 kg: Yuki Irie – 8th
53 kg: Mayu Mukaida – Silver
55 kg: Nanami Irie – Silver
57 kg: Risako Kawai – Gold
59 kg: Yuzuka Inagaki – 8th
62 kg: Yukako Kawai – Bronze
65 kg: Naomi Ruike – 12th
68 kg: Sara Dosho – 5th
72 kg: Masako Furuichi – Bronze
76 kg: Hiroe Minagawa – Silver
Team finish: 1st
2018 Worlds – Budapest, Hungary
50 kg: Yui Susaki – Gold
53 kg: Haruna Okuno – Gold
55 kg: Mayu Mukaida – Gold
57 kg: Katsuki Sakagami – 19th
59 kg: Risako Kawai – Gold
62 kg: Yukako Kawai – Silver
65 kg: Ayana Gempei – Bronze
68 kg: Rio Watari – 16th
72 kg: Naruha Matsuyuki – 8th
76 kg: Hiroe Minagawa – Bronze
Team finish: 1st
2017 Worlds – Paris, France
48 kg: Yui Susaki – Gold
53 kg: Mayu Mukaida – Silver
55 kg: Haruna Okuno – Gold
58 kg: Katsuki Sakagami – 22nd
60 kg: Risako Kawai – Gold
63 kg: Yukako Kawai – 8th
69 kg: Sara Dosho – Gold
75 kg: Hiroe Suzuki – Bronze
Team finish: 1st
2016 Worlds – Budapest, Hungary
55 kg: Mayu Mukaida – Gold
60 kg: Yui Sakano – 5th
Team finish: 1st
2016 Olympics – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
48 kg: Eri Tosaka – Gold
53 kg: Saori Yosida – Silver
58 kg: Kaori Icho – Gold
63 kg: Risako Kawai – Gold
69 kg: Sara Dosho – Gold
75 kg: Rio Watari – 14th
2015 Worlds – Las Vegas, Nevada
48 kg: Eri Tosaka – Gold
53 kg: Saori Yoshida – Gold
55 kg: Anri Kimura – 7th
58 kg: Kaori Icho – Gold
60 kg: Kiwa Sakae – 12th
63 kg: Risako Kawai – Silver
69 kg: Sara Dosho – Bronze
75 kg: Chiaki Iijima – 13th
Team finish: 1st
2014 Worlds – Tashkent, Uzbekistan
48 kg: Eri Tosaka – Gold
53 kg: Saori Yoshida – Gold
55 kg: Chiho Hamada – Gold
58 kg: Kaori Icho – Gold
60 kg: Katsuki Sakagami – 9th
63 kg: Rio Watari – 18th
69 kg: Sara Dosho – Silver
75 kg: Hiroe Suzuki – 7th
Team finish: 1st
2013 Worlds – Budapest, Hungary
48 kg: Eri Tosaka – Gold
51 kg: Yu Miyahara – 9th
55 kg: Saori Yoshida – Gold
59 kg: Ayaka Ito – 5th
63 kg: Kaori Icho – Gold
67 kg: Sara Dosho – Bronze
72 kg: Heo Nam-ju – 9th
Team finish: 1st
2012 Worlds – Strathcona County, Canada
48 kg: Eri Tosaka – Silver
51 kg: Risako Kawai – 7th
55 kg: Saori Yoshida – Gold
59 kg: Kayoko Shimada – 5th
63 kg: Kayoko Kudo – 5th
67 kg: Yoshiko Inoue – Bronze
72 kg: Hiroe Suzuki – 11th
Team finish: 2nd
2012 Olympics – London, England
48 kg: Hitomi Obara – Gold
55 kg: Saori Yoshida – Gold
63 kg: Kaori Icho – Gold
72 kg: Kyoko Hamaguchi – 11th
2011 Worlds – Istanbul, Turkey
48 kg: Hitomi Obara – Gold|
51 kg: Mareka Shidochi – 5th
55 kg: Saori Yoshida – Gold
59 kg: Takako Saito – Bronze
63 kg: Kaori Icho – Gold
67 kg: Yoshiko Inoue – Bronze
72 kg: Kyoko Hamaguchi – 13th
Team finish: 1st
2010 Worlds – Moscow, Russia
48 kg: Hitomi Sakamoto – Gold
51 kg: Yu Horiuchi – Silver
55 kg: Saori Yoshida – Gold
59 kg: Ayako Shoda – Bronze
63 kg: Kaori Icho – Gold
67 kg: Mami Shinkai – 5th
72 kg: Kyoko Hamaguchi – Bronze
Team finish: 1st
2009 Worlds – Herning, Denmark
48 kg: Makiko Sakamoto – 8th
51 kg: Yuri Kai – Bronze
55 kg: Saori Yoshida – Gold
59 kg: Kei Yamana – 18th
63 kg: Mio Nishimaki – Gold
67 kg: Yoshiko Inoue – 5th
72 kg: Asuka Sano – 13th
Team finish: 2nd
2008 Worlds – Tokyo, Japan
48 kg: Makiko Sakamoto – Bronze
51 kg: Hitomi Sakamoto – Gold
55 kg: Saori Yoshida – Gold
59 kg: Ayako Shoda – Gold
63 kg: Mio Nishimaki – Gold
67 kg: Mami Shinkai – Silver
72 kg: Kyoko Hamaguchi – Bronze
Team finish: 1st
2008 Olympics – Beijing, China
48 kg: Chiharu Icho – Silver
55 kg: Saori Yoshida – Gold
63 kg: Kaori Icho – Gold
72 kg: Kyoko Hamaguchi – Bronze
2007 Worlds – Baku, Azerbaijan
48 kg: Chiharu Icho – Gold
51 kg: Hitomi Sakamoto – Gold
55 kg: Saori Yoshida – Gold
59 kg: Ayako Shoda – 7th
63 kg: Kaori Icho – Gold
67 kg: Yoshiko Inoue – 5th
72 kg: Kyoko Hamaguchi – 9th
Team finish: 1st
2006 Worlds – Guangzhou, China
48 kg: Chiharu Icho – Gold
51 kg: Hitomi Sakamoto – Gold
55 kg: Saori Yoshida – Gold
59 kg: Ayako Shoda – Gold
63 kg: Kaori Icho – Gold
67 kg: Eri Sakamoto – Bronze
72 kg: Kyoko Hamaguchi – Silver
Team finish: 1st
2005 Worlds – Budapest, Hungary
48 kg: Makiko Sakamoto – Bronze
51 kg: Hitomi Sakamoto – Gold
55 kg: Saori Yoshida – Gold
59 kg: Ayako Shoda – Gold
63 kg: Kaori Icho – Gold
67 kg: Eri Sakamoto – 7th
72 kg: Kyoko Hamaguchi – Silver
Team finish: 1st
2004 Olympics – Athens, Greece
48 kg: Chiharu Icho – Silver
55 kg: Saori Yoshida – Gold
63 kg: Saori Yoshida – Gold
72 kg: Kyoko Hamaguchi – Bronze
2003 Worlds – New York, New York
48 kg: Makiko Sakamoto – 5th
51 kg: Chiharu Icho – Gold
55 kg: Saori Yoshida – Gold
59 kg: Seiko Yamamoto – Gold
63 kg: Kaori Icho – Gold
67 kg: Norie Saito – 5th
72 kg: Kyoko Hamaguchi – Gold
Team finish: 1st
2002 Worlds – Halkida, Greece
48 kg: Mika Noguchi – 5th
51 kg: Chiharu Icho – Silver
55 kg: Saori Yoshida – Gold
59 kg: Rena Iwama – 7th
63 kg: Kaori Icho – Gold
67 kg: Norie Saito – 7th
72 kg: Kyoko Hamaguchi – Gold
Team finish: 1st
2001 Worlds – Sofia, Bulgaria
46 kg: Misato Shimizu – 5th
51 kg: Hitomi Sakamoto – Gold
56 kg: Seiko Yamamoto – Gold
62 kg: Rena Iwama – 14th
68 kg: Norie Saito – 12th
75 kg: Kyoko Hamaguchi – 4th
Team finish: 2nd
2000 Worlds – Sofia, Bulgaria
46 kg: Misato Shimizu – 8th
51 kg: Hitomi Sakamoto – Gold
56 kg: Seiko Yamamoto – Gold
62 kg: Rena Iwama – Silver
68 kg: Tomoe Miyamoto – Bronze
75 kg: Kyoko Hamaguchi – Bronze
Team finish: 1st
1999 Worlds – Boden, Switzerland
46 kg: Shoko Yoshimura – 4th
51 kg: Seiko Yamamoto – Gold
56 kg: Mariko Shimizu – Silver
62 kg: Ayako Shoda – Gold
68 kg: Tomoe Miyamoto – 11th
75 kg: Kyoko Hamaguchi – Gold
Team finish: 2nd
1998 Worlds – Poznan, Poland
46 kg: Miyu Yamamoto – Silver
51 kg: Atsuko Shinomura – Gold
56 kg: Mariko Shimizu – 7th
62 kg: Ari Suzuki – 7th
68 kg: Reiko Sumiya – 10th
75 kg: Kyoko Hamaguchi – Gold
Team finish: 2nd
1997 Worlds – Clermond-Ferrand, France
46 kg: Misato Shimizu – 5th
51 kg: Miho Adachi – Bronze
56 kg: Mariko Shimizu – Silver
62 kg: Mikiko Miyazaki – 7th
68 kg: Yayoi Urano – 4th
75 kg: Kyoko Hamaguchi – Gold
Team finish: 1st
1996 Worlds – Sofia, Bulgaria
44 kg: Shoko Yoshimura – Bronze
47 kg: Miho Adachi – Bronze
50 kg: Yoshiko Endo – Silver
53 kg: Ryoko Sakae – Bronze
57 kg: Yuka Mitadera – 4th
61 kg: Mikiko Miyazaki – Gold
65 kg: Yayoi Urano – Gold
70 kg: Kyoko Hamaguchi – 7th
75 kg: Reiko Sumiya – 7th
Team finish: 1st
1995 Worlds – Moscow, Russia
44 kg: Shoko Yoshimura – Gold
47 kg: Miyu Yamamoto – Gold
50 kg: Yoshiko Endo – Bronze
53 kg: Kozue Kimura – Silver
57 kg: Mariko Shimizu – 6th
61 kg: Mikiko Miyazaki – 9th
65 kg: Yayoi Urano – Gold
70 kg: Hamaguchi, Kyoko – 13th
75 kg: Mitsuko Funakoshi – Silver
Team finish: 2nd
1994 Worlds – Sofia, Bulgaria
44 kg: Shoko Yoshimura – Gold
47 kg: Miho Kamibayashi – Gold
50 kg: Miyu Yamamoto – Gold
53 kg: Akemi Kawasaki – Gold
57 kg: Yuka Mitadera – 4th
61 kg: Mayumi Kurokawa – 4th
65 kg: Yayoi Urano – Gold
70 kg: Mikiko Miyazaki – Bronze
75 kg: Mitsuko Funakoshi – Gold
Team finish: 1st
1993 Worlds – Stavern, Norway
44 kg: Shoko Yoshimura – Gold
47 kg: Tanaka, Mayumi – 5th
50 kg: Yoshiko Endo – Bronze
53 kg: Akemi Kawasaki – Silver
57 kg: Kuniko Fukuhara – 7th
61 kg: Yuka Mitadera – 5th
65 kg: Akiko Iijima – 6th
70 kg: Yayoi Urano – Gold
75 kg: Mikiko Miyazaki – Silver
Team finish: 1st
1992 Worlds – Villeurbanne, France
44 kg: Shoko Yoshimura – Silver
47 kg: Miho Kamibayashi – Bronze
50 kg: Yoshiko Endo – Silver
53 kg: Akemi Kawasaki – Silver
57 kg: Ryoko Sakamoto – Gold
61 kg: Kimie Hoshikawa – Silver
65 kg: Mariko Shimizu – 5th
70 kg: Yayoi Urano – Silver
75 kg: Mitsuko Funakoshi – Silver
Team finish: 1st
1991 Worlds – Tokyo, Japan
44 kg: Shoko Yoshimura – Bronze
47 kg: Miyu Yamamoto – Gold
50 kg: Yoko Higashi – Bronze
53 kg: Yoshiko Endo – Silver
57 kg: Akemi Kawasaki – 8th
61 kg: Kimie Hoshikawa – Silver
65 kg: Akiko Iijima – Gold
70 kg: Yayoi Urano – Gold
75 kg: Mitsuko Funakoshi – 4th
Team finish: 1st
1990 Worlds – Lulea, Sweden
44 kg: Shoko Yoshimura – Gold
47 kg: Mayumi Tanaka – 4th
50 kg: Kuniko Fukuhara – 5th
53 kg: Yoshiko Endo – Silver
57 kg: Ryoko Sakamoto – Bronze
61 kg: Kimie Hoshikawa – Silver
65 kg: Akiko Iijima – Gold
70 kg: Rika Iwama – Gold
75 kg: Yayoi Urano – Gold
Team finish: 1st
1989 Worlds – Martigny, SUI
44 kg: Shoko Yoshimura – Gold
47 kg: Tomoko Natsumeda – Silver
50 kg: Kyoko Fukuda – 5th
53 kg: Hatsue Kotaki – 7th
57 kg: Ryoko Sakamoto – Silver
61 kg: Kimie Hoshikawa – Bronze
65 kg: Akiko Iijima – Bronze
70 kg: Rika Iwama – Bronze
75 kg: Miyako Shimizu – Gold
Team finish: 1st
1987 Worlds – Lørenskog, Norway
44 kg: Shoko Yoshimura – Bronze
47 kg: Satomi Sugawara – Bronze
50 kg: Kyoko Fukuda – Silver
53 kg: Riyoko Sakae – 5th
57 kg: Reiko Satoh – 7th
61 kg: Akiko Iijima – Silver
65 kg: Kimie Hoshikawa – Bronze
70 kg: Rika Iwama – Silver
75 kg: Miyako Shimizu – Silver
Team finish: 3rd
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