Team Japan, the Host, takes two medals (and 11 top 8 finishes) in Tokyo 2025!

Japan was a gracious host for the 20th World Athletics Outdoor Championships, September 13-21, 2025. Held in the National Stadium, the large crowds each day were entertained and enthalled by the agony and ecstacy of the competition.

Japan Takes Two Medals in Tokyo 2025

Japan gave the home fans two bronze medals and eleven top-8 finishes in Tokyo, which was just about equal to their performances in Budapest 2023 (one gold, one bronze, and 11 top-8 placings).

The crowds of 56-59,000, mostly Japanese fans, had athletes to cheer for each night! For many Japanese fans, the Tokyo World Championships helped alleviate the ill feelings caused by the pandemic’s impact on the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

Medal performances

Hayato Katsuki, JPN, gave Japan its first medal in the World Championships on day one! Katsuki walked 2:29.16 for the bronze medal in the 35-kilometer Men’s Race Walk.

Hatsuo Katsuki gave Japan its first medal in 2025 WC, photo by World Athletics/Tokyo WCH 2025

Nanako Fujii, JPN, took the bronze in the Women’s 20 kilometer race walk, in 1:26:18.

Nanoko Fuji takes the bronze in Women’s 20k in Tokyo! photo by World Athletics

Fifth places

Rachid Muratake, JPN, finished in 5th in the 110m hurdles in 13.18.

Sixth places

Ririka Hironaka, JPN, was 6th in Women’s 10,000m in 31:09.62.
Yuki Joseph Nakamura, JPN, was 6th in the M 400 meters in 44.62.
The Japan Men’s 4x100m team ran 38.55 for sixth place.

Seventh places

Kana Kobayashi, JPN, was seventh in the Women’s marathon in 2:28:50.
Kento Yoshikawa, JPN, was 7th in Men’s 20k race walk in 1:19:46.

Eighth places
Japan Mixed Relay ran 3:17.53 for 8th.
Ryuji Miura was 8th in a very tactical men’s steeplechase in 8:35.90!

The Fans of Japan should have been given a medal!

The Tokyo 2025 World Champs, photo by World Athletics

Special thanks to Japan Running News (http://japanrunningnews.blogspot.com) for their research on the Japanese performances in Tokyo 2025.

Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America’s first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: “I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself.” Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys.

Theme song: Greg Allman, ” I’m no Angel.”

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