The final IJF World Tour event of the year will take place this weekend in Tokyo. The traditional Grand Slam, first held in 2008 and the inaugural event of the World Judo Tour, returns once again to the Japanese capital. Ahead of the 2021 Olympic Games the tournament was temporarily held in Osaka but all other editions have taken place in Tokyo. It remains one of the most respected stops on the circuit, offering a warm welcome to athletes who arrive in modest numbers but with exceptional quality. This Grand Slam is, in many ways, the true season finale.
With eight world ranking leaders across the fourteen weight categories, the standard is extremely high among the 303 athletes from 41 nations. As usual, the -81kg category is the most crowded, featuring 32 competitors. Japan fields an impressive team of 56 judoka, guaranteeing a major influence on the medal table. Korea arrives with 26 athletes, while the Russian Federation brings 23.
Several European athletes are capable of shining in Tokyo. France’s lightweight duo in the -60kg category, Luka Mkheidze and Romain Valadier Picard, are world-class contenders and will fight in the same pool. Daikii Bouba, in the -66kg, will also aim for the podium. Lasha Shavdatuashvili leads a strong Georgian presence in the -73kg division. Still, in nearly every weight category, the Japanese contingent will shape much of the competitive landscape. The -81kg category, traditionally strong for Europe, has world champion Timur Arbuzov seeded first, whilst Belgium’s Matthias Casse will also compete.
-90kg the Japanese pair Murao Sanshiro and Tajima Goki look very strong. Murao may find himself in the same pool as Komei Kawabata, but should normally reach the final.
Another world champion, Russia’s Matvey Kanikovskiy, is a major challenger in the -100kg category, where Japanese favourite Arai Dota will fight on home soil. In the heavyweight division, Inal Tasoev is the man to beat, but he will have strong Japanese opposition to deal with.
France has brought a compact but high-quality team. Shirine Boukli leads the -48kg seeds, though Japan’s Wakana Koga remains a regular threat. In the -52kg category, Abe Uta headlines a powerful Japanese lineup. Spain’s Ariane Toro Soler will look to push deep into the draw. Abe could win the Tokyo Grand Slam for a fifth time, matching the record set by her brother Hifumi.
World champion Eteri Liparteliani of Georgia is the top seed in the -57kg category, whilst French double Olympic medallist, Sarah Leonie Cysique has enough experience to reach the podium. The -63kg division will be difficult for European contenders such as Lubjana Piovesana (AUT) and Angelika Szymanska (POL), with Haruka Kaju seeded first.
The -70kg category is more open, with several top contenders absent, offering opportunities for a European surprise.
The -78kg division, traditionally strong for Europe, features Patricia Sampaio (POR) as top seed, with Inbar Lanir (ISR) and Fanny Estelle Posvite (FRA) also seeded. Still, Japan usually introduces powerful athletes in this category.
Europeans will have chances, though it will require exceptional performances. The same applies to the women’s heavyweight division, where France’s Romane Dicko is among the few European seeded players. Korea currently shows strong depth, yet Japan’s seeded judoka remain difficult to overcome. Of the 210 Tokyo Grand Slam gold medallists since 2008, Japan has claimed 157 titles, an extraordinary 75 percent.
To follow the Tokyo Grand Slam this weekend, visit JudoTV.com.
Author: Hans Van Essen