Goki Tajima (left) competes against Sanshiro Murao in the men's final at the Emperor's Cup All Japan Judo Championships on April 26, 2026, in Tokyo. (©KYODO)
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The Emperor's Cup All Japan Judo Championships, a competition to determine the best judoka in Japan regardless of weight class, took place on April 26. Again this year, the event was held at the Nippon Budokan near the Imperial Palace.
The official name of the women's event is the "Empress Cup All Japan Women's Judo Championships."
In the world of Japanese judo, this tournament is considered on par with the Summer Olympic Games and the world championships as the most prestigious events in the sport. Collectively, they are referred to as the "Triple Crown."
For the 2026 competition, 45 athletes participated. Their ranks included 40 judoka who had won their respective national qualifiers and five specially recommended individuals. The competition was fierce, and this outstanding tournament truly lived up to the name of the Emperor's Cup.
In the men's final, Goki Tajima and Sanshiro Murao, both from the 90-kg class, faced off. Tajima secured a dramatic victory with a waza-ari (half-point) just 11 seconds before the end of the match, claiming his first championship title.
The men are rivals who will represent the 90-kg class at the ninth World Judo Championships in October. They have both won that tournament before. (Tajima won in 2024, and Murao won last year.) The two continue to hone their skills while competing at a high level in preparation for the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics.
Classic Showdown
Their bout took place against a tense atmosphere engendered by their heated rivalry. It proved to be a classic 90-kg class showdown that combined speed and power. And I felt it was a match that encapsulated the appeal of the individual judo styles of the two fighters.
On the other hand, because it was an open-weight tournament, some people felt that this format provided few opportunities for athletes from the over 100-kg weight class to stand out, which they found disappointing.
However, personally, I felt such a consideration was outweighed by the fact that three 90-kg class wrestlers ー Tajima, Murao and Daiki Kobata, who came in fifth place ー were in competition for the top spots. I thought that introduced a breath of fresh air into this tournament and increased the overall appeal of the All Japan Championship itself.
Furthermore, I was particularly impressed by the performance of Dota Arai, the only university student to reach the top eight. This 100-kg class judoka finished third. To get there, he engaged in exciting battles from his first match against skilled opponents, including those with significant weight differences. His matches showcased a different kind of excitement compared to weight-class competitions. I felt that this was a positive development, including in terms of future potential.
One-of-a-kind Tournament
The All Japan Judo Championship (Open Category), as an open competition without weight classes, offers drama in every single match. Consequently, spectators become totally involved with the action on the mats from beginning to end.
Since weight-class competitions are the norm worldwide, the All Japan Championship is extremely valuable. Its competitions embody and convey the traditions and elemental appeal of judo, which began with only open-weight competition. I believe this tournament also has tremendous potential.
In recent years, the tournament has drawn an increasing number of spectators from abroad. And this year too, many foreign visitors could be spotted in the crowd at the Nippon Budokan.
I sincerely hope the All Japan Championships will continue to be a captivating event that brings joy to many people. As someone who was nurtured by this tournament, I feel a renewed desire to do whatever I can to support it.
RELATED:
- Kosei Inoue: The Challenge and Charm of the All Japan Championships
- SPORTS SHORTS | Japanese Judoka Excel in the Tokyo Grand Slam
Author: Kosei Inoue, President, Certified NPO JUDOs
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