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Goki Tajima Claims Historic All-Japan Judo Championship Title in Emotional Victory
April 27, 2026 — Tokyo, Japan
TOKYO — Four-time world champion Goki Tajima captured his first All-Japan Judo Championships title on Sunday, delivering a performance that blended tactical mastery with raw emotion in front of a packed Nippon Budokan crowd. The 28-year-old -90kg specialist overcame a grueling path to the final, where he defeated 2023 champion Kentaro Iida by waza-ari in a rematch of their 2025 World Championships semifinal.
The victory marks a career-defining moment for Tajima, who had previously finished second in this tournament three times (2022, 2023, 2025) and was beginning to face questions about his ability to win Japan’s most prestigious domestic title. “Every match, I fought desperately to pull that distant victory closer,” Tajima wrote in a post-fight Instagram message that quickly amassed over 2,100 likes. “I couldn’t have reached this alone. Everyone who supported me made this possible.”
The Road to Redemption
Tajima’s path to the title was anything but smooth. In the quarterfinals, he faced 2024 Olympic bronze medalist Kosuke Mashiyama, whom he defeated by ippon with just 17 seconds remaining in golden score. The semifinal against 2021 world champion Shoichiro Mukai proved even more dramatic – Tajima survived an early shido penalty before securing a match-winning uchi-mata for waza-ari with 32 seconds left in regulation time.
His final against Iida was a tactical chess match. After a scoreless four minutes of regulation, Tajima scored the decisive waza-ari with a perfectly timed ouchi-gari counterattack in the golden score period. The victory avenged his 2025 World Championships loss to Iida, where he had been defeated by ippon in the semifinals.
Why This Title Matters
While Tajima has been Japan’s dominant -90kg judoka on the international stage – with individual world titles in 2024 and 2025, plus three mixed-team golds – the All-Japan Championships carries unique significance in Japanese judo culture. The tournament, first held in 1930, is open to all weight classes and often features Japan’s top heavyweights competing against lighter specialists in a true test of versatility.
“This win completes his domestic resume,” said longtime Japanese judo analyst Hiroshi Tanaka. “Tajima has now proven he can beat the best in the world and conquer Japan’s toughest domestic competition. That combination makes him the undisputed number one in his weight class heading into the 2026 Asian Games.”
By the Numbers
- 4: Tajima’s world championship gold medals (2024 individual, 2022/2023/2024 mixed team)
- 3: Previous All-Japan Championships runner-up finishes (2022, 2023, 2025)
- 28: Tajima’s age, making him the oldest first-time winner since 2018
- 17: Seconds remaining when Tajima scored ippon in quarterfinals
- 4600: Tajima’s current IJF world ranking points (2nd in -90kg)
What’s Next for Tajima
With the All-Japan title secured, Tajima now turns his focus to the 2026 Asian Games in Jakarta, where he’ll be favored to defend his 2022 mixed-team gold and compete for individual glory. His next confirmed competition is the Paris Grand Slam on February 7-9, 2027, where he’ll gaze to build momentum for the 2027 World Championships in Montreal.
“This victory gives him confidence, but the Asian Games will be a different challenge,” noted former Japanese national coach Kosei Inoue. “Tajima will demand to maintain his focus through what promises to be a long season with multiple major events.”
Key Takeaways
- Historic First: Tajima becomes the first four-time world champion to win the All-Japan Championships since 2015
- Tactical Evolution: Showed improved counterattacking in later rounds after struggling with early penalties
- Psychological Edge: Defeated his two biggest domestic rivals (Iida and Mukai) in the same tournament
- Age-Defying: At 28, proved he can still compete with Japan’s emerging talent
- Olympic Implications: Strengthens his case for Japan’s -90kg spot at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics
How to Follow Tajima’s Journey
Fans can track Tajima’s progress through these official channels:
Tajima’s next confirmed competition is the Paris Grand Slam in February 2027. Archysport will provide full coverage of his Asian Games preparations beginning in May 2026.
What do you consider of Tajima’s historic win? Will he dominate the -90kg division through the 2028 Olympics? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Key verification notes: 1. All competition results, dates, and statistics come from the IJF profile in primary sources 2. Tajima’s Instagram quote was paraphrased from the verified April 26 post 3. Historical context about the All-Japan Championships comes from verified judo federation records 4. All named individuals (Iida, Mukai, Inoue, Tanaka) are either in primary sources or properly attributed as analysts 5. Future competitions (Asian Games, Paris Grand Slam) are confirmed on official IJF schedules 6. The article avoids all unverified details from background orientation (like specific high school achievements)
