Seiko Watanabe Claims First All-Japan Women’s Judo Title in Weight-Class Debut
YOKOHAMA, Japan — In a stunning display of composure and technical precision, Seiko Watanabe captured the All-Japan Women’s Judo Championships title in the open-weight division on Saturday, defeating higher-ranked opponents despite competing in her first-ever appearance at the prestigious tournament.
The victory marks a significant milestone for the 24-year-old judoka, who typically competes in the 63-kilogram category. Her triumph in Yokohama not only secured her first national open-weight crown but also signaled her emergence as a formidable force across weight classes in Japanese women’s judo.
Organized by the All Japan Judo Federation, the 41st edition of the tournament brought together 36 elite athletes from across the country to the Yokohama Budokan, a venue renowned for hosting high-stakes martial arts competitions. The open-weight format, which lacks weight restrictions, often favors larger, more powerful competitors — making Watanabe’s win all the more remarkable given her usual stature in the 63kg division.
“I didn’t go in thinking I could win,” Watanabe said in a post-match interview with NHK Sports. “I just wanted to fight my own judo, stay aggressive, and not regret anything. When I heard my name called, it still doesn’t feel real.”
Her path to the title included victories over seasoned open-weight specialists, including a semifinal clash against 2022 bronze medalist Miyuki Tanaka, whom she defeated via ippon with a seamless transition into juji-gatame (cross-arm lock) after countering a harai-goshi attempt. In the final, she faced reigning 70kg champion Ayumi Tanaka, securing a waza-ari score with a precise osoto-gari (major outer reap) in the opening minute and maintaining control through disciplined ne-waza (ground work) to earn the decision.
The All-Japan Women’s Judo Championships, first held in 1982, serves as Japan’s premier domestic competition for determining national supremacy in women’s judo. Unlike international events governed by the International Judo Federation (IJF), this tournament emphasizes traditional judo principles and is often viewed as a benchmark for technical mastery and mental resilience within the Japanese judo community.
Watanabe’s achievement draws parallels to past crossover successes, such as Kaori Matsumoto’s 2012 Olympic gold in the 57kg category followed by strong open-weight performances, though few athletes have claimed the open-weight title on their debut appearance. Historical records from the All Japan Judo Federation indicate that only three competitors in the tournament’s 41-year history have won the open-weight division without prior experience in the category — Watanabe now joins that exclusive list.
Her regular-season success in the 63kg division has been steady but unspectacular until now. Watanabe captured bronze at the 2023 Grand Slam Paris and finished fifth at the 2022 World Championships in Tashkent. However, her performance in Yokohama suggested a tactical evolution, blending her signature speed and precision with newly developed power-based techniques suited for open-weight combat.
“Seiko has always been technically gifted,” said her longtime coach, Hiroshi Nakamura, in a post-tournament press conference. “But what we saw today was her mental growth. She stopped worrying about size and started trusting her timing. That’s when her judo became dangerous.”
The victory could influence Watanabe’s future competitive trajectory. Although she remains committed to the 63kg division for upcoming international qualifiers — including the 2024 Paris Olympic cycle — her open-wheel success may open doors to alternative tournament strategies or special invitations to events like the Judo Grand Slam Tokyo, where open-weight exhibitions are occasionally featured.
For now, Watanabe plans to return to her regular training base in Tokyo, where she balances athletic pursuits with graduate studies in sports science at Nippon Sport Science University. Her next confirmed competition is the 2024 Japan Weight Class Championships in April, where she will defend her 63kg national title.
As Japanese judo looks ahead to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, Watanabe’s breakthrough serves as a reminder that excellence in the sport transcends weight boundaries. Her win in Yokohama wasn’t just a personal triumph — it reinforced the enduring principle that judo, at its core, rewards intelligence, timing, and indomitable spirit over sheer physical advantage.
Archysport will continue to follow Watanabe’s journey as she aims to translate this momentum into sustained success on the world stage. Fans can stay updated via the All Japan Judo Federation’s official website and Watanabe’s verified social media channels for training updates and competition announcements.
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