Who Won the Men’s Second Division?

The championship’s men’s second division featured 16 corporate teams competing across six weight classes (60kg, 66kg, 73kg, 81kg, 90kg, and 100kg+). According to verified match results from the Japan Judo Federation’s official scoring system:

• 1st Place: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries – Accumulated 18 technical points across all weight classes, including gold medal performances in the 73kg and 100kg+ categories.
• 2nd Place: Sumitomo Electric – Finished with 16 technical points, securing silver after a tight final-round battle.
• 3rd Place: Nippon Steel – Earned 14 points, with standout performances in the 66kg and 90kg divisions.

Note: Technical points are awarded based on IJF scoring rules, where ippon (100% win) = 3 points, waza-ari (half-point win) = 1 point, and shido (penalty) deductions apply.

Why These Wins Matter as the Tournament Nears Its End

The men’s second division winners now advance to the All-Japan Corporate Team Championships final round, where they will compete for higher seeding in next year’s All-Japan Corporate Judo Championship. According to the Japan Judo Federation’s tournament regulations:

• Top two teams from each division (first and second) qualify for the final round.
• Final standings will determine seeding for the 2025 All-Japan Corporate Championship, with higher placements earning automatic qualification.
• Teams finishing in the top four of the final round receive bonus points toward their corporate judo rankings.

For Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, this victory is particularly significant. The team has not won a division title since 2019, and their performance could bolster their recruitment efforts, as corporate judo programs often use tournament success to attract talent. “This win is a testament to our athletes’ hard work,” said a team spokesperson, adding that the results would be shared with potential recruits during upcoming campus visits.

Key Performances That Decided the Division

Several individual performances stood out in the men’s second division, according to match summaries from the Japan Judo Federation:

• Kazuki Morisaki (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, 73kg) – Won gold with an ippon via seoi-nage in the final match, securing his team’s lead.
• Ryosuke Imai (Sumitomo Electric, 66kg) – Earned waza-ari in three matches, including a dramatic comeback against a higher-ranked opponent.
• Daiki Takahashi (Nippon Steel, 100kg+) – Finished second in his weight class despite a shido penalty early in the tournament.

Coaches from competing teams noted that the division was particularly competitive this year due to a rule change allowing sudden-death overtime in tied matches. “Teams had to be more aggressive in the final minutes,” said Hiroshi Tanaka, head coach of the Toyota Motors judo team, which finished fourth in the division.

What Happens Next: The Final Two Days of the Tournament

The remaining matches of the All-Japan Judo Corporate Team Championships are scheduled as follows:

• June 14 (Friday):
  • Women’s second division finals (10:00 JST / 01:00 UTC)
  • Men’s first division semifinals (14:00 JST / 05:00 UTC)
• June 15 (Saturday):
  • Women’s first division finals (10:00 JST / 01:00 UTC)
  • Men’s first division finals (14:00 JST / 05:00 UTC)
  • Corporate team rankings announcement (16:00 JST / 07:00 UTC)

Fans and analysts will be watching closely for:

• Whether Mitsubishi Heavy Industries can replicate their second-division success in the final round.
• How Sumitomo Electric performs after their strong showing, particularly in the lighter weight classes.
• Potential upsets in the men’s first division, where Nippon Steel and Mitsubishi are considered favorites.

How to Follow the Final Matches

The All-Japan Judo Corporate Team Championships are broadcast live in Japan via NHK General TV and NHK BS1. International viewers can access highlights through:

• Japan Judo Federation official website (live results and match videos)
• Judo in Japan (English-language updates)
• Social media: Follow @JudoFedJapan (Twitter/X) and @judo_japan (Instagram) for real-time announcements.

Note: Due to time zone differences, matches begin at 10:00 JST (01:00 UTC) and 14:00 JST (05:00 UTC). Convert to your local time using a world clock tool.