The All Japan Judo Federation announced that the 2026 All Japan Judo Championships will take place on September 12 and 13, 2026, at the Lipro Budokan (Saitama Prefectural Budokan). Defending champions and athletes who successfully navigate regional qualifiers from across the country will gather at the Saitama venue to compete for national titles.
Tournament Schedule and Venue Details
Competition will run across two days, opening on Saturday, September 12, 2026, and concluding on Sunday, September 13, 2026. The Saitama Prefectural Budokan, officially known as the Lipro Budokan, provides the stage for the matches. The facility is a premier martial arts arena located in Saitama Prefecture, capable of hosting large-scale national competitions under the governance of the All Japan Judo Federation.
Qualification Pathway for National Competitors
Entry into the national tournament requires athletes to advance through rigorous regional and prefectural qualifiers held nationwide. Alongside reigning champions who earn automatic berths to defend their titles, competitors must prove themselves against regional fields. This multi-tiered qualification system ensures that only top-performing judoka secure a place on the tatami in Saitama, maintaining the high competitive standard expected of the national championship.
Stakes for Contenders and National Standing
Performance at the All Japan Judo Championships carries significant weight for elite competitors aiming to secure national team consideration and international assignment opportunities. With defending champions returning to test their form against challengers from every prefecture, the tournament serves as a primary barometer for the domestic strength of Japanese judo. Coaches and federation selectors closely monitor these bouts to evaluate athletes under high-pressure national championship conditions.
What Comes Next
Regional qualifiers will continue to unfold across prefectures in the months leading up to the autumn event, finalizing the roster of competitors who will travel to the Lipro Budokan in September 2026. Official announcements regarding daily match schedules, broadcast details, and ticketing information will be released by the All Japan Judo Federation as the tournament dates approach.
