Kondo Siblings Capture Judo Gold at Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games

Dominant Ne-waza Secures Women’s 48kg Title for Mizuki Kondo

Mizuki Kondo set the tone for the family by securing her gold medal first in the women’s 48-kilogram category. Facing a determined opponent from Kazakhstan in the final match, Mizuki broke down her rival with a powerful Osoto-gari (major outer reap) in the waning moments of the bout. She immediately transitioned into a Yoko-shiho-gatame (side four-quarter hold), pinning her opponent for the Ippon victory. According to match observations, the decisive ground technique highlighted the extensive work Mizuki has dedicated to her ne-waza (ground-fighting skills) since entering the university ranks.

Following her victory, Mizuki faces stiff domestic competition. The All Japan Judo Federation positioned top-tier athletes for the upcoming World Championships in Azerbaijan, slated for early October, while assigning second-tier national team members to the Asian Games roster. Mizuki currently chases Wakana Koga of JR East within the national hierarchy, making her gold medal performance in Nagoya a critical milestone for her international trajectory.

Hayato Kondo Follows Sibling’s Lead With Men’s 60kg Victory

Watching his sister triumph from the sidelines lit an immediate competitive fire for Hayato Kondo. “The switch was flipped,” Hayato Kondo noted after witnessing Mizuki’s title run. Entering the men’s 60-kilogram final against Paris Olympic gold medalist Smetov of Kazakhstan, Hayato relied on an aggressive throwing strategy to neutralize his decorated opponent. With 1 minute and 48 seconds remaining on the clock, Hayato secured a Yuko advantage via an Uchi-mata (inner thigh throw), later adding another Yuko score with a Tomoe-nage (circle throw) to seal a victory.

Originally hailing from Saga Prefecture as the second and third born among five siblings, the pair established their dominance early on the national junior circuit. However, major senior-level titles had previously eluded them as a pairing. Donning the national flag together in Aichi brought added motivation. Hayato currently occupies a challenging position on the national team as he pursues Paris Olympic bronze medalist Ryuju Nagayama of Park24.

Reflecting on their joint success, both athletes acknowledged that capturing gold on the exact same day provides vital momentum. As the qualification window for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games officially begins to take shape, the sibling duo emphasized that their dual triumphs in Nagoya have delivered crucial confidence for the road ahead.

Additional Japanese Judo Results on Opening Day

While the Kondo family dominated the headlines, the opening day of judo events at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games brought mixed results for the broader Japanese delegation. In the women’s 52-kilogram category, Kokoro Fujishiro of Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance advanced deep into the tournament before dropping her semifinal bout. Fujishiro rebounded strongly in the ensuing bronze medal match, defeating her Kazakh opponent to secure a place on the podium.

Hattori was eliminated in his opening bout during the second round of competition, concluding his run in the individual tournament.