79th National Sports Festival Judo: A Comprehensive Seem at the Shiga Competition

The landscape of Japanese domestic judo reached a pivotal milestone in late 2025 with the conclusion of the 79th National Sports Festival, held in Nagahama, Shiga. Known locally as the “Watashi SHIGA Kagayaku Koku-Spo,” the event served as a critical showcase for the nation’s top talent across women’s, adult men’s, and junior boys’ divisions.

For global followers of the sport, the transition of this event is noteworthy. Long recognized as the Kokutai (National Sports Festival), the competition has evolved into the “Koku-Spo” branding, reflecting a broader modernization of Japan’s regional athletic games while maintaining the rigorous competitive standards that define Japanese judo.

The Stage: Kohoku THG Twin Arena

The competition was centered at the Kohoku THG Twin Arena, also known as the Nagahama Ika Twin Arena. Located in the heart of Nagahama, Shiga, the venue provided the necessary infrastructure to handle the high volume of matches and the strict logistical requirements of a national championship, including specialized areas for weigh-ins and official technical meetings.

The atmosphere in Nagahama was designed to integrate high-performance sport with regional pride, providing a professional backdrop for athletes competing for prefectural honor.

Competition Timeline and Structure

The 79th National Sports Festival followed a disciplined three-day competition schedule, preceded by essential administrative and preparation phases on October 4, 2025.

October 4: Preparation Phase
The event began with administrative rigor. Women’s weigh-ins took place from 15:30 to 16:30, while the official referee and coach meetings were held at 15:00 and 17:00, respectively, to ensure all regulatory standards were aligned before the first ippon was thrown.

October 5: The Opening Salvos
Following the opening ceremony at 08:50, the competition opened with the women’s division. The first day saw the women’s bracket progress through the third round. As the women’s matches concluded, the focus shifted to the adult men, who underwent their official weigh-ins between 16:00 and 16:30.

October 6: Championship Sunday
The second full day of competition was the most intensive. The women’s division reached its climax with the final matches. In a moment of high technical interest for the crowd, members of the Japanese national team performed a demonstration of techniques (waza) at 11:15. This was immediately followed by the adult men’s division, which progressed from the opening rounds through to the finals. The day concluded with the weigh-ins for the junior boys’ division.

October 7: The Next Generation
The final day was dedicated exclusively to the junior boys. The competition ran from 09:00 through the final matches, identifying the top young prospects in the country.

The Broader Context of the National Games

The Shiga games are part of a long-standing tradition of regional rotation in Japan. To understand the prestige of the 79th edition, one must look at the trajectory of recent tournaments. The 78th edition was hosted by Saga in 2024, preceded by a special tournament in Kagoshima in 2023 and the 77th edition in Tochigi in 2022.

Further back, the records show a history of diverse hosting, including Ibaraki (74th), Fukui (73rd), Ehime (72nd), and Iwate (71st). This rotation ensures that judo remains a nationwide passion, distributing the economic and cultural benefits of the games across various prefectures.

For those analyzing the technical growth of the sport, these tournaments act as a barometer for the health of the Japanese judo pipeline, moving from the junior levels in Nagahama to the elite adult ranks.

Accessing Results and Official Records

Because of the scale of the event, results are categorized by division, and round. Official records for the 79th National Sports Festival include detailed brackets for:

• Adult Men: Full progression from the 1st round through the quarterfinals, semifinals, 3rd-place matches, and the finals.
• Women: Progression from the 1st round through the 3rd round, quarterfinals, semifinals, 3rd-place matches, and the finals.
• Junior Boys: Progression from the 1st round through the quarterfinals, semifinals, 3rd-place matches, and the finals.

Official results and live updates were disseminated via the Shiga Prefecture official website and the “Watashi SHIGA Kagayaku Koku-Spo” executive committee. For those seeking a visual archive of the matches, the “Koku-Spo Channel” on YouTube provided live streaming and highlights of the event.

As the judo community looks forward, the data and performances from the Shiga games will likely influence selections for upcoming international Grand Prix events and national team training camps. The discipline and technical precision displayed in Nagahama continue to reinforce Japan’s standing as the global epicenter of judo.

For the most current updates and historical archives, fans are encouraged to visit the All Japan Judo Federation tournament pages.

What was your standout moment from the Shiga games? Share your thoughts on the emerging talent in the junior boys’ division in the comments below.