Japan target record medal haul at home Asian Games

Japan is poised to break their own record for the most medals won at the Asian Games when the event returns to their home turf in Nagoya from September 19 to October 4. Chef de mission Kosei Inoue, speaking after the team's inauguration ceremony, expressed optimism about the potential medal haul, noting that the previous record was set during Japan's last hosting of the event in Hiroshima in 1994, where they claimed 218 medals, including 64 golds.

Inoue, a former Olympic and Asian Games champion in judo, acknowledged the challenge of surpassing that mark, stating, "In that sense, it's a very high hurdle." However, he emphasized Japan's determination to meet or even exceed the 218-medal total. Japan's performance at the 2023 Asian Games in China's Hangzhou saw them finish second in the medal table with 188 medals, 52 of which were gold.

Inoue observed that the level of competition in Asia has risen significantly, with athletes from the region excelling on the global stage. The Japanese squad for the upcoming Asian Games features Paris Olympics gymnastics champions Shinnosuke Oka and javelin thrower Haruka Kitaguchi.