Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

competed at the

2004 Summer Olympics The 2004 Summer Olympics ( el, Θερινοί Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες 2004, ), officially the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad ( el, Αγώνες της 28ης Ολυμπιάδας, ) and also known as Athens 2004 ( el, Αθήνα 2004), ...

Athens Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates ...

, Greece, from 13 to 29 August 2004. Japanese athletes have competed at every

Summer Olympic Games The Summer Olympic Games (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques d'été), also known as the Games of the Olympiad, and often referred to as the Summer Olympics, is a major international multi-sport event normally held once every four years. The inau ...

in the modern era since

1912 Events January * January 1 – The Republic of China (1912–49), Republic of China is established. * January 5 – The Prague Conference (6th All-Russian Conference of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party) opens. * January 6 ...

except for two editions; it was not invited to the

1948 Summer Olympics The 1948 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XIV Olympiad and also known as London 1948) were an international multi-sport event held from 29 July to 14 August 1948 in London, England, United Kingdom. Following a twelve-year hiatus ca ...

in London for its role in World War II, and was also part of the US-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. The

Japanese Olympic Committee The is the National Olympic Committee in Japan for the Olympic Games movement, based in Tokyo, Japan. It is a non-profit organisation that selects teams and raises funds to send Japanese competitors to Olympic events organised by the Internati ...

sent a total of 306 athletes, 139 men and 167 women, to compete in 27 sports. For the first time in its Olympic history, Japan was represented by more female than male athletes. Japan left Athens with a total of 37 medals (16 gold, 9 silver, and 12 bronze), finishing fifth in the overall medal rankings. This was also the nation's most successful Olympics, winning the largest number of gold and overall medals in non-boycotting games and surpassing three gold medals short of the

1956 Summer Olympics The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, from 22 November to 8 December 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, whi ...

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

. Ten of these medals were awarded to the athletes in

judo is an unarmed gendai budō, modern Japanese martial art, Olympic sport (since 1964), and the most prominent form of jacket wrestling competed internationally.『日本大百科全書』電子版【柔道】(CD-ROM version of Encyclopedia Nipponi ...

, eight in

swimming Swimming is the self-propulsion of a person through water, or other liquid, usually for recreation, sport, exercise, or survival. Locomotion is achieved through coordinated movement of the limbs and the body to achieve hydrodynamic thrust that r ...

, six in

wrestling Wrestling is a series of combat sports involving grappling-type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. Wrestling techniques have been incorporated into martial arts, combat ...

, four in

gymnastics Gymnastics is a type of sport that includes physical exercises requiring balance, strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, dedication and endurance. The movements involved in gymnastics contribute to the development of the arms, legs, shou ...

, and two each in

athletics Athletics may refer to: Sports * Sport of athletics, a collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking ** Track and field, a sub-category of the above sport * Athletics (physical culture), competi ...

and

synchronized swimming Synchronized swimming (in British English, synchronised swimming) or artistic swimming is a sport where swimmers perform a synchronized choreographed routine, accompanied by music. The sport is governed internationally by FINA (the ''Fédérati ...

. Eight Japanese athletes won more than a single Olympic medal in Athens. Japan's team-based athletes came strong and successful in Athens, as the baseball and softball teams managed to produce two bronze medals. Among the nation's medalists were freestyle wrestlers

Saori Yoshida is a Japanese former freestyle wrestler. Starting in 1998 she won almost every major competition, including three Olympic Games, four Asian Games, and 13 world championships, and became the most decorated athlete in freestyle wrestling history. ...

and

Kaori Icho is a Japanese freestyle wrestler. She is a ten-time World Champion and four-time Olympic Champion, winning gold in 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016. Icho was undefeated between 2003 and 2016. On 29 January 2016 at the Golden Grand Prix Ivan Yarygin 20 ...

, who both claimed their gold medals in women's wrestling for the first time, and judoka

Tadahiro Nomura is one of the most famous judo competitors in Japan. He is the only judoka in the world who has won three individual Olympic gold medals in a row, all in the extra lightweight (-60 kg) division. Biography Nomura was born into a family of ...

and

Ryoko Tani is a retired Japanese female judoka and a politician. Competing in the extra-lightweight (48 kg) class, she won a record seven world titles and five Olympic medals including two golds at Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004. After her retirement ...

, who both successfully defended Olympic titles in their respective classes. Swimmer

Kosuke Kitajima is a Japanese retired breaststroke swimmer. He won gold medals at the men's 100 m and 200 m breaststroke events at the 2004 Summer Olympics, and the 2008 Summer Olympics – becoming the first and only swimmer to sweep the breaststroke even ...

became the most successful Japanese athlete in these games, striking a breaststroke double with two golds and adding a bronze to his career hardware for the team in men's medley relay. Meanwhile, synchronized swimmers

Miya Tachibana is a Japanese competitor in synchronised swimming from Ōtsu, Shiga.Sanspo.com profile

and

Miho Takeda is a Japanese competitor in synchronized swimming. She received five Olympic medals at the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics. The silver medal from the 2000 Olympics was in the duet with Miya Tachibana, and they also received a silver me ...

managed to repeat their silver medals from Sydney in both women's duet and team routines.

Takehiro Kashima is a Japanese gymnast, world champion and Olympic champion. Olympics Kashima won a gold medal in the ''team all-around'' and a bronze medal in ''pommel-horse'' at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.Hiroyuki Tomita Hiroyuki Tomita (Japanese: 冨田洋之; born November 21, 1980) is a Japanese gymnast. Tomita won three Olympic medals at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics. Personal life Tomita began gymnastics at the age of eight

, and

Isao Yoneda ; (born August 20, 1977 in Hamburg, Germany) is a Japanese gymnast. He was raised in Tokyo. He is the 2004 Summer Olympics gold medalist in the team event and the bronze medalist in the high bar The horizontal bar, also known as the high ba ...

claimed two individual medals each in men's artistic gymnastics, including their coveted gold in the team all-around. On August 29, 2004, the

International Olympic Committee The International Olympic Committee (IOC; french: link=no, Comité international olympique, ''CIO'') is a non-governmental sports organisation based in Lausanne, Switzerland. It is constituted in the form of an association under the Swiss ...

stripped off Hungary's

Adrián Annus Adrián Annus (born 28 June 1973 in Szeged) is a Hungarian hammer thrower, who was stripped of his gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens for a doping violation in a highly publicized scandal. The disqualification received heig ...

hammer throw title after failing the doping test, and the gold medal was subsequently awarded to

Koji Murofushi is a former Japanese-Romanian hammer thrower and Sports science, sports scientist. He has been among the world elite since the 2001 World Championships in Athletics, 2001 World Championships, where he won the silver medal. He was the 2004 Summer ...

at the conclusion of the Games, making him the nation's first ever Olympic champion in the field event.

Medalists

, style="text-align:left; width:72%; vertical-align:top;", , style="text-align:left; width:23%; vertical-align:top;",

Archery

Three Japanese archers qualified each for the men's and women's individual archery, and a spot each for both men's and women's teams. ;Men ;Women

Athletics

Japanese athletes have so far achieved qualifying standards in the following athletics events (up to a maximum of 3 athletes in each event at the 'A' Standard, and 1 at the 'B' Standard). The team was selected based on the results of the 2004 Japan Championships in Athletics.

originally claimed a silver medal in men's hammer throw. On August 29, 2004, the

stripped off Hungary's

hammer throw title after failing the doping test. Following the announcement of Annus' disqualification, Murofushi's medal was eventually upgraded to gold. ;Men ;Track & road events ;Field events ;Women ;Track & road events ;Field events ;Combined events –

Heptathlon A heptathlon is a track and field combined events contest made up of seven events. The name derives from the Greek επτά (hepta, meaning "seven") and ἄθλος (áthlos, or ἄθλον, áthlon, meaning "competition"). A competitor in a hept ...

Badminton

;Men ;Women ;Mixed

Baseball

;Roster Manager: 33 –

Kiyoshi Nakahata is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball player. He played for the Yomiuri Giants (1976–1989). He managed the Yokohama DeNA BayStars The are a professional baseball team in the Japanese Central League. Their home field is Yoko ...

Coaches: 31 –

Yutaka Takagi is a professional Japanese baseball player. Family He has three sons of the football player. His eldest son Toshiyuki is playing in Cerezo Osaka, Yoshiaki are currently playing in Albirex Niigata, and his third son Daisuke is playing in Ga ...

, 32 –

Yutaka Ohno , (born August 30, 1955) is a former Japanese baseball player of the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Japan's Central League. He was one of the most famous Japanese left-handed pitchers. He was born in Izumo, Shimane. He was known as the man from . ...

;Preliminary round ;Semifinal ;Bronze Medal Final ; Won Bronze Medal

Basketball

Women's tournament

;Roster ;Group play ---- ---- ---- ---- ;9th-10th Place Final

Boxing

Japan sent one boxer to the 2004 Olympics.

Canoeing

Sprint

Qualification Legend: Q = Qualify to final; q = Qualify to semifinal

Cycling

Road

Track

;Sprint ;Time trial ;Keirin ;Omnium

Mountain biking

Diving

Japanese divers qualified two spots each in men's springboard and women's platform. ;Men ;Women

Equestrian

Show jumping

Fencing

Five fencers, two men and three women, represented Japan in 2004. ;Men ;Women

Field hockey

Women's tournament

;Roster ;Group play ---- ---- ---- ---- ;5th-8th Place Semifinal ;7th-8th Place Final

Football

Men's tournament

;Roster ;Group play ---- ----

Women's tournament

;Roster ;Group play ---- ---- ;Quarterfinal

Gymnastics

Artistic

;Men ;Team ;Individual finals ;Women

Rhythmic

Trampoline

Judo

Fourteen Japanese judoka (seven males and five females) qualified for the 2004 Summer Olympics. ;Men ;Women

Rowing

The Japanese rowers qualified the following boats: ;Men ;Women Qualification Legend: FA=Final A (medal); FB=Final B (non-medal); FC=Final C (non-medal); FD=Final D (non-medal); FE=Final E (non-medal); FF=Final F (non-medal); SA/B=Semifinals A/B; SC/D=Semifinals C/D; SE/F=Semifinals E/F; R=Repechage

Sailing

Japanese sailors have qualified one boat for each of the following events. ;Men ;Women ;Open M = Medal race; OCS =

On course side On the course side is an expression used in sailboat racing to indicate that a boat was on the wrong side of the starting line when the starting signal was given. According to the Sailing Instructions valid for a specific racing event, being on th ...

of the starting line; DSQ = Disqualified; DNF = Did not finish; DNS= Did not start; RDG = Redress given

Shooting

Nine Japanese shooters (three men and six women) qualified to compete in the following events: ;Men ;Women

Softball

In the final game of the preliminary round,

Yukiko Ueno is a Japanese,
(in Japanese). ''Japan Softball League''. Retrieved July 31, 2021. medal-winning

of Japan pitched the first perfect game in Olympic softball history as Japan defeated China 2-0. Two days later, Japan again defeated China in the 3rd/4th semifinal to guarantee a medal. Their loss in the bronze medal game left them with the bronze. ;Team Roster ;Preliminary Round ;Semifinal ;Bronze Medal Game ; Won Bronze Medal

Swimming

Japanese swimmers earned qualifying standards in the following events (up to a maximum of 2 swimmers in each event at the A-standard time, and 1 at the B-standard time): ;Men ;Women

Synchronized swimming

Nine Japanese synchronized swimmers qualified a spot in the women's team.

Table tennis

Eight Japanese table tennis players (five men and three women) qualified for the following events. ;Men ;Women

Taekwondo

Japan has qualified one taekwondo jin.

Tennis

Triathlon

Five Japanese triathletes qualified for the following events.

Volleyball

Beach

Indoor

Women's tournament

;Roster ;Group play ;Quarterfinal

Weightlifting

Four Japanese weightlifters qualified for the following events:

Wrestling

;Men's freestyle ;Men's Greco-Roman ;Women's freestyle

References

External links

Official Report of the XXVIII OlympiadJapanese Olympic Committee
{{DEFAULTSORT:Japan At The 2004 Summer Olympics Nations at the 2004 Summer Olympics

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 6 ...

Summer Olympics The Summer Olympic Games (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques d'été), also known as the Games of the Olympiad, and often referred to as the Summer Olympics, is a major international multi-sport event normally held once every four years. The inau ...

Medalists

Archery

Athletics

Badminton

Baseball

Basketball

Women's tournament

Boxing

Canoeing

Sprint

Cycling

Road

Track

Mountain biking

Diving

Equestrian

Show jumping

Fencing

Field hockey

Women's tournament

Football

Men's tournament

Women's tournament

Gymnastics

Artistic

Rhythmic

Trampoline

Judo

Rowing

Sailing

Shooting

Softball

Swimming

Synchronized swimming

Table tennis

Taekwondo

Tennis

Triathlon

Volleyball

Beach

Indoor

Women's tournament

Weightlifting

Wrestling

See also

References

External links