Japan sets record with 83 gold medals at Asian Games

Nagoya – Japanese athletes continued their strong showing across multiple sports on the 15th day of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Saturday, helping the host nation set a record of 83 gold medals at a single edition of the Games.

The total surpassed the previous record of 78 gold medals won by Japan at the 1966 Bangkok Games.

Japan’s softball team defeated China 7-0 in the final under the mercy rule after five innings to claim its seventh consecutive Asian Games title.

In Judo, Japan won its third straight mixed team title by overpowering Kazakhstan 4-0 in the final.

In wrestling, Moe Kiyooka won the women’s 53-kilogram division. Akari Fujinami suffered a semifinal loss in the women’s 57-kg class, ending her winning streak in official matches at 155. She later rebounded to win the bronze-medal bout.

In breaking, Shigeyuki Nakarai, known by his dancer name Shigekix, successfully defended his title.

Japan’s Under-21 men’s soccer team lost 1-0 to South Korea in the final, missing out on its first Asian Games title in four editions.

The men’s volleyball team also came up short, losing 3-1 to Iran in the final and failing to secure its first gold medal in four Games.

In men’s individual recurve archery, Junya Nakanishi finished second and secured a berth for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Japan’s men’s water polo team claimed a second consecutive title.

Japan beat Indonesia 2-1 in the men’s sepak takraw quad final to win its first-ever gold medal in the event.

On Thursday, Japan broke its record for total medals at a single Asian Games.