AFP
No Japanese man will win a gold medal in judo for the first time ever at an Olympic Games after Daiki Kamikawa lost in the heavyweight division in London on Friday.
Kamikawa’s second round defeat by Ihar Makaru of Belarus also condemned Japan, the home of judo, to their worst Olympic performance in the sport since 1988 in Seoul — the last time they failed to top the judo medals’ table. Only eight years ago, in Athens, Japan won eight out of the 14 judo gold medals on offer.
But in London they’ve won just one so far through women’s under-57kg world champion Kaori Matsumoto.