Take a look at the final Olympics 2024 medal table and you’ll notice something interesting: in third place sit Japan, now a sporting powerhouse that was able to hold onto its top three finish from when it hosted the Covid-affected Games four years ago.

The bounce back from the trauma of the pandemic has been an inspiring sporting story. The country’s high finish in 2021 was the first time Japan had ever broken into the Olympic top three, and this year’s performance was just as impressive.

But it’s not just in the Olympics where Japanese sporting stars are shining. This article looks at several athletics disciplines that the county is achieving some of its best performances of all time.

Let’s dive in.

Olympics

Team Japan had a big challenge to hold onto their excellent home showing of 2020, or 2021 after the pandemic rescheduling. Their third-place finish was the team’s best-ever showing, but the 2024 version passed with flying colors by repeating the feat.

The team landed a superb 20 medals, behind only the United States and China, and, while this was seven short of their Tokyo tally, pundits still praised Japan’s spirit and endeavor in overcoming an arguably tougher field.

Wrestling proved to be a goldmine for the team, with eight gold medals won in this discipline alone. Notable performances came from Kagami Yūka (women’s freestyle 76kg), Kiyooka Kōtarō (men’s freestyle 65kg), and Motoki Sakura (women’s freestyle 62kg), who all secured gold medals in their respective weight classes.

Other standout performances included Kitaguchi Haruka’s gold in women’s javelin throw, Yuasa Ami’s victory in breaking, and Oka Shinnosuke’s multiple gymnastics golds. Japan also excelled in team events, winning gold in fencing and gymnastics.

Can they repeat the feat in 2028? Time will tell, but as it stands Team Japan have a lot of momentum.

Men’s football (soccer)

The Japanese football team has never been regarded as much of a threat to the world’s biggest team, but the 2022 World Cup changed that.

Betting on the Samurai Blue to beat both Spain and Japan in the group stage would have been labelled as a case of problem gambling by many soccer experts, but they managed to achieve it as they qualified for the knockout stages against the odds.

The team’s Asian Cup performance in 2024 was a disappointment but they’ve got off to a formidable start in their qualification for the 2026 World Cup, winning six out of six of the group games so far.

Some pundits are tipping them to put several years of progress together and emerge as dark horses for the tournament.

Women’s baseball

Japan’s dominance in the 2024 WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup Finals was undeniable. Despite Manager Risa Nakashima’s humble assessment, the statistics clearly show the hallmarks of a top team.

Japan’s lineup consistently got on base and capitalized on scoring opportunities. Their pitching staff was dominant, limiting opponents’ scoring chances. And their defense was efficient, minimizing errors and preventing runs.

Individual standout Miu Shiraishi led the tournament in hits and on-base percentage, earning her the MVP award. Sena Catterall from Canada also impressed with her performance, rivalling Shiraishi in hits and leading in stolen bases and runs scored, but the latter just edged it.

While the USA put up a respectable performance, Japan’s superior numbers across the board means they’re now the leading light in world baseball.

Esports

Japan, once a dominant force in console gaming, has emerged as a big player in the esports arena. Despite a recent regulatory shift, the country’s esports scene has experienced rapid growth, with teams like Crazy Raccoon, DetonatioN FocusMe, FENNEL, SCARZ, and ZETA DIVISION leading the charge.

Some people may point out that esports is hardly a sport, but the training and commitment that top players put in should mean that it qualifies as one.

A notable trend is mobile gaming, and mobile games like Clash Royale, Brawl Stars, and Knives Out have gained significant traction.

Financial stability, though, has been a challenge for many esports teams in Japan, but recent investments and fundraising efforts have helped address this issue. Japanese teams are thus becoming more sustainable and capable of competing at the highest level.

Japan’s success in making mobile esports into a top sport offers valuable insights for other countries, such as India and China, and we may soon see an Asian team truly rival the dominant American and European superpowers.