Japan has claim to a number
of landmark sporting
achievements. It hosted the first Olympic
Games in Asia (Tokyo 1964), and in 2005 the
Gifu Prefecture welcomed the first World
Rowing Championships in Asia.
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interest amongst the workforce. Regattas like the recently
established Toda International Masters Regatta in Tokyo,
attract crews from around Asia. Japanese rowers are
also regular participants at the annual World Rowing
Masters Regatta.
Japan’s Kazushige Ura (b) and Daisaku Takeda
(s) finish 13th in the light weight men’s double
sculls at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Daisaku Takeda was Japan’s star rower in 2005 and
for many years prior. Takeda is a veteran of four
Olympic Games where he raced in the lightweight
men’s double sculls. Now, new stars are emerging.
Under the guidance of former German coach Diethelm
Maxrath, Japan has upped their international
participation, and the lightweight men’s four has
become the priority boat.
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© 2008 FRED DUFOUR/AFP/Getty Images
In 2009, this four finished 10th at the World Rowing
Championships and revealed huge speed potential in
the races leading up to the final, including throwing
out an impressive direct challenge to the mighty
Danish crew.
Leading the women is Akiko Iwamoto, who raced at
Beijing in the lightweight women’s double sculls and
in 2009 continued in the single, finishing 13th at the
World Rowing Championships.
Masters rowing in Japan has been on the rise. A
number of companies offer rowing, especially eights,
as an activity for their employees, establishing rowing
