Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games close with Japan's record 83 golds and 269 medals
Version 2: The Games have now closed, with final record totals of 83 golds and 269 medals confirmed by additional national outlets, along with the closing ceremony, standout performances including a world record and an 11-year-old esports champion, the handover to Doha, and the organizational problems and cost figures.
In short
Japan closed the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on October 4 with 83 gold medals and 269 medals in total, both records for a Japanese team at the event. The 16-day Games, the third summer Asian Games Japan has hosted and the first in 32 years, ended with a ceremony at Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya, where the flag was passed to Doha, Qatar, for 2030. Outlets also reported organizational problems including a national anthem mix-up and bus arrangement errors.
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Japan closed the 20th Asian Games in Aichi and Nagoya with 83 gold medals and 269 medals in total, both records for a Japanese team at the Games, according to Sankei Shimbun, Mainichi Shimbun, Jiji Press, TBS NEWS DIG, Asahi Shimbun, Nikkei and Livedoor News. Livedoor and Nikkei said the 83 golds passed Japan's previous best of 78 at the 1966 Bangkok Games, while the 269 total passed the 218 won at the 1994 Hiroshima Games, a level NHK News reported Japan had already passed on October 2. Jiji and Asahi said Japan finished second to China in both counts. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
The closing ceremony began at 6pm on October 4 at Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya, with Prince and Princess Akishino attending, Sankei, Mainichi and Asahi reported. Sankei said swimmer Ohashi Shin, 17, carried Japan's flag, and Jiji said about 250 athletes and coaches took part. Aichi Governor Omura Hideaki handed the Games flag to representatives of Doha, Qatar, the 2030 host, Jiji and Mainichi reported. Asahi reported that Olympic Council of Asia president Sheikh Joaan said the athletes had “built a legacy that will resonate throughout Asia”, before the flame was extinguished. [ 2 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
The Games ran 16 days in 43 sports; Asahi reported 54 venues in Aichi, Tokyo, Shizuoka, Gifu and Osaka and more than 15,000 participants from 45 countries and regions plus a refugee team. Sankei, Mainichi and Asahi said it was Japan's third summer Asian Games and the first in 32 years. Ohashi set a world record in the men's 200m breaststroke, Mainichi, Jiji and Yomiuri reported, and Nikkei said Japan won 10 athletics golds among 32 medals, plus nine in judo. Jiji reported a first men's table tennis team title in 60 years and a seventh straight softball crown, and Mainichi and Jiji said 11-year-old Kurihara Yuki won esports gold, the youngest champion at the Games. [ 2 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 10 ]
Organizational problems also drew attention. Asahi reported that North Korea's anthem was played by mistake at a men's hockey match involving South Korea, and that the organizing committee apologized. Sankei, Mainichi, Jiji and Asahi reported bus arrangement errors, including shuttles that failed to arrive or went to the wrong destination; Mainichi cited accommodation problems. Sankei said empty seats were noticeable at some venues, and a Nikkei headline mentioned empty seats at the closing ceremony. [ 2 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
Asahi reported the organizers aimed for “sustainable” Games using mainly existing venues, but that with more events requested by the Olympic Council of Asia and inflation, the cost estimate as of last December was about 370 billion yen including the Asian Para Games, more than three times the figure when hosting was decided. Sankei and Yomiuri said the results give Japan momentum toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The first Asian Para Games in Japan opens on October 18 and runs to October 24, with up to 4,000 people from 45 countries and regions, Asahi and Jiji reported. [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 10 ]
Why it matters
Sankei Shimbun, Nikkei and Yomiuri Shimbun said the record haul gives Japan momentum toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The reported operational problems, including a national anthem mix-up and bus arrangement errors, came as Sankei Shimbun noted Japan has a future Olympic bid in view, while Asahi Shimbun reported the Games cost an estimated 370 billion yen, more than three times the initial figure. The first Asian Para Games to be held in Japan opens on October 18.
Key facts
- Japan won 83 gold medals and 269 medals in total at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi and Nagoya, both records for a Japanese team at the event, according to Sankei Shimbun, Mainichi Shimbun, Jiji Press, TBS NEWS DIG, Asahi Shimbun, Nikkei and Livedoor News. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- The 83 golds passed Japan's previous best of 78 at the 1966 Bangkok Games, and the 269 total passed the 218 won at the 1994 Hiroshima Games, Livedoor News and Nikkei reported. [ 3 , 4 ]
- The closing ceremony was held on October 4 from 6pm at Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya, with Prince and Princess Akishino attending, Sankei Shimbun, Mainichi Shimbun and Asahi Shimbun reported. [ 2 , 6 , 8 ]
- Japan finished second to China in both gold medals and total medals, according to Jiji Press and Asahi Shimbun. [ 3 , 7 , 8 ]
- Swimmer Ohashi Shin, 17, set a world record in the men's 200m breaststroke, Mainichi Shimbun, Jiji Press and Yomiuri Shimbun reported. [ 6 , 7 , 10 ]
- Kurihara Yuki, 11, won esports gold, the youngest gold medallist at the Games, according to Mainichi Shimbun and Jiji Press. [ 6 , 7 ]
- The Games ran 16 days in 43 sports, with more than 15,000 participants from 45 countries and regions, Sankei Shimbun and Asahi Shimbun reported. [ 2 , 6 , 8 ]
- Asahi Shimbun reported the Games cost an estimated about 370 billion yen including the Asian Para Games, more than three times the figure at the time the hosting decision was made. [ 8 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Japan's final haul of 83 gold medals and 269 medals in total was a record for a Japanese team at the Asian Games. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- The closing ceremony took place on October 4 at Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya. [ 2 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- Japan's medal total passed the 218 won at the 1994 Hiroshima Games. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- Japan finished second to China in the medal standings. [ 3 , 7 , 8 ]
- It was Japan's third summer Asian Games and the first in 32 years. [ 2 , 6 , 8 ]
- Ohashi Shin set a world record in the men's 200m breaststroke. [ 6 , 7 , 10 ]
- The Games flag was handed to Doha, Qatar, the host of the 2030 edition. [ 2 , 7 , 8 ]
- Organizational problems during the Games included a national anthem mix-up and errors in arranging buses. [ 2 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- The Asian Para Games was due to open on October 18. [ 2 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
Still unclear
- The exact size of Japan's delegation. Sankei Shimbun said 932 Japanese athletes entered all 43 sports and Mainichi Shimbun said more than 900 took part; no other document gives a figure.
- China's medal figures of 169 golds and 341 medals in total. Only Livedoor News gives numbers; Jiji Press and Asahi Shimbun confirm only that Japan finished second to China in both counts.
- The final cost of the Games. Asahi Shimbun's figure of about 370 billion yen including the Asian Para Games is an estimate as of last December and appears in no other document.
- Empty seating at the closing ceremony. Mentioned only in a Nikkei headline whose summary is empty; Sankei Shimbun said empty seats were noticeable at some venues without specifying the ceremony.
- Japan's intention to bid for a future Olympics. Sankei Shimbun says Japan has a future Olympic bid in view but names no bid, city or timetable, and no other document mentions it.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Japan's medal count at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games reaches 219, passing the 218 won at the 1994 Hiroshima Games, according to NHK News, which reported the figure on October 2. [ 1 ]
- NHK News publishes its report on the record medal tally. [ 1 ]
- After the last events, Livedoor News reports Japan's closing totals of 83 golds, 95 silvers and 91 bronzes, with Sato Eiken's fourth place in equestrian show jumping the best Japanese result on the final day. [ 3 ]
- The closing ceremony begins at Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya; the Games flag is handed to representatives of Doha, Qatar, host of the 2030 edition, and the flame is extinguished. [ 2 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- The first Asian Para Games to be held in Japan opens in Aichi and runs through October 24. [ 2 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- The next summer Asian Games is to be held in Doha, Qatar. [ 2 , 3 , 7 , 8 ]