Brazil vs. Japan at highest judo level

For the first time Brazil receives the Japanese Olympic Team for international training camp, which took place from 8th to 19th May in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, with a shiai in Maringá (south Brazil, with large Japanese colony) broadcasted live nationwide. Brazil made 4-3, with Denilson Lourenço (-60kg), João Derly (-66kg), Carlos Honorato (-90kg) and Daniel Hernandes (+100kg) winning for the Brazilians and Masahiro Takamatsu (-73kg), Takashi Ono (-81kg) and Keiji Suzuki (-100kg) scoring points for Japan.

“This result shows we are working in the right way towards the Teams World Championship in France, later this year”, said world champion João Derly.

“I hope to meet Brazil at the final in Paris in september”, commented Keiji Suzuki.

Brazil and Japan first teams tied 2-2 (three hiki-wake) in the first round. To know the winner, the three combats with ended tied came back to the shiai-jo straight at the golden score. Brazil won 2-1. Also the second teams of Brazil and Japan fighted in Maringá, with Japan winning 3-1.

During the training camps in Rio and Sao Paulo, Brazilian judokas “teached” the Japanese a bit of their well known ne-waza techniques.

“Brazilian Judo is really ahead of others when we talk about ne-waza. That´s why we are here”, said three-times Olympic champion Tadahiro Nomura.

“Training in Brazil we see that not only the 1st and 2nd team are strong, but there are many other good judokas in the country”, added world champion Yasuyuki Muneta.

Coach Hitoshi Saito agrees:
“Now we know how Brazil produces their champions: the base is as strong as the major team. I am also really impressed with their ne-waza. They have different solutions in the floor”, said Saito. “In my point of view, a little of Brazil´s ability with the legs is due to their football culture. Every boy plays football and it helps develop their movements”, said the coach, who asked the Brazilian Judo Confederation to promote a “friendly football match” at the beach between Brazilian and Japanese judokas.
Result: Brazil 4 x 0 Japan.

Olympic bronze medallist Flavio Canto, said to be one of the best judokas in the world in ne-waza techniques, seems proud to receive the Japan in his home country.

“This year we have already been visited by France, Cuba and Japan. Other first class teams are expected to come to Brazil this season. I am happy with this. It is a pleasure and an honor for us to exchange experience with such powerful nations. Japan has always been a reference for us”, commented Canto.

Hitoshi Saito also points out the importance of visiting the host of next year World Championship. The Japanese delegation visited the works at the judo venues for the Pan-American Games (July 2007) and for the World Championship (September 2007), both in Barra da Tijuca, a new neighborhood at the western side of Rio de Janeiro.

Brazil B 1 x 3 Japan B
-100kg: Alex Aguiar x Satoshi Ishii (winner, ippon, 2´34”)
+100kg: João Gabriel Schilliter x Yohei Takai (winner, ippon, 1´57”)
-60kg: Alexandre Lee x Hiroaki Hiraoka (hiki-wake – no points)
-66kg: Leandro Cunha x Hiroyuki Akimoto (winner, ippon, 0´40”)
-73kg: Diogo Coutinho x Yusuke Kanamaru (hiki-wake – no points)
-81kg: Tiago Camilo (winner, yuko) x Shinya Yoshinaga
-90kg: Alexsander Guedes x Yuta Yazaki (hiki-wake – no points)
Brazil A 4 x 3 Japan A (2 x 2 first round / 2 x 1 golden score)
-100kg: Mario Sabino x Keiji Suzuki (hiki-wake – no points)
+100kg: Daniel Hernandes x Yasuyuki Muneta (hiki-wake, yuko – shido2)
-60kg: Denilson Lourenço (winner, koka – shido1) x Hiroaki Hiraoka
-66kg: João Derly Jr (winner, yuko) x Hiroyuki Akimoto
-73kg: Moacir Mendes Júnior x Masahiro Takamatsu (winner, yuko)
-81kg: Favio Canto x Takashi Ono (winner, waza-ari)
-90kg: Carlos Honorato x Seigo Saito (hiki-wake – no points)
Golden score (of three fights tied in the first round)
-100kg: Mario Sabino x Keiji Suzuki (hiki-wake – hantei: 2 x 1 JPN)
+100kg: Daniel Hernandes (winner, koka – shido) x Yasuyuki Muneta
-90kg: Carlos Honorato (winner, koka) x Seigo Saito