Japan concludes Asian Games with national record of 269 medals
Japan’s largest-ever delegation won 83 golds and finished second to China, while anthem errors and transport problems also marked the Aichi-Nagoya Games.
- Japan set a new national record by winning a total of 269 medals at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
- The record medal haul included 83 gold medals, which also surpassed the country's previous best for a single Games.
- With its record-breaking performance, Japan secured second place in the overall medal standings behind China.
Shin Ohashi carried Japan’s flag at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games closing ceremony in Nagoya on Sunday night (October 4).
The 17-year-old swimmer had set a world record in the men’s 200m breaststroke.
Crown Prince Akishino, the Games’ honorary president, and Crown Princess Kiko attended the ceremony at Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Aichi Prefecture.
Japan sent its biggest Asian Games team to date and collected 83 golds within an overall tally of 269 medals.
Both figures surpassed the country’s previous records for a single Asian Games, with Japan taking second place behind China in the medal standings.
Problems with transport and mistakes involving national anthems were also among the operational difficulties at the Aichi-Nagoya Games.
Aichi Prefecture in central Japan hosted most of the competition during a 16-day programme covering 43 sports.
More than 15,000 athletes representing 45 countries and regions participated in this 20th edition of the Asian Games.
For Japan, Aichi-Nagoya was its third occasion hosting the summer Games, following Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994.
Doha in Qatar is scheduled to stage the next Asian Games in 2030.
Before then, the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games, an international event covering multiple sports for athletes with disabilities, are scheduled for October 18–24.
