Japan at the Olympics facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Japan at the Olympics
IOC code	JPN
NOC	Japanese Olympic Committee
Website
Medals	Gold Silver Bronze Total 156 158 183 497
Summer appearances
1912 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020
Winter appearances
1928 1932 1936 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018

Japan at the Olympics is a history which includes 41 games in 22 countries and 3,000+ athletes. Since 1912, athletes of Japan have been part of the "Olympic Movement".

The International Olympic Committee's official abbreviation for Japan is JPN.

History

The Japanese National Olympic Committee was formed in 1911. It was recognized by the International Olympic Committee in 1912. Its first president was Jigoro Kano .

Japan's team first competed at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm. Japan was not invited to the 1948 Games after World War II; and Japan boycotted of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.

In support of the team at the 2012 Summer Olympics, each of the 518 athletes were given hand-carved good luck charm made by schoolchildren from tsunami-hit areas in Tōhoku. These special "medals" were made from driftwood. There were messages from the children on the ribbons which were attached.

Medalists

Japanese tennis players Ichiya Kumagae and Seiichiro Kashio were the first Japanese athletes to win medals in summer sport. They won silver medals in the 1920 Summer Olympics.

The first Japanese medal in a winter sport was in 1956 when Chiharu Igaya earned a silver medal for Alpine skiing.

Summer Games

During the course of 20 summer games, Japanese athletes have won 350+ medals, with the most gold medals won in judo. In the 1928 games in Amsterdam, Japan's first gold medals in summer sports were won by Mikio Oda in the triple jump and by Yoshiyuki Tsuruta in swimming.

Winter Games

Japan has won 37 medals at the winter games. In the 1972 games in Sapporo, Japan's first gold medal in a winter sports was won by Yukio Kasaya in ski jumping.

Notable Olympians

Japanese Olympic greats include

• Naoko Takahashi, marathon gold medal in 2000
• Tamara Ryoka, judoka gold medals in 2000 and 2004
• Sawao Kato, gymnast gold medals in 1968, 1972 and 1976
• Akinori Nakayama, gymnast gold medals in 1968 and 1972

The youngest Japanese competitor was Etsuko Inada (12 years, 4 days) in the 1936 Winter Olympics. The oldest Japanese Olympian is Hiroshi Hoketsu (67 years, 139 days) in the 2008 Summer Games.

Host country

The 1940 Summer Olympics and the 1940 Winter Olympics were planned for Japan, but the organizers withdrew in 1938 because of the Second Sino-Japanese War. These games were later cancelled because of World War II.

Japan was the host country three times, including

• 1964 Summer Olympics
• 1972 Winter Olympics
• 1998 Winter Olympics

Related pages

• Sports in Japan
• List of IOC country codes
• Japan national football team
• Japan women's national football team

See also

In Spanish: Japón en los Juegos Olímpicos para niños