Aichi-Nagoya Welcomes Para Judo to Japan

The 2026 Asian Para Games have opened in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, bringing para Judo to the country recognised as the birthplace of Judo for the first time in the event’s history.

The opening ceremony took place at Paloma Mizuho Stadium, marking the start of a major week of Paralympic sport. Around 3,000 athletes representing 45 National Paralympic Committees are set to compete across 18 sports, with 492 gold medal events on the programme.

For the Judo community, the setting carries special meaning. Judo has been included in every edition of the Asian Para Games since the inaugural event in Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China, in 2010. The Games then travelled to Incheon in Korea in 2014 and Jakarta, Indonesia, in 2018, before returning to China for the most recent edition.

Now, the competition arrives in Japan, where teams will take to the tatami at the Aichi Prefectural Martial Arts Hall. The draw was completed on Saturday 17th October, followed by the first weigh-in on Sunday 18th October, shortly before the opening ceremony.

Para Judo reaches Japan for the first time at the Asian Para Games.

The first contests are scheduled to begin on Monday 19th October at 10am local time (03:00 in Luxembourg). Athletes will enter a tournament shaped by technical skill, preparation and determination, with Judo once again part of one of Asia’s biggest para-sport stages.

The move to Aichi-Nagoya adds another meaningful chapter to the Asian Para Games story. After years of competition across China, Korea and Indonesia, Judo now returns to its roots while welcoming athletes from across the continent.

Source: IJF.org

Image source: IJF / International Judo Federation