Despite Tough Standards, Japan Assembles Its 2nd-Largest Olympic Squad

After a thrilling Japan Swim in Tokyo last week, an Olympic Trials filled with both highs and lows, the Japanese Swimming Federation has released its 34-member roster for the 2016 Olympic Games.

In reviewing the names, there aren’t any surprises or crazy last-minute additions from what we knew transpired from the 7-day competition. If anything, the absence of athletes in key events, such as Kosuke Kitajima missing out on the 100m breaststroke or any male/female sprint freestylers, further puts a spotlight on the fact that the JSF placed ambitiously high qualifying standards above and beyond the FINA qualification cuts in the hopes of not only pushing its athletes during Trials, but also with the aim of fielding a team likely and capable of scoring multiple finals once in Rio.

You can refresh yourself on the entire Japan Swim/Olympic Trials meet via the daily recap links below:

Day 1 Finals Recap
Day 2 Finals Recap
Day 3 Finals Recap
Day 4 Finals Recap
Day 5 Finals Recap
Day 6 Finals Recap
Day 7 Finals Recap

Somewhat surprisingly, despite the tough standards, Japan is bringing its 2nd biggest team ever to an Olympic Games. 34 swimmers will be representing Japan in Rio, just 4 members fewer than the 38 who competed for the nation at the 1964 Games in Tokyo.

Of the 34 members this year, 21 are first-time Olympians, marking the squad’s average age at just 22.4 years old. The age spectrum ranges from 3-time Olympic medalist Takeshi Matsuda at 31 years old to Natsumi Sakai, attending her first Olympics at the age of 14.

Japanese Head Coach Norimasa Hirai said in a press conference announcing the athletes, “We’re starting with the national team from today. The swimmers will have to develop themselves more (until the Olympics) and we hope to have a positive result.”

The national team is slated to hold a training camp in early May followed by participating in the Japan Open meet scheduled for May 20-22nd.

Japanese 2016 Olympic Games Roster

Men’s

Kosuke Hagino – 200 free, 200 IM, 400 IM, 800 fr relay, 400 med relay
Ryosuke Irie – 100 back, 200 back, 400 med relay
Junya Hasegawa – 100 back
Masaki Kaneko – 200 back
Yasuhiro Koseki – 200 breast, 400 med relay
Daiya Seto – 400 IM, 200 fly
Masato Sakai – 200 fly
Hiromasa Fujimori – 200 IM
Ippei Watanabe – 200 breast
Katsumi Nakamura – 400 fr relay
Shinri Shioura – 400 fr relay
Kenji Kobase – 400 fr relay
Junya Koga – 400 fr relay
Takeshi Matsuda – 800 fr relay
Naito Ehara – 800 fr relay
Yuki Kabori – 800 fr relay
Takurou Fujii – 400 med relay

Women’s

Kanako Watanabe – 100 breast, 200 breast, 400 med relay
Satomi Suzuki – 100 breast
Rie Kaneto – 200 breast
Rikako Ikee – 100 fly, 400 fr relay, 800 fr relay, 400 med relay
Natsumi Hoshi – 200 fly
Suzuka Hasegawa – 200 fly
Miho Teramura – 200 IM
Runa Imai – 200 IM
Miho Takahashi – 400 IM
Sakiko Shimizu – 400 IM
Miki Uchia – 400 fr relay
Misaki Yamaguchi – 400 fr relay
Yayoi Matsumoto – 400 fr relay
Chighiro Igarashi – 800 fr relay
Sachi Mochida – 800 fr relay
Aoki Tomomi – 800 fr relay
Sakai Natsumi – 400 med relay