Record 31 Medals for Japan at Tokyo Deaflympics; Crown Princess Kiko and Hisahito Attend Event

Japan’s medal haul at the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics reached a record 31 on Sunday, surpassing the previous national best of 30 set at the 2022 Games in Caxias do Sul, Brazil, organizers said. Japan added to its tally with strong performances across multiple sports. In karate, the women’s team won gold in the team kata event, while 20-year-old Kenji Mori captured the men’s individual kata title. In swimming, Ryutaro Ibara, 31, claimed his third gold of the Games by winning the men’s 400-meter individual medley. On the track, Maki Yamada, 28, earned silver in the men’s 200-meter sprint. Crown Princess Kiko and Prince Hisahito attended an orienteering event on Izu Oshima, part of metropolitan Tokyo. The two watched the final round of the men’s relay, which featured Japan and seven other teams, with Prince Hisahito offering cheers to athletes in sign language. The Crown Princess, who first tried the sport after an introduction by a foreign researcher at the 2019 International Cartographic Conference in Tokyo, has since been a regular participant in competitions and training sessions. Earlier in the day, the pair visited Buratto House, a shop selling local farm products. Episode notes: ‘Japan’s Tokyo Deaflympics Medals Reach Record 31’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/11/25/japans-tokyo-deaflympics-medals-reach-record-31/ ‘Crown Princess Kiko, Prince Hisahito Watch Deaflympic Event’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/11/24/crown-princess-kiko-prince-hisahito-watch-deaflympic-event/