The 2025 Tokyo Deaflympics was an impressive 12-day spectacle (November 15-26) of sporting brilliance. And like the Olympics and the Paralympics, it was a constant reminder that human beings continue to raise the bar, setting new standards of excellence.
It's been said that people turn to the sports sections of newspapers (and websites in contemporary times) to read about victories and accomplishments. After all, the front page is often filled with bad news ― death, war, famine, upheaval and political scandals.
On the other hand, the Summer Deaflympics, normally held every four years, give reminder after reminder that athletes everywhere overcome obstacles to achieve success. (The Winter Deaflympics are also staged on a quadrennial basis, and the 2027 edition is scheduled for Innsbruck, Austria.)
A Record Medal Haul for Japan
Japan's squad for the Tokyo Deaflympics established a national record for medals this November.
It wasn't a minor improvement over past Deaflympics. Team Japan increased its medal haul by a huge amount. In 2022, in Brazil, Japan collected 30 medals, including 12 golds, in the 24th Summer Deaflympics. Ukraine had, by far, the best overall performance of any nation in Brazil, earning 145 (!) medals, with 64 gold.
For the 25th Summer Deaflympics, held a century and a year after the event's establishment in Paris (originally known as the International Silent Games), Japan amassed 51 medals ― 16 gold, 12 silver and 23 bronze.
Among Japan's impressive performances was a medal sweep in the men's hammer throw final on November 20. At Oi Central Seaside Park in Tokyo's Shinagawa Ward, Riki Toyama, a University of Tsukuba student, secured the gold with a top throw of 60.19 meters. Masatoshi Morimoto, who is 19 years older than Toyama at 40, took home the silver and Takamasa Ishida, 39, earned the bronze.
Toyama exemplifies the share goal of athletes throughout the world: to keep improving in their chosen sport.
"I'm glad to have achieved my personal record," Toyama said, according to Jiji Press.
Toyama has set an ambitious target, moving closer to breaking Ishida's world hammer throw record in deaf athletics (63.71 meters).
"I want to throw 63 meters by the time I graduate [from university]," Toyama was quoted as saying by Kyodo News.
Medal Leaders for the Tokyo Deaflympics
Ukraine once again topped the chart at the Summer Deaflympics, finishing with 100 medals (32-39-29). Japan finished second overall in total medals (51), while China was third with 50 (12-16-22).
Ranking countries strictly for gold medals, the top five were Ukraine, the United States (17), Japan, China and South Korea (11).
Looking at the big picture and highlighting the value of the Deaflympics, profound comments were spoken by top officials at the closing ceremony in Tokyo.
"I am proud that our sporting community has proven that nothing is impossible," International Committee of Sports for the Deaf President Adam Kosa said while using sign language during the closing ceremony on Wednesday, November 26 at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.
Moreover, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike summed up how and why the Deaflympics continue to grow in prominence.
"The sight of the amazing performances of the deaf athletes has brought courage, inspiration and hope to people around the world," Koike said at the ceremony, according to Kyodo News.
Some of Japan's Top Performers at the Deaflympics
Nearly 270 athletes competed for Team Japan at the 2025 Deaflympics. And its national squad had athletes participate in all 21 sports, media outlets reported.
On November 20, Ryutaro Ibara hauled in the host nation's first swimming gold, completing the men's 200-meter freestyle final in 1 minute, 54.72 seconds. The five-time participant in the Deaflympics traces his history of success in the international competition to 2009, when he triumphed in the 200-meter backstroke in Taipei.
On November 24, discus thrower Masateru Yugami set a Deaflympics record with a winning toss of 58.93 meters.
The 32-year-old Shiga Prefecture native is driven by the desire to be a positive role model. "[I want] to show that, in spite of the adversity I face [due to being deaf], my horizons are still broad and I can still compete," Yugami said, according to The Japan News.
A day after Yugami's record-breaking throw, the Japan women's basketball team topped the United States 65-64 in the championship match. Miharu Kotaka led Japan with a game-high 24 points, including five 3-pointers, six assists, four steals and three blocks at Tokyo's Ota City General Gymnasium.
Also on November 25, Japan, led by captain Ayaka Umemoto and others, triumphed in the women's volleyball final, defeating Turkey 25-8, 25-21, 25-20.
And not to be overlooked, sisters Ayaka Yakabe and Mai Yakabe won the women's doubles gold in badminton. They also helped lead Japan to the mixed doubles badminton crown.
Strong Results in Various Sports
Japan's aforementioned 16 gold medals were earned in a variety of sports ― athletics, badminton, basketball, karate, swimming, tennis and volleyball.
All in all, the participation of around 2,900 athletes from 79 nations at the Tokyo Deaflympics was a big success.
RELATED:
- ODDS and EVENS | Deaflympics: Good Sportsmanship and Skilled Scorers in the Handball Tourney
- Tokyo Deaflympics Opens with Spectacle and Sign Cheers
- Deaflympics in Japan: A Chance to Celebrate the Prowess of Hearing-impaired Athletes
Author: Ed Odeven
Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.
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