J-Arena - Season 1 / Year 2018

Making its Olympic debut in 2020, karate is set to become a symbol of the Tokyo Games. We look at the martial art's long history, with a focus on kumite, and visit Teikyo University's karate club, home to 15 Japan team members. We speak to Ayumi Uekusa, kumite gold medalist in the 68kg+ category at the 2016 World Championships, and Miho Miyahara, who fought Uekusa in the 2017 Japan Championship final, and examine the appeal of karate as a sport as well as its unique underlying philosophy.

Sport climbing will be joining the ranks of official Olympic sports when it makes its debut at the 2020 Tokyo Games as a single combined event comprising the 3 disciplines of bouldering, lead and speed climbing. Japanese climbers are working hard to polish their speed climbing skills, their weakest area up till now. Former national team coach Hidekazu Ito joins us at the climbing wall. We also examine what sets handcrafted Japanese climbing shoes apart from other rival brands.

Japan is finally enjoying the limelight once again as one of the world's top table tennis nations after decades of decline. This change of fortunes is down to various efforts being made at the youth level of the sport, including a number of young stars coached by their parents, and the Hopes national team, an elite academy for under-12s responsible for developing a new crop of Olympic medalists. With a brand-new league set to kick off this autumn, we explore Japan's table tennis renaissance.

Va'a is a new discipline for paracanoe set to feature for the first time at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. The over 7m long outrigger canoes are based on traditional Polynesian craft, and will be raced over a 200m sprint. Masaaki Suwa (32) is a Japanese pioneer of va'a. He has a very quick start due to his fast paddling rhythm and skill in keeping straight. Suwa is vying to represent Japan in 2020, and hopes his training can bear fruit in a race to decide Japan's Paracanoe World Championship team.

Japan's first professional football league, celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. The J.League's success has greatly improved the quality of football in Japan, helping the national team qualify for both Olympic and World Cup tournaments. We speak to former national team player Masakiyo Maezono, who played in the J.League from its very first year, and Japan Football Association President, Kozo Tashima, about the impact the J.League has had on Japanese football and their hopes for the future.

Japan's first-ever national sports research facility, the Japan Institute of Sports Sciences, was opened in 2001 at a cost of 27.4 billion yen. Using the latest research and technology, including a unique purpose-built wind tunnel to analyze air resistance, the facility supports athletes and para-athletes in all aspects of their training and health, and is the cornerstone of the fully integrated Japan High Performance Sport Center, encompassing everything from training grounds to dormitories.

In Japanese kyudo, archers use traditional asymmetric bows over 2 meters long as they attempt to strike a target from a distance of either 28 or 60 meters. Self-mastery is key in this exacting martial art, where the target is said to reflect the heart, and correct attitude and technique are seen as intertwined. We use a high-speed camera to track the path of a skilled archer's arrows as they fly through the air, shining a light on the depth and subtleties of kyudo's hidden techniques.

Rugby Sevens made its Olympic debut at Rio 2016 and proved to be a highlight of the Games. There were hopes that the Japan women's team, the Sakura Sevens, might reach the podium, but they were swept aside in almost all their matches and finished up in 10th place. We follow the Sakura Sevens as they enter a new stage of development, putting their tough experience in Rio to positive effect and working on all aspects of their game in preparation for the 2020 Olympics on home turf in Tokyo.

The grueling combined swimming, cycling and running sport of triathlon joined the official Paralympic roster at Rio 2016. Hideki Uda is a rising star of the sport. He lost his right arm in 2013, and was scouted for para triathlon while swimming for rehabilitation. He won the 2015 Asian Championships on his first attempt, and is now near the top of the world rankings. With national team leader Masamitsu Tomikawa, he's working hard to ensure he can continue to compete at the top of the sport.

Judo first became an official Olympic sport at the 1964 Tokyo Games. Due to the structure of the points system introduced, overseas judoka began breaking Japan's dominance, but many Japanese judoka, such as Toshihiko Koga, continued to strive to win with a single ippon. Koga's 1992 Olympic gold medal in Barcelona was a testament to his traditional approach to judo, as taught by founder Jigoro Kano, and he is now passing down this teaching philosophy to the younger generations ahead of Tokyo 2020.

Japan has won more medals in gymnastics than in any other Olympic sport. Together with 1992 Olympic silver medalist Yukio Iketani, we look back at how Japan grew to be one of the sport's leading nations, and explore the essence of the "beautiful gymnastics" its top gymnasts are renowned for. With Tokyo 2020 on the horizon, we see how the next generation of young talent is being trained, and introduce the incredible skills of current stars Kohei Uchimura and Kenzo Shirai.

3x3 basketball will be making its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020. With roots as a popular street sport, the lightning-speed 3-a-side version of the game uses just a single hoop on a half-court, and players must switch between offense and defense in an instant. We follow the Japan men's team as they try to build on recent Asia Cup bronze medal success at the World Cup. Given the sheer size of overseas players, Japan must rely on speed, skill and shrewd tactics as they take aim at the Olympic podium.

The samurai warrior remains an enduring symbol of Japan. In the 17th century, when peace came to the country after more than a century of wars and turmoil, samurai continued to practice their sword-wielding skills, with emphasis shifting from the demands of the battlefield to ideals of self-cultivation. With expert Alex Bennett, we examine the philosophy of influential swordsman Yagyu Munenori, who popularized swordsmanship as a means of cleansing one's heart and achieving one's full potential.

Japan's badminton team have made great progress in the run-up to Tokyo 2020. Their current strength owes much to the appointment in 2004 of Park Joo-bong as head coach. Park analyzed why Japan, despite technical ability and smashing power, were unable to win in international competition, and concluded the players lacked the strong resolve to win no matter what. Park overcame significant opposition to change Japan's attitude to badminton. We look back on the secrets behind this success story.

With skateboarding making its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, there's a palpable buzz among Japan's young skaters who are bursting with talent. All 10 male and 10 female athletes so far shortlisted for the 2020 national team are aged 19 or under. We follow 11-year-old Yumeka Oda as she looks to realize her Olympic dreams, and also break down some of the breathtaking tricks we'll be seeing from the world's top skaters, looking at how scores will be awarded at the 2020 Games.

Japan's badminton team have made great progress in the run-up to Tokyo 2020. Their current strength owes much to the appointment in 2004 of Park Joo-bong as head coach. Park analyzed why Japan, despite technical ability and smashing power, were unable to win in international competition, and concluded the players lacked the strong resolve to win no matter what. Park overcame significant opposition to change Japan's attitude to badminton. We look back on the secrets behind this success story.

With skateboarding making its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, there's a palpable buzz among Japan's young skaters who are bursting with talent. All 10 male and 10 female athletes so far shortlisted for the 2020 national team are aged 19 or under. We follow 11-year-old Yumeka Oda as she looks to realize her Olympic dreams, and also break down some of the breathtaking tricks we'll be seeing from the world's top skaters, looking at how scores will be awarded at the 2020 Games.

In tankendo, exponents use a 53-cm-long bamboo sword, less than half the length of those used in kendo. As tankendo was originally based on bayonet fighting, thrusts form the main mode of attack. With its thrilling up-close action, the martial art is gaining enthusiasts worldwide. 6th dan expert Baptiste Tavernier discusses the French influence on tankendo as well as the overall efficacy of short sword fighting, and we report from an international tankendo seminar with attendees from 15 nations.

Blind football has fast grown to become one of the most popular Paralympic sports. The 5-a-side game for visually impaired players has featured at the Paralympics since 2004, but Japan's men's team have until now failed to even qualify for the Games. A new coach and revamped training methods have brought about a dramatic turnaround in fortunes, though, with Japan recently holding back the world's top 2 teams Brazil and Argentina in 0-0 matches. We follow the team as they gear up for Tokyo 2020.

At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Japan's 4×100m sprint relay team stunned the world when they clinched the silver medal. With World Championship 4×100m bronze medalist Kenji Fujimitsu, we explore the secrets behind Japan's unique baton exchanges, which first propelled them to a medal at the 2008 Beijing Games. We take a closer look at the skill involved in the risky underhand or "up-sweep" baton pass technique, and discuss why the Japanese team originally decided to adopt this difficult approach.

At the World Challenge Cup held in Tokyo this June, Japan's men's team beat leading wheelchair basketball nations Australia, Germany and Canada to win their first major international trophy. At the 2016 Rio Paralympics, Japan had focused on teamwork but were overcome by more powerful opponents. A revamped approach focusing on speedy transitions has led to rapid improvements. We explore the team's current success and look back on their half-century of history, starting with the 1964 Tokyo Games.

In Olympic archery, a 1.22m diameter target is set 70m from the archer. To date Japan has won 5 Olympic archery medals, 3 silver and 2 bronze, and the team will be looking to add to this success at Tokyo 2020. Modern archery in Japan has been influenced by traditional Japanese archery or kyudo, particularly the 8-step process used to prepare and fire. We interview 2012 Olympic silver medalist Takaharu Furukawa about his own unique style and investigate the mental control required to succeed.

Aikido is a Japanese martial art that aims to train a person's movements and character in harmony with the rules of nature. An estimated 1.6 million people practice aikido worldwide, drawn by its spiritual and physical benefits. Aikido was developed in the early 20th century by the late grandmaster Morihei Ueshiba. Through interviews with the current lineage holder, a kinesiologist, and practitioners, we unveil some of aikido's secrets and find out what makes it so unique among martial arts.

Japan's homegrown track cycling sport of keirin first joined the Olympics in 2000. Despite a vibrant professional scene, Japan has underperformed on the world stage until now. We speak to 10-time former sprint cycling world champion, Koichi Nakano, and renowned coach Benoit Vetu, who are working hard to transform Japan's fortunes. Thanks in part to revamped training program performances have been improving, with Yuta Wakimoto clinching the men's keirin title at this year's UCI World Cup.

In 2018 Japanese sailors competing in the 470 class made great progress with a number of international wins. Hopes are high that Japan can grab a gold medal in the class at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. One of the favorite pairs for the men's team are Keiju Okada and Junpei Hokazono. Their familiarity with the erratic wind conditions at the Olympic venue in Enoshima gives them a solid home advantage. We also meet former Olympian Aiko Saito who plays a key role in raising Japan's youngest sailors.

The gravity-defying sport of BMX Freestyle Park has burst into the spotlight with its official selection for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Riders use ramps of various sizes to perform intense mid-air acrobatics before a panel of judges. We speak to Toshio Takagi, a candidate for the Japanese Olympic team, about the rules of the sport and the fundamental skills that lie behind its stunning tricks. National team coach Satoshi Deguchi explains how Japanese riders are working to improve their techniques.