Check the Japan Open Event Landing Page for daily video recaps from Swimming World Japanese correspondent Hideki Mochizuki.
OSAKA, Japan, May 20. THE initial day of long course meter competition kicked off at the Japan Open being held in Osaka.
Aya Terakawa, who holds the world best this year with a sterling 59.17 from April, cruised to victory in 59.35. Shiho Sakai took second in 1:00.76, while Eri Tabei placed third in 1:00.93. Sakai stands eighth in the rankings with a 1:00.03 from April, while Tabei moved to 25th in the rankings.
Ryosuke Irie just missed his second-ranked season best time of 53.10 from April with a triumphant time of 53.11 in the men's 100 back tonight. Camille Lacourt holds the top time with a 52.44 from March. Kosuke Hagino finished second in 54.83, while Yuki Shirai earned third in 55.15.
Kanako Watanabe improved to sixth in the world rankings with a 1:07.10 to win the women's 100 breast. Only Rebecca Soni (1:05.57), Jessica Hardy (1:05.90), Leisel Jones (1:06.18), Ji Liping (1:06.81) and Leiston Pickett (1:06.92) have been faster. Mina Matsushima (1:08.11) and Naoko Fukudome (1:08.80) took second and third.
Takeshi Matsuda, the world leader with a 1:54.12 from April, won the men's 200 fly in 1:55.76. Kazuya Kaneda finished second in 1:56.89 to take 14th in the rankings, while Takuya Nozawa placed third in 1:57.32. Ryusuke Sakata, who owns second in the rankings with a 1:55.11, fell to the B final in qualifying before posting a swift 1:56.13 to win the consolation heat.
Yosuke Miyamoto clinched the men's 1500 free title in 15:06.98. He's cleared 15:00 this year with a third-ranked 14:57.56. Youhei Takiguchi finished second in 15:07.04, while Yuto Satou snared third in 15:20.69.
Ryo Tateishi upset Kosuke Kitajima, 1:00.55 to 1:01.27, in the men's 100 breast. Both Tateishi and Kitajima have been faster this year. Kitajima owns the top-ranked time with a 59.44, while Tateishi is ranked sixth with a 1:00.31 – both times from April. Hiromasa Sakimoto took third in 1:01.32.
Yoshihiro Okumura (1:48.43) and Syogo Hihara (1:48.44) moved to 23rd and 24th in the world in the men's 200 free, while Fumiya Hidaka took third this evening in 1:48.74.
Maiko Fujino topped the women's 800 free in 8:35.88, while Asami Chida took second in 8:40.19. Miho Takahashi rounded out the top three in 8:40.46. Haruka Ueda won the women's 200 free in 1:59.55. Risa Sekine (2:00.85) and Aya Takanao (2:00.90) placed second and third.
Masami Uchikoshi touched out Miyu Ohtsuka, 2:10.85 to 2:10.96, in the women's 200 fly. Hiroko Sugino finished third in 2:11.13.
