All-Japan Apparatus Finals 2023: Japan fill out roster spots for world gymnastics championships

Ashikawa Urara, Minami Kazuki, and Chiba Kenta have filled out Japan’s team for the 2023 world artistic gymnastics championships following the All-Japan Apparatus Finals 2023 in Tokyo on Sunday (11 June).

Ashikawa, the 2021 world champion in the balance beam, grabbed the last remaining ticket for the women, while Minami and Chiba were chosen by the Japan Gymnastics Association to round out the men’s team.

Minami on this day swept the vault (15.000) and the floor (15.133), the latter his specialty which he won for the fifth straight year.

Chiba, 27, will appear at the world championships or the first time in his career.

Ashikawa joins Miyata Shoko, Watanabe Hazuki, Kishi Rina, and Fukazawa Kokoro for the 30 September-8 October meet in Antwerp.

The Japanese women are set to be a threat on the balance beam with Watanabe and Miyata having captured gold and bronze at the worlds last year in Liverpool.

Miyata also won the vault (13.966) on Sunday, Watanabe the uneven bars (13.333).

“I made some mistakes today. I wanted to win and make the team so I’m disappointed in that regard, but I’m glad I made the team,” said Ashikawa, who did not make the cut last year.

“If I can perform to the best of my ability we are certain to score better as a team. It’s my first time being part of the team for the world championships but it doesn’t change what I have to do.

“I hope I can do my job and contribute.”

Minami and Chiba form a new-look men’s team. Reigning world and Olympic all-around champion Hashimoto Daiki is the only hold-over from Liverpool, with Kaya Kazuma and Miwa Teppei having qualified via the NHK Trophy.

Hashimoto, dying to win the world and Olympic team gold for his country, said he is confident Japan can top the podium despite the relative inexperience.

“It’s a brand new team because we have four fresh faces but everyone knows what they’re doing,” he said. “I’m convinced we can win gold if everyone performs to the best of his ability.

"We are going to prove Japan is No. 1 by winning the gold medal."

The wear and tear finally caught up to Hashimoto on Sunday, when he fell off the horizontal bar after missing the catch on his opening element.

He finished last among the eight finalists (12.300), and perhaps was lucky not to come away injured.

And Hashimoto said he has no plans to revisit the doctor anytime soon for his lower back, which he fractured back in January

“I’m just tired, that’s it. I don’t want to make excuses but it’s the reason I’ve been struggling lately,” Hashimoto said. “I need to rest up, and then get back to work.

“I’ve decided not to let my back bother me anymore. It should be close to fully healed now so I’m going to take it up a notch in training.

“It’s the most important thing this year. I have to be in the best shape possible going into that.”

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