Japan's men’s gymnastics team is preparing for the upcoming Asian Games with several key athletes competing while managing injuries. The Games will be held in Nagoya and the surrounding Aichi area from September 19, with men’s gymnastics scheduled to begin two days later.

Among the five-man roster are Olympic and world champions, including 22-year-old Shinnosuke Oka, who claimed gold in the all-around, team, and horizontal bar events at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Oka is currently recovering from a lower back injury sustained during training last week. While he did not participate in a recent team practice, he has expressed his determination to compete despite his condition, stating that he plans to aim for gold even while performing at a reduced level. Oka indicated that the pain he is experiencing differs from his usual training discomfort.

The team also faces concerns over Tomoharu Tsunogai, a former junior world champion, who is dealing with a significant ankle injury. Additionally, Shoma Tsukiyama is affected by lower back pain. As a result, three of Japan’s five gymnasts are entering the competition carrying injuries.

Japan enters the Asian Games as the reigning Olympic team champions, having secured the title at Paris 2024. However, they will look to reclaim the Asian Games crown after being bested by China on home ground during the 2023 Hangzhou Games. Japan’s lineup also features Daiki Hashimoto, the current world and former Olympic all-around champion, as well as Kiichi Kaneda.

Team manager Kensuke Murata acknowledged the injury challenges and explained that the squad’s fitness will be reassessed before the final roster deadline on September 16. He noted that if Oka competes, he would likely perform routines with reduced difficulty to manage his back issues.

Looking ahead, Oka and Hashimoto are expected to represent Japan at the World Championships in Rotterdam next month, provided they remain fit to compete.