Momo Tamaoki World Ranking Leader U57kg

Japan’s Momo Tamaoki has quietly built one of the most consistent careers in the U57kg division, earning her place for the first time as current world ranking leader through years of persistence and podium finishes. In 2014 and 2015 she was World Ranking leader in the Junior age class.

Tamaoki first showed her promise by winning the World Junior title in Miami in 2014, marking her as one of Japan’s future stars. Over the following decade she proved that prediction right, collecting more than 25 World Tour medals and establishing herself as a regular contender at the highest level.

Her biggest results came at the World Championships, where she claimed silver medals in Budapest in both 2021 and 2025. Although the world title has just eluded her so far, these performances confirmed her status among the very best in the division.

Tamaoki’s career is also defined by major victories on the IJF World Tour. She won Grand Prix titles in Budapest (2016), Zagreb and Hohhot (2017) and added Grand Slam gold in Tashkent and Baku in 2021. She became Asian champion in 2022 and continued her success with victory at the 2025 Grand Slam in Baku, the Japanese national title and gold at the Grand Prix in Qingdao.

Her rivalry with Canada’s Christa Deguchi and Jessica Klimkait has been one of the defining storylines of the division. Tamaoki holds competitive records of 3–5 against Deguchi and 3–4 against Klimkait, who has since moved up to U63kg.

With Klimkait’s move and Tamaoki’s consistency, the Japanese judoka looks well placed to remain a key contender as the new Olympic cycle unfolds.

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