World Ranking Leader U100kg Dota Arai

Dota Arai has quickly emerged as one of the most promising athletes in the U100kg division and finished 2025 as the leader of the IJF World Ranking. The Japanese judoka has built his reputation on dynamic attacking judo and remarkable consistency across the World Judo Tour.

Arai first gained international recognition during his junior career. In 2022 he captured bronze at the Cadet World Championships in Sarajevo and a year later he won the World Junior Championships in Odivelas, confirming his status as one of Japan’s brightest prospects.

His transition to the senior circuit proved equally successful. In 2023 he reached the podium at several major events, including silver at the Grand Slam in Tokyo and silver at the Grand Prix in Portugal. Those performances announced his arrival among the elite competitors of the category.

Arai continued to develop in 2024 with strong results on the global stage. He secured bronze at the World Championships in Abu Dhabi and added further medals at the Grand Slam events in Tashkent and Tokyo.

The 2025 season marked the biggest breakthrough of his career. Arai won the Grand Slam titles in Baku and Astana and also captured the Japanese national title. At the World Championships in Budapest he reached the final and claimed the silver medal, further strengthening his position in the division.

Those achievements propelled him to the top of the world ranking by the end of 2025. In 2026 he confirmed his status with victory at the prestigious Paris Grand Slam.

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