Asian Games MVP Kosuke Hagino won the men's 100-meter individual medley at the short-course World Cup on Tuesday.
Hagino touched the wall in 52.03 seconds, with world champion Daiya Seto winning the 400 IM in 3:59.91 at the Tatsumi International Swimming Center.
Hagino, though, was fifth in the 100 freestyle which Katsumi Nakamura won in 47.30. Hagino usually does not race in the 100 free but entered to work on his speed.
"I panicked a little," he said. "I tried to pick it up, but I wasn't going any faster and tired in the second half. I've got a lot of adjustments to make, but it was a good experience for me.
"I've got stamina issues because I haven't been training as much as I would've liked, but I'm doing what I can. It's always important to know where you are, physically."
Seto also took second in the 200 butterfly in 1:49.68, 0.48 behind London Olympic champion Chad Le Clos.
Ryosuke Irie was second in the 100 backstroke in 50.53 and seventh in the 100 IM.
Kanako Watanabe was fourth in the women's 200 IM.