Japan beat France in the women's team semifinals to place second in the 42nd World Archery Championships in New York on Sunday.
This is the first time that Japan has ever won a medal in women's archery.
Competing at Central Park, three Japanese archers upset France 232-224 in the semifinals, but lost to the Sydney Olympics champion South Korea 252-233 in the final. Ukraine placed third.
Japan had already secured a berth for next year's Athens Olympics when it made it to the quarterfinals in the championships.