Kosuke Kitajima took care of business in the 100-meter men's breaststroke semifinals on Sunday morning at the Water Cube, winning the first heat in 59.55 seconds.
The defending Olympic champion enters Monday's final with the second-fastest time.
Norway's Alexander Dale Oen won the second heat in 59.16 seconds, an Olympic record. American Brendan Hansen is the world record-holder, having been clocked in 59.13 on Aug. 1, 2006, in Irvine, Calif.