Keita Nagashima was eliminated in the second round of the men's 81-kg division as Japan failed to medal on the fourth day of action at the World Judo Championships on Thursday.
The Japanese men's hopes of striking a fourth gold medal in as many days ended when Nagashima was taken out by Slovenia's Jesenko Cetic in his opening match in Pool B.
Kana Abe lost in the semifinals and in the third-place women's 63-kg playoff, and Miki Tanaka was beaten in the repechage in the same weight category.