Toshikazu Yamanishi won his second straight men's 20-kilometer race walk world title Friday to become the first Japanese track and field athlete to win gold at consecutive world championships.
His compatriot and last summer's Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Koki Ikeda claimed silver as Japan won its first medals at the ongoing worlds in Eugene, Oregon. Yamanishi was third at the Tokyo Games.
Men's hammer thrower Koji Murofushi was the last Japanese athlete to claim an individual medal at two straight worlds when he won silver in 2001 and bronze in 2003.
Yamanishi clocked in at 1 hour, 19 minutes, 7 seconds as he led the pack from the start before breaking free of Ikeda in the final lap to win by 7 seconds. Perseus Karlstrom of Sweden took bronze, 4 seconds behind Ikeda.
"It was really hot and also a race with lots to think about with my rivals all being tough and not dropping off," said the 26-year-old Kyoto native Yamanishi, who was the favorite at the Tokyo Games.
"It was decided by the most slender of margins but I'm happy to have somehow come away victorious."
Ikeda vowed to come back stronger as the runner-up finish left him with mixed feelings.
"I'm happy but also frustrated to have lost out to Yamanishi," the 24-year-old said. "We have international competitions coming up next year and the year after and I hope to be competing with him for medals there too."
With a sixth place finish, Nanako Fujii was the best-placed Japanese in the women's 20-km walk won by Kimberly Garcia Leon of Peru.