Kazuhiko Yamazaki, Japan’s team leader at the World Athletics Championships, met with the media on Wednesday and said he was pleased with both the crowds and the performance of Team Japan after the first four days of competition at Tokyo’s National Stadium.

Hayato Katsuki captured Japan’s only medal of the competition so far in the men’s 35-kilometer race walk on the opening day, but six Japanese athletes have produced top-8 finishes, including Rachid Muratake, who was fifth in the men’s 110-meter hurdles on Tuesday night.

The event has drawn impressive crowds, with attendance surpassing 300,000 over the first four days.

“To see so many people here and to see Japanese athletes steadily advancing through the rounds, setting national records, six prize winners and one medal, I’m grateful to both the athletes and the fans,” Yamazaki said before the start of competition on Day 5.

​Three national records have fallen during the ongoing championships.

​Yuki Joseph Nakajima broke the men’s 400-meter mark with a time of 44.44 seconds during the heats. Nakajima is one of Japan’s remaining medal hopes and will race in the 400 final on Thursday.

​Japan’s 4x400 mixed relay team set a new national mark of 3 minutes, 12.08 seconds, while Miu Saito finished her heat in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase in 9:24.72 to shatter the previous mark of 9:33.93, which had stood since 2008.

​“While placing is the goal, we’d like to win a few more medals,” Yamazaki said. “But the athletes are delivering solid results. Many of them are going past their limits and setting personal bests and breaking Japanese records.”

​While some of Japan’s medal contenders, such as Muratake and Ryuji Miura, who was eighth in the men’s steeplechase, have missed the podium, the nation still hopes to add to Katsuki’s medal.

​In addition to Nakajima, local fans are focused on the women’s javelin throw, which will see reigning world and Olympic champion Haruka Kitaguchi try to defend her title. The Japanese team also has high hopes for the men’s 4x100 relay team.​

Abigeirufuka Ido gave the fans at the stadium something to cheer about on Wednesday by advancing to the semifinals in the women’s 200 meters, though she is a long shot to reach the final after qualifying with one of the slowest times at 22.98 seconds. The fastest time in the heats was 22.07, run by American Anavia Battle.

​“There are some promising events in the second half,” Yamazaki said. “There are still medals people are hoping for, and a few events left. So we hope the expectations do not put too much pressure on the athletes and that everyone can enjoy themselves.”

​Earlier in the day, the Japanese team announced that it had lodged a protest over the contact between Miura and another runner on the final straight during the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

Kenya's Edmund Serem appeared to make contact with Miura, who was in position to contend for a medal. Miura seemed to stumble briefly and finished eighth, while Serem sped ahead to claim bronze. Japan contended that the contact amounted to interference. The protest, however, was rejected.