Kaito Tabuchi Nabs 1500 Free JPN Record In 14:45.57 For #1 In The World

101st JAPAN SWIM

The final night of 101st Japan Swim action unfolded at the Tokyo Aquatics Center with athletes vying for qualification for this year’s Pan Pacific Championships and Asian Games.

Making his mark was Kaito Tabuchi, with the 23-year-old firing off a new Japanese national record en route to winning the men’s 1500m freestyle.

Tabuchi, a triple 2023 World University Games medalist, ripped a lifetime best of 14:45.57 to get to the wall first, registering the sole time of the pack under the 14:50 threshold.

Behind him was 18-year-old Kazushi Imafuku who touched in 14:52.45 followed by Daichi Yamamoto who rounded out the podium in 15:01.43.

Imafuku already nabbed a new JPN standard in the 800m free as well as a JPN National High School Record in the 400m free earlier in this competition. The teen held the former national record of 14:50.18 in the 1500m free event, a time logged at the 2025 edition of this Japan Swim.

As for Tabuchi, his lifetime best entering this meet rested at the 15:01.12 he produced last year to become Japan’s #6 performer all-time.

Tabuchi obliterated that performance with his effort this evening, tearing through the 15:00 barrier for his very first time, clearing the milestone by nearly 15 seconds.

He now ranks #1 in the world on the season.

2025-2026 LCM Men 1500 FREE

2Sven
Schwarz
GER14:40.9304/17
3Oliver
Klemet
GER14:41.7104/10
4 KAITO
TABUCHI
JPN14:45.5703/22
5Florian
WELLBROCK
GER14:50.5805/23
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Khachaturian
2 months ago

okay now Japan has like 2 distance freestylers all of a sudden?

Tencor
2 months ago

Kim Woomin just went 14:54.38 at trials.

The Asian Games 1500 looks to be a lot more competitive than last edition:

Tabuchi 14:45
Zhang 14:51
Imafuku 14:52
Kim 14:54

Quandale
2 months ago

Video?

BigBoiJohnson
2 months ago

As fast as Tabuchi was this evening, his time incredibly still fell short of the stiff selection standard of 14:45.59 the Japanese Swimming Federation (JASF) established for Pan Pac and Asian Games qualification.

Did he not beat it by .02? Unless this is currently written incorrectly

Retta
Reply to  BigBoiJohnson
2 months ago

Fixed, thanks!

popvicioverpan
Reply to  BigBoiJohnson
2 months ago

why is the selection standard so close to the NR? isn’t that counterproductive for Japan’s Asian Games team, considering anyone under 14:55 has a chance at medaling?

About Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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