US-Japan Friendship Cup Championships 2024: Photos & Results

Muscular Sayuri Tachihara in a blue bikini and high heels stands on stage/
Sayuri Tachihara

Fifty buff competitors muscled it out on stage for trophies and prizes at the 2024 US-Japan Friendship Cup Championships, and I was there to see it all. Held at the Taiyo Recreation Community Center on Yokota Airbase, this event is a cornerstone of bodybuilding in Japan. Organizer Pat Coleman ensured the championships ran like clockwork, creating a fantastic showcase of physique and sportsmanship.

Travis Hancock in a black posing outfit raises his arms in victory.
Travis Hancock
Muscular women in bikinis poses before a US flag.
Three male physique competitors pose a stage before a blue curtain.
A woman in a red bikini and a tattoo on her left leg poses on a stage.
Rowena Todd

What are the US-Japan Friendship Cup Championships?

The US-Japan Friendship Cup Championships are a physique competition starting in 1998. They are comparable to the U.S. and Japan regional/national level shows. Sport is a great way to build friendship, trust, and cooperation between countries.

A female Japanese bikini class athlete in a shimmering aqua bikini poses on stage.
Winners of a men's physique novice competition pose on stage.
Zach Valere in a blue swimsuit and tattooed right arm, poses on stage.
Zach Valere
Muscular women in red bikinis stand on a stage before US and Japanese flags.

Champion IFBB bodybuilding guest posers are invited to the event. They are a morale booster to the U.S. military personnel, DOD civilians, and their
family members stationed in Japan.

Bodybuilder Leigh Carmichael poses before a Japanese flag.
Leigh Carmichael
A woman with long blond hair poses in a bikini.
US-Japan Friendship Cup Championships 2024 staff and female athletes pose on stage pose for photos.
A Japanese woman with blond hair and in a red bikini poses before a US flag.

There were approximately fifty male and female competitors in July 2024. They participated in the following divisions:

  • Men’s Bodybuilding
  • Men’s Classic Physique
  • Men’s Physique
  • Women’s Bikini
  • Women’s Figure
A female bikini fitness competitor in a blue bikini and high heels poses on stage.
Tsukasa Saito in blue trunks does a double biceps pose.
Tsukasa Saito
A group of Japanese female bikini competitors pose on stage before a Japanese flag.

Guest Poser: Akim “BK BEAST” Williams

Akim “BK BEAST” Williams is a big name in bodybuilding. The guy was enormous, literally a mountain of muscle. He earned his fearsome nickname through his intense efforts in the gym. He might be hard on the outside, but he is soft-spoken and well-mannered, a true gentleman!

Akim "BK BEAST" Williams in a tengu mask and cap poses at 2024 US-Japan Friendship Cup Championships.
Akim “BK BEAST” Williams

Even though Akim had come to Japan, he was preparing for the Olympia in October 2024. He’ll look amazing on competition day. I’m sure he’ll do well as he is an Olympian professional with multiple IFBB wins. His presence surely boosted bodybuilding in Japan.

A woman in a shimmering silver bikini poses on stage.
Sayaka Ryuzaki
Daiki Sugihara holds a muscular pose on a stage with a US flag.
Daiki Sugihara

Event highlights & standout athletes

I saw great physiques! These athletes had worked hard to sculpt their bodies. Their routines were excellent. Actually, one I have to mention is Leigh Carmichael.

Three male bodybuilders double biceps pose on a stage before US and Japanese flags.

He took second place in the Open Middleweight Division. His robot-themed posing was entertaining and got him the best poser award. It was well-deserved. The audience appreciated his efforts with huge applause.

A Japanese bikini fitness competitor ina shummering blue bikini poses on a stage
A muscular man in black swimwear holds out his arm and poses.
Kaito Ikeda

Another was Sayuri Tachihara. She was an amazing bodybuilder and contested the women’s physique class. It was unfortunate that she was the only person in the division. It didn’t matter as the judges had such high praise for her.

A Japanese male bodybuilder does a double-biceps pose on a stage in front of a US flag.
Ryo Sato
A muscular woman in a red bikini poses on stage.

Competition results

WOMEN’S FIGURE

PLACENAME
1stTachihara, Sayuri

BIKINI NOVICE

PLACENAME
1stTodd, Rowena
2ndRyuzaki, Sayaka
3rdKyogoku, Akiko
4thIkegami, Rie
5thKishino, Mami

BIKINI CLASS A 5’4″ AND UNDER

PLACENAME
1stTodd, Rowena
2ndRyuzaki, Sayaka
3rdKyogoku, Akiko
4thKishino, Mami
5thSawada, Anna

BIKINI CLASS B 5’4″ AND OVER

PLACENAME
1stKokuma (Kaneko), Maki
2ndLee, Gloria Jean
3rdKurosaki, Reika
4thIkegami, Rie

MEN’S PHYSIQUE NOVICE

PLACENAME
1stLogan, Jimmy
2ndChildress, Tonio
3rdSato, Keigo
4thYuasa, Tsuyoshi
5thValere, Zach

MEN’S PHYSIQUE CLASS A 5’8″ AND UNDER

PLACENAME
1stKoseki, Takayuki

MEN’S PHYSIQUE CLASS B OVER 5’8″

PLACENAME
1stSugihara, Daiki
2ndChildress, Tonio
3rdValere, Zach
4thWilliams, Gearal

CLASSIC PHYSIQUE

PLACENAME
1stKakegawa, Akinori
2ndKokuma, Seiji
3rdCarmichael, Leigh
4thKamada, Suguru
5thIkeda, Kaito

OPEN LIGHTWEIGHT BODYBUILDING

PLACENAME
1stKawasaki, Gaku
2ndSaito, Tsukasa

OPEN MIDDLEWEIGHT BODYBUILDING

PLACENAME
1stSato, Ryo
2ndCarmichael, Leigh
3rdLogan, Jimmy

OPEN HEAVYWEIGHT BODYBUILDING

PLACENAME
1stHancock, Travis
2ndWilliams, Gearal

Photo tips for bodybuilding competitions

I can offer only a few tips, as this was my first bodybuilding competition. But, here they are:

  • Move around. Take photos from different angles. That will make your photoset so much better. No one enjoys everything looking the same.
  • My Fujifilm X-T3 struggled due to the lack of light in the building. My ISO went as high as 5000. I was thankful for Adobe Lightroom’s amazing new noise-reduction technology.
A bodybuilder poses on a stage before a Japanese flag.
Bikini Class B athletes pose on a stage.
Man champion bodybuilders pose for photos on a stage

Conclusion

The US-Japan Friendship Cup Championships 2024 at Yokota Airbase were a huge success. Pat Coleman, the US 374th (FSS) Force Support Squadron’s Samurai Fitness Center, athletes, and judges should be congratulated. I’m sure the 2025 event will be even better.

A female bikini class athlete shows her back to the crowd.
A muscular Tonio Childress poses before an American flag.
Tonio Childress
US-Japan Friendship Cup Championships 2024 bikini athletes with medals, pose on stage.

For me, the day was a marathon that began with a 4 am journey to the base. But seeing the incredible athletes and the supportive community made it all worthwhile. The real work began when I got home to sort through over 4000 images, and I was thrilled that the majority were keepers!

My photography gear for this shoot

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