Two-time Olympic judo champion Ryoko Tani scored an "ippon" in Sunday's Upper House election, emerging as one of the victors from the proportional representation section of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan's ticket.
Tani, a 34-year-old mother of two, ran despite attracting criticism in the runup to the election by saying she intended to qualify for the 2012 Olympics in London even if she won. She said she would do her best to maintain both positions shortly after her victory was assured.