Olympic and reigning world champion Ono Shohei (-73kg) leads an 11-strong Japanese team in action at the second Grand Slam of the season this weekend in Düsseldorf.

Three-time world champion Ono, who will be chasing a record fifth Düsseldorf title, starts his 2020 season on Saturday at the ISS Dome.

Three-time world champion Takato Naohisa (-60kg) also begins his year in Germany along with two-time world champion Abe Hifumi (-66kg) as both stars will see action on the opening day.

Former world champion and Rio 2016 Olympic bronze medallist Nagase Takanori (-81kg) will take to the tatami on Saturday while world silver medallist Mukai Shoichiro (-90kg) will be his country’s only male representative on the last day.

One-time senior world champion and two-time world silver medallist Tonaki Funa (-48kg) and world champion Abe Uta (-52kg) are potential showstealers for Japan on Friday.