Notice of Employment of Ichika Kajimoto (Swimming/Competitive, Open Water Swimming)
Obayashi Corporation announced the hiring of world-class swimmer Ichika Kajimoto through JOC's 'Athnavi' athlete employment program, joining in April 2026.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 6, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 6, 2026 at 10:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 21, 2026 at 04:01 (353h 30m after Collected)
Obayashi Corporation (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Toshimi Sato) has hired Ichika Kajimoto, an athlete in competitive swimming and Open Water Swimming (OWS), utilizing 'Athnavi,' a job support program for top athletes conducted by the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC).
[Image: Ichika Kajimoto]
'Athnavi' is a system that supports creating an environment where top athletes can focus on their sports with peace of mind through employment at companies, supported by the JOC. Obayashi Corporation has been supporting sports activities as part of its social contribution efforts, and through this system, hired Alpine Snowboarder Eri Yanetani in 2012 and Ski Jumper Haruka Iwasa in 2019.
Kajimoto has accumulated achievements in domestic and international competitions, and at the World Aquatics Championships 2025 (Singapore), she won the first gold medal for Japan in the OWS 3km knockout sprint.
Through supporting Kajimoto, who possesses mind, technique, and body, and continues to challenge herself on the world stage, Obayashi Corporation aims to contribute to society, increase the motivation of each employee to take on challenges, and foster a sense of unity between the company and its employees.
## Profile of Ichika Kajimoto
Birthplace: Hirakata City, Osaka Prefecture
Major Athletic Record:
2025
100th Japan Swimming Championships
Competitive Swimming: 400m Freestyle Winner, 800m Freestyle Winner, 1500m Freestyle Winner
World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup 2025 (Portugal)
OWS: 3km Winner
World Aquatics Championships (Singapore)
OWS: 3km Winner, 5km 3rd Place, 10km 8th Place
Competitive Swimming: 800m Freestyle 8th Place
2026
101st Japan Swimming Championships
Competitive Swimming: 400m Freestyle Winner, 800m Freestyle Winner (New Japan Record), 1500m Freestyle Winner
Date of Joining:
April 1, 2026
[Image: Ichika Kajimoto]
'Athnavi' is a system that supports creating an environment where top athletes can focus on their sports with peace of mind through employment at companies, supported by the JOC. Obayashi Corporation has been supporting sports activities as part of its social contribution efforts, and through this system, hired Alpine Snowboarder Eri Yanetani in 2012 and Ski Jumper Haruka Iwasa in 2019.
Kajimoto has accumulated achievements in domestic and international competitions, and at the World Aquatics Championships 2025 (Singapore), she won the first gold medal for Japan in the OWS 3km knockout sprint.
Through supporting Kajimoto, who possesses mind, technique, and body, and continues to challenge herself on the world stage, Obayashi Corporation aims to contribute to society, increase the motivation of each employee to take on challenges, and foster a sense of unity between the company and its employees.
## Profile of Ichika Kajimoto
Birthplace: Hirakata City, Osaka Prefecture
Major Athletic Record:
2025
100th Japan Swimming Championships
Competitive Swimming: 400m Freestyle Winner, 800m Freestyle Winner, 1500m Freestyle Winner
World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup 2025 (Portugal)
OWS: 3km Winner
World Aquatics Championships (Singapore)
OWS: 3km Winner, 5km 3rd Place, 10km 8th Place
Competitive Swimming: 800m Freestyle 8th Place
2026
101st Japan Swimming Championships
Competitive Swimming: 400m Freestyle Winner, 800m Freestyle Winner (New Japan Record), 1500m Freestyle Winner
Date of Joining:
April 1, 2026