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 Japan's highest gold medal tally of 16 came at the 1964 Tokyo
Olympics and the 2004 Games in Athens.
The Asian country finished 11th in the last edition in London and
Infostrada has predicted Japan will finish seventh and win 15 gold
medals in Rio, including three for gymnast Kohei Uchimura.
"It is very possible that Japan could have their best Games in terms
of medals," Simon Gleave, Infostrada Sports' head of analysis, told
Kyodo News.
"We are projecting them only one medal below that, but with six
months to go this could certainly change."
Japan's showing in Rio could be boosted by the uncertainty over the
participation of Russia's athletics team due to their doping
suspension. Britain is also unlikely to repeat its stellar show as
hosts in 2012.
Japan has set a target of finishing third, a feat the country
achieved in the 1964 and 1968 Games, by the 2020 Olympics but that
may be out of their reach in Rio.
"I don't think it's feasible unless Russia completely collapses,
which is not out of the question... Germany currently is in pole
position, with the performances they are producing," Gleave said.
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"It is possible that we are underestimating them. What Japan has to
do is turn some of these predicted silver (10) and bronze (14)
medals into gold."
(Writing by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai; editing by Ed Osmond)
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