A lot has changed since Japan earned 4x100m silver at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

All four members of that team have a much higher profile than they did three years ago, and they all now have faster 100m PBs than they did in 2016.

But there have also been some significant changes to the running order.

Two members of the 2016 team – Yoshihide Kiryu and Ryota Yamagata – will line up for the 4x100m in Yokohama. Kiryu, who ran the third leg in Rio, will run anchor in Yokohama, while Yamagata, who led off the team in Rio, will be running the second leg this weekend.

They will be joined by Shuhei Tada on first leg and Yuki Koike on third.

“It has been a while since I had to run in a straight line in a relay, but I’m looking forward to it,” said Yamagata, who in 2017 went to equal second on the Japanese all-time list with a PB of 10.00. “It’s a slightly longer leg. I also have to receive the baton as well as passing it on to the third-leg runner. There are a lot more things to do than being on the first leg, so I’m going to try to do my best. I’m looking forward to this line-up; this weekend is a good chance for everyone to see it.”

“I have experience of running all four legs, so the new running order doesn’t change things much for me,” added Kiryu, who set the national 100m record of 9.98 in 2017. “I just hope I receive the baton in a good position.”