Joji Kato (born 6 february 1985) is a japanese speedskater specialised in the sprinting distance 500 metres. At the age of 17 he became the first junior speedskater to skate the 500 metres below the 35 seconds. At the moment he is still the junior world record holder with the 34.75 he skated in Salt Lake City. At the age of 20, he became the 500 metres World Champion at the 2005 World single distance championship , leaving behind no less skaters then Hiroyasu Shimizu and Jeremy Wotherspoon. After this achievement he is considered to be one of the favourites of achieving a medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.