Photo/Illutration Miho Nonaka competes during the bouldering portion of the women’s sport climbing final at the Tokyo Olympics on Aug. 6. (AP Photo)

Japan on Friday staked out its position in the climbing world when Miho Nonaka and Akiyo Noguchi claimed silver and bronze in women's climbing at the Tokyo Games on Friday, a day after the host nation missed out on a medal in the men's competition.

Slovenia's Janja Garnbret demonstrated total mastery of bouldering to win gold in the combined event, with the Japanese athletes taking the other two podium positions in the sport that made its Olympic debut in Tokyo.

Nonaka scooped the silver even as she grappled with wrist and knee injuries.

After a strong showing in the speed event, the 24-year-old initially appeared to be struggling in bouldering, in which climbers use problem-solving skills to scale a series of obstacles.

Nonaka eventually managed to reach the intermediate "zone" hold in her final two challenges. She followed that up with a fifth place finish in the lead event, a test of endurance on a vertiginous wall, which was enough to secure the silver medal.

"It was really tough mentally and physically but I'm really happy to have won a medal with Akiyo," said Tokyo native Nonaka.

Noguchi, 32, had postponed her retirement to appear at the Games and the bronze medal crowned a long career.

"Akiyo is a person who has guided Japanese climbing, she's like the strong queen," said Nonaka.

Nonaka, who is instantly recognizable by her orange hair, plans to rest and heal before returning to competition.

For Noguchi the future is less clear.

"I've just been thinking about these Olympics for a long time so I want to take it easy for a while," she said.

Compatriot Tomoa Narasaki came fourth in the men's competition on Thursday.

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