Japan opened its medal account at the world aquatics championships Tuesday with a bronze in artistic swimming team technical.
China scored 299.8712 points to win the gold, with Spain 23.9787 back to pip Japan into third place by just 0.0138.
Japan won a record-tying seven medals at last year's worlds in Fukuoka in July in the absence of Russia, which has been banned from competing in team events over its invasion of Ukraine.
This year's worlds in Doha began Friday and will run through Feb. 18.