Joji Kato is a Japanese speedskater whose specialty is in the sprinting distance event of 500 metres. At the age of 17 he became the first junior speedskater to skate the 500 metres in less than 35 seconds.

The 2005 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships were held between 3 and 6 March 2005 in the Ludwig-Schwabl-Stadion, Inzell, Germany.