Japanese tango dancers Kyoko Yamao, left, and her husband Hiroshi Yamao react to winning the Salon category of the seventh Tango Dance World Chamopionship in Buenos Aires on Saturday night. Japanese tango dancers Kyoko Yamao, left, and her husband Hiroshi Yamao react to winning the Salon category of the seventh Tango Dance World Chamopionship in Buenos Aires on Saturday night. (Natacha Pisarenko/Associated Press)A Japanese married couple has danced to victory in Buenos Aires, knocking the reigning Argentines out of the top spot at the World Tango Championships.

Hiroshi and Kyoko Yamao placed first in the traditional Tango Salon category of the seventh edition of the international competition at Luna Park stadium this weekend.

After earning the highest point score during Friday's semifinal, the couple was praised by the jury for the "dexterity and feeling" of their final performance Saturday evening.

"We came here to dance and enjoy ourselves, without thinking we would win or achieve anything big," 36-year-old Hiroshi Yamao said following the couple's win. He and his 33-year-old wife take home a cash prize of the equivalent of about $4,000 Cdn.

"We would like to express our thanks for the huge support we've received from everyone here."

The Yamaos triumphed over Colombian pair Edwin Leon Medellin and Jennifer Arango Agudelo, with Argentine team Jorge Marino and Sara Parnigoni rounding out the top three.

The competition continues on Monday with the finals of the Tango Escenario division, for which showmanship and acrobatics are important factors in judging.

Approximately 1,000 dancers from 25 countries around the world participated in this year's event, taking place during the city's international Tango Festival.

With files from The Associated Press