Tokyo 2020 Olympics Fencing Team Members Pay Courtesy Visit to the President

On Tuesday, September 7, 2021, the Tokyo 2020 Fencing Team was honored to welcome the Tokyo University Athletic Association Fencing Club alumni, including Kazuyasu Minobu (Faculty of Law graduate), who participated in the Tokyo 2020 Games and won Japan's first ever gold medal in the fencing epee team competition, Kento Yoshida (Faculty of Law graduate), Fumihonami Fukushima (Faculty of Law graduate), Toshiya Nishifuji (Faculty of Law graduate), Takahiro Shikine (Faculty of Law graduate), and the Tokyo 2020 Japan team's general manager Yusuke Aoki (Faculty of Law graduate), coach Hiroshi Hashimoto (Faculty of Economics graduate), Athletic Association Fencing Club director Mamoru Ito, and coach Mamoru Shimomoto (Faculty of Economics graduate). (Faculty of Economics), Mr. Yusuke Aoki (Faculty of Law), Coach Hiroshi Hashimoto (Faculty of Economics), Mr. ITO Mamoru, Director of the Athletic Fencing Club, Mr. Tadashi Shimokawa (Faculty of Law), Mr. Hiroshi Sakai (Faculty of Economics), President of the Alumni Association, Mr. Masayoshi Kondo (Faculty of Law), Secretary of the OG Association, paid a courtesy call to President Hirose and reported on the results of the Tokyo 2020 Games. 2020 Games and reported on their performance at the Tokyo 2020 Games.

Fencing has three events: épée, fleurée, and sabre, and the épée event is said to be particularly difficult for Japanese athletes to win due to their physique. Minobu said, "I took on the challenge with a spirit of challenge without being bound by that.

President Hirose praised the athletes for their achievements, saying, "I would like to express my sincere respect for their brilliant performance despite all the conflicts and pressures they faced, including the question of whether or not the Games could be held due to the new coronavirus infection. The athletes are already looking ahead to the next step, saying, "We hope to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics so that we can visit again with a medal.

We look forward to your continued warm support and encouragement for the Japanese National Fencing Team and the Athletic Association Fencing Club.