Japan is poised to be a strong medal contender in fencing at this summer's Paris Olympics.
The men's national team, in particular, is aiming to secure its first medal in three Olympics in the foil event, a category considered by many to be a Japanese specialty.
Yuki Ota earned a silver medal in men's individual foil at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, marking the first-ever Olympic medal in the history of Japanese fencing, and the national team, which included Ota, claimed silver at the 2012 London Games.