Fencing - Team Japan

General
Although they are hosts, Japan qualified on merit for the 2020 Olympic Games, ranking as the top team from Asia and Oceania outside the world's top four nations. Tokyo will be their fifth Olympic Games, following appearances in 1976, 1984, 1988 and 2012.

At London 2012 the Japanese team faced the Russian Federation in the quarterfinals, and were beaten 45-17 by the eventual silver medallists. In the classification round they also lost out to the US team, but bounced back with a 30-21 victory over hosts Great Britain to finish seventh. At each of Japan's previous three appearances, they did not progress beyond the pool phase that was then the first round of the Olympic tournament.

Japan finished fifth at the world championships in both 2018 and 2019, on both occasions beaten in the quarterfinals by a strong Italy team. The 2018 edition marked their best result at the tournament since winning bronze in 2007, which is their only world championship medal.

At the 2019 Asian Championships, Japan won gold after amassing seven silver and five bronze medals between 2005 and 2018. They made a similar breakthrough at the 2018 Asian Games, claiming gold following four silver and six bronze medals in 10 Games appearances from 1974 to 2014.