Kyosuke Matsuyama: Struggling between glory and conflict, he has made a leap forward. Supported by his family and teammates, he is charging toward victory in Paris, the holy land of fencing.

Play, allez.

In fencing, the battle begins with the French signal for "start." Although their expressions are hidden by masks, as they glare at each other without missing a single moment of vulnerability, because they engage in offense and defense at close range, they must always be passionate yet calm.

The motto of the Japan Men's Foil National Team's Kyosuke Matsuyama is also "peace of mind.".

"Having experienced many things, I have come to truly understand my own personality. I don't overthink things; I just stay as I am. I've come to realize that the best way to win is to focus on the match in front of me while staying relaxed, fully liberating myself, and expressing that on the piste (*1)."
(*1: The competition area used for fencing)

Just challenge it as your true self. True to his word, he won a bronze medal in the individual event and a gold medal in the team event at the World Championships held in Milan, Italy, in July 2023. Currently, Japan is ranked 1st in the world for men's foil teams (*2). This is not only his first time, but also an unprecedented achievement in the history of Japanese fencing. However, Matsuyama is not feeling pressured, nor is he looking up at the world's summit; he is looking straight ahead. (*2: As of December 5, 2023)

"I didn't go into it with the intention of becoming world number one or winning a gold medal here. In fact, I never thought I could become world number one so quickly. Various things have come together to lead to this moment."

Encounter with fencing and honing skills with his brother

Born in December 1996, Matsuyama, who turns 27 this year, first encountered fencing when he was 4 years old.

He was born and raised in Asakusa, Tokyo, and neither of his parents had any experience in fencing. However, there was a comprehensive local sports club in the neighborhood, and it included a fencing club.

At first, he started casually at his mother's suggestion, but as he practiced surrounded by older athletes, his competitive spirit was ignited.

"Since I was 4, I inevitably had to compete against adults. I remember that even in that situation, I hated losing. I thought it was normal, but looking back after growing up, I realize I was quite competitive (laughs). I didn't cry when I lost, but I was the kind of child who would keep trying until I won."
He won his first national tournament in the second grade of elementary school. After experiencing the joy of winning, he honed his skills with his brother Daisuke, who was two years older, and his
field of battle expanded to the world all at once."Winning was a given, so I never even thought about whether I could win or what I would do if I lost. It's not an exaggeration to say that I thought if I entered a tournament, I would win and bring home a medal, so I never had to psych myself up by saying, 'I'm going to win today.'"

In other words, he was unrivaled. In a state of invincibility. Then, his goal was inevitably set.
"When a local cable TV station came to interview us, I heard other athletes saying, 'I want to be an Olympic athlete in the future.' I didn't really understand what the Olympics were, but I said 'Olympics' just like them. But for me at the time, that was also a natural progression. Since I had been winning without a loss since I was a child, I naturally believed without a doubt that
I would become Japan's ace and go to the Olympics to win a medal."

The great wall that stood in his way after continuing to win

He began competing in world tournaments in the fifth grade of elementary school and won the U17 World Championships in his second year of high school. In addition, he achieved three consecutive victories in the men's individual foil from his first to third year at Toa Gakuen High School. This was a feat that followed Yuki Ota, who was also the absolute ace of the Japanese fencing world and won a silver medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympics.

At the same time, he was selected for the senior national team and was chosen as a member of the team event along with Mr. Ota. Matsuyama recalls that he was able to win his first match due to "beginner's luck," but that was when he witnessed the strength of the world's top level. Unlike the world tournaments that had age restrictions (*3) such as Cadet and Junior, it is not easy to win in senior individual competitions where mature athletes compete. (*3: Cadet = 13 to under 17 / Junior = 17 to under 20)

For Matsuyama, who had been winning until then, that alone was a huge wall, but he was also quite shocked when Toshiya Saito, who was one year younger than him, won a silver medal and Takahiro Shikine won a bronze medal at the 2017 World Championships.

"I was very jealous. I kept asking myself why I wasn't good enough and what was wrong with me. Perhaps I had been too optimistic because I could win easily until then, but anyway, I started to feel impatient, thinking I had to win, I had to win. I was chasing results rather than growing as a fencer."

His university years were truly a period of agony where he could see no way out. He could not easily win domestic matches that he used to win as a matter of course when he was a junior high and high school student, and after Mr. Ota retired, he stood at the forefront as the captain of the Japanese national team, but he was almost crushed by the pressure of wondering, 'Can I become like Mr. Ota?' he said.

It was a time when he could not even see the exit from the darkness, let alone being the best in the world. He tried not to show his weakness or suffering. While desperately trying to motivate himself, his greatest support was, as always, his brother, who also served as his coach, and his parents. Furthermore, after graduating from university, JTB also began supporting Matsuyama's athletic career as his affiliated company.

However, why did JTB become Matsuyama's affiliated company? A JTB representative says, 'We were moved by Matsuyama's dedication.' JTB now promotes 'Exchange Creation Business' as its business domain, and as part of that, the company as a whole is engaged in the sports business. This is because they believe that sports have the power to move people, and that delivering those emotions to people is one of their responsibilities.
The importance of making an effort, the spirit of observing discipline, and the power to brighten the world. Matsuyama was truly an athlete who embodied those things for JTB they said.

Family and JTB colleagues who supported him in times of adversity

When I was suffering, I think my family was also suffering and worried. But they never showed me that side of them and always believed in me. The people at JTB were the same; not only did they provide an environment where I could concentrate on fencing to the maximum, but even when I had matches overseas, the local branches and JTB staff on tour duties would cheer me on, saying 'Good luck.' I was truly grateful that they watched over me with the stance of 'you just need to do what you have to do,' even when I couldn't get results. No matter how painful it is, I can make my favorite thing my job, and there are people who support me. There is nothing happier than this, and everyone involved was irreplaceable to me.'

Moving forward while struggling. The light finally shone into the long tunnel at the Grand Prix tournament held in Doha, Qatar, in March 2021, when he was forced to fight under restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In order to meet the expectations of those who support him, he did everything he could think of for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, which were scheduled to be held that summer. As part of that, in the individual event of the
tournament he approached with strong determination and having pushed himself to the point where he thought, 'There is nothing more I can do', Matsuyama suffered an unexpected defeat in the first round. Despite having pushed himself more stoically than ever before, to the point where those around him were worried that he was 'doing too much,' he could not win. 'It was like I was stabbing myself with a knife, and my heart just hurt. I cried the moment I lost, and I couldn't stop crying even while calling my parents from the venue, and I kept crying alone after I got back to my room, thinking, 'I've done so much, yet I can't win.' But looking back, before the Grand Prix started, I was pushed to a state of burnout, or rather, my gas tank was empty and I had no energy. At that time, I began to think that even if I did my best to the limit, it didn't mean I would get results, and that it might be better to change my stance to have more leeway, look at things objectively with a broader perspective, and push myself only where necessary.

I finally realized it after making a mistake
.'
Looking back again, the experience of 'having kept winning' since childhood had also become a disadvantage. Matsuyama says so. 'I didn't know how to get back up when I lost. I was a bit arrogant, and I had a sense that winning was natural, so I didn't have the experience of

working hard, adjusting my mindset, and winning. That's why I stumbled. I couldn't win, I couldn't fence the way I wanted to, and I struggled to the point of losing my identity, and I was a mess. It was more painful to have lost myself than not being able to win.
I couldn't win the individual and team events at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics by just a little bit, and at that time, too, it was like I was stabbing my heart with a knife (laughs), but looking back now, it was natural that I couldn't win then. No matter how hard I tried, that was the maximum, so I think now that I did well to get that far with that skill and mentality.'
That is why—. With a bright smile, the words Matsuyama uttered were full of strength.

'Fencing technique, mentality. I realized what I needed to improve, and it led to where I am now. Rather, I see the World Championships (where we won the gold medal in the team event) as a thing of the past, and my axis does not change. I will just focus on what is in front of me, calmly, and just keep doing it. I think I will just keep growing.'

'What I want you to see at the Grand Palais is me winning'

Next summer's Olympics will be in Paris. It is truly the holy land of fencing, and the Grand Palais, which will be the venue, is a historic building facing the Champs-Élysées. Fighting and winning there is not just an honor or a goal, but 'incredibly special' for every fencer he chews over.

'What I want you to see at the Grand Palais is me winning. I hope those who watch will have that much expectation, but I myself will not be obsessed with results, but will give my all. My fencing life is not the goal next year, but just a passing point, so above all, I want to enjoy it.'

Local JTB employees also came to cheer at the World Cup held in Paris, France, in January of this year. That was a great source of vitality for Matsuyama, but he laughs that he was most happy about the refreshments they brought for the team.

'They brought bento boxes not only for me but for my teammates and coaches. I was happy with that thoughtfulness and consideration, and everyone said, 'JTB is amazing, isn't it?' (laughs). It's presumptuous of me to say so, but I was proud to be a part of it, and just being told, 'I'm from JTB, good luck,' gives me a sense of camaraderie that we are fighting together.'

There are 'colleagues' who will rush to anywhere in the world. Moreover, they not only push his back, support, and encourage him when things are going well, but also when things are tough.

When he stands on the piste and fights, he is alone, but he is never alone. Supported by many, Matsuyama continues to fight on the world stage, giving his all.

text by Yuko Tanaka
photographs by Takuya Sugiyama

JTB Corp. is handling official hospitality packages as an official sales agent in Japan for On Location, the official hospitality provider for the 'Games of the XXXIII Olympiad (Paris 2024)' to be held from July 26 to August 11, 2024. We also handle the fencing men's foil event, in which Matsuyama aims to compete.
Please check the website below for details of the products and inquiries.https://www.jtb.co.jp/sports/paris2024

JTB Corp. has concluded a contract with the Japanese Olympic Committee (Chairman: Yasuhiro Yamashita) as an official travel agency for TEAM JAPAN for two years from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2024.