The Tokyo 2020 Olympics are now the most successful Summer Games for Japan in terms of gold medals.
With victory in the men’s epee fencing team competition, Japan secured a 17th gold medal —- with only half of the Games having taken place.
They had 16 gold medals in Tokyo 1964 and Athens 2004.
The fencing gold was their first ever in the sport.
But they won nine gold medals alone in judo from the 14 individual events.
Japan now have 28 medals overall, having also won four silver and seven bronze.
Their biggest medal haul came five years ago in Rio with 41, from a 12-8-21 tally.
The joy in Japan over the success of their Olympians has however been overshadowed by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The number of new infections nationwide rose to an all-time high for the third day in a row on Friday, with 10,743 cases recorded within 24 hours.
Sporadic protests in Tokyo against the Games have meanwhile continued.(dpa/NAN)
