Sport Specific Information |
Club / Team |
Septeni Holdings: Japan |
Further Personal Information |
Higher education |
Law - Hosei University: Tokyo, JPN |
Sport Specific Information |
Why this sport? |
He and his sister took up the sport after his father established a fencing club in Minowa, Japan. At the time he was interested in television shows about Japanese superheroes. |
General Interest |
Hero / Idol |
Japanese fencer Yuki Ota. (joc.or.jp, 16 Mar 2016) |
Ambitions |
To win gold in individual and team foil at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. (sports.yahoo.co.jp, 12 Jan 2022) |
Sport Specific Information |
Handedness |
Right |
When and where did you begin this sport? |
He began fencing at age five. |
Further Personal Information |
Languages |
Japanese |
General Interest |
Hobbies |
Yoga. (Instagram profile, 18 Feb 2021) |
Most influential person in career |
His father Shigeru. (4years.asahi.com, 17 Sep 2021) |
Awards and honours |
In 2018 he received a Special Award at the ABN Sports Grand Awards in Japan. (abn-tv.co.jp, 07 May 2018) |
Nicknames |
Chiri Chiri (fencingfan.net, 25 Oct 2016) |
Sporting philosophy / motto |
"Where there is a will, there is a way." (Ameba profile, 18 May 2020) |
Famous relatives |
His father Shigeru Saito competed in fencing at national level in Japan. (sports.yahoo.co.jp, 28 Feb 2018) |
Further Personal Information |
Occupation |
Athlete, Office Worker |
General Interest |
Other information |
INSPIRATION As a primary school student, he was given the chance to compete in an exhibition bout against Japanese fencer Yuki Ota. "Although I was a little child, I could feel that he fought against me with all his heart. He taught me about the attitude a fencer needs to have. Moreover, I started dreaming about the Olympic Games after listening to his Olympic experience. That one day changed my view of life." (king-gear.com, 19 May 2018) |
Further Personal Information |
Residence |
Tokyo, JPN |
Sport Specific Information |
Name of coach |
Erwann Le Pechoux [national], FRA |
General Interest |
Injuries |
In July 2022 he sustained an injury to his hip joint and was sidelined for five months. (hochi.news, 10 Dec 2022) |