Japan won bronze to secure its first podium finish in the men's team epee at a world championships on Friday, taking the nation's tally to a record-high three medals at the event held in Cairo.
Japan, which won a gold medal in the event at the Tokyo Olympics last summer, beat China to reach the semifinals but lost to Italy 41-31 before overcoming Hungary in the small final 45-30.
"I'm far happier to get third in the team event than winning silver in the individual," said Kazuyasu Minobe, who won one of Japan's two individual medals at the championships. Women's sabre gold medalist Misaki Emura won the other.
Related coverage:
Fencing: Japan's Misaki Emura wins women's sabre at world championships
Fencing: Kazuyasu Minobe wins Japan's 1st-ever worlds medal in epee
Fencing:Kazuki Iimura becomes youngest Japanese to podium in foil World Cup
Koki Kano, Masaru Yamada and Minobe were part of the Tokyo Games gold winning team who continued to Egypt, with Ryu Matsumoto joining them for the world championships.
"Winning medals in successive Olympics and world championships is really positive and makes our name on the world stage."
The Japan women's foil team also reached the last four but lost to Italy 45-37 in the semifinal and to France in the small final 40-34.
