Abe Hifumi and Abe Uta Strike Gold Together at the Paris Olympics!
The two undefeated world champions from the Tokyo Olympics appeared in suits at their alma mater's pep rally!
While Nomura and Ryoko Tani (48) have won consecutive Olympic titles, former men’s national team coach Yasuo Inoue (45) and current coach Keiji Suzuki (43) failed to win consecutive gold medals despite being assured of gold. Ibid.
At the Tokyo Games, Shohei (Ohno) won two consecutive championships with a great performance, but compared to Rio, I think he suffered, and I think it was difficult for him to follow his ideal judogi. I am prepared to accept everything.”
Like his older brother, Shukugawa made his debut in his sophomore year at Shukugawa Gakuin High School (’17). She won the Kodokan Cup and Grand Slam Tokyo with her offensive judo, which she traced back to Ippizo, and declared with an adorable smile: “From now on, the ‘era of Poi Abe’ will be my era.
From now on, I would like to continue the “Age of Abe Uta. My judo is ‘judo to get Ippon. I want to throw with a variety of techniques, but I think what will surprise and excite everyone is to throw by carrying, so that is what I am focusing on.
Unlike Kazumi, who had her biggest rival in Japan, Josiro Maruyama (30), Shiho has established a strong position as the absolute queen of the women’s 52-kilogram weight class. As for what she will do after the Paris Olympics – like her brother, she did not make a clear statement.
I have to win it for my future life,” she said. I don’t want to think of it as a series of championships, but rather as a single event.
Undefeated since the Tokyo Olympics, the siblings have been the face of judo not only in Japan but around the world for the past 10 years. This will continue even after the Paris Olympics.
From the May 3, 2024 issue of “FRIDAY
Photography and text by： Yuji Yanagawa (nonfiction writer)
