<figure id="attachment_407690" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1512px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-407690"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="5533ec24"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/01/4c4edb0b44cd17b32498003cfa253c37.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-407690" class="wp-caption-text">Taking the camera from our magazine&#8217;s photographer, she was visibly moved, saying, &#8220;It takes beautiful pictures!&#8221; The medalist is also passionate about her hobbies.</figcaption></figure>
Wearing heavy armor and wielding swords equipped with sensors in fencing—its mechanical competitiveness contrasts sharply with the golden-haired Misaki Emura (26), who took the sports world by storm in 2024.
She was entrusted with the important role of flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics and helped secure a bronze medal for the women&#8217;s team. She appeared on New Year&#8217;s Day&#8217;s &#8220;Geinoujin Kakuzuke Check!&#8221; (TV Asahi) and was a sought-after guest for various special TV programs during the holiday season. Her blonde hair became her trademark, and it’s not something she plans to give up easily.
&#8220;As of now, I have no intention of stopping the high-tone hair color. I thought I’d stop if I got tired of it, but I’m not tired of it at all (laughs).&#8221;
<h3>The reason she dyed her hair blonde after the Tokyo Olympics.</h3>
She first dyed her hair two and a half years ago.
&#8220;Even after the Tokyo Olympics, I kept running, and my energy just wouldn’t stop.&#8221;
In her first Olympics at the Tokyo Games (&#8217;21), she was eliminated in the second round of the individual event (13th place) and finished 5th in the team event. To say that she couldn’t stop her energy right after this might be incomprehensible to anyone who isn&#8217;t an athlete.
&#8220;It was really frustrating, but at the same time, I thought that maybe I could have beaten medalists, or maybe I could have even won a medal myself. That thought gave me so much hope and energy that I just didn’t want to rest.&#8221;
After continuing training post-competition, one day she suddenly felt burned out. She decided to take a break to refresh herself and thought about what could help her unwind, and that’s when she came up with the idea to dye her hair blonde.
She had expected to get scolded by people in the fencing association, but there was no such reaction. In fact, it was well received.
&#8220;It’s not that I just wanted to stand out. I just thought it would be fun as part of my love for fashion, and if I enjoy it, then that’s good enough.&#8221;
Emura is the first professional athlete in the world of fencing. As she is not bound by the duties of a particular company, she has no restrictions on activities outside of her sport. However, there is also the risk that sponsors won’t back her if her results don’t align.
&#8220;If people don’t want to support me, I could even struggle to fund my trips for competitions. But maybe it’s in line with my personality.&#8221;
<h3>She has also become a sports ambassador for DIOR.</h3>
After the Tokyo Olympics, Eumura made a fresh start, and her performance improved. In 2022 and 2023, she won consecutive World Championships and became the face of fencing.
In May 2024, she became a sports ambassador for the luxury brand DIOR, and modeling opportunities began to come her way.
&#8220;I was surprised. I thought, &#8216;Is it really me?&#8217; (laughs). I had never said I liked DIOR, and I had never worn high-end clothes before. Later, I found out that the current head designer, Maria Grazia Chiuri (60), apparently likes fencing and offered me the opportunity.
I’ve always been conscious of the fusion of sports and fashion, like wearing earrings or necklaces, and I even wear a ring on my left hand, which doesn’t hold the sword. Perhaps they resonated with these aspects of me.&#8221;
In the January 10th release of FRIDAY January 24-31 Issue and the paid version FRIDAY GOLD, Eumura shares her thoughts on the significant role she played as flag bearer at the Paris Olympics, along with more details.
For the full story and multiple photos, check here↓↓
<a href="https://friday.gold/article/306616?utm_source=white&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=gold&amp;utm_content=article%2F407664">Misaki Eumura, the &#8220;Blonde Fencer,&#8221; shares her determination: &#8220;I want to push through to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.&#8221;</a>
From “FRIDAY” January 24-31 Issue.

 Yuji Yanagawa (Nonfiction writer)

 Hiroyuki Komatsu

 Misaki Emura, a female fencing champion, swept the sports world in 2012 with her golden hair. She has been seen in many year-end and New Year's programs, including an appearance on "Celebrity Ratings Check! She talks about why she chose to dye her hair blonde...

Misaki Emura Explains Why She Dyed Her Hair Blonde

Access Ranking