Japan’s equestrian team won a bronze medal in team eventing at the 2024 Paris Olympics, marking the country’s first Olympic equestrian medal in 92 years. The last time Japan stood on the podium was in 1932, when Takeichi Nishi, also known as Baron Nishi, won gold in show jumping.
In a meaningful tribute, the 2024 team members—Yoshiaki Oiwa, Kazuma Tomoto, Toshiyuki Tanaka, and Ryuzo Kitajima—visited Ioto (Iwo Jima) to honor Nishi, who died in the 1945 Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II. Their pilgrimage symbolically connected Japan’s past and present Olympic equestrian achievements.
