Judo fans are reacting to a moment of reconciliation between two rivals, as Hifumi Abe shared a social media post featuring a warm embrace with Shoshiro Maruyama.
An Unprecedented Meeting Between Fierce Rivals
According to reports from the-ans.jp, men’s 66kg Olympic champion Hifumi Abe published photographs on his official Instagram account detailing a dinner gathering that brought together several people, including Maruyama and Naohisa Takato. The meeting marked a contrast to the years of intense rivalry that defined their quest for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic berth.
“In the past, the thought of eating together was unthinkable, and we wouldn’t even look each other in the eye,” Abe wrote in his social media post, describing how he spent every waking moment before tournaments consumed with thoughts of his rival. Reflecting on the shared psychological weight of their competition, Abe added, “Looking back now, I realize that both of us spent every single day living with that exact same mindset.”
The 24-Minute Tokyo Olympic Decider
The rivalry stems from the December 2020 representative playoff held to determine Japan’s 66kg entry for the Tokyo Olympic Games. Operating under a one-match format for Japanese judo, the two competitors engaged in a battle of attrition lasting about 24 minutes before Abe eventually secured the victory.
Maruyama, who won the world championships in 2019 and 2021, announced his retirement from active competition in February 2025.
Overwhelming Reaction from the Judo Community
The public display of camaraderie struck a chord with supporters. Social media responses compiled by the-ans.jp captured the surprise and emotion of fans, with many expressing disbelief at seeing the two athletes embrace.
“Seeing the two of them together like this goes straight to the heart,” one fan comment noted, while others described the images as moving and historic. For his part, Abe credited Maruyama with driving his athletic evolution, writing, “The person who shaped my judo career and pushed me to grow this strong in both mind and body is unquestionably Shoshiro Maruyama. Seeing Shoshiro gave me tremendous power, and it made me realize that I can and will keep growing stronger moving forward.”
Abe concluded his remarks by offering support for Maruyama’s future, writing, “No matter where you go, I am rooting for Shoshiro from the bottom of my heart.”
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