Kanna
Oishi 大石 栞菜

2019.10.11

A daring fencer with strong fighting instincts gears up for a climactic year

She sees the Tokyo Olympics as what will be the culmination of her athletic career. Kanna Oishi has been doing great on the national fencing team for women’s épée. She is about to reach her peak in all the aspects of physical strength, technique, and experience. “I’m enjoying myself now, and I want to show everything I’ve done in my athletic career,” said Oishi with a throbbing heart.

The style of an extremely stubborn fencer

In the national rankings for women’s épée (senior) released in May 2019, Oishi fell from the top position to fourth place, but does not seem concerned by this. She is at the top of her game in spirit, technique, and physical strength. If she achieves results at international competitions, a ticket to the Tokyo Olympics will eventually come into view.

Oishi is stubborn. Even for a warm-up practice session, she will not make a move unless she is convinced. “I don’t like practicing unwillingly. But once I get it, I can keep working with all my heart.” Her outstanding concentration and tenacity to win a victory have made Oishi grow up.

The move to épée aroused her fighting instincts again

Oishi, who started fencing in first grade, is strong-minded and has been all-rounder at sports since her early childhood. She kept doing fencing because “fighting with a sword is so extraordinary. It’s fascinating.” As a fifth grader, she became the best in Japan. A year later, she participated in an international event.

In junior high school and high school, Oishi did not become the best in Japan but had always been placed high in individual events, and achieved good results, including victories in team events. She went on to Hosei University, where she continued the sport and participated in international competitions as a member of the national team. However, as she moved up to higher categories, she began to have difficulty winning bouts. When she was a fourth-year student, she was advised to completely turn to épée and accepted the advice. This became a turning point for her. In épée, the target area is the entire body, from head to toe. Oishi was attracted to the épée bout, which unfolds rapidly and changes frequently.The épée, which is said to have developed from duelling, aroused her fighting instincts.

A strong desire for victory

When she specialized in the foil, she maintained an extremely aggressive style focused on attacks. With the épée, tactics against the opponent are more important. “As I gained more experience, mental games and game planning became more interesting,” said Oishi.

After having ranked third in the women’s team épée both at the 2017 Asian Fencing Championships and the 2018 Asian Games, Oishi began to produce results at international competitions and came in 11th place in the women’s team épée at the 2019 World Fencing Championships. She has steadily improved her ability in the run-up to the Tokyo Olympics. “I will bring out my best in Tokyo,” said Oishi. With the spirit of “where there is a will, there is a way” (the motto she lives by), she has worked hard to take the field. “I need to win this season toward the Olympics, so I will encourage myself and work harder.” It is Oishi who is hungrier for victory than anyone else.

Kanna Oishi’s philosophy

What you willingly accept enriches your body and soul.