Interview  •  Portraits

Podcast Itinéraires Singuliers – From Strasbourg to Tokyo: The Journey of Jérôme Guth, Head Coach of Japan's Olympic Sabre Fencing Teams

A French fencing enthusiast falls in love with Japan and leads the national team to a historic Olympic medal in Paris. The podcast Itinéraires Singuliers opens its first episode with the story of Jérôme Guth – Head Coach of Japan's Men's and Women's Olympic Sabre Fencing Teams – and what it reveals about the business of sport in Japan.

Born in Strasbourg, he discovered fencing at the age of six and met a fencing master who would mark his entire life. This charismatic, demanding, and caring mentor passed on his love for the sabre – a passion that would stay with Jérôme forever. After serious studies and an early career as a high-level referee, Jérôme moved to the United States at 25, first to complete his studies, then to open his own club. America taught him entrepreneurship, freedom, and the power of believing in his dreams – even if the “all-business” logic eventually made him crave something else.

It was then that Japan entered his story. After several brief but deeply impactful trips, he accepted the role of head coach for the Japanese national sabre team. Arriving during the Covid period, he had to wait before settling in, but once there, he transformed the team’s dynamic. With caring management, Olympic-level rigor, and profound respect for local culture, he restored confidence in his athletes and achieved historic results.

The pinnacle: the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. In a packed Grand Palais, his fencers accomplished the extraordinary by winning a bronze medal against France, the world number one team. Immense joy, shared without restraint, became a turning point for Japanese sabre.

But Jérôme didn’t stop there. With the medal in hand, he was already looking ahead to Los Angeles 2028. His mission: continue growing the team, develop young talent through the Elite Academy, and firmly establish Japan among the world’s leading fencing nations.

This story is not just about a coach. It is the story of a man who proves that you can stay true to yourself, even on the other side of the world, and create an alchemy between cultures to achieve excellence.

If you love stories where passion meets rigor, where a “French way” of working thrives in Japan and transforms a team from within, this episode is for you. Tune in to discover how Jérôme Guth turned a group toward excellence – and what this journey tells us about sport, mobility, and opportunities in Japan.

This podcast is produced in collaboration with Anna.

With the support of Matsue City

This podcast is produced in collaboration with Anna.