One day after the Winter Olympics concluded in Pyeongchang, the Japanese delegation returned home Monday and its medal-winning athletes expressed their gratitude to the fans for their warm and enthusiastic support.

Team Japan amassed 13 medals in South Korea, its most ever in one Winter Games, surpassing the 10 it earned on home soil in Nagano in 1998. The team also racked up 43 top-eight finishes at the games, which was also an all-time high for the nation.

"This is evidence that this was the best Team Japan ever," delegation chief Yasuo Saito said at a news conference with 14 of Japan's medal-winning athletes at Tokyo Midtown Tower on Monday evening.