Team leader Yasuhiro Yamashita promised that Japan would do its best at the upcoming Asian Games in Indonesia, but added that it would also serve as a significant stepping stone for the athletes toward Tokyo 2020.
"As we have the Tokyo Olympics in two years' time, our athletes will give everything they have now and we believe that effort will lead to 2020," delegation leader and former Olympic judo gold medalist Yamashita said at a Tokyo news conference on Monday, following an inauguration ceremony attended by Prince Akishino and his wife Princess Kiko.
Yamashita said that the delegation has not set any numerical targets in terms of medals going into the 18th Asian Games, which officially begin on Aug. 18.