Natsumi Tunoda (SBC Shonan Beauty Clinic), women's judoist and gold medalist in the 48kg class at last summer's Paris Olympics, gave an interview in Tokyo on the 22nd and explained why she did not enter the All-Japan Weight Class Championships (April 5-6, Fukuoka International Center), which will determine the national team for the World Championships (June, Budapest).

During the Grand Slam Baku tournament, which marked her return after the Paris Olympics, she reportedly experienced a recurrence of pain in her knee and other areas where she had previously been injured. She decided to withdraw from the tournament due to the short period of time she had to lose weight and her doctor's advice. "I was injured after the Olympics, and then I reinjured it at the Grand Slam. I decided to withdraw from the tournament because I thought I wouldn't be able to make it in time for the tournament in just one month, due to the weight loss," she said.

She has now resumed training, and is aiming for the All-Japan Women's Open Weight Championship (held on the 20th at Yokohama Budokan), which she has long expressed a desire to take part in. "Right now I want to get in shape for the Empress's Cup. I've also become more stable on my feet since this year, so I want to use that to my advantage and do my best to face bigger opponents even in the lightweight class," she said enthusiastically.

On this day, she appeared as a guest at the "Stop! Fraud Joint Declaration Ceremony" organized by the Metropolitan Police Department and JCOM Co., Ltd. She gave her signature Tomoe-nage to the police chief of Hikarigaoka Police Station, Yoshiki Kuratani, and pumped up her enthusiasm for the special fraud prevention activities.