Japan return to hero's welcome after best winter medal haul

Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics Women's speed skating gold medallist Nana Takagi attends a news conference with other medalists upon their return from the Pyeongchang Winter Games, in Tokyo, Japan, February 26, 2018. REUTERS/Toru Hanai

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Olympic team returned to a hero's welcome on Monday after its best-ever showing at a Winter Games, with 13 medals - more than half by women - beating a previous record of 10 two decades ago.

Fans came out in large numbers at the airport in Narita, east of Tokyo, waving placards and banners saying "Thank you for gold medal" and "Fly High Yuzu", in reference to figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu.

"I took the bullet train from Kobe (western Japan) to see them. It was worth a trip," said a middle-aged woman.

Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics Men's figure skating gold medallist Yuzuru Hanyu (R) and Women's speed skating gold medallist Nana Takagi attend a news conference with other medalists upon their return from the Pyeongchang Winter Games, in Tokyo, Japan, February 26, 2018. REUTERS/Toru Hanai

The showing was a welcome boost for Japan, with Tokyo hosting the Summer Games in 2020.

Hanyu took gold in the men's singles competition, reasserting his dominance after being off the ice for weeks having injured his ankle in a training fall in November.

"It was tough to win a second consecutive Olympics. The fact that I won with support of everyone made this gold medal even more valuable," Hanyu told a joint news conference.

Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics Men's figure skating gold medallist Yuzuru Hanyu (L) and Women's speed skating gold medallist Nao Kodaira attend a news conference upon their return from the Pyeongchang Winter Games, in Tokyo, Japan, February 26, 2018. REUTERS/Toru Hanai

The win, ahead of compatriot Shoma Uno, who took silver, made the 23-year-old Hanyu the first man in 66 years to defend an Olympic title.

Speed skater Nana Takagi won gold in the women's mass start for her second gold at Pyeongchang after an earlier win in the team pursuit.

Her younger sister, Miho, who was part of that team, also won silver and bronze in the 1,500 and 1,000 metres speed skating, while Nao Kodaira took gold in the 500 metres.

Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics Men's figure skating gold medallist Yuzuru Hanyu (L) and Women's speed skating gold medallist Nao Kodaira attend a news conference upon their return from the Pyeongchang Winter Games, in Tokyo, Japan, February 26, 2018. REUTERS/Toru Hanai

"I have put my life on skating since I missed Sochi Olympics four years ago. I wanted to share courage with everyone, so I'm happy that I could do that even a little bit," Miho said.

After Kodaira's win over South Korean defending champion Lee Sang Hwa, the Japanese athlete hugged and comforted her rival in a show of friendship and sportsmanship between athletes from the two countries, whose ties remain strained due to a shared past in which Japan colonised the Korean peninsula from 1910-1945.

"I realised that we can spend a wonderful time in life if everyone extends a circle of friendship. These 17 days have become an unforgettable moment," Kodaira said.

Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics Men's figure skating gold medallist Yuzuru Hanyu (R) and Women's speed skating gold medallist Nana Takagi attend a news conference with other medalists upon their return from the Pyeongchang Winter Games, in Tokyo, Japan, February 26, 2018. REUTERS/Toru Hanai

(Reporting by Linda Sieg and Tetsushi Kajimoto; Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)

Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics Women's speed skating medallist Miho Takagi poses with her gold, silver and bronze medals at a news conference with other medalists upon their return from the Pyeongchang Winter Games, in Tokyo Japan, February 26, 2018. REUTERS/Toru Hanai

Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics Women's speed skating gold medallist Nao Kodaira (C) attends a news conference with other medallists upon their return from the Pyeongchang Winter Games, in Tokyo, Japan, February 26, 2018. REUTERS/Toru Hanai

Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics Women's speed skating medallist Miho Takagi poses with hergold, silver and bronze medals at a news conference with other medalists upon their return from the Pyeongchang Winter Games, in Tokyo, Japan, February 26, 2018. REUTERS/Toru Hanai

Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics Men's figure skating gold medallist Yuzuru Hanyu attends a news conference with other medalists upon their return from the Pyeongchang Winter Games, in Tokyo Japan, February 26, 2018. REUTERS/Toru Hanai