[Provisional Translation]

Dear Mr. Kosuke Hagino and all members of the Japanese Olympic Team,

Congratulations on winning the first gold medal for the Japanese Olympic Team.

Your hard training and efforts truly paid off in a superb swimming performance that enabled you to reach the apex of your sport. I would like to express my heartfelt respect to you.

I could not help but feel that your success in a sporting event that attracts global attention shows the great potential for Japanese swimming to become stronger still. Your medal will give courage to other swimmers whose events will be taking place soon and inspire all other members of the Japanese Olympic Team who will be competing over the coming days.

I hope that the Japanese Olympic Team will continue to give hope, inspiration, and courage to everyone in Japan and around the world, and together with everyone in Japan, I will be continuing to root for all members of the Team.

Go for it Japan! I look forward to further fantastic sporting performances.

Shinzo Abe
Prime Minister of Japan
August 7, 2016