Kano, who was a team champion at last year's Olympic Games, was seeded sixth in the main draw and defeated underdog Akira Komata 15-10 in an all-Japan final at the SK Handball Gym in South Korea.

China's Lan Minghao was awarded bronze after losing 15-11 in the semi-final to Kano as Rio de Janeiro 2016 gold medallist Park Sang-young was upset on home soil against world number 57 Komata 14-13.

Kano also defeated Kazakhstan's Vadim Sharlaimov and Hong Konger Ho Wai Hang en route to the title.

Similar to the men's event, the women's foil tournament final was contested by two compatriots as China's 2018 Asian Games silver-medal winning team-mates Shi Yue and Chen Qingyuan went head-to-head.

Shi prevailed by a score of 15-9 to secure her first-ever gold medal at the continental event following two bronzes in 2018 and 2019.

She was the pre-tournament favourite after being handed the top seed for the main draw.

Youth Olympic Games gold medallist Yuka Ueno of Japan lost out to Shi 15-11 in the final-four before her countrywoman Sera Azuma lost 15-11 to Chen, giving the pair a bronze medal each.

The competition is set to continue tomorrow in the South Korean capital with champions due to be crowned in the men's foil and women's sabre tournaments.