By Yuta Matsumura and Daia Koyano
As the final qualification event for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, approaches, three Japanese teams are preparing to stake their claim for the remaining Olympic spots:
• Men’s: Team Yamaguchi
• Women’s: Team Yoshimura
• Mixed Doubles: Koana/Aoki
All three teams secured their national berths by winning the domestic trials in September. Since then, the men’s and women’s teams have been sharpening their game through extensive competition based out of Canada, while the mixed doubles pairing has tested themselves on both the North American and European circuits — all with an eye toward peaking at the final qualifier.
MEN'S: TEAM YAMAGUCHI
Team Yamaguchi has entered 11 events this season, failing to reach the playoffs only once — at the Stu Sells Toronto Tankard. Their recent form has been exceptional, progressing from third at the Pan Continental Curling Championships, to second in Red Deer, Alta., and ultimately capturing the title in Abbotsford, B.C. Their steady performance has propelled them to 16th in the World Curling Team Rankings (as of Dec. 5).
Three of the teams Japan defeated at the PCCC — China, South Korea and the Philippines — are also competing in this final qualifier, giving Team Yamaguchi confidence that they can compete on equal footing. However, they have yet to face the Netherlands and Poland this season, and the United States is fielding a different team for this event, making it crucial for them to adapt and tailor their strategy to each opponent.
A key player to watch is lead Satoshi Koizumi, whose precise shot-making has been a driving force since the national trials. At the PCCC, he posted a remarkable 92.1 per cent shooting accuracy, outperforming his positional counterparts from both Canada and the U.S. This figure also ranks as the equivalent of third-best by European Championship standards — evidence that his performance is world-class.
If Koizumi continues to deliver at that level and helps build a solid platform for the team’s tactical plan, working together with second Takeru Yamamoto, Team Yamaguchi has every opportunity to shine on the Olympic stage.
WOMEN'S: TEAM YOSHIMURA
Training primarily in Canada and competing regularly on the Grand Slam of Curling circuit, Team Yoshimura has steadily refined their form. Although they struggled to find results immediately after winning the national trials, they recently broke through the preliminary round at a GSOC event in Lake Tahoe, Nev., for the first time this season, signalling an upward trend. At 10th in the world rankings (as of Dec. 5), they are the highest-ranked team in the women’s field.
In contrast to the men’s draw, the women’s field is dominated by European teams. Japan has yet to face several opponents this season, including Germany and Czechia. In addition, because they skipped the Pan Continental Curling Championships due to scheduling issues (Team Fujisawa represented Japan), they have not played a 10-end game since the national trials, which leaves a degree of uncertainty.
Even so, the team is bolstered by extensive Olympic experience. Lead Anna Ohmiya and third Kaho Onodera have both competed at the Olympic Games, and the coaching staff includes Ayumi Ogasawara and Yumie Funayama, who qualified via the final qualifier en route to the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Japan’s women have appeared in every Olympic tournament to date, and the weight of those expectations will be heavy — but the accumulated experience of Team Japan is a significant asset that could carry them through.
MIXED DOUBLES: KOANA/AOKI
Ranked fourth in the world (as of Dec. 5), Tori Koana and Go Aoki enter the event as one of the strongest mixed doubles teams globally. They earned their national berth by defeating the formidable Chiaki Matsumura and Yasumasa Tanida duo and have since continued to prove themselves. Their schedule has included both North American and European competitions, ensuring they are well-prepared for the predominantly European field they will face.
Only a few years ago, Japanese mixed doubles lacked the resources and infrastructure to sustain multiple international tours. Today, with strengthened support systems, Koana/Aoki symbolize Japan’s rapid progress in the discipline.
Japan has never qualified for the Olympics in mixed doubles, and the sport still has lower visibility domestically compared to the four-player game. Securing a spot this time would be a landmark achievement — not only for the team but for the entire Japanese curling community.
A HISTORIC CHALLENGE AHEAD
For the first time in years, all three disciplines feature newly crowned national teams, and each must fight its way through the final qualification stage. This reality places Japan in a demanding position similar to four years ago.
Following the national trials, men’s skip Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi commented: “We want to do everything we can and rewrite history.”
True to those words, all three teams have devoted themselves to meticulous preparation for this stage, and that commitment now fuels their challenge.
Because of that, securing an Olympic berth is entirely possible, and their chances are far from small. Every team and every athlete will take the ice with their own goals and determination — and if they deliver performances free of regret, they will surely bring joy to Japan.
