Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

competed in the

2017 Asian Winter Games The 2017 Asian Winter Games ( ja, 2017アジア冬季競技大会, 2017 Ajia tōkikyōgitaikai) was the 8th edition of the Asian Winter Games. They were hosted in Sapporo and Obihiro in Hokkaido, Japan. These Games were originally scheduled for 2 ...

Sapporo ( ain, サッ・ポロ・ペッ, Satporopet, lit=Dry, Great River) is a city in Japan. It is the largest city north of Tokyo and the largest city on Hokkaido, the northernmost main island of the country. It ranks as the fifth most populous city ...

and

Obihiro is a city in Tokachi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. Obihiro is the only designated city in the Tokachi area. As of February 29, 2020, the city has an estimated population of 165,851. The next most populous municipality in Tokachi is the adj ...

from February 19 to 26. This marked the fourth time the country has played host to the

Asian Winter Games The Asian Winter Games (AWG) is an international multi-sport event held every four years for members of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) which features winter events. The Japanese Olympic Committee first suggested the idea of holding a winter v ...

. Japan competed in all eleven disciplines from five sports. Ice hockey player Go Tanaka was the country's flagbearer during the

parade of nations The Olympic Games ceremonies of the Ancient Olympic Games were an integral part of these Games; the modern Olympic games have opening, closing, and medal ceremonies. Some of the elements of the modern ceremonies date back to the Ancient Games from ...

at the opening ceremony.

Medal summary

Medal table

Medalists

Competitors

The following table lists the Japanese delegation per sport and gender.

Alpine skiing

Japan's alpine skiing team will consist of eight athletes (four men and four women). The team was announced on January 19, 2017. ;Men *

Naoki Yuasa is a World Cup alpine ski racer from Japan. Yuasa made his World Cup debut in Shigakogen in 2003. He attained his first podium in World Cup in December 2012, a third place in slalom at Madonna di Campiglio, Italy. Yuasa represented Japan at ...

* Hideyuki Narita * Yohei Koyama * Tatsuki Matsumoto ;Women *

Emi Hasegawa Emi Hasegawa (born 8 May 1986) is a Japanese Alpine skiing, alpine ski racer. She competed at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2011, 2011 World Championships in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany in the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2011 ...

* Mio Arai * Asa Ando * Emiko Kiyosawa

Biathlon

;Men * Junji Nagai * Mikito Tachizaki * Yuuki Nakajima *

Tsukasa Kobonoki Tsukasa Kobonoki (born 4 December 1991) is a Japanese biathlete The biathlon is a winter sport that combines cross-country skiing (sport), cross-country skiing and shooting sports, rifle shooting. It is treated as a race, with contestants s ...

* Kosuke Ozaki * Takuto Terabayashi ;Women * Fuyuko Tachizaki * Yurie Tanaka * Rina Mitsuhashi * Sari Furuya * Asuka Hachisuka * Kirari Tanaka

Cross-country skiing

Japan's cross-country skiing team will consist of eight athletes (four men and four women). The team was announced on January 19, 2017. ;Men *

Akira Lenting is a cross country skier from Japan. He competed for Japan at the 2014 Winter Olympics Japan competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia from 7 to 23 February 2014. Japan's team consisted of 136 athletes in all 15 sports. The 2014 G ...

* Nobuhito Kashiwabara *

Naoto Baba is a Japanese cross-country skier who competes internationally. He represented his country at the 2022 Winter Olympics.https://olympics.com/beijing-2022/olympic-games/en/results/cross-country-skiing/athlete-profile-n1037007-naoto-baba.htm Beijin ...

* Kohei Shimizu ;Women * Yuki Kobayashi * Hikari Miyazaki * Chisa Obayashi * Kozue Takizawa

Curling

Japan has entered both a men's and women's teams.

Men's tournament

Japan's men's curling team consists of five athletes. *

Yusuke Morozumi is a Japanese curler from Karuizawa. He skipped the Japanese men's team at the 2018 Winter Olympics. He currently coaches the Chubu Electric Power Curling Team. Curling career Yusuke Morozumi was the skip of the Japanese team at the 2004 Wor ...

– skip *

Tetsuro Shimizu is a Japanese curler from Sapporo. He competed at the 2015 Ford World Men's Curling Championship in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, as vice-skip for the Japanese team, which placed sixth in the tournament. Personal life Shimizu is employed as ...

– third * Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi – second *

Kosuke Morozumi is a Japanese curler from Karuizawa, Nagano. He competed at the 2015 Ford World Men's Curling Championship in Halifax, Nova Scotia Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three M ...

– lead * Koshuke Hirata – alternate ;Round-robin Japan has a bye in draw 3 ;Draw 1 ''Saturday, February 18, 9:00'' ;Draw 2 ''Saturday, February 18, 18:00'' ;Draw 4 ''Monday, February 20, 13:30'' ;Draw 5 ''Tuesday, February 21, 9:00'' ;Draw 6 ''Tuesday, February 21, 18:00'' ;Semifinals ''Wednesday, February 22, 1:30'' ;Gold medal match ''Friday, February 24, 1:30''

Women's tournament

Satsuki Fujisawa is a Japanese curler from Kitami, Hokkaido. As a skip, she has won the Japanese national championship six times. Fujisawa skipped the bronze medal-winning Japanese team at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games and the silver medal-winning team at the ...

– Skip *

Mari Motohashi is a Japanese curler. Career Motohashi was a member of Team Aomori which represented Japan at two Winter Olympics (2006 and 2010). She threw second stones for Ayumi Onodera at the 2006 Winter Olympics, finishing 7th, and played second for Moe M ...

– Third *

Chinami Yoshida is a Japanese Curling, curler. She currently plays Third (curling), third for Team Loco Solare, which is skipped by Satsuki Fujisawa. The team won the bronze medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics and the silver medal at the 2022 Winter Olympics. Ca ...

– Second *

Yurika Yoshida is a Japanese curler. She currently plays lead for Team Loco Solare, which is skipped by Satsuki Fujisawa. The team won the bronze medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics and the silver medal at the 2022 Winter Olympics. Career Yoshida was a membe ...

– Lead *

Yumi Suzuki is a Japanese curler. She currently plays second for Team Loco Solare, which is skipped by Satsuki Fujisawa. The team won the bronze medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics and a silver medal at the 2022 Winter Olympics. Career Suzuki was a member o ...

– Alternate ;Round-robin Japan has a bye in draw 3 ;Draw 1 ''Saturday, February 18, 13:30'' ;Draw 2 ''Saturday, February 19, 9:00'' ;Draw 4 ''Monday, February 20, 18:00'' ;Draw 5 ''Tuesday, February 21, 13:30''

Figure skating

Japan's figure skating team consists of twelve athletes. On February 7, 2017, it was announced that

Kaori Sakamoto is a Japanese competitive figure skater. She is the 2022 Olympic bronze medalist, the 2022 World champion, the 2018 Four Continents champion, a two-time NHK Trophy champion, the 2022 Skate America champion, and a three-time Japanese national ...

would replace

Satoko Miyahara is a retired Japanese figure skater. She is the 2015 World silver medalist, the 2018 World bronze medalist, the 2016 Four Continents champion, a two-time Four Continents silver medalist (2014, 2015), a two-time Grand Prix Final silver medalist ...

, because the latter had sustained an injury to her hip. ;Singles ;Mixed

Freestyle skiing

Japan's freestyle skiing team will consist of eight athletes (four men and four women). The team was announced on January 19, 2017. ;Men *

Sho Endo is a Japanese freestyle skier. Endo competed in moguls, at the 2010 Winter Olympics. He qualified for the moguls final, ultimately finishing 7th. As of February 2013, his best showing at the World Championships came in 2011, placing 21st, in ...

Daichi Hara is a Japanese freestyle skier and . He competed in the 2018 Winter Olympics and won the bronze medal. He became a professional racing cyclist (Keirin) on March 25, 2020. However, he has not retired from Freestyle skiing and competed in the 20 ...

Ikuma Horishima is a Japanese freestyle skier who competes internationally. He competed for Japan at the FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboarding World Championships 2017 in Sierra Nevada, Spain, where he won a gold medal in Moguls, and another gold medal in Dual mo ...

* Kosuke Sugimoto ;Women *

Miki Ito Miki may refer to: Places *Miki, Hyōgo, a city in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan *Miki, Kagawa, a town in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan *Miki, Azerbaijan, a village in Astara Rayon, Azerbaijan People *Miki (given name) *Miki (surname) *Miki Núñez (born ...

Arisa Murata is a Japanese freestyle skier, specializing in moguls. Murata competed at the 2010 Winter Olympics for Japan. She placed 11th in the qualifying round of the moguls, advancing to the final, where she placed 8th. As of April 2013, her best show ...

* Kisara Sumiyoshi *

Hinako Tomitaka Hinako Tomitaka (born 21 September 2000) is a Japanese freestyle skier who competes internationally. She competed in the FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboarding World Championships 2021 The 2021 FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboarding World Champion ...

Ice hockey

Japan as the host nation has entered teams in both hockey tournaments. The men's team will compete in the top division.

Men's tournament

Japan was represented by the following 23 athletes: *

Yutaka Fukufuji is a Japanese ice hockey player for the Nikko Ice Bucks of the Asia League Ice Hockey. Fukufuji was the first Japanese player to appear in a National Hockey League (NHL) game. The first Japanese draft pick, Hiroyuki Miura, was selected b ...

(G) * Yuto Ito (G) *

Takuto Onoda Takuto (written: 拓人, 拓土, 拓斗, 拓門, 卓人, 巧和, 焚吐, 寛太) is a masculine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include: *, Japanese singer and songwriter *, Japanese footballer *, Japanese footballer *, Japanese ...

(G) * Yosuke Haga (D) * Ryo Hashiba (D) * Ryo Hashimoto (D) * Keigo Minoshima (D) *

Kazumasa Sasaki Kazumasa Sasaki (佐々木一正; born December 11, 1989), is a Japanese professional ice hockey Defenceman currently playing for the Oji Eagles of the Asia League. Since 2009 he plays for the Oji Eagles. He previously played for the ''Östersun ...

(D) * Hiroto Sato (D) * Takafumi Yamashita (D) * Maruru Furuhashi (D) *Yushiroh Hirano (F) *Takuma Kawai (F) * Shuhei Kuji (F) *

Masahito Nishiwaki Masahito is a male Japanese name, that has been used for members of The Japanese Imperial Family. Although written romanized the same way, the kanji can be different. Masahito may refer to: * , later Emperor Go-Shirakawa (後白河天皇) * , eldes ...

(F) *

Daisuke Obara is a Japanese professional ice hockey center currently playing for the Oji Eagles of the Asia League. He began his professional career in 2003-2004, at the American ECHL, playing for the Peoria Rivermen, Charlotte Checkers and Augusta L ...

(F) * Kenta Takagi (F) *

Seiji Takahashi Seiji Takahashi (高橋聖二), born February 24, 1993, is a Japanese professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Oji Eagles of the Asia League. Since 2011 he plays for the Oji Eagles Red Eagles Hokkaido (レッドイーグルス ...

(F) * Hiromichi Terao (F) * Yuri Terao (F) *Go Tanaka (F) * Hiroki Ueno (F) *

Takuro Yamashita Takuro Yamashita (山下拓郎; born May 22, 1988) is a Japanese professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Tohoku Free Blades of the Asia League. Since 2011 he plays for the Tohoku Free Blades. He previously played at amateur lev ...

(F) Legend *G– Goalie D = Defense F = Forward ---- ----

Women's tournament

Japan was represented by the following 21 athletes: *

Yurie Adachi is a Japanese ice hockey player. She has played for Japan in the World Women's Championship Division 1 for two years. In 2008, she played for Japan again, this time in the Top Division. Adachi competed at both the 2014 and the 2018 Winter Olympi ...

* Yoshino Enomoto (F) *

Moeko Fujimoto is a Japanese ice hockey forward and member of the Japan women's national ice hockey team, currently playing with Toyota Cygnus of the Women's Japan Ice Hockey League (WJIHL) and the All-Japan Women's Ice Hockey Championship. International car ...

(F) *

Nana Fujimoto is a professional Japanese ice hockey player for Vortex Sapporo and the Japanese national team. Fujimoto was previously a starting goaltender for the New York Riveters of the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL). Career Fujimoto participated ...

(G) * Mika Hori (D) *

Akane Hosoyamada is a Japanese ice hockey player for DK Peregrine. Early life and education Hosoyamada was born to father Manabu and mother Yoko in Banff, Alberta, Canada. She began playing hockey at the age of five. She attended Syracuse University and graduat ...

(D) *

Tomomi Iwahara is a Japanese ice hockey player for Seibu Princess Rabbits and the Japanese national team. She participated at the 2015 IIHF Women's World Championship.

(F) *

Shiori Koike is a Japanese ice hockey player for DK Peregrine and the Japanese national team. The Japanese team participated at the 2015 IIHF Women's World Championship Mai Kondo is a Japanese ice hockey player for Mikage Gretz and the Japanese national team. She participated at the 2015 IIHF Women's World Championship. Kondo competed at the 2018 Winter Olympics , nations = 93 , athletes = 2,922 (1,680 men a ...

(G) * Akane Konishi (G) *

Hanae Kubo is a Japanese ice hockey player and member of the Japanese national team, currently playing with the Seibu Princess Rabbits of the Women's Japan Ice Hockey League (WJIHL) and All-Japan Women's Ice Hockey Championship. Kubo made her internatio ...

(F) *

Ami Nakamura is a Japanese ice hockey player for Seibu Princess Rabbits and the Japanese national team. She participated at the 2015 IIHF Women's World Championship. Nakamura competed at both the 2014 and the 2018 Winter Olympics , nations = 93 ...

(F) * Shoko Ono (F) *

Chiho Osawa is a Japanese retired ice hockey player and former Captain (ice hockey), captain of the Japan women's national ice hockey team, Japanese national team. She most recently played in the 2020–21 SDHL season, 2020–21 season of the Swedish Women' ...

(F) * Sena Suzuki (D) *

Aina Takeuchi is a Japanese ice hockey defender. International career Takeuchi was selected for the Japan women's national ice hockey team in the 2014 Winter Olympics. She played in all five games, recording one assist. Takeuchi also played for Japan in t ...

(D) * Naho Terashima (F) *

Ayaka Toko is a Japanese ice hockey player and member of the Japanese national team, currently playing in the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL) with Linköping HC. She previously served as captain to the Seibu Princess Rabbits of the Women's Japan Ice ...

(D) * Haruka Toko (F) * Rui Ukita (F) *

Haruna Yoneyama is a Japanese ice hockey player for the DK Peregrine and the Japanese national team. She participated at the 2015 IIHF Women's World Championship. Yoneyama competed at both the 2014 and the 2018 Winter Olympics , nations = 93 , athle ...

(F) Legend: G = Goalie, D = Defense, F = Forward ---- ---- ---- ----

Short track speed skating

Japan's speed skating team consists of 10 athletes (five men and five women). The team was officially unveiled on January 9, 2017. ;Men *

Keita Watanabe is a Japanese short track speed skater. He competed in the 2018 Winter Olympics The 2018 Winter Olympics ( ko, 2018년 동계 올림픽, Icheon sip-pal nyeon Donggye Ollimpik), officially the XXIII Olympic Winter Games (french: Les XXIIIes J ...

Ryosuke Sakazume is a Japanese short track speed skater. He competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics in the men's 1000 metres and the men's 1500 metres events. He also competed at the 2018 Winter Olympics The 2018 Winter Olympics ( ko, 2018년 동계 올림� ...

Kazuki Yoshinaga is a Japanese short track speed skater. He competed in the 2018 Winter Olympics The 2018 Winter Olympics ( ko, 2018년 동계 올림픽, Icheon sip-pal nyeon Donggye Ollimpik), officially the XXIII Olympic Winter Games (french: Les XXIIIes ...

* Hiroki Yokoyama * Takayuki Muratake ;Women * Moemi Kikuchi *

Hitomi Saito , born October 31, 1981 in Niigata, Japan, is a former singer and current radio personality. She was the leader of Melon Kinenbi, an all-girl J-pop group formerly within Hello! Project, until its disbandment in 2010. She is also a former member ...

Sumire Kikuchi is a Japanese short track speed skater. She competed in the women's 500 metres at the 2018 Winter Olympics , nations = 93 , athletes = 2,922 (1,680 men and 1,242 women) , events = 102 in 7 sports (15 disciplines) , opening = , clo ...

Ayuko Ito is a Japanese short-track speed-skater. Ito competed at the 2010 Winter Olympics for Japan. She finished third in her opening round race of the 1000 metres, failing to advance and placing 18th. She was also a member of the 3000 metre relay te ...

* Aoi Watanabe

Ski jumping

Japan's ski jumping team will consist of four athletes (all men, as women's events are not scheduled to be held). The team was announced on January 19, 2017. ;Men *

Yukiya Satō is a Japanese ski jumper. He participated at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2019 The 41st FIS Nordic World Ski Championships were held from 20 February to 3 March 2019 in Seefeld in Tirol, Tyrol, Austria. It was the second time Seefe ...

Naoki Nakamura is a Japanese ski jumper. Team bronze medalist at the 2016 Nordic Junior World Ski Championships. His younger sister, Anju Nakamura, competes in the Nordic Combined. His best individual result so far is 3rd place in the competition in Ruka in ...

* Masamitsu Itō * Yūken Iwasa

Snowboarding

Japan's snowboarding team will consist of ten athletes (four men and six women). The team was announced on January 19, 2017. ;Men * Ayumu Nedefuji - halfpipe * Shinnosuke Kamino - slalom/giant slalom * Yuya Suzuki - slalom/giant slalom * Takumi Miyazawa - slalom/giant slalom ;Women * Hikaru Oe - halfpipe * Haruna Matsumoto - halfpipe *

Kurumi Imai is a Japanese snowboarder. She competed in the 2018 Winter Olympics , nations = 93 , athletes = 2,922 (1,680 men and 1,242 women) , events = 102 in 7 sports (15 disciplines) , opening = , closing = , opened_by = President Moon Jae-i ...

- halfpipe *

Sena Tomita is a Japanese snowboarder. She competed in the 2018 Winter Olympics, and 2022 Winter Olympics. Career In 2022, she won a gold medal at Winter X Games XXVI Winter X Games XXVI was held from 21 to 23 January 2022 in Aspen, Colorado, United Sta ...

- halfpipe *

Eri Yanetani Eri Yanetani (born 7 June 1984 in Kobe) is a Japanese snowboarder. Yanetani competed in the women's parallel giant slalom event at the 2006 Winter Olympics, placing 18th, and the 2010 Winter Olympics, placing 21st. At the 2017 Asian Winter Ga ...

- slalom/giant slalom * Asa Toyoda - slalom/giant slalom

Speed skating

Japan's speed skating team consists of 20 athletes (ten men and ten women). The team was officially unveiled on January 15, 2017. ;Men *

Takuro Oda is a Japanese speed skater. He competed in the 2018 Winter Olympics , nations = 93 , athletes = 2,922 (1,680 men and 1,242 women) , events = 102 in 7 sports (15 disciplines) , opening = , closing = , opened_by = President Moon Jae-i ...

- 1000 m, 1500 m * Shota Nakamura - 1500 m, 1000 m, TP MS *

Ryosuke Tsuchiya is a Japanese speed skater. He competed in the men's 5000 metres at the 2018 Winter Olympics , nations = 93 , athletes = 2,922 (1,680 men and 1,242 women) , events = 102 in 7 sports (15 disciplines) , opening = , closing = , opened ...

- 5000 m, 10000 m, TP MS *

Shane Williamson is an Australian–Japanese speed skater who competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics for Japan. He competed in the 5000 metres, where he finished 26th out of 26. Williamson made his World Cup debut in November 2013. As of September 2014, Williams ...

1500 m, 5000 m, 10000 m, TP, MS *

Seitaro Ichinohe is a Japanese speed skater. He competed in the men's 5000 metres at the 2018 Winter Olympics , nations = 93 , athletes = 2,922 (1,680 men and 1,242 women) , events = 102 in 7 sports (15 disciplines) , opening = , closing = , opened_ ...

5000 m, 10000 m, TP (sub) * Taro Kondo 1500 m * Yuto Fujino 500 m, 1000 m * Tsubasa Hasegawa 500 m *

Shunsuke Nakamura is a Japanese former professional footballer. He is the only person to have been named J.League Most Valuable Player more than once, receiving the award in 2000 and 2013. Steve Perryman once remarked that Nakamura "could open a tin of beans w ...

500 m, 1000 m * Yuma Murakami 500 m ;Women *

Nao Kodaira Nao Kodaira ( ja, 小平奈緒; born 26 May 1986) is a Japanese former long track speed skater who specialised in the sprint distances. She is the 2018 Olympic champion in the 500 m distance. Kodaira is the first Japanese woman to win an Olym ...

500 m, 1000 m * Miho Takagi 1000 m, 1500 m, 3000 m, TP, MS * Mai Kiyama 5000 m * Misaki Oshigiri 1500 m, 3000 m, TP *

Nana Takagi (born 2 July 1992) is a Japanese former speed skater who is a member of the Nidec Sankyo speed skating team. Career Takagi has won a pair of silver medals at the World Junior Speed Skating Championships, in two team pursuit events. She made he ...

1,500 m, TP, MS * Ayano Sato 500 m, 1500 m, 3000 m, MS * Arisa Go 500 m, 1000 m *

Maki Tabata is a Japanese speed skater and track cyclist. Maki Tabata won bronze at the World Allround Championships in 2000 and one month later, she won another bronze, this time on the 3000 m at the World Single Distance Championships. The next y ...

5000 m * Maki Tsuji 500 m, 1000 m * Fuyo Matsuoka 5000 m

References

{{Nations at the 2017 Asian Winter Games Nations at the 2017 Asian Winter Games

Japan at the Asian Winter Games