<h2>Don’t miss the dynamic performances of medal contenders!</h2>
<h3>Kaori Sakamoto (25) – Women’s Figure Skating</h3>
<h4>Filling in the final piece with the beauty of her landings</h4>
<figure id="attachment_456798" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1804px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-456798"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="9a2d3bce"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/02/6a0660a5d943efb49725c728b4fd8499-1.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-456798" class="wp-caption-text">Kaori Sakamoto (25) – Women’s Figure Skating / During her first on-site practice on the 3rd, she had exclusive use of the competition rink for 30 minutes, calling it a luxurious moment and was thoroughly pleased.</figcaption></figure>
<h3>Ami Nakai (17) – Women’s Figure Skating</h3>
<h4>A steel mental hidden behind an adorable smile</h4>
<figure id="attachment_456799" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2500px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-456799"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="ac70f1d0"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/02/3b19263933b8c4b0de1df633b1363881.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-456799" class="wp-caption-text">Ami Nakai (17) – Women’s Figure Skating / The gap between her still youthful smile and her powerful jumps is reminiscent of Asada at that time</figcaption></figure>
<h3>Yuma Kagiyama (22) – Men’s Figure Skating</h3>
<h4>Aiming for the top with expression and perfection</h4>
<figure id="attachment_456801" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1930px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-456801"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="8492a465"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/02/51759684a74b1cd64a18ed7984d698ea.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-456801" class="wp-caption-text">Yuma Kagiyama (22) – Men’s Figure Skating / Japan’s ace burning with revenge. On the top of the podium he narrowly missed in Beijing, can Japan’s men’s figure skating ace sing the national anthem?</figcaption></figure>
<h3>Ryuichi Kihara (33) &amp; Riku Miura (24) – Pairs Figure Skating</h3>
<h4>The strongest duo overturning conventional wisdom in pair skating</h4>
<figure id="attachment_456802" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1416px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-456802"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="d1045950"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/02/3ee688ffe8b83de8fafcdd9903da2001.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-456802" class="wp-caption-text">Ryuichi Kihara (33) &amp; Riku Miura (24) – Pairs Figure Skating / With overwhelming results including two World Championships, two Four Continents Championships, and two Grand Prix Final gold medals, the “Rikuryu Pair” aims for the top on the Olympic stage</figcaption></figure>
<h3>Miho Takagi (31) – Speed Skating</h3>
<h4>Towards Japan’s first 11-medal total</h4>
<figure id="attachment_456804" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2500px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-456804"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="54683d7d"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/02/61ac428e4dd490269fd335122aadd097-1.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-456804" class="wp-caption-text">Miho Takagi (31) – Speed Skating / 2 golds, 4 silvers, 1 bronze. The legendary Miho Takagi has already won 7 Olympic medals. If she wins the 500m and 1500m, she will have won gold in all events she has competed in</figcaption></figure>
<h3>Women’s Ice Hockey</h3>
<h4>Three pairs of sisters aiming to defeat strong opponents with teamwork</h4>
<figure id="attachment_456814" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2500px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-456814"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="97668efc"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/02/4bd45a038ae18e732ab6a2a6439934fb-1.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-456814" class="wp-caption-text">Women’s Ice Hockey / Many players are small but fast, including the youngest defenseman Nana Akimoto (16)</figcaption></figure>
<h3>Fortius Women’s Curling</h3>
<h4>From the bottom to the long-cherished first stage for gold</h4>
<figure id="attachment_456815" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2054px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-456815"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="54b2ac6e"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/02/2df3cf41ce9f75cb6c4608f3161de0cc.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-456815" class="wp-caption-text">Fortius Women’s Curling / Yoshimura, the team’s commander, channels the frustration of a reversal loss four years ago to face top competitor Sweden in the first match</figcaption></figure>
<h3>Sara Takanashi (29) – Women’s Ski Jump</h3>
<h4>“I finally found my trigger in recent competitions”</h4>
<figure id="attachment_456784" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2500px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-456784"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="b6180e51"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/02/8b4180c39272a78e7d23b08e17908a70.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-456784" class="wp-caption-text">Sara Takanashi (29) – Women’s Ski Jump / At her second Olympic appearance in PyeongChang ’18 (South Korea), she won an individual bronze medal</figcaption></figure>
<h3>Nozomi Maruyama (27) – Women’s Ski Jump</h3>
<h4>Comeback from severe ligament injury after a harsh fall</h4>
<figure id="attachment_456817" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2500px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-456817"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="2df7d33e"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/02/2d3176af8ae893efbadd68da2a577c54.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-456817" class="wp-caption-text">Nozomi Maruyama (27) – Women’s Ski Jump / From Nozawa Onsen Village, Nagano Prefecture. Despite being troubled by injuries, she achieved 6 World Cup wins this season, marking a big leap</figcaption></figure>
<h3>Tomoka Takeuchi (42) – Women’s Snowboard</h3>
<h4>Cherishing support as I take on my final Olympics</h4>
<figure id="attachment_456818" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2500px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-456818"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="7a457618"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/02/146fd6aff888904c775917fcf05e412c-1.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-456818" class="wp-caption-text">Tomoka Takeuchi (42) – Women’s Snowboard / Born in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, accustomed to snow from an early age. Started snowboarding at 10. Competing for the 7th time, the most appearances for a woman in Winter Olympics</figcaption></figure>
<h3>Ayumu Hirano (27) – Men’s Snowboard</h3>
<h4>The unshakable champion aims for consecutive victories</h4>
<figure id="attachment_456819" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1733px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-456819"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="91461118"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/02/f6b9961d3ccb3a6934da3fdec88a0187-1.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-456819" class="wp-caption-text">Ayumu Hirano (27) – Men’s Snowboard / Since winning silver at the Sochi Olympics at 15, he has stood on the podium in three consecutive games. Can he win back-to-back gold following Beijing!?</figcaption></figure>
<h3>Kokomo Murase (21) – Women’s Snowboard</h3>
<h4>Japan’s youngest female medalist appears</h4>
<figure id="attachment_456820" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1674px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-456820"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="5b4b60f4"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/02/b1797bef8004e0df960449c2579da7ca-1.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-456820" class="wp-caption-text">Kokomo Murase (21) – Women’s Snowboard / Won bronze in Big Air at the Beijing Olympics, becoming Japan’s youngest female medalist at 17. She aims to turn her Beijing bronze into gold in her second Olympics</figcaption></figure>
<p>From the February 20/27, 2026 issue of &#8220;FRIDAY&#8221;</p>


 Hiroyuki Komatsu Kyodo News Yohei Nagata/Afro Sports Reuters/Afro

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