<figure id="attachment_456782" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-456782" style="width: 2332px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="7fb9a6f2"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/02/3131945152417d254d3a63839bfc3b8f.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-456782" class="wp-caption-text">Noriaki Kasai was born in Hokkaido in June 1972. He has competed in eight Winter Olympics and 13 World Championships, and holds Guinness World Records for World Cup individual appearances, including 579 games. His family includes a wife and two children. Height 176 cm, weight 59 kg, photographed in snowy Sapporo, Hokkaido.</figcaption></figure>
<h2> Courage to be a &#8220;Texan</h2>
<p> On February 6, the &#8220;Milan Cortina d&#8217;Ampezzo Olympics&#8221; began in Italy. FRIDAY interviewed ski jumper Noriaki Kasai (53), who has competed in eight Olympics so far, about the winter sports festival. The legend began by looking back on his own failures and successes at the Winter Olympics.</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> I have a bitter experience,&#8221; he said. It was at the Salt Lake City Olympics in the United States in 2002. At the previous Nagano Olympics in 1998, I had a frustrating experience when I was not a member of the team due to injury. I had to train harder than I had ever trained in my life, almost without a break, and I worked hard both physically and mentally. I never wanted to feel that frustration again.</span><br>
<span class="strongInContent"> However, in Salt Lake City, I finished a disappointing 49th in the Normal Hill and 41st in the Large Hill Individual. I had been practicing without a break, always thinking about jumping, and my body and brain were so tired that I couldn&#8217;t perform at my best,&#8221; he said.</span></p>
<p> Using this experience as food for thought, she won her first individual medal (silver) in the Large Hill at the Sochi Olympics in 2002.</p>
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<p><span class="strongInContent"> I tried not to think about jumping at all when I was away from the competition. After the competition, I took a few days off. My head cleared up. I felt more relaxed, and for the first time in Sochi, I watched other competitions. It was probably because my body and brain were no longer tired. In the competition, I was able to relax and maximize my ability. I understand that not training all the time can make you anxious. But on the Olympic stage, where you are forced to be extremely nervous, I think it is important to be courageous and be &#8216;tough.</span></p>
<p> We also asked Kasai about the performance of the Japanese athletes competing in this year&#8217;s Olympics. Kasai says that Ryoyu Kobayashi (29), a member of the men&#8217;s national ski jumping team, combines his &#8220;Texan&#8221; spirit with high ability.</p>
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<div data-friday-nextpage-lead=" Flying spontaneously"></div>
<h2>He&#8217;s flying at about 30 percent.&#8221;</h2>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> When Ling Yuan gets tired, he can take a break from competition. After competitions abroad, he refreshes himself by shopping in that or a neighboring country. I advise young athletes, &#8216;You should fly with about 50% effort,&#8217; but they can&#8217;t quite visualize it and try to fly with all their might. Jumping is a competition of lifting the body. If you use too much force, you cannot fly high. Lingyu understood this immediately. He jumps with such spontaneity that he himself says, &#8220;I am flying at about 30%. His ability to respond is genius. We can expect a gold medal in Milan.&#8221;</span></p>
<p> What about the other two men&#8217;s representatives, <span class="strongInContent">Ren Nikaido</span> (24) and <span class="strongInContent">Naoki Nakamura</span> (29)?</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> Especially for Nikaido, this will be his first Olympics. It would be difficult not to be nervous. However, Nikaido and Nakamura won the team title at the World Flying Championships in Germany this past January, and they have a lot of momentum right now. If they can adjust well and maintain their momentum, they have enough power to win a medal.</span></p>
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<p> Women&#8217;s top athletes,<a href="https://friday.kodansha.co.jp/article/456766"><span class="strongInContent"> Sara Takanashi</span></a> (29) and<a href="https://friday.kodansha.co.jp/article/456768"><span class="strongInContent"> Sara Takanashi (29) and Nozomi Maruyama</span></a> (27), please see the feature article here.</p>
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<p> The other two representatives are Yuka <span class="strongInContent">Seto</span> (28) and <span class="strongInContent">Yuki Ito</span> (31).</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> Ms. Seto attended my lecture last spring. There she said. I don&#8217;t want to lose to Yuki (Ito), who is also a representative. Her competitive spirit is attractive.</span><br>
<span class="strongInContent"> Last summer, Yuki fell into a slump and was worried that she would not be able to enjoy flying. I think that his earnestness, which kept him practicing even a day after returning from an expedition, had a negative effect on him. However, he has changed a lot since I taught him the importance of rest, and since this will be his fourth Olympics, his experience on the big stage will also be a plus.</span></p>
<p> Kasai also gave his approval to the performance of the Japanese national jumpers, saying, &#8220;At the Milano Olympics, I was able to compete in the jumps.</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> There is a good chance that the jumpers will win medals in all events at the Milano Olympics.</span></p>
<p> In addition to the jumpers, there are other athletes and teams that Kasai has high expectations for.</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> They are Miho Takagi, 31, a women&#8217;s speed skater who holds the world record in the women&#8217;s 1,500m, and the women&#8217;s curling team, &#8216;Fortius. Ms. Takagi is a leading skater with a wealth of experience in world competitions, and &#8216;Fortius&#8217; beat &#8216;Loco Solare,&#8217; which has competed in two consecutive Olympics, to make the team. I hope they win the gold medal with their overwhelming strength.&#8221;</span></p>
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<p> Japan has won the most medals in the Winter Olympics, 18, in the previous Winter Olympics in Beijing in 2010, and a medal rush surpassing that number is expected at the Milano Olympics. Kasai continues, &#8220;I myself still have a long way to go in the Olympics.</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> I haven&#8217;t given up on the Olympics yet. I was not selected for the team this time, but I will aim for the next Winter Olympics in 2013. I will continue to be active even after I turn 60, and I hope to bring energy and courage to everyone.</span></p>
<figure id="attachment_456788" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-456788" style="width: 1667px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="7de8902a"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/02/b560e8f83273ab3c42c4c14160b21e0b.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-456788" class="wp-caption-text"> Noriaki Kasai: &#8220;Medals in all jumping events! Special Interview</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_456789" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-456789" style="width: 2500px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="737dcb33"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/02/043e828fa5440d07b2e28614f48dca86.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-456789" class="wp-caption-text"> Noriaki Kasai: &#8220;Medals in all jumping events! Special Interview</figcaption></figure>
<p> From the February 20/27, 2026 issue of FRIDAY</p>


 Michio Kurose

 Ski jumper Noriaki Kasai, who has competed in eight Olympics, looks back on his failures and successes at the Winter Olympics. He also talks about the success of the Japanese athletes competing in this year's event, and gives his drumbeat. The legend says he will continue to be active even after he turns 60.

Legend Noriaki Kasai 《Special Interview》”Medals in All Jumping Events!

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