Japan National Team Loco Solare Satsuki Fujisawa Shows Grit and Evolution at the World Championships
Although she narrowly missed the Milano Olympics, she defeated strong opponents one after another in order to get back on the world stage!
World-class ability
On the world stage, it once again felt clear just how strong Satsuki Fujisawa (34) is.
At the Women’s World Curling Championship held in Calgary, Canada (March 15–23 Japan time), Japan’s representative team Loco Solare, led by Fujisawa, made a strong showing—defeating eventual champions Switzerland in the round-robin and finishing in fourth place.
“With the addition of Tori Koana (30), who is also a world-class mixed doubles player, a new dynamic has been brought to Loco Solare. Based on this tournament, she seemed to fit into the team seamlessly both on and off the ice. By alternating Koana with Chinami Yoshida (34), Fujisawa likely gained more strategic options.
As for Fujisawa’s performance, the semifinal against Canada stood out. On the final 16th shot of the second end, she successfully executed a very difficult shot that could have resulted in conceding three stolen points if missed, instead securing one point. It showed her strong mental composure. She looks capable of continuing to compete at the world level,” said sports writer Soichiro Takeda.
Although they missed out on qualifying for the Milan–Cortina Olympics, Fujisawa proved that she can still compete internationally. Together with their new members, Loco Solare is now setting its sights on the French Alps Olympics four years from now.
“The Swedish skip who won gold at the Milan Olympics was 36. Four years from now, Loco Solare will be a team aged 34 to 38, but I don’t think age will be a disadvantage. It will be exciting to see how the team evolves,” Takeda added.
Fujisawa’s growth is far from over.
From “FRIDAY”, April 10, 2026 issue.
PHOTO： AFLO