Chinami Yoshida Announces Departure from Loco Solare Members Show Heartfelt Bonds That May Not Be Seen Until 50-Year Reunion
A temporary farewell until the reunion at age 50
“With the gentle spring sunlight warming us, today, March 31, I will be leaving Loco Solare.”
Chinami Yoshida (34) of the women’s curling team Loco Solare updated her SNS to announce her departure. The team’s official website also posted the announcement, marking the end of her 12-year tenure with Loco Solare, which she joined in 2014. Yoshida added:
“With the arrival of spring, I head toward a new environment, but I will continue to pursue my curling life with unwavering passion, keeping it rich and fulfilling.”
On March 27, she had already announced her participation in the world’s first professional league, the Rock League, starting in April. She will serve as captain for the Asia representative team, Typhoon Curling Club.
Her decision to leave has sparked surprise and messages of too bad across SNS, though longtime fans of Loco Solare seemed to have anticipated it: “Yeah, I kind of expected it,” and “She was on reserve during the World Championship, so I had a feeling.”
“Yoshida joined Loco Solare in 2014. After Satsuki Fujisawa (34) joined in 2015, their strong partnership helped the team rise quickly. They were runners-up at the 2016 World Championships. At the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, they won curling’s first-ever Olympic bronze medal. Yoshida led the cheerful atmosphere on the team, full of laughter even during matches, as well as the famous ‘Sodane’ phrases and the popular ‘Mogu Mogu Time’ snack breaks during intermissions,” said a sports reporter.
At the 2022 Beijing Olympics, the team won silver, surpassing their previous result. At the team’s final competition, the 2026 World Women’s Curling Championship held in Calgary, Canada, Yoshida received the Francis Brodie Award, an individual award voted on by the players. However, she was occasionally moved to reserve in favor of the newly joined Momori Koana (30), which may have contributed to fans sensing subtle changes in the team.
Yoshida posted a message to her teammates:
“Satchan, Yuumi, Yuri — I sincerely hope that your lives will continue to be filled with warm happiness.”
She sent her encouragement to Fujisawa, Yuko Suzuki (34), and Yurika Yoshida (32), with whom she had the longest shared history as a Loco Solare member. She concluded:
“So, until our reunion at age 50, this is a temporary farewell.”
While fans will miss the team’s “Mogu Mogu Time,” we can look back at their courageous performances that brought smiles and inspiration to the nation at the PyeongChang Olympics. We also send renewed thanks and gratitude to Yoshida and all Loco Solare members as they embark on their new chapters.
