Sayaka Yoshimura: “My Curling Career Was Filled More with Frustration Than Joy”
Special Interview [Part 2]
Life after retirement
It has been three months since Sayaka Yoshimura (34) of the curling team Fortius announced her retirement this June. When asked about her current job title, she said with a slightly bashful smile, “I guess I’m in charge of public relations for the company?” She continues to work at the Kashiwaba-kai Social Medical Corporation in Sapporo, just as she did during her competitive career.
After the Milano Cortina Olympics, someone involved with the team asked her, “Didn’t you start wanting to go to France?” referring to the French Alps Olympics four years from now.
“Actually, I was curious myself about how I would feel after the Olympics and whether I would want to aim for the next one. Even afterward, we had team meetings where everyone was asked about their individual intentions for the future, and I also had opportunities to think about it myself.
I was frustrated that we couldn’t win, but that didn’t make me think, ‘That’s it, I’m going to challenge myself again!’ If anything, I felt incredibly relieved and at peace.”
One unexpected person understood Yoshimura’s feelings, which seemed to combine satisfaction and relief: Satsuki Fujisawa (35) of Loco Solare. For Yoshimura, Fujisawa has been both her greatest rival and a trusted ally, as they have pushed each other to improve since their junior days.
The two met at an All-Star Game held in Sapporo the month after Yoshimura announced her retirement. Fujisawa recalled:
“She was playing so incredibly well that you’d never have guessed she had actually retired (laughs). Sayaka-chan was curling with such a refreshed, peaceful expression that I understood she had made the right decision. I think it was a fitting final chapter for someone who loves curling as much as Sayaka-chan does.”
Yoshimura had this to say about Fujisawa, who continues to challenge herself on the world stage:
“I have a feeling that Sacchan will probably keep playing curling for a long time. You can really tell how much she loves the sport.”
“Right now, I want to cherish my time with my family.”
At the end of the interview, the photographer asked, “Do you have a signature pose?”
However, Yoshimura fell into thought, saying, “A signature pose… Hmm.”
“In that case, please do the bow-and-arrow one.”
The photographer was referring to the team celebration in which they mimed shooting an arrow toward Italy from Kelowna, Canada, after winning the World Qualification Event and securing their long-awaited place in Cortina.
“It hasn’t even been a year yet, but somehow it feels nostalgic… (laughs)”
Yoshimura happily obliged. Where will that arrow fly next?
“I wonder. Right now, I want to cherish my time with my family, so I’ll think about it after a little more time has passed. But thankfully, I still get to take on various jobs that come through Fortius from time to time.”
Yoshimura continues to work as a member of Fortius. Even this summer, she has been expanding her activities through speaking engagements, talk shows at sports-related events, and guest appearances at department store events.
Three months after retiring, how does Yoshimura look back on her competitive career?
“When I was a junior, I really couldn’t win at all until my third year of high school. It wasn’t until I entered Sapporo International University that I finally started winning, and I managed to finish third at the World Junior Championships in my final year as a junior. After that, even when I joined Hokkaido Bank, I struggled to achieve results. If I had to put it into perspective, my curling career was probably filled more with frustration than anything else. My life now comes with a different kind of difficulty from curling. This morning, my son suddenly announced that he wanted yakisoba (laughs). But, all things considered, I’m happy.”
She first held a curling stone at the age of nine. For the next quarter of a century, she raced forward without stopping. Now, she has a little time to rest her wings.
Unpublished photos from this magazine: Sayaka Yoshimura interview.From the October 2 & 9, 2026, combined issue of *FRIDAY*
Interview and Text： Soichiro Takeda PHOTO： Hiroyuki Komatsu