Hoping for Milano Cortina Gold: Japan’s Figure Skating Stars Take Aim at 2026 Winter Olympics

The athletes representing Japan in the upcoming Milano Cortina Olympics pose for a photo at Tokyo’s Yoyogi National Gymnasium on December 21, 2025. Front row from left: men’s skaters Miura Kao, Satō Shun, Kagiyama Yūma; women’s skaters Sakamoto Kaori, Nakai Ami, Chiba Mone. Back row from left: pairs skaters Kihara Ryūichi, Miura Riku, Moriguchi Sumitada, Nagaoka Yuna; ice dancers Yoshida Utana, Morita Masaya. (© Jiji)

Kagiyama Yūma performing in the men’s short program at the Grand Prix Final on December 4, 2025, at IG Arena, Aichi. (© Jiji)

Miura Riku (left) and Kihara Ryūichi performing in the pairs short program at the Japan national championships on December 20, 2025, at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium, Tokyo. (© Jiji)