Overview
- The Japan Skating Federation confirmed a seven-women, seven-men squad for the February 2026 Winter Games.
- Miho Takagi earned selection to a fourth Olympics after seven career medals, with podium hopes in the 1000m and her world‑record 1500m.
- Wataru Morishige returns in the 500m as the Beijing bronze medalist, joined by Tatsuya Shinhama in the same event.
- Nine first-time Olympians made the team (five men, four women), including Yukino Yoshida, Kana Noake, Shomu Sasaki, and Kazuya Yamada.
- Ayano Sato and Momoka Horikawa were also named to the women’s roster, as regional coverage highlighted immediate athlete reactions including Shinhama’s vow to win a medal for his wife, curler Yurika Yoshida.