10 Japanese Athletes to look out for at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics

With the next Winter Olympics set for Milano Cortina from February 4 to February 22, 2026, it’s a good time to start thinking about the athletes who might make headlines. Japan has been steadily building its presence at the Winter Games over the past few decades, especially in sports like figure skating, ski jumping, speed skating, and more recently, snowboarding. From ice rinks to ski slopes, Japan’s athletes have a habit of showing up when it counts, and this next group looks ready to do the same.

We’ve covered a solid mix of familiar names and newer faces to watch. Some already have Olympic medals to their name, while others are just starting to find their rhythm on the international stage. In this post, we’re highlighting 10 Japanese athletes you should have an eye on when the games kick off. This list isn’t a prediction or a ranking. It’s a quick snapshot of ten athletes who are worth keeping on your radar between now and February 2026. Some are likely medal contenders. Others might surprise us. 

Kaori Sakamoto (Figure Skating)

ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2024 (Photo by Raniero Corbelletti/AFLO)

Few skaters in the world are as consistent or as quietly dominant as Kaori Sakamoto. Born on July 18, 2000, and raised in Kobe, Hyōgo, Sakamoto has steadily grown into one of Japan’s top female figure skaters and a global icon to figure skating fans. She’s not just a medal hopeful, she’s a serious gold medal contender.

Competing in women’s singles, what really makes her stand out is her ability to deliver under pressure. After years of building her resume, she finally broke through in a big way with her first World Championship title in 2022, and she hasn’t let go of the crown since. She became the first woman in over 50 years (since Peggy Fleming in 1968) to win three consecutive World titles (2022–24).

Nationally, she’s just as dominant. She has won four straight Japanese national championships from 2021 through 2024, consistently outperforming extremely talented competitors. That’s no small feat since Japan has one of the most competitive figure skating scenes in the world. Her 2023–24 season was nothing short of perfect: undefeated internationally, she swept events like the Autumn Classic, Skate Canada, Grand Prix Espoo, and capped it off with a win at the Grand Prix Final, the most elite competition of the season outside of Worlds.

Her sight will now be set on Olympic gold, a medal that eluded her in Beijing, where she won bronze. Sakamoto has debuted new programs choreographed by Marie-France Dubreuil, known for blending technical elements with more mature, emotional storytelling. Let’s wait to see what this experience will mean for the upcoming Olympics.

Yuma Kagiyama (Figure Skating)

2025 Asian Winter Games Harbin Figure Skating Men SP (Photo by Naoki Morita/AFLO SPORT)

Along with Sakamoto, Yuma Kagiyama is one of Japan’s most promising figure skaters. Known for his technical clarity and poised presence on the ice, Kagiyama’s rise has been closely watched since he emerged as a teenage prodigy on the senior circuit.

Kagiyama’s major international breakout came at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, where he helped Japan secure a silver medal in the Team Event, skating with maturity well beyond his years. After that, a foot injury temporarily slowed his momentum, but his return has been nothing short of focused and determined. In December 2024, he claimed his first Japan National title, posting a total score of 297.73, anchored by a clean free skate that included four quadruple jumps and five triples. This is a technical milestone even among elite men’s skaters. 

With this victory, he joined his father, coach and two-time Olympian Masakazu Kagiyama on the list of national champions. Masakazu claimed three consecutive titles from 1991 to 1993. In an interview with Kyodo News, Yuma reflected: “My father was impressed and shed tears for the first time in a while. I see this gold medal as a new start, not a goal.” This unique father-son dynamic has helped Yuma stay grounded while navigating the pressure of international success.

On the Grand Prix circuit, Kagiyama has shown consistency and depth. He clinched gold at the NHK Trophy and earlier at Finlandia Trophy. Fans and commentators have praised the refinement of his jump technique, especially his tight air position and balanced landings.
Heading into the 2025–26 season, Kagiyama has already crossed the 300-points total mark in international competition, solidifying his place among the world’s top contenders. 

 
Riku Miura & Ryuichi Kihara (Pairs, “Rikuryu”)

2025 Figure World Figure National Championships Exhibition (Photo by Yohei Osada/AFLO SPORT)

When Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara teamed up in 2019, Japan wasn’t exactly known as a powerhouse in pair skating. Just a few years later, they’ve rewritten the narrative. Nicknamed “Rikuryu” by fans, the duo has become a defining force in international figure skating, collecting medals and making history as Japan’s most successful pair ever.

Miura, born in 2001 in Hyogo, and Kihara, born in 1992 in Aichi, started skating together after being matched by coaches looking to develop a serious pair contender for Japan. They relocated their training base to Oakville, Canada, under coach Bruno Marcotte, and it didn’t take long for the hard work to pay off.

Their resume speaks for itself: two-time World Champions (2023 and 2025), Four Continents gold medalists (2023 and 2025), and Grand Prix Final champions in the 2022–23 season. At the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, they played a key role in securing silver for Japan in the Team Event, marking one of Japan’s most successful Olympic outings in figure skating history.

What sets Rikuryu apart isn’t just the medals, it’s their rare chemistry on the ice. Their performances combine technical precision with genuine emotional connection, earning them both high scores and devoted fans around the world. The 2023 season was especially memorable, as they became Grand Slam winners, taking titles in every major event they entered.

During the 2024–25 season, they continued their dominance, winning major titles including another World Championship and strong performances at the World Team Trophy, where they posted new personal best scores. Their programs this season have showcased clean side-by-side jumps and lifts that reflect power and trust.

Through their victories, they’ve become trailblazers, opening the door for pair skating to gain new fans and recognition in Japan. As Milano Cortina 2026 approaches, Rikuryu steps forward as proof of just how far the sport has come for Japan.

Miho Takagi (Speed Skating)

2024-25 Speed Skating World Cup Heerenveen Women’s 1000m (Photo by SCS/Soenar Chamid/AFLO (HOLLAND OUT)) 

Now let’s turn to another part of the rink where Japan is expected to shine, speed skating. And when it comes to this sport, no conversation is complete without Miho Takagi. Already a household name in Japanese winter sports, she will enter the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina not just as a familiar figure, but as a leading medal contender. Born in Makubetsu, Hokkaido on May 22, 1994, Takagi has been skating competitively since her early teens and has grown into one of the most versatile and decorated speed skaters in the world. She specializes in the 1000 m, 1500 m, 3000 m, and team pursuit, balancing both sprint and middle-distance events with consistency. 

Takagi’s Olympic resume is impressive: she has collected seven medals across three Games: including gold in the 1000 m in Beijing 2022, silver in the 1500 m and team pursuit, and bronze in the 1000 m back in PyeongChang. That gold in 2022 was especially symbolic. After finishing fourth in the 1000 m in 2018 by just fractions of a second, her comeback win felt redemptive. She also served as captain of Team Japan in Beijing.
Her achievements extend far beyond the Olympics. She has claimed world titles across disciplines too: Allround World Champion in 2018, Sprint World Champion in 2020, and several individual distance wins. She’s also the current Japanese record holder in the 1000 m and 1500 m. She holds the world record for the women’s 1500 m, which she set back in 2019 with a time of 1:49.83. 

In the 2025 Calgary World Cup, she added another victory in the 1000 m. Takagi has won over 34 individual World Cup races, tying the Japanese record previously held by Tomomi Okazaki. During the 2024–25 season, she won multiple races in both the 1000 m and 1500 m, added a Four Continents gold, and consistently ranked in the top three across events. This is a sign that her peak form is far from behind her. Takagi is again central to the country’s Olympic hopes. Her consistency and experience make her a top athlete to watch.

Tatsuya Shinhama (Speed Skating)

2022 Beijing Olympics Speed Skating Men 1000m (Photo by Koji Aoki/AFLO SPORT)

Born on July 11, 1996, in Betsukai, Hokkaido, Tatsuya Shinhama has quickly carved out his place as one of Japan’s top competitors in the 500 m and 1000 m sprint events. At 183 centimeters tall, his height gives him long, powerful strides that are perfect for explosive speed.

His breakout came in 2018, when he made headlines at the World University Championships, winning both the 500 m and 1000 m. Not long after, he jumped onto the World Cup stage, grabbing his first podium with a third-place finish in the 500 m in Obihiro. That same season, he delivered back-to-back gold medals in Tomakomai. By the time the Beijing 2022 Olympics rolled around, Shinhama had built enough international momentum to represent Japan at the highest level. Though he didn’t medal in Beijing, the experience was key. It gave him Olympic exposure and motivation to push harder, especially against sprinting powerhouses from Canada, the Netherlands, and the U.S.

Now, as we look toward Milano Cortina, Shinhama is shaping up to be a major name to watch. He’s been a consistent finalist at World Cup events since 2019, frequently placing in the top tier of the 500 m rankings. While Miho Takagi often headlines Japan’s speed skating coverage, Shinhama also represents one of Japan’s best shots at sprint victory. Japan hasn’t traditionally dominated the shorter distances in men’s events, but Shinhama is working to change that, race by race.

Tsubaki Miki (Snowboarding, PGS/PSL)

2022 Beijing Olympics Snowboard Women’s Parallel Giant Slalom Qualifying (Photo by YUTAKA/AFLO SPORT)

Hakuba, Nagano, is a place that has become synonymous with Japanese winter sports, and it is here that Tsubaki Miki was born in 2003. She is fast becoming one of the most exciting names in alpine snowboarding. Specializing in Parallel Giant Slalom (PGS) and Parallel Slalom (PSL), she’s been building an impressive resume since her early teens. She was a four-time silver medalist at the Junior World Championships between 2019 and 2021. She made her Olympic debut in Beijing 2022 at just 18 years old.

Her major breakthrough came in 2023, when she claimed gold in the Parallel Giant Slalom at the FIS World Championships, becoming Japan’s first woman to top the podium in a parallel event. She followed that up with a silver medal at the 2025 Worlds, proving that her win wasn’t a one-off, she’s a fixture among the best in the world.

In recent seasons, Miki has kept up the pace, earning multiple World Cup podiums and consistently placing in the top of PGS events. She’s earned praise for her ability to handle pressure during knockout heats, and her starts have noticeably improved in the 2024–25 season.
Despite Japan’s strength in freestyle and halfpipe snowboarding, alpine events have historically received less attention. That makes Miki’s rise even more significant. With strong results and a growing international reputation, she’s one Japan hopes will deliver historic hardware for the country.

Ryoyu Kobayashi (Ski Jumping)

2024-25 Ski Jumping World Cup Sapporo (Photo by Naoki Nishimura/AFLO SPORT)

Few names in ski jumping resonate quite like Ryoyu Kobayashi. Born on November 8, 1996, in Hachimantai, Iwate Prefecture, Kobayashi has become one of Japan’s most celebrated winter sports athletes and he’s showing no signs of slowing down as the Winter Olympics draw closer.
Standing at 175 centimeters, Kobayashi is known for his smooth, aggressive jumping style and a near-effortless ability to soar further and cleaner than many of his competitors. He competes in both individual and team events, consistently delivering top-tier performances across formats.

Kobayashi’s breakout season came in 2018–19, when he won the overall World Cup title, becoming the first Japanese man to do so since 1992. That same season, he swept all four events of the prestigious Four Hills Tournament, an ultra-rare feat that cemented his name in ski jumping history. He repeated the tournament win in 2019–20, proving that it was no fluke.

His Olympic credentials are equally impressive. At the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, Kobayashi captured a silver medal in the large hill individual event and a gold medal in the mixed team event, adding an Olympic sheen to an already impressive resume. He’s stayed in top form, logging regular podium finishes during the 2023–24 World Cup.

In a country with a deep history in ski jumping (think the legendary “Hinomaru jump team” of the ’90s), Kobayashi has become the modern standard-bearer. Expectations are high once again as many are looking forward to gold for him, both in the individual and team events. 

Ikuma Horishima (Freestyle Skiing – Moguls)

2022 Beijing Olympics Mogul Men’s Final, 1st run (Photo by Yohei Osada/AFLO SPORT)

Ikuma Horishima is one of Japan’s most recognized names in freestyle skiing, particularly in the high-adrenaline discipline of moguls. Born on March 10, 1997 in Kyoto, he has built a reputation as a consistent podium threat. Competing in both moguls and dual moguls events, he’s established as a national standout and a respected contender on the world stage.

His career took off with back-to-back world championship titles in 2019 and 2021. He followed that with a bronze medal at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. This was a major achievement that marked Japan’s presence in a field typically dominated by North American and European skiers. His recent World Cup campaigns, especially throughout 2023–24, have been marked by regular podium finishes. Horishima claimed the Overall Moguls World Cup title, earning the prestigious Crystal Globe. At the 2025 FIS Freestyle Ski World Championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Ikuma Horishima won gold in Moguls and silver in Dual Moguls. 

Heading into the 2025–26 season, he remains a top athlete to watch. After winning bronze in Beijing, Horishima said in an interview, “I came here to win a medal. I’m pleased to have achieved the goal. My dream is to win a gold medal, so I’ll work hard from now on.” As he continues to refine his technique and strategy, his ambition for Olympic gold remains clear. 

Taiga Hasegawa (Snowboarding, Big Air/Slopestyle)

2023/2024 SNOW JAPAN Press Conference (Photo by YUTAKA/AFLO SPORT)

Born on October 23, 2005, Taiga Hasegawa is one of the youngest faces on Japan’s snowboarding elite, but don’t let the age fool you. With a growing list of world-class results and a technical arsenal well beyond his years, Hasegawa is quickly becoming a household name in Big Air and Slopestyle. He first turned heads in 2023, when he claimed gold in Big Air at the FIS Snowboard World Championships. He followed it up with silver at the 2025 Worlds, confirming that he’s not just a breakout name, he’s here to stay. 

His performances at the X Games have been equally headline-worthy. In 2024, he took home gold in Big Air. This created international noise with a near-flawless run that included a switch backside 1980. Not only one of the most technically demanding tricks in the sport, but a move that earned him history-making recognition. He returned in 2025 to add more medals to his collection. 

In the 2024–25 FIS Snowboard World Cup, Hasegawa dominated the season. He claimed the overall big air title as well as the Crystal Globe in the park and pipe discipline. Hasegawa won a silver medal in the men’s big air event with a score of 174.50 points at the 2025 FIS Snowboard World Championships. He also secured a silver medal in the big air competition and a bronze in slopestyle at the 2025 Winter X Games.

Heading into Milano Cortina, Hasegawa is part of a powerful new generation of Japanese snowboarders. While Japan has long been a dominant force in halfpipe, he represents its emergence as a global player in Big Air and Slopestyle. 

Kokomo Murase (Snowboarding, Slopestyle/Big Air)

2022 Beijing Olympics Snowboard Big Air Women’s Final (Photo by YUTAKA/AFLO SPORT)

If you’ve followed snowboarding in the past few years, there’s a good chance you’ve heard the name Kokomo Murase. Born on November 7, 2004, in Gifu, Murase has been a standout talent since her early teens. Murase first made headlines back in 2018, when she became the youngest-ever winner of the X Games Big Air, claiming gold at just 13 years old. That moment was the start of a remarkable career that continues to grow in consistency.

In the 2021–22 season, Murase clinched the FIS Snowboard World Cup overall title for slopestyle and freestyle. She followed it up by landing on the podium at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, earning a bronze medal in Big Air. Her recent form heading into the 2025–26 season reinforces her place among the sport’s elite. While she already has an Olympic medal, many in the snowboarding world believe her best is still ahead of her.  In a sport where the margins for medals are razor-thin, her consistency under pressure has made her a reliable podium presence. She’s widely viewed as a strong medal contender in both Slopestyle and Big Air.

2022 Beijing Olympics Snowboard Halfpipe Men’s Final – Ayumu Hirano Wins Gold Medal (Photo by YUTAKA/AFLO SPORT)

As we look ahead to Milano Cortina 2026, it’s clear that Japan will have plenty of storylines to follow. Some of these athletes are already Olympic champions, while others are still chasing their breakthrough moment on the biggest stage. What they all share is the drive to keep pushing themselves and the ability to perform when it matters most. Watching these athletes grow and test themselves against the best in the world is what makes the Olympic Games compelling.

So, keep these names in mind as the countdown continues. They’ll be  standing at the center of Japan’s Olympic story in Italy, and their performances will be worth following every step of the way. When the action begins, stay tuned to the Afloimages website and social media for exclusive photos and on-the-ground coverage from the Games.