Japan’s Beijing 2022 Olympic Medalists

Japan’s Medalists at Beijing 2022

February 20

■ Silver   Japan national team (Curling: Women’s)

Japan’s women’s curling team Loco Solare improved on its third-place finish in Pyeongchang in 2018, but lost out to Britain 10-3 in the final.

February 17

■ Bronze    Sakamoto Kaori (Figure skating: Women’s singles)

Competing against a strong Russian trio, Sakamoto managed to secure bronze with a well-rounded performance.

■ Bronze   Japan national team (Nordic combined: Large hill team)

The team finished fourth in both the ski jumping and cross-country sections, but third overall, winning its first medal in the event since it took gold in 1994.

■ Gold   Takagi Miho (Speed skating: Women’s 1000-meter)

Takagi won her first individual gold of the games, competing in her seventh race in five events. This brings her total at Beijing 2022 to four medals, and her overall total to seven, including those won at Pyeongchang in 2018.

February 15

■ Bronze   Watabe Akito (Nordic combined: Large hill individual)

After winning silver medals in the previous two Olympics, Watabe had to settle for bronze in Beijing.

■ Silver   Japan national team (Speed skating: Women’s team pursuit)

The same lineup of Takagi Miho, Takagi Nana, and Satō Ayano that won the gold medal in Pyeongchang in 2018 came second behind Canada this time. 

■ Bronze   Murase Kokomo (Snowboarding: Women’s big air)

At 17 years old, Murase became Japan’s youngest ever female Winter Olympic medalist.

February 13

■ Silver   Takagi Miho (Speed skating: Women’s 500-meter)

Takagi won a second silver, after her first in the 1500-meter event.

February 12

■ Silver   Kobayashi Ryōyū (Ski jump: Men’s large hill individual)

Kobayashi added to his gold medal in the normal hill with silver in this event.

■ Bronze   Morishige Wataru (Speed skating: Men’s 500-meter)

Morishige won bronze after two Olympics without medals for Japan in what has been one of its stronger winter events.

February 11

■ Gold   Hirano Ayumu (Snowboarding: Men’s halfpipe)

Hirano won gold in the event at the third attempt, after silver in 2014 and 2018. Due to his appearance in the skateboarding event in the delayed Tokyo Summer Olympics in 2021, he only had six months to prepare, but secured the win with a triple cork and 1440 in his final run.

February 10

■ Silver   Kagiyama Yūma (Figure skating: Men’s singles)

US skater Nathan Chen dominated, but Kagiyama stole the spotlight among Japanese skaters on his Olympic debut, while Hanyū Yuzuru could only finish fourth.

■ Bronze   Uno Shōma (Figure skating: Men’s singles)

Followed up his silver medal at Pyeongchang in 2018 with bronze this time.

■ Bronze   Tomita Sena (Snowboarding: Women’s halfpipe)

Improved on her eighth-place performance at Pyeongchang in 2018. Her sister Ruki also finished in fifth place.

February 7

■ Silver   Takagi Miho (Speed skating: Women’s 1500-meter)

World record holder Takagi finished 0.44 seconds behind Ireen Wüst of the Netherlands to take silver.

■ Bronze   Japan national team (Figure skating: team event)

Japan won its first medal in the event, which was first held at Sochi in 2014.

February 6

■ Gold   Kobayashi Ryōyū (Ski jump: Men’s normal hill individual)

Mentored by ski jump legend Kasai Noriaki, Kobayashi was hotly tipped to do well. He took his first Olympic gold, and Japan’s first for ski jump since the Nagano Olympics in 1998.

February 5

■ Bronze   Horishima Ikuma (Men’s moguls)

Greatly improved on his eleventh-place finish at Pyeongchang in 2018.

(Originally published in Japanese. Banner photo: Japan’s women’s curling team with their silver medals on February 20, 2022. © Reuters.)