Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara enter their second Olympic Winter Games as the favorites in the pairs event. The pair made their Olympic debut in 2022 and were part of the Japanese team that claimed Olympic silver in the team event in Beijing. They made history when they won Japan’s first-ever world pairs title in 2023, then won a second world title two years later in Boston. With a Grand Prix Final victory under their belts, they could make history once more by winning the first Olympic pairs medal for Japan.
On the men’s side, Yuma Kagiyama leads the three-man contingent as the reigning national champion heading into Tuesday’s short program. In Beijing, the then-18-year-old Kagiyama won two silver medals (men’s singles and team) to become the youngest-ever figure skating Olympic medalist from Japan.
He is one of Ilia Malinin‘s top competitors, having bested him in the short program in both the Grand Prix Final and Olympic team event. Kagiyama is known for his artistry and musical interpretation, something he’s developed under his father, Masakazu Kagiyama, a two-time Olympian for Japan in men’s singles, and Carolina Kostner, the 2014 Olympic bronze medalist for Italy in women’s singles.
Shun Sato, who skated a flawless free program in the team event, is building off of one of his strongest seasons yet. With his bronze medal at the Grand Prix Final and silver medal at Japanese nationals, he’s a top contender to finish on the podium. He’s beaten Kagiyama in the free skate at three events this season, though it hasn’t been enough to overtake him overall. Kao Miura nabbed the third Olympic spot after his 3rd-place finish at nationals, his best result at nationals yet. The 20-year-old redeemed himself with a Four Continents victory after a less than stellar free skate at Grand Prix de France.
On the women’s side, Kaori Sakamoto, Ami Nakai and Mone Chiba make up Japan’s three-woman team. All three woman are looking to become the first Japanese woman since Shizuka Arakawa to claim Olympic gold.
Sakamoto is perhaps one of the most well-known names in the figure skating world. As a three-time world champion and 2022 Olympic bronze medalist in women’s singles, she is one of the top contenders to win gold in the individual event. This season will be her last, and as such, she is fittingly skating to Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman’s “Time To Say Goodbye.” After winning both women’s programs in the team event, Sakamoto is in prime position to challenge for gold.
Competing in her first senior season, Nakai is another podium favorite in the women’s singles event. She defeated Sakamoto twice this season: once on her way to victory in her senior Grand Prix debut in France, and once at the Grand Prix Final while claiming silver over Sakamoto’s bronze. The 17-year-old is the youngest of the three Japanese women skating in Milan.
Chiba comes into her first Olympic Games off of a strong start to the season with two 2nd-place finishes at Grand Prix events. Despite a disappointing free skate at the Grand Prix Final, the 2025 world bronze medalist finished third at nationals. Chiba grew up in Sendai, Japan, the hometown of two-time Olympic gold medalist Yuzuru Hanyu, someone Chiba considered to be “like a big brother.”