2026 Olympic Preview: Japan
Japan looks to keep smiling on their quest for an Olympic medal.
Asia's best team returns to Olympic contention for their fourth consecutive appearance. After Japan hosted the inaugural women's tournament in 1998, they spent the next 16 years outside of the competition before re-emerging in Sochi in 2014 as Smile Japan. Since then, they've carved out a consistent presence at the sport's highest level.
How They Got Here
Because they were ranked seventh in the IIHF standings for 2024, Japan didn't earn an automatic place like the international top six and host country Italy. Japan punched their ticket for Milano Cortina during the final qualifying rounds in February 2025. They went undefeated in the four-game series, defeating France, Poland, and China to win Group G on home ice in Tomakomai.
Last Olympics
Japan finished in 6th place in 2022. They led Group B with nine points, winning three of their four games and losing only to China in a shootout. The team made it to the quarterfinals, where they were defeated 7-1 by Finland.
Storyline
Japan comes to Italy on the heels of a powerful triumph at the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s Asia Championship. The team didn't allow a single goal all tournament and finished at the top of the standings with 17 goals in three games.
However, victory against China, South Korea, and Kazakhstan doesn't guarantee Olympic glory. The competition will be much stiffer and this is Japan's first Olympics without some of their most stalwart players. Captain Chiho Osawa retired in 2022 after 14 years with the senior team. Goaltender Nana Fujimoto has yet to formally announce a retirement but she hasn't played for Japan since the Beijing games. Of course, absences breed opportunity, so it's up to the players to take advantage and push ahead.
Two Players to Watch
Rei Halloran (G)
Halloran, 24, is the first Japanese-American player to suit up for Japan. She spent the first 13 years of her life in Tokyo before relocating to the United States with her family. Her hockey journey has taken her all over the world and most recently to Sweden, where she plays for Järnbrotts HK in the NDHL.
Haruka Toko (F)
Toko, 28, plays for Linköping in the SDHL with her older sister and Japan teammate Ayaka Hitosato.
While Toko has yet to return to her 2023-2024 scoring high of 16 points (3G, 13A), her playmaking skills are not to be underestimated. She finished first in scoring at the Women’s Asia Championship with six points (2G, 4A) this past November. It was a great moment for a player who spent most of 2025 recovering from a serious knee injury that required surgery.
What Does Success Look Like?
Finishing in the tournament's top five. Japan has proven year after year that they belong in the game's top echelons, but they have yet to take the next step towards eventual medal contention. They play their first game against qualified-because-Russia's-banned France, which gives them a great chance to start strong and show they mean business.
Predicted Finish
History says Japan will finish sixth again. Germany and Sweden will be their biggest challenges in Group B, but they should be able to handle France and Italy with ease.
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