Japan's team held a disbanding ceremony in Tokyo after securing a record 24 medals at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Japanese Olympic Committee President Seiko Hashimoto praised the athletes' historic achievements, while delegation head Hidehito Ito detailed the results.
A disbanding ceremony for Japan's athletes from the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics took place in Tokyo on February 25, 2026. The team returned with five gold, seven silver, and 12 bronze medals, totaling 24—a Winter Games record that surpassed the previous high of 18 from the 2022 Beijing Olympics by six.
Japanese Olympic Committee President Seiko Hashimoto addressed the event, stating, “Team Japan was able to make historic achievements. [The result] is a culmination of hard work by each and every one of you, and it has made the Japanese sports communities very proud.” Delegation head Hidehito Ito detailed the tournament results, after which medalists including figure skating pair Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara received special awards. Kaori Sakamoto, who won silver in women's singles figure skating, then returned the team flag to Ito.
The previous day, on February 24, several medalists arrived at a Tokyo hotel for a news conference following a two-hour flight delay from Italy. Ito expressed gratitude to the public, saying, “We would like to express our sincere gratitude once again to the many members of the public who stayed up late to offer heartwarming encouragement and support throughout the tournament.” He added, “This was the most successful Team Japan in Winter Olympic history, both in total medals and overall results. Not only the medalists but many more athletes delivered outstanding performances, supported by exceptional coaching and staff.” The achievements have been hailed as a point of pride for Japan's sports community.
