photo: © International Ice Hockey Federation
Japanese coach Yuji Iizuka knows his team can’t rely on its higher ranking and home ice advantage when it bids for a place in the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The Japanese women will be aiming for a fourth straight Olympic appearance and fifth overall when they host one of three final qualifying tournaments for Milan.
France, China and Poland will all be seeking a first Olympic berth at the round-robin tournament (6 to 9 February) at Nepia Ice Arena in Tomakomai on Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido.
Only the winner of the IIHF Group G Women’s Ice Hockey Final Olympic Qualification will advance to the 10-nation tournament in Italy next year.
Sitting seventh in the Women’s World Ranking, Japan is the top-seeded squad in Group G. But Iizuka said his team, ;popularly known as “Smile Japan,” isn’t thinking about that.
“We expect a very tough competition,” Iizuka said at a press conference announcing his 23-member roster. “We are the top seed and the host but we can’t think about that. France, Poland and China all have the ability to secure an Olympic berth.”
For years Japan relied on veterans like Hanae Kubo and Haruka Toko, but those players have been replaced by a new crop of rising stars.
Instead of Kubo and Toko, Japan will be counting heavily on forwards Hikaru Yamashita, who plays in the domestic league, and Akane Shiga, an ex-PWHLer who stars in the Swedish SDHL.
Shiga has emerged as Japan’s top sniper. She led Japan with five points (two goals, three assists) in five games at the 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship.
“My strength is my shot,” Shiga said. “I hope to be able to take advantage of my shooting ability to score some goals in this tournament.”
Shiga had three points (two goals, one assist) in five games at the 2022 Beijing Olympics and led Japan in scoring at the 2022 IIHF women’s worlds with five points (three goals, two assists) in seven games.
And scoring goals is exactly what Iizuka said will be key for Japan.
“Our main aim is to boost our scoring ability,” Iizuka said. “We’ve struggled to score at times so we have to take advantage of our power play opportunities while being careful not to give up any short-handed goals.”
Japan captain Shiori Koike has been tasked with creating a winning team chemistry.
“After the Beijing Olympics, we have had a lot of new players, so we have been working hard on bringing them into the fold and making sure they have all they need to adjust,” Koike said.
While there are many young players, experienced members like three-time Olympian Rui Ukita, Akane Hosoyamada and Mei Miura will provide a veteran presence.
Iizuka said the opening game on 6 February against France will be key.
In their most recent encounter, France beat Japan 3-2 in overtime at the women’s Four Nations tournament in December 2024.
“The first game will be crucial for us,” said Iizuka. “This is a tournament where you can’t afford to lose a single game. We lost to France at the Four Nations so I expect a very tight game against them.”
France, ranked 13th, has never qualified for the Olympics but has made steady progress of late. In Tomakomai, they will be led by veteran Chloe Aurard, a standout who plays for the New York Sirens in the PWHL.
France barely missed an opportunity to qualify for the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship in Ceske Budejovice, Czechia when it lost 2-1 to Hungary in a Division I Group A tournament last year. So Les Bleus will be eager to book a place in the Olympics.
In their most recent encounter, Japan beat China 5-0 at the four-nation Women’s Asia Championship in November in Beijing.
But there is no shortage of ambition in China. The Beijing Games sparked a nationwide surge in interest in winter sports including women’s ice hockey.
China launched its own women’s professional league in 2023 and posted victories over Korea and Kazakhstan at the Women’s Asia Championship.
China qualified for the 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship in Utica, New York, and posted a 3-2 overtime win over Japan in the opening round.
Scott Spencer, who coached the senior team at the Women’s Worlds in 2023 and 2024, says the future of the women’s game in China is bright.
“There is a lot of promising young talent in the country that is committed,” Spencer said. “The thing they lack now is experience which only comes with time.”
Added Spencer: “If they continue with the commitment they have shown, I think they should have a chance to be a perennial top pool team by 2034, maybe as soon as 2030.”
Poland, also seeking its first Olympic berth, advanced to the final round of qualifiers with a 5-0 win over Korea in December in a Round 3, Group F tournament on home ice.
The Poles also beat Chinese Taipei 5-1 and Mexico 9-0 in that tournament.
One of Poland’s biggest challenges came off the ice in terms of securing funds to finance the long trip to Japan.
However, in a press release dated January 17, the Polish Ice Hockey Federation stated that it had secured the necessary funds for the trip through a co-financing agreement with the Silesian Ice Hockey Association. Now the Polish women hope to surprise the doubters and cash in with an upset-laden performance en route to the Winter Games.
The Japanese women will be aiming for a fourth straight Olympic appearance and fifth overall when they host one of three final qualifying tournaments for Milan.
France, China and Poland will all be seeking a first Olympic berth at the round-robin tournament (6 to 9 February) at Nepia Ice Arena in Tomakomai on Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido.
Only the winner of the IIHF Group G Women’s Ice Hockey Final Olympic Qualification will advance to the 10-nation tournament in Italy next year.
Sitting seventh in the Women’s World Ranking, Japan is the top-seeded squad in Group G. But Iizuka said his team, ;popularly known as “Smile Japan,” isn’t thinking about that.
“We expect a very tough competition,” Iizuka said at a press conference announcing his 23-member roster. “We are the top seed and the host but we can’t think about that. France, Poland and China all have the ability to secure an Olympic berth.”
For years Japan relied on veterans like Hanae Kubo and Haruka Toko, but those players have been replaced by a new crop of rising stars.
Instead of Kubo and Toko, Japan will be counting heavily on forwards Hikaru Yamashita, who plays in the domestic league, and Akane Shiga, an ex-PWHLer who stars in the Swedish SDHL.
Shiga has emerged as Japan’s top sniper. She led Japan with five points (two goals, three assists) in five games at the 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship.
“My strength is my shot,” Shiga said. “I hope to be able to take advantage of my shooting ability to score some goals in this tournament.”
Shiga had three points (two goals, one assist) in five games at the 2022 Beijing Olympics and led Japan in scoring at the 2022 IIHF women’s worlds with five points (three goals, two assists) in seven games.
And scoring goals is exactly what Iizuka said will be key for Japan.
“Our main aim is to boost our scoring ability,” Iizuka said. “We’ve struggled to score at times so we have to take advantage of our power play opportunities while being careful not to give up any short-handed goals.”
Japan captain Shiori Koike has been tasked with creating a winning team chemistry.
“After the Beijing Olympics, we have had a lot of new players, so we have been working hard on bringing them into the fold and making sure they have all they need to adjust,” Koike said.
While there are many young players, experienced members like three-time Olympian Rui Ukita, Akane Hosoyamada and Mei Miura will provide a veteran presence.
Iizuka said the opening game on 6 February against France will be key.
In their most recent encounter, France beat Japan 3-2 in overtime at the women’s Four Nations tournament in December 2024.
“The first game will be crucial for us,” said Iizuka. “This is a tournament where you can’t afford to lose a single game. We lost to France at the Four Nations so I expect a very tight game against them.”
France, ranked 13th, has never qualified for the Olympics but has made steady progress of late. In Tomakomai, they will be led by veteran Chloe Aurard, a standout who plays for the New York Sirens in the PWHL.
France barely missed an opportunity to qualify for the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship in Ceske Budejovice, Czechia when it lost 2-1 to Hungary in a Division I Group A tournament last year. So Les Bleus will be eager to book a place in the Olympics.
In their most recent encounter, Japan beat China 5-0 at the four-nation Women’s Asia Championship in November in Beijing.
But there is no shortage of ambition in China. The Beijing Games sparked a nationwide surge in interest in winter sports including women’s ice hockey.
China launched its own women’s professional league in 2023 and posted victories over Korea and Kazakhstan at the Women’s Asia Championship.
China qualified for the 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship in Utica, New York, and posted a 3-2 overtime win over Japan in the opening round.
Scott Spencer, who coached the senior team at the Women’s Worlds in 2023 and 2024, says the future of the women’s game in China is bright.
“There is a lot of promising young talent in the country that is committed,” Spencer said. “The thing they lack now is experience which only comes with time.”
Added Spencer: “If they continue with the commitment they have shown, I think they should have a chance to be a perennial top pool team by 2034, maybe as soon as 2030.”
Poland, also seeking its first Olympic berth, advanced to the final round of qualifiers with a 5-0 win over Korea in December in a Round 3, Group F tournament on home ice.
The Poles also beat Chinese Taipei 5-1 and Mexico 9-0 in that tournament.
One of Poland’s biggest challenges came off the ice in terms of securing funds to finance the long trip to Japan.
However, in a press release dated January 17, the Polish Ice Hockey Federation stated that it had secured the necessary funds for the trip through a co-financing agreement with the Silesian Ice Hockey Association. Now the Polish women hope to surprise the doubters and cash in with an upset-laden performance en route to the Winter Games.