Japan Women's Curling National Team won the first silver medal for both men and women.
We did not reach our goal of being the “best team”, but we achieved a feat that would rewrite history.
Where was the factor of the breakthrough, and what made the difference between light and dark on the stage that decides the best in the world.
We asked Miyo Ichikawa and Akemi Osawa, who once fought in the world as representatives of Japan.
“Great growth and increased stability in 4 years”
"I think that all the accumulation of the last four years has been shown,"
says Mr. Ichikawa, a former representative of Japan who has also teamed up with Satsuki Fujisawa, the representative of this tournament.
Four years ago, the four Japanese national teams who won the bronze medal at the Pyeongchang tournament and were in the limelight with the phrase "Sodane" and "Mogumogu Time".
This time, the four people who stood on the ice are the same members as at that time, but I feel a big growth compared to four years ago.
(Mr. Ichikawa)
"The stability of the shot has increased a lot. Especially, Fujisawa, who skips, has to throw a shot that puts pressure on him, but the accuracy has improved so much. That's why he was able to win the final. I think"
A series of battles with powerful players Actually, it was a "chance" to ride the waves !?
The battle of the Japanese national team began with a series of battles with powerful nations.
The first round will be against Sweden, which is ranked first in the world, and the second round will be against Canada, which has won five medals at six Olympic Games.
It was a tough combination, but Mr. Ichikawa actually thought it was an "opportunity."
(Mr. Ichikawa)
"I thought there was a chance if I could beat Sweden or Canada at the start of the tournament and it was difficult to read the ice."
Japan lost to Sweden, but the match against Canada was a shot. Is decided and a come-from-behind victory.
With this momentum, Japan continued to win in a row with the momentum of Denmark, ROC, China and Henon.
(Mr. Ichikawa)
"I think the key to the tournament was the match against Canada. I think the biggest thing was that I was able to win the match against Canada."
Grow even during the tournament with your own "corrective power"
On the other hand, Mr. Osawa participated as one of the Japanese national team members at the 1998 Nagano Winter Games, where curling became the official event of the Olympic Games.
The points of the qualifying league were the 8th round, the match against the United States.
It was a match that was greeted by a cliff with 4 consecutive wins, 2 consecutive losses, and 4 wins and 3 losses.
It is said that the strength of Japan shown here was "the power to correct".
(Mr. Osawa)
"We were able to fix our bad points and switch to a positive challenge."
During the losing streak, smiles and voices decreased, and the mood became heavier in Japan.
This match consciously increased communication and brought back a smile.
The success rate of the shot increased as I was pulled by the bright mood, and I did not pass the initiative from beginning to end.
This is the only time Japan has lost in a row throughout the tournament.
By taking advantage of the reflection of the losing game next time, there was almost no dragging the bad flow.
(Mr. Osawa)
"I can find issues both when I win and when I lose, so I think it was the result of checking them, listening to the advice from the coach, and making improvements one by one. The Japanese team was in the tournament period. I think it continued to grow inside. "
The semi-final that showed the team power to the opponent who lost the day before
The biggest highlight of the Japanese national team is the semi-finals.
It was a match against Switzerland, which passed the qualifying league at the top.
The opponent was completely defeated 4 to 8 the day before, but this match changed and Fujisawa's wonderful shots were decided one after another, and he did not give the initiative to the opponent.
The shot success rate in Japan is 88% compared to 81% in Switzerland.
Mr. Ichikawa praises the accuracy of the shots that put pressure on Switzerland.
(Mr. Ichikawa)
"Japan was really good in the semi-final match against Switzerland. I was able to concentrate on deciding shots and inviting the opponent to make mistakes. I took the initiative in the scene where I couldn't decide. "
On the other hand, Mr. Osawa thinks that" team power "is behind the high success rate of this shot.
(Mr. Osawa)
"The other three people were creating an atmosphere where Fujisawa could throw shots comfortably. It's very important for me to say" it's okay "even if I make a slight mistake. Even if it was difficult to control the mentality, everyone was in a good condition to help each other. One shot was decided by the team. ”
Japan was very vocal throughout the tournament, and even if I made a mistake,“ Positive words such as "The line is good" and "The weight was good" were always heard.
In addition, reading the state of the ice cream and sweeping the shot to the desired location were also very effective.
The match against Switzerland was a victory that condensed the goodness of Japan.
"Slight difference" divided into light and dark in the final
And the final with England on the 20th.
Both of them said, "There was almost no difference in power."
(Mr. Ichikawa) "I don't think there is a big difference as a team."
(Mr. Osawa) "The technical aspects and strategies are the same. It's a really small difference."
However, the match was at the opponent's pace from beginning to end.
One of the factors that Mr. Ichikawa mentioned was that his opponent, Vicky Wright, was doing well.
"I think that the fact that the opponent had a shot rate close to 100% in the third and took the initiative was a factor that made it difficult. At the time of the third, a good shape was made and Japan was behind. I've turned to the
end. ”British who kept the flow of the game to the end.
Mr. Osawa praised the concentration of the other party.
(Mr. Osawa)
"The UK always chose shots that weren't under pressure and succeeded in getting Japan to do difficult things. It was an impression that I couldn't afford to keep my concentration from beginning to end."
"Slight difference from England" that separated the gold medal and the silver medal.
Mr. Ichikawa expressed this as follows.
(Mr. Ichikawa)
"I feel that the other party has the power to decide when it's time to come."
Japan is the “top team in the world” Wishes for further growth
The pinnacle of the world that couldn't be reached in just one step.
Still, Mr. Ichikawa says that it is a very meaningful medal.
(Mr. Ichikawa)
"I think it proved that Japan is now the top team in the world. The last time I won the bronze medal, it got a lot of attention, but at that time it was only on the surface. This time. I feel that they have conveyed the fun of the competition and the depth of the strategy. ”
Mr. Osawa says that he wants this medal to be a catalyst for further growth in Japan.
(Mr. Osawa)
"I think the joy of fighting in the final and the regret that I couldn't play as I expected will continue for a long time. With that as a spring, how can I find challenges and win in the same way as this tournament? I want you to step up again, thinking that it will be. I still have the goal of a gold medal, so I will do my best toward that goal and say, "I will be a stronger team and will be back in four years. You may be thinking. "
This "silver medal" has rewritten the history of Japanese curling.
While he taught us the joy of curling, Fujisawa's words, "There was no such regrettable award ceremony," oozes a feeling for a higher medal. It sounded like this.
How will Japanese curling change in the wake of this medal?
The tournament has just ended, but I can't help but look forward to it four years from now.
(Olympic interview team, Naoki Ishii, Momoko Kunitake)