Category: Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games

With one week to go until the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games open on March 6, Japan is preparing for its 11th appearance at the Winter Paralympics, carrying a proud legacy in the competition. Since making its debut at the Innsbruck 1988 Paralympic Winter Games, Japan has won a total of 97 medals – 27 gold, 33 silver and 37 bronze – establishing itself as a consistent force in winter para sports.

With less than a month to go until the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games open on March 6, Japan is stepping up final preparations for a campaign that will feature broad representation across the six-sport program, including the return of its para ice hockey team.

Gold medal hopefuls in snowboarding and wheelchair curling will be Japan’s flagbearers at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Paralympics. The country’s Paralympic Committee named Aki Ogawa, one half of Japan’s mixed doubles wheelchair curling team, and para snowboarder Junta Kosuda as the flagbearers while announcing the first 40 members of its delegation on Friday.