The Japanese women's national team Japan has been among the established elite teams in the world for several years and is a direct competitor of the German national team at the international level. At the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, Japan will participate in its fifth Olympic tournament (1998, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026). The team has yet to win an Olympic medal, but has achieved sixth place several times (1998, 2018, 2022). Japan is also still waiting for a medal at the World Championships, but has consistently held its own in the top division of the IIHF Women's World Championship since 2019. Currently, Japan is ranked seventh in the IIHF world rankings, just ahead of Germany.
At the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing, Japan was one of the tournament's positive surprises. With three wins out of four games, the team won Group B, including victories against Sweden and the Czech Republic, and advanced comfortably to the quarterfinals. There, Japan was defeated by Finland, but reaffirmed its strong international competitiveness.
Key players / Players to watch
Emily Nix will face some Swedish league rivals against the Japanese team, as their offense is led by Akane Shiga, a former PWHL forward and key player for Luleå HF in the Swedish SDHL. The 24-year-old is competing in her second Olympic Games in Milan and is one of the most consistent scorers on the roster. Haruka Toko (Linköping HCThe team includes Rui Ukita, who has participated in all previous Olympic tournaments, and Mei Miura, Japan's top scorer at the 2025 World Championship. Makoto Ito, considered one of the greatest offensive talents in Japanese ice hockey, is seen as a creative playmaker.
On defense, Ayaka Hitosato and Aoi Shiga deserve special mention. Hitosato has been one of the leading players on the national team for over a decade and has been recognized as one of Japan's best players at several World Championships. Aoi Shiga brings valuable experience from top European leagues and is a well-established player in the SDHL with MoDo Hockey.
Japan will rely on Miyuu Masuhara in goal, who has established herself as the undisputed number one in recent years. She played in all of Japan's matches at the 2025 World Cup and impressed with strong performances.
Analysis and outlook for the duel with Germany
Japan is characterized in particular by high tactical discipline, immense work rate, and a core group of players who have been playing together for years. While the squad depth is limited compared to other international teams, they regularly manage to play compactly and keep matches close.
For the German women's ice hockey team, Japan is a direct benchmark in the fight for a place among the world's elite. Recent head-to-head matches underscore the evenness of both teams: Japan won 1-0 at the 2025 World Championship in the Czech Republic, while Germany celebrated a 4-1 victory at the 2024 World Championship in the USA.
The Olympic preliminary round match between Germany and Japan on February 7, 2026, therefore promises to be a close and pivotal game. Both teams are vying for the best possible starting position in Group B for their bid to advance to the quarterfinals.