The Japan curling team, represented by 'Fortius', faced another setback on March 18, 2025, during the world championship held in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Ranked fifth globally, Japan suffered its fourth loss of the tournament, falling to the United States with a score of 6-9. This defeat marked their second consecutive loss after also losing to the number one ranked Switzerland the previous day.
Japan's record now stands at two wins and four losses as they navigate through this pivotal tournament, which holds significant weight for their chances of qualifying for the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics. The team is under pressure to secure at least fourth place to bolster their position for Olympic qualification.
Throughout the match, Japan struggled to capitalize on significant opportunities. A missed shot during the third end proved particularly costly, enabling the United States to score two points and widen their lead to 3-0. After managing to secure their first point in the fourth end, Japan pulled back with two points scored in the sixth, narrowing the gap to 4-3.
Then, their fortunes briefly turned as Japan managed to tie the match at 4-4 during the seventh end, thanks to a successful steal. With newfound momentum, they gained the lead at 6-5 after scoring two points during the ninth end. Unfortunately, the tide shifted yet again as the United States struck back decisively. Capitalizing on missed shots by Japan, the US scored four points during the tenth end, sealing their victory.
"It's frustrating to lose after putting so much effort, especially when we had opportunities to win the match," expressed Sayaka Yoshimura, Japan's skip, reflecting on the team's mindset post-match.
This championship is not only about immediate performance but also sets the stage for Olympic aspirations, as Japan seeks one of the ten available spots for the 2026 Winter Olympics. The qualification system awards points based on rankings from the 2024 and 2025 World Championships, with the top seven teams—excluding host Italy—securing their place. Past tournaments indicate the complexity involved; for reference, the seventh ranked country on this system scored nine points for the 2014 Sochi Olympics and twelve points for the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics.
Looking forward, Japan's path becomes increasingly narrow. They need to aim for at least seven wins to have any chance of qualifying automatically for the finals. With two games remaining against Denmark and Scotland scheduled for the following day—March 19—each match will demand superior performance to salvage their Olympic hopes.
The current structure of the world championships consists of 13 teams vying for the top six spots, which will grant entry to the final knockout stages. The tournament format sees the top two teams advancing straight to the semi-finals, with the third through sixth place competing for the remaining spots. The final showdown is set for March 23, 2025.
Despite the current difficulties faced by 'Fortius', their experience and determination will surely play key roles as they prepare to face Denmark and Scotland, both pivotal matches as they seek to end this championship on a high note and secure their spots for future competitions and the Olympics. The team remains hopeful and driven, with aspirations to not just perform well now, but also to pave the way for their future successes.
