VIDEO SHOWS: JAPANESE OLYMPIC SQUAD HOLDING TEAM FORMING CEREMONY / FANS CHEERING ON TEAM JAPAN AT SEND-OFF PARTY / SOUNDBITES FROM ACTING FLAGBEARER AND FIGURE SKATER KAORI SAKAMOTO, FIGURE SKATER YUMA KAGIYAMA, SHORT-TRACK SPEED SKATER SHOGO MIYATA AND JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER SANAE TAKAICHI SHOWS: FUNABASHI, CHIBA PREFECTURE, JAPAN (JANUARY 18, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all) 1. PRESIDENT OF JAPANESE OLYMPIC COMMITTEE, SEIKO HASHIMOTO, HANDING FLAG TO TEAM JAPAN CHEF DE MISSION, HIDEHITO ITO 2. ITO HANDING FLAG TO ACTING FLAGBEARER AND FIGURE SKATER, KAORI SAKAMOTO / ITO AND SAKAMOTO BOWING TO CROWN PRINCE OF JAPAN, AKISHINOMIYA AND CROWN PRINCESS, KIKO 3. HASHIMOTO, ITO AND SAKAMOTO BOWING ON STAGE 4. SAKAMOTO HOLDING FLAG AND SMILING 5. SAKAMOTO HANDING OVER FLAG TO STAFF AND BOWING TO HASHIMOTO 6. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TEAM JAPAN ACTING FLAGBEARER AND FIGURE SKATER, KAORI SAKAMOTO, SAYING: “Team Japan will comply with laws and regulations as well as codes of conduct, and we will strive to promote international friendship and goodwill by conveying Japan's culture, spirit and courtesy to the delegations of all participating countries and regions." 7. SIGN OF TEAM JAPAN 8. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TEAM JAPAN ACTING FLAGBEARER AND FIGURE SKATER, KAORI SAKAMOTO, SAYING: “This will be my third Winter Olympics. I will bring out my fiercely competitive nature and challenge myself with strict discipline, devoting my entire body and soul to the competition.” 9. HASHIMOTO AND SAKAMOTO BOWING 10. PEOPLE CLAPPING HANDS 11. CEREMONY IN PROGRESS 12. FIGURE SKATING TEAM MEMBERS BOWING AND SITTING DOWN 13. AKISHINOMIYA AND KIKO CLAPPING HANDS 14. TEAM JAPAN ARRIVING TO SEND-OFF PARTY 15. ITO AND SAKAMOTO WAVING TO FANS 16. SAKAMOTO HOLDING FLAG AND WALKING 17. TEAM JAPAN ATHLETES WAVING TO FANS WHILE WALKING 18. FANS CLAPPING 19. SAKAMOTO WAVING TO FANS / SAKAMOTO HANDING FLAG TO STAFF 20. VARIOUS OF JAPANESE NATIONAL ANTHEM BEING PLAYED 21. JAPANESE FLAG ON WALL 22. CEREMONY IN PROGRESS / JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER, SANAE TAKAICHI, APPEARING ON SCREEN 23. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER, SANAE TAKAICHI, FROM SCREEN, SAYING: "On this grand stage that captures the world’s attention, please believe in the ability you have built up until now. Don't give up, until the very end, and give your all to deliver your own unique performance, for everyone in Japan who is cheering you on. I sincerely look forward to hearing your wonderful report after you return home. Let’s go, Team Japan!” 24. PERFORMERS CLAPPING HANDS 25. FANS CLAPPING HANDS 26. PERFORMERS DRUMMING 27. VARIOUS OF BAND PERFORMANCE 28. PERFORMERS SHOUTING (English): “Let’s go, Team Japan!” 29. FANS CLAPPING HANDS 30. VARIOUS OF CHILD PERFORMERS SHOUTING SLOGAN AND CLAPPING HANDS (Japanese & English): “Deliver courage, let’s go, Japan. Let’s go, Team Japan.” 31. ATHLETES CLAPPING HANDS 32. FANS SHOUTING (English): “Team Japan” / FANS CLAPPING 33. FANS CLAPPING 34. ATHLETES THROWING BALLS TO FANS AS THEY MAKE THEIR WAY OUT 35. FIGURE SKATER AMI NAKAI 36. FANS WAVING TO ATHLETES 37. SAKAMOTO AND OTHER ATHLETES WAVING TO FANS 38. FIGURE SKATER, YUMA KAGIYAMA, WAVING 39. KAGIYAMA STEPPING UP TO MICROPHONE TO ADDRESS MEDIA 40. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPANESE FIGURE SKATER, YUMA KAGIYAMA, SAYING: "On the Olympic stage, I want to give it my all and deliver a performance of a skating routine that only I can achieve, with no regrets. In the remaining days, I hope to spend every moment without regret and truly enjoy myself at the Olympics.” 41. KAGIYAMA LISTENING TO REPORTER’S QUESTION 42. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPANESE FIGURE SKATER, YUMA KAGIYAMA, SAYING: “Because I want to give everything and use all the skills I have, for me, that led to the choice of the quadruple flip. Honestly, at the Olympics, it really comes down to a simple choice – whether to do it or not. So, I hope to deliver a performance where I go all out." 43. SIGN READING (English): “TEAM JAPAN” 44. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) SHORT-TRACKER SPEED SKATER, SHOGO MIYATA, SAYING: “Having received so much support from everyone, I want to put all those feelings into my performance, never give up until the very end, and hopefully, have it all lead to a gold medal and finishing with a smile.” 45. MIYATA LISTENING TO REPORTER’S QUESTION STORY: Hundreds of Japanese fans gathered at an arena near Tokyo on Sunday (January 18) to cheer on athletes from the Japanese Olympic squad before they set off for the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games. About 69 athletes and staff wearing suits embroidered with the Team Japan logo were cheered by fans with the slogan ‘let’s go, Japan’, while a local high school band also performed. “This will be my third Winter Olympics. I will bring out my fiercely competitive nature and challenge myself with strict discipline, devoting my entire body and soul to the competition,” Kaori Sakamoto, Team Japan’s acting flag bearer for the event, said as she took a pledge at the ceremony. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi spoke in a video message to boost the team's morale before their departure for the Olympics. Japan expects to send about 120 athletes to Italy and hopes to secure its highest medal count at a Winter Olympics. The 2026 Winter Games are scheduled to take place from February 7 to 22. (Production: Irene Wang)
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