Japan Olympic, Paralympic Teams Parade in Tokyo

Tokyo, April 25 (Jiji Press)–Japanese athletes who competed in the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics and Paralympics paraded through central Tokyo on Saturday, thanking the public for their support during the quadrennial event in Italy earlier this year. About 120 athletes and team staff took part in the first parade for the Japanese delegation following the Winter Games, making a round trip of about 700 meters on foot or in wheelchairs along a street in the Nihonbashi district. Along the parade route, around 50,000 spectators filled the sidewalks, offering words of appreciation and rounds of applause. Among the participants were Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, who won gold in the pairs figure skating event at the Games. The pair, nicknamed “Riku-Ryu” and having recently announced their retirement from competition, performed their signature lift elements during the parade. “I thought we would be happy if people could see our lift,” Miura said. “I was about to cry because many people called our names,” she added. Speed skater Miho Takagi, who retired after her last tournament in March, as well as Kokomo Murase of women’s snowboarding and Yuto Totsuka of men’s snowboarding also joined the march with the medals they had clinched at the Games. Japanese athletes won a record Winter Olympics medal haul of 24 at the Games–five gold, seven silver and 12 bronze. Japanese Paralympians secured four medals–three silver and one bronze. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]