Kaori Sakamoto, the 26-year-old Japanese figure skater, held her retirement press conference on April 13 in her hometown of Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture. At the start of the conference, a video montage featuring her career highlights and messages from coaches and mentors was played, immediately bringing her to tears. “I was completely overwhelmed by the letters from my coaches. There was also a letter from my mother,” she said.
“I hope to express my gratitude for all the support I’ve received today. Please join me for this occasion,” she added. Sakamoto appeared on stage wearing a white jacket and matching white pants.
As Japan’s leading female skater for years, Sakamoto became the first Japanese woman to compete in three consecutive Olympic Games. At the Milan-Cortina Games in February, she won silver medals in both the individual and team events. Combined with her team silver and individual bronze from Beijing, her total of four Olympic medals ties the record for the most by any Japanese figure skater, alongside men’s skater Yuma Kagiyama.
At the Japanese National Championships, Sakamoto achieved a historic five-peat (2021–2025), becoming the fifth woman to do so. She won the title six times overall, including her first victory in 2018. At the World Championships, she claimed three straight titles from 2022 and capped her career with a fourth win this March, the most by any Japanese skater, scoring a personal best of 238.28 points.
Known for her bright and friendly personality, Sakamoto was beloved by fellow skaters and fans. Ahead of the press conference, she distributed handwritten thank-you cards to attending reporters, expressing her appreciation for their warm coverage over the years.
Moving forward, Sakamoto will begin a new chapter as a coach under her long-time mentor Sonoko Nakano, 73, who has guided her since she was four years old.
Sakamoto was born on April 9, 2000, in Kobe. Inspired by the NHK morning drama “Teru Teru Family,” she started skating at age four. After placing third at the 2017 World Junior Championships, she turned senior. In her first season, she earned a spot in the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, finishing sixth individually. She won team silver and individual bronze at Beijing 2022, and double silver at Milan-Cortina 2026. She is 159 cm tall with blood type B.
