Japanese athletes join Closing Ceremony for Sochi Olympics

Japanese athletes join Closing Ceremony for Sochi Olympics

SOCHI, Russia - Japanese figure skater Daisuke Takahashi (2nd from R) poses with members of Japanese women's short track skating team Sayuri Shimizu (L), Biba Sakurai (2nd from L) and Moemi Kikuchi during the Closing Ceremony for the Winter Olympics at the Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 23, 2014.

Japan 5th in women's 3,000m short track relay

Japan 5th in women's 3,000m short track relay

SOCHI, Russia - Team Japan (from L to R) Yui Sakai, Sayuri Shimizu, Biba Sakurai and Ayuko Ito finish their consolation run for fifth to seventh places in the women's 3,000-meter short track speed skating relay at the Iceberg Skating Palace during the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 18, 2014. Japan finished in fifth place.

Japan 5th in women's 3,000m short track relay

Japan 5th in women's 3,000m short track relay

SOCHI, Russia - Yui Sakai (R) pats her teammate Biba Sakurai on the head after finishing their consolation run for fifth to seventh places in the women's 3,000-meter short track speed skating relay at the Iceberg Skating Palace during the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 18, 2014. Japan finished in fifth place.

Japan 5th in women's 3,000m short track relay

Japan 5th in women's 3,000m short track relay

SOCHI, Russia - Ayuko Ito of Japan (2nd from L) switches with her teammate Biba Sakurai (far L) during a consolation run for fifth to seventh places in the women's 3,000-meter speed skating relay at the Iceberg Skating Palace during the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 18, 2014. Japan finished in fifth place.

Japan 5th in women's 3,000m short track relay

Japan 5th in women's 3,000m short track relay

SOCHI, Russia - Japanese skaters (from L) Ayuko Ito, Sayuri Shimizu and Biba Sakurai look disappointed after their consolation run for fifth to seventh places in the women's 3,000-meter speed skating relay at the Iceberg Skating Palace during the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 18, 2014. Japan finished in fifth place.

Japan misses final in women's short track 3,000m relay

Japan misses final in women's short track 3,000m relay

SOCHI, Russia - Members of the Japanese women's 3,000-meter short track relay team -- (from R to L in back) Ayuko Ito, Yui Sakai, Biba Sakurai and Sayuri Shimizu -- show their disappointment after finishing third in the second group in the semifinals at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 10, 2014.

Japan in women's short track 3,000m semifnials

Japan in women's short track 3,000m semifnials

SOCHI, Russia - Biba Sakurai (front R) of Japan skates after compatriot Ayuko Ito (back R) in the semifinals of the women's 3,000-meter short track relay at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 10, 2014.

Japan's Sakurai, Sakai in women's 3000m short track relay

Japan's Sakurai, Sakai in women's 3000m short track relay

SOCHI, Russia - Japan's Biba Sakurai (front) and Yui Sakai skate in the Winter Olympics women's 3000-meter short track relay semifinals in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 10, 2014.

Japan's Sakurai in women's 500m short track heats

Japan's Sakurai in women's 500m short track heats

SOCHI, Russia - Japan's Biba Sakurai (2nd from L) competes in the Winter Olympics women's 500-meter short track heats in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 10, 2014.

Japan's Sakurai in women's 500m short track heats

Japan's Sakurai in women's 500m short track heats

SOCHI, Russia - Japan's Biba Sakurai competes in the Winter Olympics women's 500-meter short track heats in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 10, 2014.

Japan short-track skaters practice in Sochi

Japan short-track skaters practice in Sochi

SOCHI, Russia - Japanese short-track skater Biba Sakurai (C) smiles during a practice session at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games on Feb. 9, 2014.

Japanese short track speed skaters begin practice near Vancouver

Japanese short track speed skaters begin practice near Vancouver

VANCOUVER, Canada - Japanese short track speed skater Biba Sakurai (R) talks with her coach after a practice session at a skating rink at Abbotsford, adjacent to metropolitan Vancouver, on Jan. 26, 2010, a day after she, along with seven other short track skaters, arrived in Vancouver as the first batch of Japanese athletes for the Winter Olympic Games.

Japan's 1st batch of athletes arrive in Vancouver for Olympics

Japan's 1st batch of athletes arrive in Vancouver for Olympics

VANCOUVER, Canada - Japanese short track speed skater Biba Sakurai arrives at Vancouver International Airport on Jan. 25, 2010, as a member of the first batch of Japanese athletes for the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. Eight short track speed skaters will practice at Abbotsford adjacent to Metro Vancouver before entering the Olympic athletes' village on Feb. 4.

Japanese short track speed skaters begin practice near Vancouver

Japanese short track speed skaters begin practice near Vancouver

VANCOUVER, Canada - Japanese short track speed skater Biba Sakurai (R) talks with her coach after a practice session at a skating rink at Abbotsford, adjacent to metropolitan Vancouver, on Jan. 26, 2010, a day after she, along with seven other short track skaters, arrived in Vancouver as the first batch of Japanese athletes for the Winter Olympic Games. (Kyodo)

Japan's 1st batch of athletes arrive in Vancouver for Olympics

Japan's 1st batch of athletes arrive in Vancouver for Olympics

VANCOUVER, Canada - Japanese short track speed skater Biba Sakurai arrives at Vancouver International Airport on Jan. 25, 2010, as a member of the first batch of Japanese athletes for the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. Eight short track speed skaters will practice at Abbotsford adjacent to Metro Vancouver before entering the Olympic athletes' village on Feb. 4. (Kyodo)