Traditional "hina" dolls featuring big names in Japan

TOKYO, Japan, Feb. 4 Kyodo - Video taken in Tokyo on Feb. 4, 2026, shows traditional Japanese "hina" dolls unveiled by Kyugetsu Co., featuring Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani (1st row, far L), figure skater Kaori Sakamoto (1st row, 2nd from L), ski jumper Sara Takanashi (1st row, 3rd from L), curler Sayaka Yoshimura (1st row, 2nd from R), Chicago White Sox player Munetaka Murakami (1st row, far R), snowboarder Ayumu Hirano (2nd row, L) and speed skater Miho Takagi (2nd row, R). (Kyodo)

Traditional "hina" dolls featuring big names in Japan

Traditional "hina" dolls featuring big names in Japan

Photo taken in Tokyo on Feb. 4, 2026, shows traditional Japanese "hina" dolls unveiled by Kyugetsu Co., featuring Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani (1st row, far L), figure skater Kaori Sakamoto (1st row, 2nd from L), speed skater Miho Takagi (1st row, 2nd from R), ski jumper Sara Takanashi (1st row, far R), snowboarder Ayumu Hirano (2nd row L) and curler Sayaka Yoshimura (2nd row R).

Traditional "hina" dolls featuring big names in Japan

Traditional "hina" dolls featuring big names in Japan

Photo taken in Tokyo on Feb. 4, 2026, shows traditional Japanese "hina" dolls unveiled by Kyugetsu Co., featuring Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani (1st row, far L), figure skater Kaori Sakamoto (1st row, 2nd from L), ski jumper Sara Takanashi (1st row, 3rd from L), curler Sayaka Yoshimura (1st row, 2nd from R), Chicago White Sox player Munetaka Murakami (1st row, far R), snowboarder Ayumu Hirano (2nd row, L) and speed skater Miho Takagi (2nd row, R).

Traditional "hina" dolls featuring big names in Japan

Traditional "hina" dolls featuring big names in Japan

Photo taken in Tokyo on Feb. 4, 2026, shows traditional Japanese "hina" dolls unveiled by Kyugetsu Co., featuring Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani (front L), figure skater Kaori Sakamoto (front R), ski jumper Sara Takanashi (2nd row, R) and speed skater Miho Takagi (2nd row, 2nd from R).

Tony Hawk At F1 British Grand Prix 2025 - UK

Tony Hawk At F1 British Grand Prix 2025 - UK

American Skater and entrepreneur, Tony Hawk (USA) Guest of Alpine F1 during the Formula 1 Qatar Airways British Grand Prix 2025 on Sunday Race Day at the Silverstone International Circuit in Towcester, England, UK on July 6, 2025. Photo by Antoine Lapeyre/ABACAPRESS.COM

Tony Hawk At F1 British Grand Prix 2025 - UK

Tony Hawk At F1 British Grand Prix 2025 - UK

American Skater and entrepreneur, Tony Hawk (USA) Guest of Alpine F1 during the Formula 1 Qatar Airways British Grand Prix 2025 on Sunday Race Day at the Silverstone International Circuit in Towcester, England, UK on July 6, 2025. Photo by Antoine Lapeyre/ABACAPRESS.COM

Tony Hawk At F1 British Grand Prix 2025 - UK

Tony Hawk At F1 British Grand Prix 2025 - UK

American Skater and entrepreneur, Tony Hawk (USA) Guest of Alpine F1 during the Formula 1 Qatar Airways British Grand Prix 2025 on Sunday Race Day at the Silverstone International Circuit in Towcester, England, UK on July 6, 2025. Photo by Antoine Lapeyre/ABACAPRESS.COM

Tony Hawk At F1 British Grand Prix 2025 - UK

Tony Hawk At F1 British Grand Prix 2025 - UK

American Skater and entrepreneur, Tony Hawk (USA) Guest of Alpine F1 during the Formula 1 Qatar Airways British Grand Prix 2025 on Sunday Race Day at the Silverstone International Circuit in Towcester, England, UK on July 6, 2025. Photo by Antoine Lapeyre/ABACAPRESS.COM

Tony Hawk At F1 British Grand Prix 2025 - UK

Tony Hawk At F1 British Grand Prix 2025 - UK

American Skater and entrepreneur, Tony Hawk (USA) Guest of Alpine F1 during the Formula 1 Qatar Airways British Grand Prix 2025 on Sunday Race Day at the Silverstone International Circuit in Towcester, England, UK on July 6, 2025. Photo by Antoine Lapeyre/ABACAPRESS.COM

Tony Hawk At F1 British Grand Prix 2025 - UK

Tony Hawk At F1 British Grand Prix 2025 - UK

American Skater and entrepreneur, Tony Hawk (USA) Guest of Alpine F1 during the Formula 1 Qatar Airways British Grand Prix 2025 on Sunday Race Day at the Silverstone International Circuit in Towcester, England, UK on July 6, 2025. Photo by Antoine Lapeyre/ABACAPRESS.COM

Tony Hawk At F1 British Grand Prix 2025 - UK

Tony Hawk At F1 British Grand Prix 2025 - UK

American Skater and entrepreneur, Tony Hawk (USA) Guest of Alpine F1 during the Formula 1 Qatar Airways British Grand Prix 2025 on Sunday Race Day at the Silverstone International Circuit in Towcester, England, UK on July 6, 2025. Photo by Antoine Lapeyre/ABACAPRESS.COM

Tony Hawk At F1 British Grand Prix 2025 - UK

Tony Hawk At F1 British Grand Prix 2025 - UK

American Skater and entrepreneur, Tony Hawk (USA) Guest of Alpine F1 during the Formula 1 Qatar Airways British Grand Prix 2025 on Sunday Race Day at the Silverstone International Circuit in Towcester, England, UK on July 6, 2025. Photo by Antoine Lapeyre/ABACAPRESS.COM

Tony Hawk At F1 British Grand Prix 2025 - UK

Tony Hawk At F1 British Grand Prix 2025 - UK

American Skater and entrepreneur, Tony Hawk (USA) Guest of Alpine F1 during the Formula 1 Qatar Airways British Grand Prix 2025 on Sunday Race Day at the Silverstone International Circuit in Towcester, England, UK on July 6, 2025. Photo by Antoine Lapeyre/ABACAPRESS.COM

Speed skating: Jordan Stolz

Speed skating: Jordan Stolz

American speed skater Jordan Stolz gives an interview in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Jan. 28. 2025.

Speed skating: Jordan Stolz

Speed skating: Jordan Stolz

American speed skater Jordan Stolz gives an interview in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Jan. 28. 2025.

Speed skating: Jordan Stolz

Speed skating: Jordan Stolz

American speed skater Jordan Stolz gives an interview in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Jan. 28. 2025.

ISU World Cup Speed Skating - CA

ISU World Cup Speed Skating - CA

Canadian speed skater Ted-Jan Bloemen races in the men's 10,000-metre event at the ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Calgary, Canada, on Saturday, January 25, 2025. Photo by Todd Korol/CP/ABACAPRESS.COM

ISU World Cup Speed Skating - CA

ISU World Cup Speed Skating - CA

Netherlands speed skater Marcel Bosker races in the men's 10,000-metre event at the ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Calgary, Canada, on Saturday, January 25, 2025. Photo by Todd Korol/CP/ABACAPRESS.COM

ISU World Cup Speed Skating - CA

ISU World Cup Speed Skating - CA

Canadian speed skater Ted-Jan Bloemen races in the men's 10,000-metre event at the ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Calgary, Canada, on Saturday, January 25, 2025. Photo by Todd Korol/CP/ABACAPRESS.COM

ISU World Cup Speed Skating - CA

ISU World Cup Speed Skating - CA

Netherlands speed skater Marcel Bosker races in the men's 10,000-metre event at the ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Calgary, Canada, on Saturday, January 25, 2025. Photo by Todd Korol/CP/ABACAPRESS.COM

(PARIS2024)FRANCE-PARIS-2034 WINTER GAMES-PRESS CONFERENCE

(PARIS2024)FRANCE-PARIS-2034 WINTER GAMES-PRESS CONFERENCE

(240724) -- PARIS, July 24, 2024 Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM) -- Catherine Raney-Norman (C), Chair of the Utah Committee for the Games and former speed skater, speaks at a press conference in Paris, France, July 24, 2024. Salt Lake City of the United States has been awarded as the host of the 2034 Winter Olympic Games at the 142nd International Olympic Committee session here on Wednesday. Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM/Wu Huiwo)

Salt Lake City Awarded 2034 Winter Olympics - Paris

Salt Lake City Awarded 2034 Winter Olympics - Paris

Catherine Raney-Norman, Chair of the Utah Committee for the Games and former speed skater, speaks at a meeting during the 142nd International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Paris, France, July 24, 2024. Salt Lake City of the United States has been awarded as the host of the 2034 Winter Olympic Games at the 142nd IOC session here on Wednesday. Photo by Sun Fei/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

(PARIS2024)FRANCE-PARIS-2034 WINTER GAMES

(PARIS2024)FRANCE-PARIS-2034 WINTER GAMES

(240724) -- PARIS, July 24, 2024 Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM) -- Catherine Raney-Norman, Chair of the Utah Committee for the Games and former speed skater, speaks at a meeting during the 142nd International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Paris, France, July 24, 2024. Salt Lake City of the United States has been awarded as the host of the 2034 Winter Olympic Games at the 142nd IOC session here on Wednesday. Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM/Sun Fei)

Press Conference For The Marathon Pour Tous - Issy les Moulineaux

Press Conference For The Marathon Pour Tous - Issy les Moulineaux

English Triathlete Alistair Brownlee (L) poses next to French short track speed skater Tifany Huot-Marchand (2L), President of Paris 2024, Tony Estanguet (2R), and Orange General Manager, Christel Heydemann during a press conference for the "Marathon pour Tous" at the Orange headquarters in Issy-les-Moulineaux, near Paris, France on January 31, 2024. Photo by Firas Abdullah/ABACAPRESS.COM

Press Conference For The Marathon Pour Tous - Issy les Moulineaux

Press Conference For The Marathon Pour Tous - Issy les Moulineaux

French short track speed skater Tifany Huot-Marchand (R) looks on during a press conference for the "Marathon pour Tous" at the Orange headquarters in Issy-les-Moulineaux, near Paris, France on January 31, 2024. Photo by Firas Abdullah/ABACAPRESS.COM

Press Conference For The Marathon Pour Tous - Issy les Moulineaux

Press Conference For The Marathon Pour Tous - Issy les Moulineaux

French short track speed skater Tifany Huot-Marchand (R) looks on during a press conference for the "Marathon pour Tous" at the Orange headquarters in Issy-les-Moulineaux, near Paris, France on January 31, 2024. Photo by Firas Abdullah/ABACAPRESS.COM

Press Conference For The Marathon Pour Tous - Issy les Moulineaux

Press Conference For The Marathon Pour Tous - Issy les Moulineaux

French short track speed skater Tifany Huot-Marchand speaks during a press conference for the "Marathon pour Tous" at the Orange headquarters in Issy-les-Moulineaux, near Paris, France on January 31, 2024. Photo by Firas Abdullah/ABACAPRESS.COM

Press Conference For The Marathon Pour Tous - Issy les Moulineaux

Press Conference For The Marathon Pour Tous - Issy les Moulineaux

French short track speed skater Tifany Huot-Marchand speaks during a press conference for the "Marathon pour Tous" at the Orange headquarters in Issy-les-Moulineaux, near Paris, France on January 31, 2024. Photo by Firas Abdullah/ABACAPRESS.COM

Speed skating: World Cup in Salt Lake City

Speed skating: World Cup in Salt Lake City

American speed skater Jordan Stolz acknowledges the crowd after clocking a world record time of 1 minute, 5.37 seconds in the men's 1,000 meters at a World Cup meet in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Jan. 26, 2024.

Japanese speed skater Miho Takagi

Japanese speed skater Miho Takagi

Seven-time Olympic speed skating medalist Miho Takagi poses for a photo during a press conference in Tokyo on April 17, 2023. Takagi confirmed the same day her intention to compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Speed skating: World championships

Speed skating: World championships

Dutch speed skater Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong (C) poses after winning gold in the women's 1,500 meters at the world championships in Heerenveen, the Netherlands, on March 5, 2023, alongside Norway's Ragne Wiklund (L) and Japan's Miho Takagi, who finished second and third, respectively.

Speed skating: World championships

Speed skating: World championships

Dutch speed skater Jutta Leerdam (C) poses after winning gold in the women's 1,000 meters at the world championships in Heerenveen, the Netherlands, on March 4, 2023, alongside compatriot Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong (L) and Japan's Miho Takagi, who finished second and third, respectively.

Speed skating: World championships

Speed skating: World championships

American speed skater Jordan Stolz (C) poses after winning gold in the men's 500 meters at the world championships in Heerenveen, the Netherlands, on March 3, 2023, alongside Canada's Laurent Dubreuil (L) and Japan's Wataru Morishige, who finished second and third, respectively.

Speed skating: World championships

Speed skating: World championships

Japanese speed skater Wataru Morishige competes en route to securing bronze in the men's 500 meters at the world championships in Heerenveen, the Netherlands, on March 3, 2023.

Speed skating: World championships

Speed skating: World championships

Japanese speed skater Miho Takagi competes en route to finishing sixth in the women's 500 meters at the world championships in Heerenveen, the Netherlands, on March 3, 2023.

Xinhua Headlines: 2022 Olympic legacy shining as winter sports flourish in China

Xinhua Headlines: 2022 Olympic legacy shining as winter sports flourish in China

(230220) -- BEIJING, Feb. 20, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Skater Zhang Qianyu competes during a speed skating competition at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

TOP 10 WORLD ATHLETES OF 2022

TOP 10 WORLD ATHLETES OF 2022

(221226) -- BEIJING, Dec. 26, 2022 (Xinhua) -- File photo taken on Feb. 19, 2022 shows Irene Schouten of the Netherlands celebrates after the speed skating women's mass start final of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, capital of China. Dutch skater Schouten claimed gold medals in the women's 3,000m, 5,000m and mass start events at the Beijing Winter Olympics and also took a bronze in the team pursuit with her teammates. In March, Schouten won the Allround title at the World Speed Skating Championships in Hamar, Norway. (Xinhua/Wu Wei)

Okazaki takes overall lead at nat'l sprint c'ships

Okazaki takes overall lead at nat'l sprint c'ships

CHINO, Japan - Speed skater Tomomi Okazaki places first in the women's 500 meters to post the best total score on the opening day of the national sprint championships at Chino sports park skate center on Dec. 28.

Shimizu wins 500 at nat'l sprint c'ships

Shimizu wins 500 at nat'l sprint c'ships

CHINO, Japan - Speed skater Hiroyasu Shimizu wins the 500 in a rink-record 35.42 at the national sprint championships at Chino sports park skate center on Dec. 28.

Pyeongchang Olympics

Pyeongchang Olympics

GANGNEUNG, South Korea, Feb. 18 Kyodo - Speed skater Nao Kodaira (R) of Japan celebrates after winning the women's 500-meter speed skating gold medal at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics on Feb. 18, 2018, with Lee Sang Hwa of South Korea, who won the silver medal.

Olympics: N. Korean short track skater injured

Olympics: N. Korean short track skater injured

GANGNEUNG, South Korea, Feb. 2 Kyodo - North Korean short track speed skater Choe Un Song is taken away on a stretcher on Feb. 2, 2018, after getting injured during official training for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea.

Speed skater Kodaira wins World Cup 1,000

Speed skater Kodaira wins World Cup 1,000

STAVANGER, Norway, Nov. 18 Kyodo - Japan's Nao Kodaira competes in the second round of the World Cup women's 1,000-meter speed skating race in Stavanger, Norway, on Nov. 17, 2017. Kodaira won gold.

Japanese speed skater Nao Kodaira

Japanese speed skater Nao Kodaira

NAGANO, Japan, Dec. 30 Kyodo - Japanese women's speed skater Nao Kodaira is pictured training at M-Wave ice arena in Nagano on Oct. 2, 2017. Kodaira is using special "geta" sandals that help strengthen balance.

Japan's short track speed skater Sakashita fails to reach final

Japan's short track speed skater Sakashita fails to reach final

SOCHI, Russia - Satoshi Sakashita of Japan disappointedly covers his face with his hand after competing in the men's 500-meter short track semifinals at the Iceberg Skating Palace during the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 21, 2014, as he fails to reach the final.

Czech skater Sablikova wins 2nd straight women's 5,000m title

Czech skater Sablikova wins 2nd straight women's 5,000m title

SOCHI, Russia - Martina Sablikova of the Czech Republic races to victory during the Winter Olympics women's 5,000-meter speed skating event at the Adler Arena Skating Center in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 19, 2014. Sablikova won her second consecutive gold medal in the event with a time of 6 minutes, 51.54 seconds.

Japan's Sakashita moves to men's 500m short track q'finals

Japan's Sakashita moves to men's 500m short track q'finals

SOCHI, Russia - Japanese short track speed skater Satoshi Sakashita waves after advancing to the quarterfinals of the men's 500-meter competition at the Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia on Feb. 18, 2014.

Japan's Sakashita races in men's 500m short track heat

Japan's Sakashita races in men's 500m short track heat

SOCHI, Russia - Japanese short track speed skater Statoshi Sakashita races in a heat in the men's 500-meter competition at the Sochi Olympics in Russia on Feb. 18, 2014. Sakashita advanced to the quarterfinals.

Japan's Sakashita competes in men's 500m short track heat

Japan's Sakashita competes in men's 500m short track heat

SOCHI, Russia - Japanese short track speed skater Statoshi Sakashita takes part in a heat in the men's 500-meter competition at the Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia on Feb. 18, 2014. Sakashita advanced to the quarterfinals.

Japan's Sakai races in women's 1,000m short track heat

Japan's Sakai races in women's 1,000m short track heat

SOCHI, Russia - Japanese short track speed skater Yui Sakai competes in a heat in the women's 1,000-meter competition at the Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia on Feb. 18, 2014. Sakai advanced to the quarterfinals.

Japan's Sakai races in women's 1,000m short track heat

Japan's Sakai races in women's 1,000m short track heat

SOCHI, Russia - Japanese short track speed skater Yui Sakai competes in a heat in the women's 1,000-meter competition at the Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia on Feb. 18, 2014. Sakai advanced to the quarterfinals.