Kaori Sakamoto, the 26-year-old Japanese figure skating star, held a retirement press conference in her hometown of Kobe on April 13, where she opened up about the special taste she craved after stepping away from competitive skating.
Known for living life on her own terms during her active career, Sakamoto admitted she didn’t have a long list of post-retirement plans. “I’ve always done what I wanted and eaten what I wanted,” she said. “There isn’t anything specific I’ve been dying to do… but if I had to pick one thing…” She then revealed, “When asked what I wanted to eat after retiring, I said I wanted my mother’s croquettes.”
Her mother remembered that wish and had reportedly been practicing the recipe ahead of the World Championships. “She said it had been a while since she made them, so she practiced,” Sakamoto said with a smile. “When she dropped me off at home, she handed me the croquettes, and I ate them that same day.” Living alone for six years, Sakamoto said she rarely had the chance to enjoy her mother’s cooking, making the reunion with that familiar taste all the more special.
As Japan’s ace for years, Sakamoto became the first Japanese woman to compete in three consecutive Olympic Games. At the Milano Cortina 2026 Games, she won silver medals in both the individual and team events. Combined with her team silver and individual bronze in Beijing, her total of four Olympic medals ties Yuma Kagiyama for the most by a Japanese figure skater.
She also achieved five consecutive titles at the Japan National Championships (2021–2025) and six titles overall including her first win in 2018. At the World Championships, Sakamoto claimed three straight golds from 2022, and in her final competition in March 2025, she scored a personal best (238.28 total) to win a record fourth world title—the most by any Japanese skater.
Known for her bright and friendly personality, Sakamoto was beloved by fellow skaters and fans alike. She now begins a new chapter as a coach under Sonoko Nakano, who has guided her since she was four years old.
Born on April 9, 2000, in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Sakamoto started skating at age four after being inspired by the NHK morning drama “Teru Teru Family.” She finished third at the 2017 World Junior Championships before turning senior. In her first senior season, she secured one of Japan’s two spots for the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, placing sixth individually. At Beijing 2022, she took team silver and individual bronze, and at Milano Cortina 2026, she added two more silvers. She stands 159 cm tall with blood type B.
