Japan is separated from the Asian mainland by the Sea of Japan.  It consists of four main islands - Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku - and about 3,000 smaller islands.

Japan has competed in every Olympic Winter Games except for 1924 and in 1948. It ranks 17th in the all-time medal standings with 32 medals (9 gold, 10 silver, 13 bronze). Japan has hosted three Olympics: The 1964 Summer Games in Tokyo, the 1972 Winter Games in Sapporo and the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano.

Japan is expected to field a very strong figure skating team with many medal contenders throughout. Japan will also have strong representatives in snowboarding and speed skating.