Overview
- Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara won pairs figure skating with a world-leading free score of 158.13 and a 231.24 total, securing Japan’s first Olympic podium in the event after placing fifth in the short program.
- At a post-victory briefing, Miura said she was glad they delivered their program at the Games, and Kihara said he learned the importance of not giving up.
- JR East said the Feb. 9 Utsunomiya Line catenary break stemmed from management lapses: a worn wire flagged in a 2023 inspection was not replaced due to staff miscommunication, and 2024 monitoring data showing wear was overlooked.
- Ichiro Ozawa, who lost his lower-house seat, posted a video stating he will continue political activity and keep supporting younger colleagues, without detailing plans for the next election.
- Tohoku University students demonstrated balloon-shaped tsunami-evacuation markers that auto-deploy via Michibiki satellite signals in Sendai, targeting practical use by fiscal 2028, while Shizuoka police confirmed three high school basketball players were sent to prosecutors in December over an indecent video case.