Japanese athletes compete in all disciplines except ice hockey.

The flag bearer is short track speed skater Tsutomu Kawasaki at the opening and closing ceremony, while the captain of the delegation is cross-country skier Kazunari Sasaki.

The Nordic combined team consisting of Kenji Ogiwara, Takanori Kono and Reiichi Mikata won gold which became Japan's first medal in Nordic combined and also the first gold after four previous Winter Olympics editions without gold.

The last gold which was also Japan's first gold at the Winter Olympics was won by Yukio Kasaya at their home, Sapporo 1972.

Midori Ito also won Japan's first medal in figure skating.