At the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, the Japanese women's ice hockey team, known as Smile Japan, faced off against Sweden in their final group match for Group B. Despite their efforts, they were unable to penetrate Sweden's strong defense, ultimately losing the match 0-4. This defeat resulted in their final record of one win and three losses, which confirmed their early exit from the tournament as they did not qualify for the quarter-finals.

The loss comes as a disappointment for the team and their supporters, especially considering it was their last opportunity to advance past the group stage in this Olympic competition. The Japanese team had hoped to perform better after their participation in previous Olympic events, but the robust performance of the Swedish team proved too much to overcome.

Looking ahead, the next Winter Olympics will be held in Milan-Cortina from February 6 to February 22, 2026, giving the Japanese team time to regroup and strategize for future competitions. This experience serves as a crucial learning opportunity for future tournaments, emphasizing the need for improvement against strong international competitors.