On the 15th, Japan's women's curling team, known as Fortius, suffered a 5-7 loss to South Korea in the preliminary round of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Tomoyuki Morozumi, a seasoned player and skip for Japan's men's team during the Pyeongchang Olympics, provided insights into the reasons behind Japan's struggles during the match. He emphasized that a key factor in Japan's loss was their inability to read the ice correctly after halftime, which significantly shifted the momentum toward South Korea.

During the match, the fifth end was followed by a five-minute halftime where teams adjusted to changing ice conditions. Typically, the ice becomes heavier, making stones more likely to stop. However, in this match, both teams found that their draw shots were extending further than expected, indicating that the ice was not slipping as much as they had anticipated. South Korea's team quickly adapted to these conditions, executing their strategy effectively, particularly with a well-timed sweep that allowed them to place their stones where they needed after releasing them.

Morozumi pointed out that the difference in how swiftly each team adapted to the ice conditions played a crucial role in determining the outcome of the match. Such experiences underscore the importance of continual adaptation and strategy not just in curling, but in sports as a whole. The analysis serves as a lesson for the Japanese team as they regroup for future matches in the tournament, aiming to improve their responses to changing conditions as they progress further into the competition.