“Food is not something to avoid. By eating well, gaining strength, and practicing properly, your metabolism increases and training becomes much more efficient.” Kaori Sakamoto intends to use her experience to teach the next generation
Kaori Sakamoto, who retired after a successful season, thanked her sponsor for nutritional support and shared her positive experience with improved eating habits, which she plans to pass on to future students as a coach.
original source: Nikkansports 24th April 2026
Kaori Sakamoto (26) visited the Ajinomoto headquarters in Tokyo on the 23rd to express her gratitude for their support. Here’s a translation of her comments posted on Nikkansports.
In her final competitive season, Sakamoto received assistance from the company to improve her health. Previously, she restricted her diet for weight management, but this season she focused on three key practices: “eating plenty of her favorite white rice,” “warming her stomach before bed,” and “using Amino Vital before and after practice.” While she had 40 days of poor health last season, this year she said, “I only got sick once. I was able to stay healthy and work hard every day. Changing my diet saved me,” highlighting the positive impact.
During the month-long Milan-Cortina Olympics in February, she also paid special attention to her meals. “At the past two Olympics, I was taken to the hospital by ambulance due to gastroenteritis,” she recalled, but this time she avoided nutritional deficiencies by eating dishes like vegetable-filled hot pot. She won silver medals in both individual and team events, saying, “They supported me with meals tailored to the situation,” and expressed her gratitude.
Sakamoto retired after winning her fourth world championship in March, the most by a Japanese singles skater. She will now become a coach. Many female skaters in Japan struggle with dietary restrictions, but Sakamoto intends to share her final season’s experience with her students. “Food is not something to avoid. By eating well, gaining strength, and practicing properly, your metabolism increases and training becomes much more efficient. I hope to use my experience to teach the next generation,” she said.
Related topics: Kaori Sakamoto
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