Japan are the highest ranked team of the 6-9 February final qualifiers, three groups being held in three different countries – Japan, Sweden and Germany.
The winners of each group – G, H and I – secure a quota spot at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games where they will join hosts Italy and the top six teams in the world rankings.
After France, coach Iizuka Yuji’s women face Poland on Saturday and the People’s Republic of China on Sunday.
Japan are attempting to qualify for their fourth straight Games and regarded as favourites to top the group. The other three teams are all shooting for their Olympic debut.
But Japan lost to China at last year’s Women’s World Championship and were edged by France as recently as…