Satsuki Fujisawa

1.1. Birth and Family Background

Fujisawa was born in Abashiri, Hokkaido on May 24, 1991, and grew up in Kitami, Hokkaido. Her entire family of five, including her parents, elder brother, and elder sister, are all curlers. Her father, born in 1960, was a junior high school teacher and a former curler who was a final candidate for the 1998 Nagano Olympics team. Her parents themselves were skilled curlers, achieving third place in the Hokkaido Mixed Doubles Championship in 2016 against university teams, and even competed in national tournaments. Her cousin, Yumi Suzuki, is also a teammate on Loco Solare. Her sister, Shiori Fujisawa, is also an accomplished curler, having competed in the 2019 Japan Mixed Doubles Curling Championship.

1.2. Childhood and Start in Curling

Fujisawa began curling at the age of five, after being introduced to the curling rink by her father. Her siblings had also started curling under their father's influence. From an early age, Fujisawa displayed a natural aptitude for the sport; her larger physique for her age allowed her to manipulate adult-sized stones, weighing approximately 44 lb ^{(20 kg)}, with ease. Her sister recalled that Satsuki had a "tremendous competitive spirit" even as a child. When Satsuki was in her first year of junior high school, her father recognized her talent, noting her preference for a "theory-driven" approach over sheer intuition. He then appointed her as the skip, replacing her elder sister, to strategize for their team, "Stay Gold II," in their hometown of Kitami. Teammate Chinami Yoshida, who later joined Loco Solare, remembered playing against Fujisawa's team in practice matches and being impressed, thinking Fujisawa was "incomparably better" despite being the same age.

1.3. Junior Achievements

In 2007, Fujisawa enrolled in Hokkaido Kitami Hokuto High School. As the skip for "Team Kitami" (Stay Gold II), she achieved consecutive victories in the Japan Junior Curling Championships and the Pacific Junior Curling Championships during her first (2007-2008 season) and second (2008-2009 season) years of high school. These wins qualified her to compete in the World Junior Curling Championships, where her team finished seventh in 2008 and tenth in 2009. During this period, Japanese junior curling was highly competitive, with rival teams like "Robins" (featuring future Olympians Chinami Yoshida, Yumi Suzuki, Kaho Onodera, and Yurika Yoshida) and "WINS" (led by Sayaka Yoshimura) already possessing top-tier national skills. Despite not participating in the Japan Championship due to scheduling conflicts with the World Junior Championship, Fujisawa had already earned the reputation of a "genius" in the sport.

2.1. Chubu Electric Power Era (2009-2015)

In the 2009-2010 season, prior to her high school graduation, Fujisawa joined "wish," a curling team in Nagano Prefecture consisting of Miyo Ichikawa, Emi Shimizu, and Miyuki Sato. This team became the foundation of the newly formed Chubu Electric Power curling club that year. Despite being the youngest member, Fujisawa became the team's steadfast fourth-stone skip, a position she held until her departure. In December 2009, her team finished third in the Japan Junior Curling Championship, missing a personal three-peat. However, in March 2010, she made her debut at the Japan Curling Championship, leading her team to a third-place finish.

After graduating from high school, Fujisawa left her hometown of Kitami to join Chubu Electric Power. From 2011 to 2014, she led the team to four consecutive victories in the Japan Curling Championship. In 2013, her team competed in the 2013 World Women's Curling Championship, finishing seventh, which secured Japan a spot in the Olympic Qualification Event for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

However, the 2013 Olympic Qualification Event in September, where a spot in the Sochi Olympics was at stake, proved to be a major setback for Fujisawa. Under immense pressure as the favored team, her Karuizawa-based rink, which had won three straight national championships, lost the best-of-seven final series in six games to Ayumi Ogasawara's Sapporo-based rink from Hokkaido Bank. This defeat crushed their Olympic hopes. Even though her team subsequently defeated Hokkaido Bank in the Japan Championship to achieve a fourth consecutive title, Fujisawa described it as a devastating blow that made her question her path in curling. In 2015, her bid for a fifth consecutive Japan Championship title ended with a loss in the final tournament. Following this, Fujisawa announced her departure from Chubu Electric Power at the end of March 2015, with reports indicating she was considering opportunities in her hometown of Kitami, Hokkaido.

2.2. Joining Loco Solare (2015-present)

Carrying a sense of disappointment, Fujisawa returned to her hometown of Kitami. There, she met with Mari Motohashi, the founder of Loco Solare. Motohashi's encouraging words, "Satsuki, why don't you join us? We're already moving forward," deeply resonated with Fujisawa, prompting her to decide to transfer to Loco Solare in May 2015. She then joined Consult Japan Co., Ltd., an insurance agency in Kitami, working as an office employee while continuing her curling training.

Initially, Fujisawa struggled to adapt to the new team's training regimen, and the team experienced a period of inconsistent performance. However, a turning point came when Motohashi told her, "Satsuki, you can do it your way." This statement helped Fujisawa adopt a more positive mindset. Through training and competing with her Loco Solare teammates, she realized she didn't always have to lead from the front, that it was acceptable to show vulnerability, and that she had supportive teammates she could rely on, fostering a sense of "not being alone." This newfound confidence propelled Loco Solare forward.

In 2016, Loco Solare won the Japan Curling Championship and went on to achieve a silver medal at the 2016 World Women's Curling Championship in Swift Current, Canada, marking Japan's first-ever podium finish at a World Championship. Despite this historic achievement, the final match against Binia Feltscher's Swiss team was a painful loss. In the ninth end, Japan was down by one point (6-7). In the tenth end, with the last stone, Fujisawa's aim was to land in the "No. 1" position to tie the game and force an extra end. However, her final stone unfortunately passed through the house, resulting in a loss to Switzerland. Fujisawa expressed her deep regret after the game, stating, "It's my responsibility that I couldn't make the last shot."

Despite this, the team continued its ascent. Although they took bronze at the 2017 Sapporo Asian Winter Games, they triumphed in the 2017 Pyeongchang Olympic Trials in September, defeating Fujisawa's former team, Chubu Electric Power, to secure her first Olympic berth. Visibly emotional, Fujisawa expressed her gratitude, stating, "Four years ago, I wondered if I should continue curling after that loss. I feel incredibly fortunate to compete with these teammates. They trusted me more than I trusted myself, and I was supported by them, carrying the regret of not having been to the Olympics. I hope to continue growing until the Olympics." She also acknowledged her former team, saying, "Our growth was possible precisely because Chubu Electric Power was there."

2.3. Olympic Achievements

Satsuki Fujisawa has achieved significant milestones at the Winter Olympics, leading Japan to its first-ever curling medals.

At the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, Fujisawa vowed to become a "curler who is admired and respected, even if they don't win," and consistently engaged in mental training to develop an "unbreakable spirit." Her team began with three consecutive victories. However, two late-game losses, marred by Fujisawa's errors, complicated their progression. Despite this, they narrowly secured the fourth and final playoff spot with a 5-4 record, after the United States team, also vying for a spot, lost their final match. Fujisawa admitted to mixed feelings about their qualification due to the significant loss to Switzerland in their final preliminary game. In the semifinals, Japan faced South Korea and lost, marking their third consecutive defeat. However, they bounced back in the bronze medal match, defeating Great Britain to secure Japan's first-ever Olympic curling medal. This bronze medal was seen as the culmination of their "thinking curling" approach, and Fujisawa achieved her goal of becoming a "Good Curler" worthy of an Olympic medal.

At the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, Fujisawa led her team, consisting of Chinami Yoshida, Yumi Suzuki, Yurika Yoshida, and Kotomi Ishizaki. After losing the first two games in the 2021 Japanese Olympic Curling Trials to Sayaka Yoshimura's rink, Team Fujisawa rallied to win three consecutive matches, earning the right to represent Japan at the 2021 Olympic Qualification Event. There, they finished third in the round robin and defeated South Korea to clinch their spot in Beijing. At the Games, Fujisawa guided her team to a 5-4 round robin record, securing the fourth seed for the playoffs. They then upset top-seeded Silvana Tirinzoni's Swiss team in the semifinals to advance to the Olympic final, where they faced Eve Muirhead's Great Britain. Despite their strong momentum, Japan lost the final match 10-3, securing a silver medal, which surpassed their previous bronze and marked a new high for Japanese curling at the Olympics.

2.4. Mixed Doubles Career

Satsuki Fujisawa has also made significant contributions to mixed doubles curling, demonstrating her versatility in the sport.

Following the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, Fujisawa received a wild-card entry into the 2018 Japan Mixed Doubles Curling Championship, partnering with fellow Olympian Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi of the SC Karuizawa Club. Despite having no prior experience as a pair and limited mixed doubles experience overall, the duo went undefeated to win the championship, earning the right to represent Japan at the 2018 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship. They finished fifth overall at the World Championship, marking Japan's best historical performance in the event.

In 2019, Fujisawa and Yamaguchi successfully defended their national title, once again going undefeated in the round robin to win their second consecutive Japan Mixed Doubles Championship. This victory qualified them for the 2019 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship in Norway, where they again finished fifth after losing to Australia in the quarterfinals. Their domestic winning streak continued until the 2020 Japan Mixed Doubles Championship, where they reached the final undefeated but were ultimately defeated by the pair of Chiaki Matsumura and Yasumasa Tanida, ending their impressive 25-game winning streak in domestic mixed doubles play.

2.5. Grand Slam and World Tour Achievements

Satsuki Fujisawa has carved out a distinguished record in the Grand Slam of Curling and other World Curling Tour events, achieving historic victories.

In 2012, she won her first World Curling Tour event, the Shamrock Shotgun, by defeating the South Korean national team skipped by Kim Eun-jung. Her team also secured a silver medal at the 2012 Pacific-Asia Curling Championships later that year.

A significant highlight came at the 2023 Canadian Open, where Fujisawa and her team became the first Asian team to win a Grand Slam event (excluding defunct events). They emerged as the top qualifier by winning all three of their pre-qualifying matches. They then defeated Anna Hasselborg 8-7 in the quarterfinals and Gim Eun-ji 7-6 in the semifinals, advancing to their first Grand Slam final. There, they secured a 5-3 victory over Kerri Einarson's team, making history for Asian curling.

Throughout her Grand Slam career, Fujisawa's team has consistently reached playoff rounds, with notable semifinal appearances at the 2019 Tour Challenge, 2019 National, 2020 Canadian Open, and 2023 Champions Cup. They also reached quarterfinals at events such as the 2018 Players' Championship, 2019 Players' Championship, 2019 Masters, 2021 Players' Championship, 2021 Champions Cup, 2022 Players' Championship, 2023 Players' Championship, and 2024 Canadian Open.

On the wider World Curling Tour, Team Fujisawa has secured multiple victories, including the Hokkaido Bank Curling Classic (2017), Karuizawa International Curling Championship (2017), and the ADVICS Cup (2019, 2022, 2023). They also won the second leg of the 2018-19 Curling World Cup in Omaha, United States, defeating Kim Eun-jung's South Korean rink in the final. In 2022, they clinched the Red Deer Curling Classic, going undefeated.

4.1. Personal Life

Fujisawa graduated from Hokkaido Kitami Hokuto High School in Kitami City in 2010. From then until early 2015, while residing in Nagano Prefecture, she worked as a curler and office worker for Chubu Electric Power. Since her return to Kitami, she has been employed by one of the local companies sponsoring her current team, Loco Solare, where she works as an insurance agent.

Her publicly known personal aspects include her close family ties, with her entire family being involved in curling. She is of O blood type. Although she is left-handed for activities like writing and using chopsticks, she throws the curling stone with her right hand. Her hobbies include saving 500-yen coins. Her favorite sushi topping is salmon.

4.2. Public Reception and Notable Episodes

Fujisawa has garnered significant public attention beyond her athletic achievements. During the preliminary rounds of the Pyeongchang Olympics, when Japan competed against South Korea, a comparison between Fujisawa and South Korean actress Park Bo-young became a viral topic on the South Korean internet. This resemblance led to her name topping search trends in South Korea and generated considerable buzz internationally. When Japan was slated to face South Korea again in the semifinals, many media outlets framed it as a "battle of beautiful skips," comparing Fujisawa with South Korean skip Kim Eun-jung. Fujisawa, however, humbly responded, "I may lose in beauty, but I will do my best with my shots." Although Japan lost the semifinal 7-8, missing the chance to advance to the final, they secured the bronze medal in the subsequent third-place match against Great Britain.

In 2018, Fujisawa was featured in the "Women of Curling Calendar 2019," a charity calendar showcasing 15 top female curlers worldwide. Notably, she was the first Asian athlete to be included. The proceeds from the calendar sales were donated to charitable organizations, reflecting her broader positive impact.

In a surprising turn, Fujisawa entered a bodybuilding competition, the "MOLA CUP," held in Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture, on July 22, 2023. She utilized her curling offseason to engage in muscle training. Showcasing her muscular physique in the bikini class, she achieved third place in the Novice category and second place in the Open category. This unexpected participation and transformation drew significant media attention, highlighting her dedication to personal development and her willingness to pursue diverse interests.

5.1. Team Compositions

Fujisawa has led several women's four-person teams and competed in mixed doubles throughout her career.

5.2. Competition Results Summary

The following table summarizes Satsuki Fujisawa's year-by-year performance in major international and domestic curling competitions.

The Grand Slam of Curling (GSOC) is a series of elite-level curling tournaments. The table below summarizes Fujisawa's performances in these events.

The following table summarizes Fujisawa's performances in former Grand Slam events.