Japan, looking to repeat its success of the 1998 Nagano Olympics, joined 76 other countries at the opening ceremony of the 19th Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City on Friday.
Speedskater Eriko Sanmiya led the delegation, Japan's largest-ever winter sports group to be sent to an Olympics overseas, into Rice-Eccles Olympic Stadium, which had been turned into a huge skating rink for the ceremony.
"I can't believe it. I never thought I would ever be the flag-bearer at the Olympics," said Sanmiya. "I got the strength to shoulder the expectations of everyone from my teammates."
Tsunekazu Takeda, president of the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC), marched at the head of the delegation which was 39th in the parade of nations.
Athletes and officials of the 218-member Japanese team, dressed in long navy blue overcoats, mufflers and red caps, waved to the 55,000 spectators filling the stadium.
Takeda has said he hopes Japanese athletes will be able to match the 10 Olympic medals won at the Nagano Games four years ago. He is also hoping for three gold medals.
"I hope everyone will give their best efforts and demonstrate the results of all their hard work and training," Takeda said.
Nagano Olympic speedskating champion Hiroyasu Shimizu, meanwhile, got in some practice on his starts at the Olympic Oval where he will seek to defend his 500-meter crown on Monday and Tuesday.
"I'm just getting ready as usual. I will do my best to achieve a result I can be satisfied with," said Shimizu, who has struggled with a sore back over the first half of the World Cup season.