AOMORI, JAPAN – Yep, we’re here. You didn’t doubt us, did you?

Japanese curling has changed a lot since Nagano 1998. More people speak fractured English, more people are curling, and their women’s team are demigods with TV endorsements, souvenir merchandise and their own pack of 100-or-so reporters (see photo) handled by, of all things, a “Japanese Media Control Officer.”

Team Sweden, the mighty 2006 Olympic champion Anette Norberg and Co., drew about 15 media members to their opening news conference. Japan’s Moe Meguro and troops – three of whom finished seventh in Turin last year – attracted about 75 media buzzards.

Action gets underway tomorrow with results here and here, and CP’s Donna Spencer has previewed Asia’s first-ever adult world shootout here, with team capsules here. AP is also on the scene, and this fellow seems to have provided the first look at the ice surface... but the real score seems to be live streaming content on the Eurosport curling page, check back often to see what is online ...

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