Japanese snowboarder Ayumu Hirano celebrates after winning the final World Cup men's halfpipe event of the season on Jan. 15, 2022, in Laax, Switzerland. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo Combined photo shows Yuzuru Hanyu (L) and Miho Takagi. (Photo courtesy of JOC)(Kyodo)

TOKYO - Snowboarder Ayumu Hirano, a candidate for the men's halfpipe gold at the Beijing Olympics, was named to Japan's team Wednesday, effectively bringing all of the nation's biggest medal prospects on board for the Feb. 4 to Feb. 20 event.