Ayumi Ogasawara (Sapporo, JPN) lost 5-3 to Tori Koana (Yamanashi, JPN) in the Final of the Japan Curling Championship, held January 29 - February 4, 2018 in Hokkaido, Japan.
 
Ogasawara finished 7-1 in the 9-team qualifying round. . In their opening game, Ogasawara defeated Miori Nakamura (Aomori, JPN) 9-1, then won 11-2 against Miwako Tatsudan (Hiroshima, JPN) and 9-4 against Natsuko Ishiyama (Hokkaio, JPN). Ogasawara went on to lose 5-4 against Chiaki Matsumura (Karuizawa, JPN). Ogasawara responded with a 7-6 win over Koana. Ogasawara won 6-3 against Akemi Fujii (Nayoro, JPN), then won 8-7 against Asuka Kanai (Karuizawa, JPN) and 7-2 against Momoka Iwase (Hokkaido, JPN) in their final qualifying round match.
 
With their runner-up finish at the Japan Curling Championship, Ogasawara take home 13.324 world rankings points, remaining in 36th place overall on the World Ranking Standings with a net gain of 10.96 after improving upon their best so far this season. Ogasawara ranks 30th overall on the Year-to-Date rankings with 106.574 points earned so far this season.