Rana Okada reached the semifinals after the qualification round of the women's snowboard halfpipe at the Sochi Games on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old Okada, who is the only Japanese competing in the acrobatic aerial competition at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park, scored 69.75 points on her second attempt for her best run, and finished in seventh place in her heat.
Salt Lake City champion Kelly Clark of the United States and Vancouver Games gold medalist Torah Bright of Australia booked their tickets to the final with highs of 95.00 and 93.00, respectively.
The top 12 boarders reached the semifinals for a shot in the finals later the same evening. Okada must place in the top six in the semis to reach the finals. The top three boarders from each of the two heats automatically advanced to the 12-woman finals.