TURIN -- Japan has set a goal of winning five medals at the Winter Olympics in Turin, but overseas publications are projecting a bleaker outlook for the nation, which won only one silver and one bronze medal in the last games.

Kenichi Chizuka, head of the Japanese delegation to Turin, has unveiled a goal of five medals "regardless of the color." However, U.S. magazine Sports Illustrated projects that Japan will only win two medals with performances from figure skater Shizuka Arakawa, and long-track speed skater Joji Kato.

The Associated Press has given an even harsher prediction for Japan, saying Japan's only medal is likely to be a bronze from Arakawa.

In addition to Arakawa, a former world skating champion, Japan is sending skaters Fumie Suguri and Miki Ando, but none of them have emerged as prospective champions. Sports Illustrated predicts that U.S. figure skater Sasha Cohen will take the gold medal, while Russia's Irina Slutskaya will snare the silver. The Associated Press reverses the order of first and second place.

Local reporters in Turin say the figure skating will be a match between Russia and the United States. One reporter at Italian sports paper Gazzetta dello Sport said Slutskaya would win the gold in the event, Cohen would take silver, and experienced skater Suguri would end up with bronze. The reporter added that he had watched men's figure skater Daisuke Takahashi many times but that he was far from good enough to win a medal.

Still, other foreign papers have praised Kato in the speed skating. One reporter from Dutch paper Algemeen Dagblad said he thought Kato was very strong and could take the gold in his event.