Up and Coming Japanese Ladies Skaters

[Sylvia]

Reposting the following from the JGP 2010 thread in Kiss and Cry:
Here's some videos of Japanese ladies who could receive JGP assignments this year. I would assume Ayumi Goto & Shion Kokobun are in the running to receive the TBA NHK slot.

Shion Kokobun 2009 Japanese Nationals SP (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raXVrAp7eM4)
Ayumi Goto 2009 Japanese Nationals SP (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGPcnU1psA0)

Obviously, they've got a lot to work on, but if they skate like they can, they should have good results on the JGP. I couldn't find videos on some younger skaters like Karen Kemanai, Kako Tomotaki, Miu Sato and so on.

[pinky166]

I really like Fujisawa but she seemed to have gone downhill last season, finishing 4th at her only JGP (USA) last season after winning silver at the 2008 JGPF. I know she grew a lot this year so hopefully she can bounce back.

And just a clarification, Haruka Imai won bronze at JGP Budapest 2009, not Fujisawa, she was 4th at JGP Lake Placid 2009.

[chipso1]

^Fujisawa seemed to rebound at Japanese Nationals last season, so she appears to be back on track.

[pinky166]

^Fujisawa seemed to rebound at Japanese Nationals last season, so she appears to be back on track.

Yay :)! I love her change of edge layback spin, so cool.

[Diyoris]

change of edge layback spin
... that will not count as a level feature anymore. Too bad.

[pinky166]

... that will not count as a level feature anymore. Too bad.

Darn. It's still cool though. Fujisawa has many other promising features though, if she's recovered from her big growthspurt, I think she could have a very bright future. I'm probably in the minority, but I actually prefer her to Imai.

[maclou]

I prefer her to Imai too. I hope she does well next season. I mean who knows? Maybe if she got a second JGP spot last season she might have done better. Luckily she'll probably get two this year. I'm still a little worried she might not be finished growing though, she still looks very small.

[MikiAndoFan#1]

I'm probably in the minority, but I actually prefer her to Imai.

Me, too.

:)

[Lanna]

Fujisawa and Imai were at a disadvantage last season because Japan had only 6 total JGP spots. Second events went to Murakami (won her first event) and Nishino (silver at her first event). Imai had won a bronze and Fujisawa placed fourth at their events. They both were in position to qualify for the JGPF, but there simply wasn't room to give them a chance to qualify.

[MikiAndoFan#1]

I'm still a little worried she might not be finished growing though, she still looks very small.

Yukiko's definately going to grow some more. She's already 15 years old and still 1.49 m. She's so adorable with her tiny height, though! Hopefully she won't grow much more.

[oleada]

Fujisawa and Imai were at a disadvantage last season because Japan had only 6 total JGP spots. Second events went to Murakami (won her first event) and Nishino (silver at her first event). Imai had won a bronze and Fujisawa placed fourth at their events. They both were in position to qualify for the JGPF, but there simply wasn't room to give them a chance to qualify.

Thankfully Japan has 15 spots this year. I'm looking forward to seeing these young skaters on the circuit.

I'm glad Imai got 2 GP spots after not being given a second JGP event for two years in a row.

[Lanna]

Imai's placement at 4CC really helped her ranking.

OTOH, she's one of the reasons Japan had so few spots in the 09-10 JGP season. :shuffle:

[pinky166]

Yukiko's definately going to grow some more. She's already 15 years old and still 1.49 m. She's so adorable with her tiny height, though! Hopefully she won't grow much more.

She will likely still grow but not that much. Kanako is only 1.53m and her growth seems to be slowing down. Average height for Japanese women is about 1.56-1.57m, so 1.49 isn't all that small in Japan, especially for a figure skater, Mao at only 1.64m is as tall as most of the male skaters!