Japanese Figure Skating 2016/17 season news, national team, updates

[rosewood]

It's confirmed on a broadsheet today that in Toyota Kozuka works in regional contribution group in sports strengthening & regional contribution room in the personnel section. I can't even imagine what he actually does from the long name. I wish Kozuka will support people including Shoma who is from Toyota's hometown as well as supported by Toyota from last season.
http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ci3YglXUkAEVYrJ.jpg

 

[kittyjake5]

Great choice of music for Rika. I am sure Akiko's choreography will be stunning. She did an excellent job with Riverdance.

 

[kwanfan1818]

On the strength of their singles, Japan is no less likely to qualify for the TE in 2018 than for Sochi, where they made the Final, particularly since France is weak-medium in everything but Dance, and the scores used to qualify don't have to be earned by Olympics eligible teams.

Getting to the final might be harder, with China is getting stronger in Men and Italy with Kostner back, Righini instead of Parkinson, and C/K, with Pairs holding their own. The flatness of the scoring system works to Japan's disadvantage in singles, but is an advantage in the team disciplines.

I assume China will be working towards the silver or bronze team medal for 2022.

 

[Pattina]

Great choice of music for Rika. I am sure Akiko's choreography will be stunning. She did an excellent job with Riverdance.

Riverdance was choreographed by Kenji Miyamoto. Akiko did Rika's Short "Incantation" - both were great programs that fitted Rika's body a lot and enhanced her skating.

Eager to see Akiko's new choreo for Rika. Sure, it will be amazing.

 

[Karpenko]

Thanks for all of the updates!

 

[kittyjake5]

Riverdance was choreographed by Kenji Miyamoto. Akiko did Rika's Short "Incantation" - both were great programs that fitted Rika's body a lot and enhanced her skating.

Eager to see Akiko's new choreo for Rika. Sure, it will be amazing.

Oh my, all season I had it the other way around. Akiko the long and Kenji the short, my bad.

 

[rosewood]

New programs known so far:
(some are not officially confirmed but are hearsays from fans who saw the program and/or talked with skaters in spring shows or local competitions.)
Takahito Mura: SP Flamenco (choreo Massimo Scali), FS Rach 2 (choreo Charlie White), EX Writing's on the Wall (choreo Hayato Miyazaki)
Shoma Uno: EX See You Again ft. Charlie Puth (choreo Mihoko Higuchi)
Daisuke Murakami: The Player (skated in JSOI)
Keiji Tanaka: SP same as this past season's SP, EX from Spirited Away of Studio Ghibli (choreo Misao Sato)
Ryuju Hino: FS Quidam (choreo Natalia Bestemianova)
Sei Kawahara: FS (choreo Tanith Belbin), EX Hey! Pachuco! from The Mask (choreo Hidetsugu Iwamoto)
Hiroaki Sato: SP Totem, FS The Barber of Seville
Mitsuki Sumoto: FS Singin' in the Rain (choreo Nanami Abe)
Koshiro Shimada: EX Sports March (skated in JSOI)
Sena Miyake: SP Caravan
＿＿
Mao Asada: SP, FS, EX (choreo by Lori Nichol) EX's music is Bach's and it will be revealed in THE ICE
Rika Hongo: SP Carmina Burana (choreo Shae-Lynn Bourne), FS Lawrence of Arabia (Akiko Suzuki)
Kanako Murakami: EX Seven Nations Army (skated in JSOI)
Wakaba Higuchi: SP (choreo Shae-Lynn Bourne), FS (choreo Massimo Scali)
Yuna Shiraiwa: SP something jazzy (choreo by Jeffery Buttle)
Marin Honda: SP Smile (choreo Marina Zueva), FS R&J (choreo Jeffery Buttle)
Yuna Aoki: FS Les Miserable
Moa Iwano: FS Kiss of Vampire
Miyu Shiraiwa: FS Sentimental Waltz

 

[Spun Silver]

Sei Kawahara sure picked a beautiful choreographer to spend a week with. I have never seen any of Tanith's choreography, but it can't hurt to work with an ice dancer.

 

[rosewood]

Shoma Uno announced his new programs on his official site:
http://www.shoma-uno.com/info/
SP: Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra
FS: Buenos Aires Hora Cero / Balada para un loco
Choreographer is not mentioned. He plans to reveal one of his new programs in Fantasy on Ice in Sapporo scheduled on June 3-5. It'll be aired on BS Asahi on June 5.

ETA:
My bad, it's Miyu HONDA (Marin's younger sister) not Miyu Shiraiwa.

Miyu Shiraiwa: FS Sentimental Waltz

 

[casken]

Takahito Mura: FS Rach 2 (choreo Charlie White)

Ugh. Sounds like the "Shogun" program will still be his only distinct program.

 

[Jeschke]

No news of Nagai?

 

[clairecloutier]

Ugh. Sounds like the "Shogun" program will still be his only distinct program.

Yeah, Mura might have a chance at developing his own style if he would just stop using so many warhorses. (Which, like Rika's music selections, tend to conjure up memories of other people's more famous, and better, programs using the music in question).

 

[rosewood]

No news of Nagai?

She's left forgotten. ..............by Japanese media. It can be a good chance for her to focus on working on fixing pops.

Jokes aside, she'll skate in Prince Ice World in Tokyo. She may reveal one of her new programs here.
http://www.princehotels.co.jp/iceshow/schedule/#tokyo

Prince Ice World tour, July 15-18 in Tokyo, website is the same as the one posted above

_____

The next big thing race regarding next Olys must be more fierce in this coming season. Marin & Wakaga & Yuna Aoki will skate in Fantasy on Ice in Makuhari. They may reveal their new programs there as well. FOI's thread in GSD is here.
http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/ind...n-4-cities-may-27-june-26.98028/#post-4800211

 

[seabm7]

Hello.

According to an article at insideskating.net, Javier Fernandez's bullfighter program was done by Kenji Miyamoto and Takaya. I'd like to know who is this choreographer, "Takaya". Since this is a Japanese thread, I hope someone has the information.

 

[midori]

According to an article at insideskating.net, Javier Fernandez's bullfighter program was done by Kenji Miyamoto and Takaya. I'd like to know who is this choreographer, "Takaya".

Takaya Usuda
Source: http://www.vogue.co.jp/lifestyle/interview/kenji-miyamoto/page/7 (in Japanese; Kenji says Takaya helped the program)

Usuda is a former pair skater then a pro skater at Prince Ice World, where he was well known for comic routines with Atsushi Oshima. Now he's retired and working on a creative side of many shows.

 

[seabm7]

Takaya Usuda
Source: http://www.vogue.co.jp/lifestyle/interview/kenji-miyamoto/page/7 (in Japanese; Kenji says Takaya helped the program)

Usuda is a former pair skater then a pro skater at Prince Ice World, where he was well known for comic routines with Atsushi Oshima. Now he's retired and working on a creative side of many shows.

Thanks a lot! The show side of the Japanese figure skating is not known well outside, so your reply is very helpful.

 

[rosewood]

From Fantasy on Ice in Makuhari:
Wakaba Higuchi's new EX is Byakuyako (same as Machida's EX), she did multi-direction spins.
Yuna Aoki's new EX is Make Me Like You.

Akiko skated a new program Black Swan.
Verner skated I am a man. I'm not sure but someone tweeted it's his new program.

 

[seabm7]

From Prince Ice World in Makuhari:

You mean Fantasy on Ice.

 

[rosewood]

You mean Fantasy on Ice.

Thank you for the correction. I edited my original post.

 

[Sylvia]

@rosewood: does this notice say that Marin Honda will miss the Fantasy on Ice shows in Sapporo (June 3-5) because she has decided to participate in the Japan Skating Federation sponsored "2016 Junior Grand Prix dispatch player selection meeting"? http://www.fantasy-on-ice.com/skatersinfo.html
Wouldn't this also apply to Yuna Aoki who was scheduled originally for the Sapporo shows?

ETA comment from FoI Makuhari show: https://twitter.com/pandaatlarge/status/736455903226925056

Marin Honda's 3F3T is back, and beautiful! She also did a good 3T combo after popping the first 2A. Guess she's working on combos recently.

 

[rosewood]

@rosewood: does this notice say that Marin Honda will miss the Fantasy on Ice shows in Sapporo (June 3-5) because she has decided to participate in the Japan Skating Federation sponsored "2016 Junior Grand Prix dispatch player selection meeting"? http://www.fantasy-on-ice.com/skatersinfo.html
Wouldn't this also apply to Yuna Aoki who was scheduled originally for the Sapporo shows?

ETA comment from FoI Makuhari show: https://twitter.com/pandaatlarge/status/736455903226925056

It says Marin is out from NAGANO show (June 24-26) due to JSF's selection meeting for JGPS. It's a mandatory meeting according to the fed's selection criteria. I could not find criteria for next season (maybe it's not uploaded on net yet), but here is a link to 2015-2016 season's selection criteria for JGPS.
http://www.skatingjapan.or.jp/image_data/fck/file/2015/150619_FS_Senkokijun.pdf
1) Singles
First spot for each skater will be decided based on the given elements & programs & international competitive level during JSF's selection meeting scheduled in June. Second spot will be basically given to the skaters who placed higher than other skaters who placed top 4 or higher in the first JGP event.
2) Ice Dance
Teams will be selected based on international competitive levels during JSF's selection meeting scheduled in June.

 

[rosewood]

Here is a link to a video which shows how Sota Yamamoto's rehab going. In this news clip the narrator says he starts working on jumps from June and he'll make a "full-comeback" in October when Sr GP circuit starts. I assume he'll go up to senior field from this coming season.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4cv6ps_山本草太-16-リンクに復帰_sport

Marin skated Spring Sonata in a costume for next season. (Not mentioned for which program, though.) She says what she likes about the costume is "sparkling."
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4d8luw_faoi-新衣装のこだわりは_sport

Another clip which has glimpses from FoI (focus is on Marin).
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4d0zo1_faoi-夢の共演_sport

 

[rosewood]

Belated update. Here is an article of Takahashi/Shibata (published on May 18).
http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20160518-00000123-nksports-spo
(my rough translation)
.....
[Ryo] Shibata makes a comeback as a member of Kinoshita Club by changing his fields from singles to pairs. In singles field he placed 5th in 2002 Nationals and 10th at 2006 CoR of GP circuit. "I'll do my best to keep progressing by being focused in daily training to be on a podium in international competitions," he announced his comment.

[Narumi] Takahashi, who parted with Alexandr Zaboev (from RUS) last year, announced "We'll do our best aiming at our goals. I'm so much excited with this new start. Seriously, as well as enjoying, I aim at making an Olympic podium."

They've started training in Chicago.

A photo of Shibata: http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20160518-00000123-nksports-spo.view-000

 

[rosewood]

See what Kozuka exactly does in Toyota.
https://www.facebook.com/ToyotaMotorCorporation/posts/1075198035875017
http://newsroom.toyota.co.jp/jp/detail/8032147/

Toyota has a contribution program for supporting local schools in Aichi-prefecture. They cooperate with JFA, the local government and Chukyo University in the program. Two links I posted above show Kozuka visited an elementary school as one of the athletes to support kids getting familiar with sports as a part of physical education. Seems several athletes visit elementary schools, and enjoy activities with kids as well as talk about their experiences such as how they dealt with difficulties etc.

So lucky Aichi kids!

 

[kittyjake5]

What type of injury did Soto sustain? I am glad he is recovering well. He will be skating senior this season and hanging with his buddy Shoma! I am looking forward to his debut. Soto is a very talented skater.

 

[Sylvia]

Sota Yamamoto (he won Jr. Worlds bronze last year, bronze at JGPF last December, gold at YOG in February) broke his right ankle in practice right before he was to leave for Junior Worlds in March.

Here is a link to a video which shows how Sota Yamamoto's rehab going. In this news clip the narrator says he starts working on jumps from June and he'll make a "full-comeback" in October when Sr GP circuit starts. I assume he'll go up to senior field from this coming season.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4cv6ps_山本草太-16-リンクに復帰_sport

Thanks for this good news, your reply to me about Marin Honda, and all the other updates, @rosewood! P.S. And thank you for the latest info on Asada's new programs (exhibition number to Bach's Cello Suites): http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/ind...her-biggest-weapon.95911/page-29#post-4802848

 

[rosewood]

Marin skated her new SP "Smile" in Fantasy on Ice today. Judging by people's tweets it seems this costume is for Smile. According to people's tweets today's her layout was 2A / 3F 3Lo. Seems her SP has two jump passages (including a combo) in the second half.

Marin skated Spring Sonata in a costume for next season. (Not mentioned for which program, though.) She says what she likes about the costume is "sparkling."
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4d8luw_faoi-新衣装のこだわりは_sport

 

[Sylvia]

Tweeted by Marin Ono/Wesley Killing: https://twitter.com/OnoKilling/status/738722207753457664

Selected to compete in the 2016 Asian Open Trophy in Manila, Philippines (August 4-7). Our season opener is in Philadelphia, 3 weeks prior.

Ono/Killing are also scheduled to compete in July at Skate Detroit (the week after Philadelphia), along with Miu Suzaki/Ryuichi Kihara.

 

[rosewood]

Glimpses of Marin's new SP to Smile from Prince Ice World in Oita which took place this past weekend.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4fzkt9_piw-新sp-smile-を披露-2chまとめｻｲﾄのﾘﾝｸ禁止_sport

Prior to Oita show PIW had a skating lesson for kids (from elementary school to Sr high school students). The announcer says among the 90 kids there were victims of the big earth quakes in Kumamoto-prefecture.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4fmmyz_piw-大分-被災地の子どもたちとリンクへ_sport

 

[dariaparadise]

Is Marin's SP music same as this one ?
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2...ional-championships-technical-1997-1998_sport

Loved this program!