Japanese skater/skating news & updates

[Jeschke]

Sorry Jeschke, since her name was in the list of the cast in the previous post, I thought it's pretty obvious without using the full name.

i´m sorry. this was more than obvious for every person besides me.
sorry, sometimes i´m losing my head somewhere

nice to see yukina otha by the way.
one of those great skaters got lost somewhere...

[YukiNieve]

At the PIW show today, Daisuke attempted 4Lz at finale.
It was 2-footted and probably UR, but a nice try!

[bartek]

At the PIW show today, Daisuke attempted 4Lz at finale.
It was 2-footted and probably UR, but a nice try!

Did Shizuka attempt one of her triple-triples?

[Sylvia]

The latest "Ice Time" column by Jack Gallagher of the Japan Times (July 11): Will Kim's return provide new motivation for Mao?

Mao just spent three weeks in Budapest working with choreographer Zoltan Nagy. She was accompanied there by older sister Mai.

While there Mao gave a compelling interview to the Hungarian Skating Federation's website. An English translation was then posted on the popular skating website www.fsuniverse.net and a few of the questions follow:

ETA: The rough translation from Hungarian to English of Mao's interview is posted here: http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/show...69#post3609169

[NMURA]

Popular athletes in Japan
http://bizmakoto.jp/makoto/articles/...5/news082.html

1 Ichiro Suzuki (MLB, NY Yankees)
2 Ryo Ishikawa (golf)
3 Yu Darvish (MLB, Texas Rangers)
4 Shinji Kagawa (football, Manchester United)
5 Hakuho (Sumo)
6 Homare Sawa (women's football)
7 Mao Asada (figure skating)
8 Shigeo Nagashima (former baseball player/manager)
8 Sadaharu Oh (former baseball player/manager)
10 Kosuke Kitajima (Swimmer)
10 Hideki Matsui (MLB)
12 Yuto Nagatomo (football, Inter Milan)
13 Shinnosuke Abe (baseball)
13 Lionel Messi (football)
13 Tomoaki Kanemoto (baseball)
13 Daisuke Takahashi (figure skating)
13 Kisenosato (Sumo)
13 Tatsunori Hara (baseball manager)
13 Keisuke Honda (football, CSKA Moscow)

It seems that Mao Asada is still supporting the Japanese skating industy. Ichiro Suzuki is the leader in past eight years, but Kagawa can overtake him in near future.

[homura]

http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/n...8-1019167.html
Japanese skating federation suggested a possible cancellation on sending Japanese skaters to Cup of China.
Mao Asada, Miki Ando, Daisuke Takahashi, Tatsuki Machida, Takahashi-Tran were originally scheduled to take part in the event.

[kittyjake5]

^Why?

[Jeschke]

http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/n...8-1019167.html
Japanese skating federation suggested a possible cancellation on sending Japanese skaters to Cup of China.
Mao Asada, Miki Ando, Daisuke Takahashi, Tatsuki Machida, Takahashi-Tran were originally scheduled to take part in the event.

ah no.

could some native speaker translate or give the main points of the article.

google translation seems to be out of control

i long for mikis comeback, please...

[Zemgirl]

I can't translate (don't speak any Japanese) but I've read about this elsewhere and my understanding is that this is due to the political conflict (real world, not the skating kind) between China and Japan.

Obviously it would be bad for the skaters, the event and the fans.

[NMURA]

The JSF president Seiko Hashimoto says, "under the current situation, we can't send athletes to China." Asada, Ando and Takahashi are scheduled to compete at Cup of China.

There are about seven weeks to COC and the "situation" will calm down in time. But if they really decide not to send Japanese skaters, I shall support. It is not the first time that the Chinese communist dictatorship is agitating anti-Japanese sentiments for their political motives. I have no trust on the Chinese side.

[MikiAndoFan#1]

^Why?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-19632042

[homura]

Yes, Japan and China are almost at war right now. Go BBC or CNN or any other news site.

[mikeko]

Anti-Japan protests erupt again across China - 16Sep2012
http://youtu.be/9UMd0kAgW7Q

Japanese firms brace for violence in China over disputed islands (+video)
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-...-islands-video

[kittyjake5]

Thanks for the article links. I am in the US and 99% of our news coverage has been on the Libyan crisis. I did hear that Japan and China were having problems but I did not realize the seriousness of the situation.

[NMURA]

not a china related news

Grand Prix Final 2013 will be held in Fukuoka city.
http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/winter...9-jij-spo.html

[ratatouille]

When you see Japanese people getting punched on the street in Shanghai only because you're Japanese or the Japanese school forced to closed temporarily and the Japanese malls and factories badly damaged, I think the federation has no choice but to think about the safety of the skaters.

[Sylvia]

The JSF president Seiko Hashimoto says, "under the current situation, we can't send athletes to China." Asada, Ando and Takahashi are scheduled to compete at Cup of China.

There are about seven weeks to COC and the "situation" will calm down in time.

Yes, emotions are running high right now but I hope tensions will ease in the near future. Tatsuki Machida and Takahashi/Tran are also scheduled to compete in Shanghai.

Side note: Lexus (of Toyota Motor Co.) is this year's title sponsor of Cup of China:
http://www.lexus.com.cn/en/news/Info.aspx?id=400
Excerpt from the Aug. 28, 2012 press release:

Starting with the title sponsorship of the Cup of China, Lexus will provide long-term and comprehensive support for the development of figure skating in China. During the signing ceremony, Lexus also announced the launch of “Lexus Figure Skating Open Day”, which is an equally exciting program under which free figure skating trainings will be provided for young people in China on a regular basis. Akira Sasaki, Chairman of Toyota Motor (China) Investment Co., Ltd. said, “There are children with no access to this elegant sport. We value the desire cherished by each and every child. We hope that with this program, we can help children in China to pursue their dreams in the skating rink.” The open day program will be a long-term initiative. After the first year in Beijing, the program will also be staged in other Chinese cities, so that the enchanting beauty of figure skating could be appreciated by young people everywhere in the country.

[FrouFrou]

Does the article state whether or not the Japanese skaters will be reassigned to other GP events?

[NMURA]

Side note: Lexus (of Toyota Motor Co.) is this year's title sponsor of Cup of China: http://www.lexus.com.cn/en/news/Info.aspx?id=400

T/T and Machida were not mentioned in the article. I sincerely hope Cup of china to be discontinued.

[Sylvia]

I sincerely hope Cup of china to be discontinued.

I don't! Let's please (all fans) not over-react due to the high tensions right now. FSU has the "Politically Incorrect" forum for that purpose: http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/showthread.php?t=85006