Japanese skater/skating news & updates

[sleepypanda]

Junior Worlds Assignments (for anyone who cares):
Men: HINO Ryuju, TANAKA Keiji
Ladies: MIYAHARA Satoko, HONGO Rika

[IoanaC]

The 4CC and World Teams have been announced and the JSF has decided to send exactly the same team of athletes to both events, namely:

Men: Yuzuru Hanyu, Daisuke Takahashi, Takahito Mura

Ladies: Mao Asada, Kanako Murakami, Akiko Suzuki

Dance: Reed/ Reed

I can't believe Kozuka's season ends here. I loved both his programs, especially the SP, and he's been skating so well... It's unbelievably unfair.

[l'etoile]

Congrats to Mura for his worlds debut but I cannot hide my broken hearted feeling for Kozuka

[floskate]

Not just Kozuka but Oda. Both skaters are clearly top 10 in the world and they don't even get to go to that or 4CC's? I guess in another year it may have been different but with 4CC's in Japan the JSF will want their top 3 from both events headlining. So the chances of Takahashi or Hanyu pulling out of 4CC's and Kozuka or Oda getting the nod seem pretty slim.

[paskatefan]

No Worlds for Taka? I'm heartbroken!

[essence_of_soy]

The results here seem to indicate that the fall and grand prix skating season are either bang bang bang, one event fast on another's footsteps, forcing the skaters to peak week after week, or like US Nationals used to be when they had multiple ladies who were world medallists, there was intense pressure to make the world team.

Veterans such as Kozuka, Oda and Suzuki just looked tired.

[Lara]

Watching the LP videos, I can't deny Mura's performance. But gutted. No 4CC for Taka/Oda is really harsh when the field was this competitive.

[danafan]

Congrats to Mura for his worlds debut but I cannot hide my broken hearted feeling for Kozuka

Mura was 15th at the 2009 worlds.

http://www.isuresults.com/events/cat00006677.htm

[l'etoile]

Mura was 15th at the 2009 worlds.

http://www.isuresults.com/events/cat00006677.htm

Thank you for the correction. I would certainly not wanna be one of JSF officials in this situation. Japan's men's field is sooooooooooo deep!

[Sylvia]

Re-posting from the Japan Nationals Men's FS thread in Kiss and Cry (Kozuka finished 5th overall):

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/new...004833740.html
According to the article, Kozuka had an injury at the right instep a week ago and got MRI. Taka did not reveal the details.

[tkaug]

No Worlds for Taka? I'm heartbroken!

He got his right arch injured a week before the nationals.
It is definitely because of the injury that he left out a 3Lo from his free program and put a 2A instead. This seems pretty serious so I think it was a right decision that he didn't make the World team this time.

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/new...004833740.html

As for Oda not making the 4CC team or the World team, perhaps the JSU was sending him a message.

[SamuraiK]

With 4CC being in Japan Yuzuru and Daisuke were locks but Im surprised they went with Mura again. I would have given that to 4th place Oda. Heartbroken for Kozuka but with a 5th place finish there's not much you can claim

As for Ladies, Akiko didnt make the podium so I was hoping 4CC would be given to Nishino .

An in dance , no matter they actually had a field this year (4 teams) they are only sending the Reed even when the 2nd and 3rd team have met the TES minimun internationally.

Damn this results and assignments are SOOOO frustrating.

[Jeschke]

An in dance , no matter they actually had a field this year (4 teams) they are only sending the Reed even when the 2nd and 3rd team have met the TES minimun internationally.

Damn this results and assignments are SOOOO frustrating.

the other dance teams have the tes?
didn´t know that. that is absolutely frustrating.

[Carina]

Feel sad for Kozuka :-(((

[dinakt]

No Worlds for Taka? I'm heartbroken!

So am I.I hope he does not lose heart and comes back strong in Olympic year. It is hard to accept that a Worlds Silver medalist and a skater with one of the most gorgeous SS in the business has not made the Worlds team ( or 4CC team...)

[tkaug]

I'm so glad to see Yukari Nakano having interviews with Mao and Akiko!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRdnb9HIaX0

[Marco]

With Hanyu, Takahashi, Kozuka, Machida, Mura and Oda all skating well at the GPs, I wish the Federation would at least spread the assignments around. Oda missing out on a 4CC spot after coming in 3rd in the free and narrowly missing the podium seems quite unfortunate. Hoping Kozuka a speedy recovery.

[Jeschke]

I'm so glad to see Yukari Nakano having interviews with Mao and Akiko!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRdnb9HIaX0

yukari

[kittyjake5]

Deleted. Wrong link.

[Sylvia]

Dai's Exhibition Skate at Medalist on Ice Gala with Mambo encore. Fabulous performance to live orchestra!

Here's Daisuke Takahashi's exhibition skate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVL900snjws

Other "Medalist on Ice" performances (so far):

Mao Asada: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ucvuig-WS9s

Yuzuru Hanyu: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFKe8aliMmo

Kanako Murakami: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYJv6lB_Sgc

Akiko Suzuki: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7H6sqBu1ds

Takahito Mura: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfVLgLx2Y30

Finale: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkpgFscTIeQ

Lambiel was the invited guest performer.
http://www.onice.jp/