Japanese skater/skating news & updates

[ioana]

Article about Shizuka Arakawa choreographing a FS to "Miss Saigon" for Shoko Ishikawa this season: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/sports/T111108005337.htm

Shoko was already trying to be an Arakawa clone before, so I'm not sure how this would work out. It's good to hear Shizuka is starting to choreograph, though. It was nice to see her "getting" program presentation as she matured, so it would be nice if she can have the same effect on other skaters.

[Sylvia]

In case anyone is wondering , David Wilson choreographed Daisuke Takahashi's short program according to this interview that was published on IN last month: Sochi remains ultimate goal for Takahashi

[Sylvia]

New Haruka Imai article titled "Imai embraces change": http://www.goldenskate.com/2012/02/i...braces-change/

[kittyjake5]

In case anyone is wondering , David Wilson choreographed Daisuke Takahashi's short program according to this interview that was published on IN last month: Sochi remains ultimate goal for Takahashi

Belated thanks Sylvia. I don't know how I missed this article. lol
Nice Haruka article. I am looking forward to seeing her develop, I like her a lot.

[Sylvia]

I hope it's okay to post a couple of Four Continents preview articles about the Japanese skaters here in GSD (any competition articles links will likely be posted in the Kiss and Cry section of the forum).

Japan Times' preview with a focus on Mao Asada: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sp20120208it.html
At the end is a mention of 2 new books on Takahiko Kozuka as well as:

"Beyond the Triple Axel," a 192-page tome authored by skating expert Yoshie Noguchi and issued by Shufunotomo, is an updated biography of 1989 world champion Midori Ito.

Mainichi Daily News preview with a focus on Daisuke Takahashi: http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/sport...sp129000c.html

ETA that I've also cross-posted these articles in the 2012 Four Continents forum in Kiss and Cry.

[Sylvia]

Coach Mr. Nobuo Sato was honored by the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame during Four Continents in Colorado Springs on February 10, 2012 - here are newswire photos (including ones of him posing with daughter Yuka): http://www.daylife.com/search/photos...lorado+springs

[ponta1]

Coach Mr. Nobuo Sato was honored by the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame during Four Continents in Colorado Springs on February 10, 2012 - here are newswire photos (including ones of him posing with daughter Yuka): http://www.daylife.com/search/photos...lorado+springs

How nice! And boy, does Yuka look beautiful!!

[berthesghost]

Coach Mr. Nobuo Sato was honored by the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame during Four Continents in Colorado Springs on February 10, 2012 - here are newswire photos (including ones of him posing with daughter Yuka): http://www.daylife.com/search/photos...lorado+springs

He was inducted in the hof 2 years ago!

[floskate]

He was inducted in the hof 2 years ago!

Really? Maybe he couldn't be at the ceremony back then? Midori Ito was actually inducted at Worlds in 2004 but didn't actually receive her plaque until Worlds 2007!

[midori]

Really? Maybe he couldn't be at the ceremony back then? Midori Ito was actually inducted at Worlds in 2004 but didn't actually receive her plaque until Worlds 2007!

http://mainichi.jp/enta/sports/gener...50046000c.html
According to this article, the ceremony was originally planned to be held at 2011 Worlds in Tokyo, then got postponed.

[berthesghost]

Thanks!

[Sylvia]

More on Mr. Sato being honored in Colorado Springs with touching quotes from daughter Yuka: http://web.icenetwork.com/news/artic...&vkey=ice_news

[maureenfarone]

Thanks for the links!

[Marco]

Congrats on Mr Sato. Why didn't they wait til Worlds in Nice though? I thought they usually induct people into the HOF at Worlds?

[kwanfan1818]

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sp20120208it.html
At the end is a mention of 2 new books on Takahiko Kozuka as well as:

I ordered the photo book, "Takahiko", from amazon.co.jp:
http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E5%B0%8F%E5...0&sr=8-1-fkmr0

It cost more to ship (3,000 Yen) to the US than for the book, but as a Kozuka uber it was worth it alone for a wonderful photo of him and Yuka Sato.

Here's the link to "Step by Step":
http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E3%82%B9%E3...0&sr=8-2-fkmr0

[kittyjake5]

Congratulations to Mr. Sato. Great photos, thanks for the links.

[Penniless Rostrum]

Have Reed & Reed retired or are they injured? They have been at only one competition this season.

[kwanfan1818]

Injured.

[peibeck]

I don't see anything about here (maybe it is in the 4CC thread) but at the small medal ceremony at 4CCs they allowed questions from the spectators to the medalists.

One of the questions for Mao was if she wanted to put in 2 triple axels into her free for Worlds. Mao responded that she wanted to keep working on improving her triple axel and was satisfied with landing it in the free. She hopes to keep improving it and would wait and see if she would change the layout of her long program.

When the announcer asked Ashley Wagner if she was going to up her content, she joked she was going to add a "quadruple lutz."

Mao also said the altitude made her more tired at the end of her program, but she did not feel it affected her too much, and that she felt the crowd was very, very appreciative of her skating and she wished she had done better for them (although this American found her completely captivating all week).

[bruno6]

I thought the Reeds had retired to, it seemed that every competition they entered this year,
They were beaten by younger up coming teams.