New JPN Pair: Narumi Takahashi & Ryuichi Kihara

[morqet]

Is there any update on Narumi's injury? Any idea if she's recovered enough to begin training properly with him? Could be crucial if they're hoping to be ready to compete at Nebelhorn to try to get the Olympic spot.

[Andrey aka Pushkin]

He was 10th at 2011 Junior worlds too..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeK1zL9ZghM

Well, he is already used to generic tango programs, so I guess he's half way there!

[Akira Andrea]

This is an article in “Mainichi Shinbun” in Japan.
Translating to English from Japanese.

Takahashi/Kihara pair learns from Yuka Sato coach
January 30th, 2013 JST.
By Tatsuya Haga

In January 30th, Japan Skating Federation announced formally that Narumi Takahashi (21, Kinoshita Club) who had canceled the combination of Pair with Marvin Tran (Canada) forms the new combination with Ryuichi Kihara (20, Chukyo University).
They are going to utilize U.S. Detroit as their training base and learn to both coaches of Yuka Sato and Jason Dungjen who form together the conjugal Pair as professional.

According to HIdehito Ito, the director of Figure Skating of the said Federation, Kihara seems to have participated to the meeting for experiencing the Pair Skating which was held in Chukyo University two years before. Takahashi who coached him then seems to have been eager, saying, "I would like to form the Pair with him by all means because I felt a good fit to him", and he seems to have replied to it in this year.
They train in Detroit for two months from February and are going to aim at getting the qualification to participate to Sochi Olympics in the final Olympic qualifying competition in September. Director Ito said, "Although there is an aspect not to find that it doesn't attempt together actually, too, we would like to make them strengthen aggressively because a pair among the Japanese was formed specially".

The article:
Takahashi/Kihara pair learns from Yuka Sato coach
http://mainichi.jp/sports/news/20130...50012000c.html

[kirkbiggestfan]

Sato/Dungjen makes a lot of sense on paper. Jason was a brilliant pair skater and a good coach. Having a Japanese coach in the US will help the process.
They chose busy coaches though. (Alissa and Jeremy are not going to Worlds and their season is over)

[kylet3]

I know Yuka and Jason are busy coaches but I actually think this will be a good fit for them, Yuka was a singles skater, but her and Jason did do some shows and pro-ams and I was extremely impressed with her ability to pick it up just like that (their throws were worthy), granted she was already a world champion, but I think she will be able to help Kihara transition into pairs, and hopefully they can pick it up and do well. Would like to see them compete at the Olympics.

[Ziggy]

They are definitely the "it" coaches at the moment but they have so many skaters, I wonder whether they will be able to devote a lot of their time to T/K.

And they haven't produced any pair teams yet so their ability in this regard is a big unknown.

[Erin]

Jason coached the Hartsells when they won the National title in 1999 - I remember because it seemed like a bit of a fun twist that Jason was coaching the team that beat Ina & Zimmerman, who were "supposed" to win, after Ina dumped him for Zimmerman. That said, Jason was part of a coaching team that included Johnny Johns, who has lots of experience with pairs coaching, so it's hard to say how much of the credit goes to Jason.

[pingu]

And he is also co-coaching Berton/Hotarek.

[Akira Andrea]

Translating to English from Japanese

January 30 th, 2013 JST

Good news

Hello!

My new partner was decided.
It is Ryuichi Kihara of Chukyo university.

I have known Kihara well, because I used to have been to the international competitions together with him many times since the Junior ages.
I'm very glad that I can aim at the world together with him in Pair this time.
For the last three months after the surgical operation, I sometimes had spicy times, but could restart like this thanks to your mental support.
Really, thank you very much.

Please support the pair Ryuichi Kihara / Narumi Takahashi from now on.

Narumi

The official blog of Narumi Takahashi"The fairy on the Ice"
http://ameblo.jp/narumi-takahashi/