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

[Jeschke]

It's great Kanako got her farewell-skate
A pleasure it has been with her.
So much promise. Unfortunately she could not totally live up to it.
Nice to see her leave with a big smile

Side note: Did the other japanese ladies got such farewell-performances @rosewood ? Shizuka, Miki, Fumie, Yukari?

 

[rosewood]

Just announced Kanako's debut in an ice show as a pro-skater will be Hyoen which is a collaboration show with figure skaters and Kabuki actors. Happy for Kanako!

Kanako http://hyoen.jp/imgs/lower/cast_ph_murakamikanako.jpg
Hyoen's official site: http://hyoen.jp/

 

[Enchanted]

@Jeschke I'm sure they would have given the same opportunity for Mao had she wanted it.

I'm gonna miss Murakami's skating. She is such a musical skater.

Some of my favourite Murakami programs:

https://youtu.be/A_5hLymJKY4

https://youtu.be/9gsEk5wlAb0

 

[rosewood]

@Jeschke I have an impression JSF (and event organizers) are getting used to dealing with retirements of their star skaters, especially regarding Vancouver cycle or newer skaters. In the past there was a time when skaters even didn't "announce" their retirement and just moved on.

IIRC Nobu, Kozuka, Akiko, Miki, Machida and Daisuke had farewell ceremony on the ice, small or big.

ETA:
As for Mao, I think her retirement surpasses figure skating world, and if she did a farewell ceremony here in WTT, Japanese media might have focused on it. So I guess she didn't want it, and she'll say good-bye on the ice in THE ICE.

 

[rosewood]

Talking about Hyoen, does anyone remember Akio Sasaki? I'm so glad he got a role in Hyoen. He's now working as a coach as well. Go Akio!
(in a yellow costume) http://hyoen.jp/imgs/lower/cast_ph_ooshima-sasaki.jpg

 

[Jeschke]

IIRC Nobu, Kozuka, Akiko, Miki, Machida and Daisuke had farewell ceremony on the ice, small or big.

you know i am dying to see the one of miki so if you're memory can dig out where it was, i will be very

 

[Sylvia]

I started a separate thread yesterday for Kanako Murakami's retirement using posts from this thread: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/index.php?threads/kanako-murakami-retires-from-competition.101144/

Dreams on Ice (Team Japan exhibition show)
Date & Place: July 7, 8, 9 at Shinyokohama
Cast: Keiji Tanaka, Takahito Mura, Kazuki Tomono, Mitsuki Sumoto, Shun Sato, Mai Mihara, Wakaba Higuchi, Rika Hongo, Marin Honda, Kaori Sakamoto, Yuna Shiraiwa, Rion Sumiyoshi, Sumire Suto / Francis Boudreau Audet, Emi Hirai / Marien De La Asuncion, Jingu Ice Messengers
Guest: Nathan Chen
http://www.onice.jp/top.html

Guests added - Evgenia Medvedeva, Maria Sotskova and Anna Shcherbakova (expected to make her JGP debut this coming season): http://www.onice.jp/DOI17/guests.html

 

[floskate]

Super rare video - Kumiko Sato 1968 Olympics LP. Please share; I think this will be popular

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi4G5K3HoiI

 

[all_empty]

Congrats to the Japanese team for winning WTT and impressive performances from Mai and Wakaba, in particular.

On "TSL," Dave was saying it was smart for the Japanese Federation to start trotting out its junior medalists, but they've been doing that for years.

Miki Ando, Mai Asada, etc. did exhibitions at the 2002 NHK Trophy, for example (Miki landed a 4S btw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdripEE8z_A).

Truly bad luck with their Worlds placements, because even without Satoko, there are many contenders. But the retirements may provide some assignment opportunities.

 

[pollyanna]

Super rare video - Kumiko Sato 1968 Olympics LP. Please share; I think this will be popular

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi4G5K3HoiI

That's a very beautiful and strong free skate, gorgeous glide over the ice. Floskate, was she not strong in compulsory figures?

 

[kwanfan1818]

She and Janet Lynn, who was her contemporary or just behind her, have similar qualities and virtues.

 

[Loves_Shizuka]

Super rare video - Kumiko Sato 1968 Olympics LP. Please share; I think this will be popular

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi4G5K3HoiI

Love it - thank you! She is beautiful

And I can see where Yuka got her lutz technique from

 

[Josh78]

That's a very beautiful and strong free skate, gorgeous glide over the ice. Floskate, was she not strong in compulsory figures?

She was decent -- 8th in compulsories and 5th in the FS, and finished 8th overall -- but when two of the skaters you are facing are Peggy Fleming (one of the most graceful free skaters ever) and Trixi Schuba (considered the greatest figures skater ever), its hard to create your own impression if your skills don't compare to theirs, especially back then...

 

[floskate]

She was decent -- 8th in compulsories and 5th in the FS, and finished 8th overall -- but when two of the skaters you are facing are Peggy Fleming (one of the most graceful free skaters ever) and Trixi Schuba (considered the greatest figures skater ever), its hard to create your own impression if your skills don't compare to theirs, especially back then...

Decent? Errrr OK. She was one of the best free skaters in this era. Musical, airy jumps and great skating skills. I can really only think that at this point in time, Peggy and Gaby Seyfert were better. Hana Maskova perhaps but then who else??? Janet was still so young.....

 

[kwanfan1818]

Also silver medalist Gaby Seyfert, a gorgeous technical free skater from East Germany.

Figures were also valued so heavily, even in 1968, that to move up based on the FS was difficult. Osawa's 5th in the FS didn't move her up from 8th after compulsories. For a compulsories genius like Schuba, it makes sense she'd drop only two places overall even with a 12th in the FS, but here are the Top 15 from Grenoble via Wikipedia:

1 Peggy Fleming

United States 1 1 1970.5 9
2 Gabriele Seyfert

East Germany 2 2 1882.3 18
3 Hana Mašková

Czechoslovakia 4 3 1828.8 31
4 Albertina Noyes

United States 5 7 1797.3 40
5 Beatrix Schuba

Austria 3 12 1773.2 51
6 Zsuzsa Almássy

Hungary 6 8 1757.0 57
7 Karen Magnussen

Canada 10 4 1759.4 63
8 Kumiko Okawa

Japan 8 5 1763.6 61
9 Janet Lynn

United States 14 6 1698.7 90
10 Monika Feldmann

West Germany 11 13 1687.1 99
11 Sally-Anne Stapleford

Great Britain 7 17 1680.9 105
12 Elena Shcheglova

Soviet Union 13 10 1670.4 110
13 Linda Carbonetto

Canada 24 9 1662.9 111
14 Kazumi Yamashita

Japan 15 14 1639.0 139
15 Patricia Dodd

Great Britain 9 27 1634.6 140

Sally-Anne Stapleford dropped only four places after a 17th place finish in the FS. Patricia Dodd dropped only six places with a 27th pace finish in the FS. Linda Carbonetto was the only Lady with a Top 10 (9th) FS to make any real leap in the standings (from 24th in the compulsories).

 

[Sylvia]

I bumped up the 1968 Olympics videos/retrospective thread yesterday and cross-posted @floskate's link: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/in...e-the-1968-olympics.82155/page-3#post-5063604

Jack Gallagher's latest "Ice Time" column covers Team Japan at World Team Trophy (Hanyu, Mihara, Higuchi) and has more on the retirements of Mao Asada and Kanako Murakami, plus a hearsay update on Satoko Miyahara: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/.../hanyu-looks-raising-bar-going-olympic-season

 

[Spun Silver]

I love the interview with Arutunian. I have always remembered him saying years ago that Mao loved to skate so much that she just wouldnt leave the ice, and here he elaborates even more. No wonder her show is called The Ice. Patrick's comments on her humility are touching too.

“The thing I remember most is her incredible work ethic,” Arutunian said with a smile. “She would get to the rink at 9 in the morning and not leave until 9 at night. She would be there for 12 hours.”

Ice Time asked Arutunian if this was Mao’s schedule six days a week.

“No. She did that seven days a week,” he said. “It was amazing.”

 

[Pattina]

Talking about Hyoen, does anyone remember Akio Sasaki? I'm so glad he got a role in Hyoen. He's now working as a coach as well. Go Akio!
(in a yellow costume) http://hyoen.jp/imgs/lower/cast_ph_ooshima-sasaki.jpg

In an Italian FS forum, some one posted Akio's Short of his last season and was wondering about Akio' life after retirement. I was not able to find reliable news, so thank you so much @rosewood for this info. Glad Akio joined Hoyen, so he is able to fulfil his dream to skate with his good friend Daisuke in some show.

@Jeschke In the past there was a time when skaters even didn't "announce" their retirement and just moved on.

IIRC Nobu, Kozuka, Akiko, Miki, Machida and Daisuke had farewell ceremony on the ice, small or big.

Daisuke announced his retirement during a press-conference in Okayama, during a "lifetime achievement award" ceremony. He decided to retire few days before and he asked the organizers to arrange a room for a press-conference, as he had something to say. He never had a farewell ceremony on the ice and he regrets it.

“I have regrets," he [Dai] said. "I did not have a performance where I was able to make a statement that I was retiring. I got injured and stuck in a rut without being able to get out of it and that is how I finished competing."

Source: Hiro Yoshida's interview at Ice Legends 2016
https://www.ifsmagazine.com/daisuke-takahashi-new-worlds-conquer/

 

[rosewood]

In an Italian FS forum, some one posted Akio's Short of his last season and was wandering about Akio' life after retirement. I was not able to find reliable news, so thank you so much @rosewood for this info. Glad Akio joined Hoyen, so he is able to fulfil his dream to skate with his good friend Daisuke in some show.

Akio was hired by a sports complex who has an ice rink in Osaka.
Here's Akio's tweet https://twitter.com/akiolympus0319/status/820244137387536384
And here's the site of "Naniwa Sports Center" https://meijisp.jp/naniwa-sc/

Seems he was on a popular non-figure-skating magazine recently as well. He had a talk about current men's field in the article. Happy to see he's back in some spotlights.
http://ananweb.jp/news/100931/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Daisuke announced his retirement during a press-conference in Okayama, during a "lifetime achievement award" ceremony. He decided to retire few days before and he asked the organizers to arrange a room for a press-conference, as he had something to say. He never had a farewell ceremony on the ice and he regrets it.

“I have regrets," he [Dai] said. "I did not have a performance where I was able to make a statement that I was retiring. I got injured and stuck in a rut without being able to get out of it and that is how I finished competing."

Source: Hiro Yoshida's interview at Ice Legends 2016
https://www.ifsmagazine.com/daisuke-takahashi-new-worlds-conquer/

Thank you for correcting me. It was photos I saw in which Daisuke was at one of his former rink in Rinkai Sports Center (which he greatly supported not to be closed) for Maichida's farewell ceremony. It was my mistake that I misunderstood at the time that people did a belated small ceremony for Daisuke too. But now I re-read the site and found the truth was Daisuke visited there to join Machida's (and his two rink mates as well) ceremony and there wasn't any for Daisuke. It's mentioned people were not informed Daisuke's visit and they were surprised and excited. awww It's very nice of Daisuke, at the same time sad he didn't have any ceremony at all. This misunderstanding made my heart warmed a bit at the time but now finding it was not made my heart ache again. My bad.
http://rinkai.rocket3.net/images/20150329machida/P171s.JPG
http://rinkai.rocket3.net/images/20150329machida/P147s.JPG
http://rinkai.rocket3.net/machidaretire.html

However, now I'm happy he's getting momentum for playing an important role to draw some unique and interesting events like LOTF or Hyoen to Japan, as well as skating in unique shows like Ice Legends outside of Japan. I wish the experiences in the tough time will be a spring to him for starting something unique which has not existed in Japan or Japanese figure skating world. He's such an outstanding & beloved skater.

 

[rosewood]

you know i am dying to see the one of miki so if you're memory can dig out where it was, i will be very

Here you go. (photo) http://www.worldtimes.co.jp/photonews/15119.html
It was at Nagoya Figure Skating Festival 2014. There was a ceremony for Miki, Akiko, and Nobu. Miki & Akiko are Aichi natives (Nagoya is in Aichi), but Nobu is not. I don't know why together with Nobu, but he's such a lovely skater, so I don't care.

I saw videos of the show at the time but shame it seems they are taken down due to copy rights thing. Since it's Japan. duh

 

[kwanfan1818]

Linda Carbonetto was the only Lady with a Top 10 (9th) FS to make any real leap in the standings (from 24th in the compulsories).

An aside: Linda Carbonetto is married to Edward Villella.

 

[rosewood]

Prince Ice World in Yokohama is ongoing this weekend. It was the first appearance of Kanako in an ice show as a pro-skater. Machida revealed his new ex "Don Quixote Gala 2017：Basil’s Glory." His fans tweeted it had two acts. ..What? It'll be aired in a few weeks.
Kanako https://sports.yahoo.co.jp/photo/figureskate/all/dtl/2146/2/
Machida https://sports.yahoo.co.jp/photo/figureskate/all/dtl/2146/5/
PIW in Yokohama https://sports.yahoo.co.jp/photo/figureskate/all/dtl/2146/

 

[Sylvia]

^^^ Thanks, @rosewood!

Daisuke Murakami tweeted this Team Japan photo earlier today -- good to see Sota Yamamoto back (next to Shoma in top row) and Satoko Miyahara too! https://twitter.com/DaisukeMurakami/status/858316820003958785/photo/1
ETA: I believe this was taken at the Japan Institute of Sports Sciences in the National Training Center in Tokyo.

 

[rosewood]

^^^ Thanks, @rosewood!

Daisuke Murakami tweeted this Team Japan photo earlier today -- good to see Sota Yamamoto back (next to Shoma in top row) and Satoko Miyahara too! https://twitter.com/DaisukeMurakami/status/858316820003958785/photo/1

I was just posting the photo! It's what Sylvia does. lol Nice to see Sota was there included in the team! And Akihiro Sato too.

ETA:

JSF updated team Japan members for new season.
http://www.skatingjapan.or.jp/image_data/fck/file/2017/H29FS170427.pdf

Special
Hanyu, Uno, Tanaka, Mura, Miyahara, Higuchi, Mihara, Hongo, Honda M, Sakamoto
A
Hino, Tomono, Nakamura, Shimada, Sato, Sumoto, Shiraiwa
B
Miyake, Tsuboi, Kawahara, Honda T, Kishina, Hasegawa, Yamakuma, Yamamoto, Murakami, Suzuki, Matsuda, Nitaya, Kasakake Rino, Takino, Matsubara, Yokoi, Kihira
Pairs A
Suto/Boureau-Audet, Suzaki/Kihara
Pairs B
Takahashi/Shibata, Miura/Ichihashi
Ice Dance Special
Muramoto/Reed
Ice Dance A
Hirai/Asuncion
Ice Dance B
Komatsubara/Koleto, Fukase/Tateno
Synchronized Skating A
Jingu Ice Messengers

 

[rosewood]

On April 27 in Tokyo there was a tryout of ice dancers. Muramoto/Reed were there as instructors. This article says 8 teams participated. Also another tryout is scheduled on April 29-30 at Chukyo Uni's national training center. Teams who participated in the tryouts are supposed to skate in Mikasanomiya Cup (June, in Yokohama).
https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20170427-00000055-spnannex-spo

 

[rosewood]

Last week prior to the national camp (of all sports) for PyeongChang Olys, there was a JSF's awarding ceremony. Hanyu along with Nao Kodaira of speed skating were awarded the best skaters of the year by JSF. Mao received Special Award for her decorated career as well as today's prosperity of figure skating in Japan can't be the same without her presence.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5jw9gx_スケート連盟表彰式-途中から_sport

ETA:
Other figure skaters than Hanyu who were awarded for their results in this past season were Uno, Miyahara, Higuchi, Mihara, Honda, Sakamoto, Muramoto/Reed.

 

[Sylvia]

JSF updated team Japan members for new season.
http://www.skatingjapan.or.jp/image_data/fck/file/2017/H29FS170427.pdf

Thank you! I've added first names and Nationals (Junior in Nov. 2016/Senior in Dec. 2016) and 2017 Junior Worlds placements below:

Special
Men (4): Yuzuru Hanyu, Shoma Uno S1, Keiji Tanaka S2, Takahito Mura S3
Ladies (6): Satoko Miyahara S1, Wakaba Higuchi S2, Mai Mihara S3, Rika Hongo S5, Marin Honda J3/S4/JW2, Kaori Sakamoto J1/S7/JW3
A
Men (6): Ryuju Hino S4, Kazuki Tomono J1/S5/JW9, Shu Nakamura S6, Koshiro Shimada J2/S7/JW14, Hiroaki Sato S8, Mitsuki Sumoto J3/S13
Lady: Yuna Shiraiwa J2/S6/JW5
B
Men (9): Sena Miyake J6/S9, Tatsuya Tsuboi J5/S10, Sei Kawahara S11, Taichi Honda S12, Yuto Kishina J4/S16, Kazuki Hasegawa J7, Taichiro Yamakuma J8, Sota Yamamoto, Daisuke Murakami (both could not compete at Nationals due to injury)
Ladies (8): Saya Suzuki J5/S9, Yura Matsuda S10, Rin Nitaya S11, Rino Kasakake J4/S22, Rika Takino J6/S14, Akari Matsubara J7, Yuhana Yokoi J8, Rika Kihira J11 (ISU SB 18 but too young for ISU Senior)
[Side note: Mako Yamashita, who won 2 JGP bronze medals last fall, placed 16th at Junior Nationals and is not included here.]

Pairs A
Sumire Suto/Francis Boudreau-Audet S1, Miu Suzaki/Ryuichi Kihara S2
Pairs B
Narumi Takahashi/Ryo Shibata S4, Riku Miura/Shoya Ichihashi J1/JW13
Ice Dance Special
Kana Muramoto/Chris Reed S1
Ice Dance A
Emi Hirai/Marien De La Asuncion S2
Ice Dance B
Misato Komatsubara/Timothy Koleto S3, Rikako Fukase/Aru Tateno J1/JW13
Synchronized Skating A
Jingu Ice Messengers

(I'll copy over this information when the time comes for the new season's JPN news thread.)

 

[rosewood]

Super rare video - Kumiko Sato 1968 Olympics LP. Please share; I think this will be popular

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi4G5K3HoiI

Decent? Errrr OK. She was one of the best free skaters in this era. Musical, airy jumps and great skating skills. I can really only think that at this point in time, Peggy and Gaby Seyfert were better. Hana Maskova perhaps but then who else??? Janet was still so young.....

According to Satos' book named Kimi nara toberu (=I know you can fly), unfortunately Kumiko had high fever on the first day of compulsory figures. She took cold shower since her hotel room's shower was broken. It affected her performance on that day and she placed as low as below 20th. On the second day of compulsory figures she manage to recover from below 20th to 8th overall in CF. In FS she even did better and placed 5th in FS, 8th overall standing. So every time she skated she redeemed from the disappointing skating on the first day of compulsory figures. Watching the video you shared with knowing backstage scene makes me even more excited.

BTW, it was a shame timekeeper mishandled the device and the duration of her performance was recorded. I can hear Kumiko said "itte"(=tell them) to Nobuo at the rink side. Nobuo looks as gentle and supportive at the time as he is today.

Thank you very much for sharing this priceless video. I showed it to people around me. I wanted to let you know that they were very grateful to your work. They enjoyed watching TAT's video too.

 

[Marco]

On April 27 in Tokyo there was a tryout of ice dancers. Muramoto/Reed were there as instructors. This article says 8 teams participated. Also another tryout is scheduled on April 29-30 at Chukyo Uni's national training center. Teams who participated in the tryouts are supposed to skate in Mikasanomiya Cup (June, in Yokohama).
https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20170427-00000055-spnannex-spo

I am so glad they are exploring dance. There are so many mens and ladies skaters with stunning basics who just can't break through internationally because they don't have the big jumps and the consistency. The singles fields in Japan is way too tough. A talent like Yukina Ota should not go to waste in singles.

 

[Jeschke]

A talent like Yukina Ota should not go to waste in singles.

Winning junior worlds and 4CC's seems not like a total waste

Though I am totally on your team here: what could have been