Japanese figure skating 2023-24 season news & updates

[On My Own]

Side note I finally got to watch Suzume no Tojimari and aside from ugly crying the last like 20 minutes of that movie I thought the music was really good and would make a fab program so I'm manifesting that next.

I have been wanting Kimi no Na wa for a while. Don't think anyone skated to it competitively.

 

[Rukia]

I have been wanting Kimi no Na wa for a while. Don't think anyone skated to it competitively.

I totally forget who but some Japanese woman skated to a Nandemonaiya at some competition I watched, but it was a cover by a woman in English and I was like??? (I know they did an official English version of the song but also of all the people to skate to the original someone who actually speaks the language would top my list) I would also support this though Kimi no Na wa is one of my all-time faves.

 

[On My Own]

I totally forget who but some Japanese woman skated to a Nandemonaiya at some competition I watched, but it was a cover by a woman in English and I was like??? (I know they did an official English version of the song but also of all the people to skate to the original someone who actually speaks the language would top my list) I would also support this though Kimi no Na wa is one of my all-time faves.

I totally forgot/blocked it out of my mind: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRoX0Utlfx8&ab_channel=SkatingISU (Yuhana Yokoi)

 

[On My Own]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1689518552309764098

 

[japanice]

[ICE TIME] Kao Miura Wins Twice on the Same Weekend | SportsLook

In the skating equivalent of a doubleheader, Kao Miura finished in first place in the senior men's events at the Kinoshita Trophy and the Gensan Summer Cup.

featured.japan-forward.com

 

[japanice]

[ICE TIME] Ami Nakai and Rio Nakata Sweep Gold at Junior Grand Prix in Bangkok | SportsLook

In the season-opening Junior Grand Prix in the Thai capital, Nakai and Nakata both achieved narrow victories over the second-place finishers.

featured.japan-forward.com

 

[Frau Muller]

[ICE TIME] Ami Nakai and Rio Nakata Sweep Gold at Junior Grand Prix in Bangkok | SportsLook

In the season-opening Junior Grand Prix in the Thai capital, Nakai and Nakata both achieved narrow victories over the second-place finishers.

featured.japan-forward.com

So Benoit Richaud was at the US Champs Camp, according to this.

 

[Karen-W]

So Benoit Richaud was at the US Champs Camp, according to this.

Yes, and that was reported (by me) in the US Champs Camp thread...

 

[Sylvia]

Winner's interviews by Ted Barton in Bangkok - Rio Nakata spoke in English (includes clips of his impressive 4T and 3A+3T at the beginning of his FS; his favorite skater is Shoma Uno): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFr0lnNgd8c

Ami Nakai's is in Japanese with English subtitles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwGh5ym4NSg

 

[Frau Muller]

Yes, and that was reported (by me) in the US Champs Camp thread...

@Karen-W, I didn’t read the Champs Camp thread. I was just happy to read that the French choreographer/coach made it to the US camp.

 

[japanice]

Yuzu has announced his next tour. It will begin at Saitama Super Arena on Nov. 4-5, then visit Saga in January and Yokohama in February.

Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 2nd ”RE_PRAY” TOUR　｜　羽生結弦　単独公演第3弾

羽生結弦 初のツアー開催決定。羽生自らの言葉とスケートで紡ぐ、繰り返される、魂への問いと“祈り”の物語。

repray-icestory.jp

 

[Sylvia]

Yuzu has announced his next tour. It will begin at Saitama Super Arena on Nov. 4-5, then visit Saga in January and Yokohama in February.

Article in English:

Figure skating: Yuzuru Hanyu announces 1st solo ice show tour

Two-time Olympic figure skating gold medalist Yuzuru Hanyu announces the first tour of his solo ice show in Japan.

english.kyodonews.net

At the second JGP in Linz, Austria this week, Haruna Murakami (62.66) is 2nd after landing all her jumps (3Lz, 2A, 3S+3T) in her JGP singles debut yesterday, while Ayumi Shibayama had a tough day and was 5th (53.63), less than 6 points from 3rd; FS is later today.

Haru Kakiuchi is in 4th (69.39 new ISU PB), landing 2A, 3Lz & 3F+3T, and looks to be a medal contendor in the Men's FS tomorrow. Last season's Novice A silver medalist Taiga Nishino had a very hard fall on his opening 3A and is in 16th (49.65), but shows lots of potential, IMO.

 

[japanice]

Rika Kihira has just posted on X that she is still recovering from her injury and is uncertain when she will compete this season.

 

[Hedwig]

Oh no. Same injury as before or something new?

 

[Sylvia]

Same injury:

【フィギュア】紀平梨花が中部選手権の欠場発表「今年は怪我の完治を優先」全日本の出場資格失う - フィギュア : 日刊スポーツ

フィギュアスケートの元全日本女王、紀平梨花（21＝トヨタ自動車）が4日、X（旧ツイッター）を更新し、かつて19、20年に2連覇した全日本選手権の予選となる中部… - 日刊スポーツ新聞社のニュースサイト、ニッカンスポーツ・コム（nikkansports.com）

www.nikkansports.com

Machine translated excerpt:

I have had a stress fracture of the talus in my right foot for a long time, but it got worse at last year's All Japan Championships, and although I have recovered considerably, I have not yet fully recovered, so I made this decision.
Also, I don't want to repeat last season where I couldn't give my best in practice and games while still having an injury, and my results were half-baked. I decided to prioritize the complete recovery of the injury after many meetings with the coach.

Link to Rika's post that's cited in the article: https://twitter.com/rika_kihira/status/1698607716187435319

Here's the link to the JSF's 2023-24 domestic calendar of competitions (English version): https://www.jsfresults.com/National/2023-2024/fs_e/index.htm
(I will start a thread in the Kiss & Cry section before the end of this month -- first Regional competion is Sept. 28-Oct. 1, 2023.)

ETA the link to JSF's Nationals qualifying document dated August 28, 2023: https://www.skatingjapan.or.jp/common/img/info/qualifying_2023.pdf

 

[Sylvia]

ETA the link to JSF's Nationals qualifying document dated August 28, 2023: https://www.skatingjapan.or.jp/common/img/info/qualifying_2023.pdf

Seeded player [top 3 at Nationals]
3 Sr girls Kaori Sakamoto Mai Mihara Mao Shimada
3 Sr boys Shoma Uno Koshiro Shimada Kazuki Tomono

2 Jr girls Mao Shimada Ami Nakai
Jr boy None

Sr pair 1 set Riku Miura / Ryuichi Kihara
No Sr Dance

Exempt player [bye through Regional or Sectional due to an international]:

Chubu Block [Regional]
Jr. Rena Uezono Jr.GP POL
Jr. Seigo Tauchi Jr.GP JPN
Jr. [boy] Masaya Mishima Jr.GP POL

Kinki Block [Regional]
Jr Ayumi Shibayama JrGP HUN
Jr Haru Kakiuchi JrGP HUN
Jr Shunsuke Nakamura JrGP ARM

East Japan [Sectional]
Sr Rinka Watanabe GP CAN / GP CHN
Sr Kao Miura GP CAN
Sr Wakaba Higuchi GP FRA
Sr Yuma Kagiyama GP FRA
Sr Rion Sumiyoshi GP FRA

West Japan [Sectional]
Sr Mone Chiba GP USA / GP FRA
Sr Tatsuya Tsuboi GP USA
Sr Mana Kawabe GP USA
Sr Sota Yamamoto GP CAN
Sr Hana Yoshida GP USA
Sr Takeru Amine Kataise GP FRA
Sr Rika Kihira GP CAN [but first required to compete at her Regional from which she has withdrawn ]

 

[japanice]

[ICE TIME] Haruna Murakami Makes Seamless Transition from Pairs to Singles | SportsLook

After deciding to focus on singles skating this season, Haruna Murakami placed second in her first Junior Grand Prix event of the season in Austria.

featured.japan-forward.com

 

[kwanfan1818]

Megan Duhamel posted this short clip of Nagaoka/Moriguchi's off-ice training, and Nagaoka has some core strength and balance on that half ball thing:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CxEWsRuL5YS/

And he's a beast on those one-arm lifts.

 

[Sylvia]

Post last week (Wednesday) in the GP Assignments thread:

https://twitter.com/figure365/status/1699301999379132420

NHK host spots: Tatsuya Tsuboi, Yuna Aoki, Yuna Nagaoka / Sumitada Moriguchi

 

[YukiNieve]

I fell in love with Yuma's "Rain, in Your Black Eyes" FS which has been brushed up by Carolina. Just watching the step sequence part makes me very excited for his performance this season! Yuma expresses this fast pace of this music really well.

https://twitter.com/midorimoonlight/status/1701346523433320582?s=46&t=vrPdJ9lY_NJO8ebLyx9L6

 

[japanice]

[ICE TIME] Ami Nakai Clinches Junior Grand Prix Final Berth with a Victory in Istanbul | SportsLook

Rena Uezono earned a runner-up finish in her Junior Grand Prix debut, while compatriots Rio Nakata and Daiya Ebihara were second and third in the men's event.

featured.japan-forward.com

 

[japanice]

Mao Shimada Set for JGP Season Debut in Osaka | SportsLook

Despite falling several times while trying to land the quadruple toe loop, 14-year-old star Mao Shimada cleanly hit her triple axel repeatedly.

featured.japan-forward.com

 

[tony]

I fell in love with Yuma's "Rain, in Your Black Eyes" FS which has been brushed up by Carolina. Just watching the step sequence part makes me very excited for his performance this season! Yuma expresses this fast pace of this music really well.

https://twitter.com/midorimoonlight/status/1701346523433320582?s=46&t=vrPdJ9lY_NJO8ebLyx9L6

I said it prior to the 2022 Olympics and I'll keep saying it- I've watched endless amounts of skating and have a massive archive of events from the last 6 decades. I really think he's the most well-rounded skater the sport has ever seen, and he's only continuing to get better.

 

[Sylvia]

Thanks @japanice - I willl cross-post the JGP Osaka practice report in the JGP forum in Kiss & Cry.

Game Changer: Mao Shimada ready to shine in the new season (Sept. 13): https://www.isu.org/figure-skating/...y-to-shine-in-the-new-season?templateParam=15
From the end:

A busy season is ahead and in addition to the ISU Junior Grand Prix and the ISU Junior World Championships, Shimada has set her eyes on the Youth Olympic Games as a major goal of the season.
“I want to maintain my position and keep improving my personal best," she said. “I am mostly looking forward to showing everyone my new programs.”

 

[Theatregirl1122]

I fell in love with Yuma's "Rain, in Your Black Eyes" FS which has been brushed up by Carolina. Just watching the step sequence part makes me very excited for his performance this season! Yuma expresses this fast pace of this music really well.

https://twitter.com/midorimoonlight/status/1701346523433320582?s=46&t=vrPdJ9lY_NJO8ebLyx9L6

I desperately want a healthy Yuma going forward. He was really missed in last years competitive field. It would be a huge loss to the sport if we don’t get to see many years of him at top form.

 

[japanice]

[ICE TIME] Exclusive: Tomoki Hiwatashi Moves to Japan, Now Being Coached by Mie Hamada | SportsLook

After spending the last several years training in Colorado with Damon Allen and Christy Krall, Tomoki Hiwatashi has shifted his training base to Kyoto.

featured.japan-forward.com

 

[Sylvia]

^^^ Tomoki was born in New Jersey but his formative skating years were in the Chicago area.

(Just saw this article link is cross-posted in the U.S. Men’s thread. This was also mentioned yesterday in the Coaching Change Thread that's pinned at the top of the forum.)

 

[japanice]

The story says that. “Grew up in Hoffman Estates, Illinois” and “a native of Englewood, New Jersey.”

 

[Rukia]

I said it prior to the 2022 Olympics and I'll keep saying it- I've watched endless amounts of skating and have a massive archive of events from the last 6 decades. I really think he's the most well-rounded skater the sport has ever seen, and he's only continuing to get better.

I agree and it literally takes all my will-power not to get into an internet fight with people complaining about his pcs at Lombardia like way to tell me you don't understand skating

I said this during the pbp but he is one of the few skaters who can actually use Rain in Your Black Eyes to keep building and still be matching the intensity at the end due in no small part to his glide and the way he is able to build speed and power. So, so good.

 

[japanice]

Mao Shimada and Yo Takagi Finish 1-2 at the Osaka JGP | SportsLook

During her free skate, Mao Shimada was nearly flawless as she landed eight clean triple jumps and executed the choreography of her program with precision.

featured.japan-forward.com