2023 Japan Open, October 7

[Impromptu]

Looked for a thread about this, and didn't see one...

公式サイト ジャパンオープン2023 カーニバル・オン・アイス2023 フィギュアスケート

木下グループカップ フィギュアスケート ジャパンオープン2023 木下グループpresents カーニバル・オン・アイス2023公式サイトです。10月7日（土）さいたまアリーナにて開催！

jo-coi.com

[Per google translate]


Team Japan - Koshiro Shimada/Kazuki Tomono/Kaori Sakamoto/Satoko Miyahara

Team North America - Ilia Malinin/Jason Brown/Isabeau Levito/Mariah Bell

Team Europe - Kevin Aymoz/Morisi Kvitelashvili/Loena Hendrickx/Kimmy Repond

Guest
Riku Miura & Ryuichi Kihara

 

[Evgeniafan]

I'm so happy for Kevin.

 

[airgelaal]

Morisi

 

[Evgeniafan]

Morisi

I feel the same way. Why not Deniss or Matteo?

 

[Wyliefan]

Satoko!

 

[karmena]

Not even one Canadian skater...

 

[tony]

Not even one Canadian skater...

Considering the state of Canadian skating, what were you realistically expecting? Malinin was a for-sure, and I’m sure Brown was too. Levito is the highest-ranked North American woman from Worlds, and it seems they always like to throw in a pro or otherwise ‘retired’ skater.

 

[airgelaal]

Considering the state of Canadian skating, what were you realistically expecting? Malinin was a for-sure, and I’m sure Brown was too. Levito is the highest-ranked North American woman from Worlds, and it seems they always like to throw in a pro or otherwise ‘retired’ skater.

I would expect to see Keegan.

 

[tony]

I would expect to see Keegan.

Over Malinin and Brown in Japan? In my opinion, no. Not only are they the two highest North American-ranked skaters from Worlds, but they’ve both been in Japan several times for shows in the off-season.

 

[Karen-W]

Especially since Keegan finished behind Jason at Worlds too. I mean, really, they asked the two highest ranked NA men from Worlds. Bell seems like a perfectly reasonable choice given that Glenn was 12th, Schizas 13th and Tennell 15th at Worlds.

As far as Morisi over other choices like Matteo or Deniss... Well, Deniss finished 13th at Worlds, behind the following other Euro men - Aymoz, Britschgi, Matteo, Adam, Litvintsev & Grassl. I could make a reasonable argument in favor of Matteo, Adam or Daniel ahead of Deniss, but maybe their schedules didn't work with going to Japan. Aside from that, Morisi is a decent show skater, so eh...

I love how no one is chagrined that Schott or Gubanova were passed over in favor of Repond.

 

[Alilou]

Over Malinin and Brown in Japan? In my opinion, no. Not only are they the two highest North American-ranked skaters from Worlds, but they’ve both been in Japan several times for shows in the off-season.

So has Keegan - all 3 were in The Ice which just finished I think

 

[tony]

So has Keegan - all 3 were in The Ice which just finished I think

Keegan was in the latest tour, yes. Ilia and Jason were in JSOI and maybe there one other time as well— a large part of their summers. And again, they are the two highest-ranked NA skaters anyways and I don’t see how Ilia was being left out of this. Jason is an absolute fan-favorite there, too. I still see 0 shock in those choices ??‍

 

[Rukia]

I know I shouldn't be surprised by anything at this point and yet expecting Keegan to be picked over Ilia and/or Jason is so wild to me

 

[airgelaal]

I know I shouldn't be surprised by anything at this point and yet expecting Keegan to be picked over Ilia and/or Jason is so wild to me

This is team North America, not team US. Isn't it?

 

[tony]

This is team North America, not team US. Isn't it?

The last time it was a non-100% US ‘North American’ team was 2015. Do people complain every year? Canada was in a much better spot with their singles’ skaters back then.

I still don’t get the logic of throwing in Messing just because when you have two skaters higher-ranked and with bigger Japanese fan followings. It’s a cheesefest.

 

[Rukia]

This is team North America, not team US. Isn't it?

In spirit but not always in practice. They're going to invite the bigger draws. It just makes sense.

 

[airgelaal]

I still don’t get the logic of throwing in Messing just because when you have two skaters higher-ranked and with bigger Japanese fan followings. It’s a cheesefest.

I also can't understand the logic behind Morisi's invitation, and yet they invited him.

 

[tony]

I also can't understand the logic behind Morisi's invitation, and yet they invited him.

Not super surprising. He was what, 20th or so at Worlds in Japan and still invited to the Gala. Also, as I mentioned upthread, putting one recently pro or retired skater on each team seems to be the trend. People could also be questioning the Japanese men’s selections. I remember in the pre-Olympics Japan Open in 2013, both Slutskaya and Rochette were there. One earned like 70 points total and the other landed 6 triples and only made one small mistake, which ? people into wondering whether she’d attempt a Sochi comeback.

But again, in the end it’s a cheesefest that is almost impossible to be seen outside of Japan year after year.

 

[Frau Muller]

Why not Shoma Uno for Japan - twice & reigning World Champ?

 

[Karen-W]

@tony - oh, I question the Japanese men's selections, lol. Tomono I get because he's quite entertaining, but Shimada???? Is this making up for not sending him to Worlds?

 

[sheetz]

Shimada is sponsored by Kinoshita (JO's primary sponsor) so he was always going to be on the roster.

 

[kwanette]

I feel the same way. Why not Deniss or Matteo?

Guessing because he is the "retired" skater from Europe..ie Mariah and Satoko.. Plus..the entertainment value..

 

[tennellicious]

exactly who finds Morisi entertaining? like is there a subset of spinsters whose idea of titillation is to rewatch shirtless Phillipe Candeloro exhibition from 1995 on their vhs player for the thousandth time?

I don't get it.

 

[kwanette]

exactly who finds Morisi entertaining? like is there a subset of spinsters whose idea of titillation is to rewatch shirtless Phillipe Candeloro exhibition from 1995 on their vhs player for the thousandth time?

I don't get it.

Ask Belinda Noonan..(This spinster always preferred Baboo..)

 

[Theatregirl1122]

exactly who finds Morisi entertaining?

Sometimes he's blue. Some people seem to like that.

 

[SkateFanBerlin]

So, there`s money in this? That`s why skaters go?

 

[Karen-W]

So, there`s money in this? That`s why people go?

Why else would any of the NA or Europe-based skaters go?

Money does make the world go round, after all.

 

[Frau Muller]

So, there`s money in this? That`s why skaters go?

Is Eteri still Morisi’s manager? If so, she gets 40%.

 

[Allskate]

Bell seems like a perfectly reasonable choice given that Glenn was 12th, Schizas 13th and Tennell 15th at Worlds.

I generally prefer Mariah Bell's skating to the other women. But, according to Mariah, she hasn't been doing much skating. (She's actually spending more time running and entering races.) She's not doing lutzes. So, if the choice actually were based on skating, I would prefer Amber Glenn. However, I don't think it's based on actual skating.

 

[kwanette]

I generally prefer Mariah Bell's skating to the other women. But, according to Mariah, she hasn't been doing much skating. (She's actually spending more time running and entering races.) She's not doing lutzes. So, if the choice actually were based on skating, I would prefer Amber Glenn. However, I don't think it's based on actual skating.

A retired skater..? JPN has Satoko, Europe has Morisi.