Japanese figure skating 2025-26 season news & updates

Yesterday I saw Aoki’s name newly posted to some competition and now I can remember what it is! I so love watching her. I wonder if both she and Rino should consider ice dance.
 
An interesting article about Yuma Kagiyama's FS music Turandot.

number.bunshun.jp

「グラミー賞アーティストが…前代未聞」鍵山優真の新フリー『トゥーランドット』はなぜ特別なのか？ 振付師が明かす「ユマの中にある情熱」（田村明子）

9月14日に終了したロンバルディア杯で、鍵山優真は今季の新フリー「トゥーランドット」を披露した。怪我でジャンプの難易度を落としていたとはいえ、音楽と一体となった流れるような滑りは圧巻で、演技構成点は全選手のトップ。総合285.91でイリア・マ
number.bunshun.jp number.bunshun.jp

Nicole:
"After working together for several years, I sensed there was still passion buried deep inside Yuma. He needed music to unleash it. Yuma possesses an incredibly sensitive musical sense, and has continued to grow as an athlete, an artist, and a human being."

Christopher Tin (a two-time Grammy Award winner who created the ending part of Turandot and edit it further for Yuma to make it suitable for the FS):

- Nicole gave him detailed instructions on what kind of melody was needed at each specific moment when creating the choreography.

"Adapting the music to the program's requirements was a major challenge. Lori carefully explained to me when Yuma would jump, where he would pause to catch his breath, and even about the rules of competitive skating. It was far more complex than any of my previous collaborations for films or video games."

"The music is still in development. We plan to record the vocals with the two lead actors in a few weeks, and they will be added to the final version."

--

So there will be vocals in Yuma's FS music!
 
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Ikura Kushida ＆Koshiro Shimada RD (Chris Reed Trophy, Sept. 23, 2025)

www.youtube.com

【フィギュア】　クリス・リード杯　櫛田育良/島田高志郎組　＊映像のみ

【フィギュア】　2025第４回クリス・リード杯　シニア・リズムダンス　櫛田育良/島田高志郎組＊権利の都合上、楽曲はカットしております＊大会側の許可を得て演技映像を掲載しております2025年５月結成！愛称「いくこう」！櫛田育良/島田高志郎が実戦デビュー！場所：長野県軽井沢　「風越公園アイスアリーナ」♪Got The...
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com

- No music due to copy rights, but there are other behind the scene clips and interviews (in Japanese). You need to set VPN as Japan to view this.
 
Score updates from Regionals/Intls

SENIOR MEN Regional Scores
Sota Yamamoto 246
Shun Sato 244
Nozomu Yoshioka 236
Kao Miura 219
Sena Miyake 217

Upcoming at Kinki Regionals - Tomono (236 Kinoshita), Tsuboi (231 Kinoshita), Shunsuke (203 Kinoshita), Haru Kakiuchi (203 Kinoshita)

Assumed Bye- Yuma Kagiyama (285 Lombardia)

Top Junior Scores from JGP
Rio Nakata 246
Taiga Nishino 233
Sena Takahashi 225
Shun Uemura 212
Ryoto Mori 206
Daiya Ebihara 201

Current Top 5 Intl Scores, Senior- Yuma 285, Sato 254, Tomono 236, Sota 233, Kao 233


SENIOR WOMEN Regionals

Rion Sumiyoshi 200
Rino Matsuike 194
Ami Nakai 192
Mako Yamashita 190
Yuna Aoki 181
Mana Kawabe 181
Rinka Watanabe 173
Kinayu Yokoi 171
Miyabi Oba 164
Maria Egawa 158

Assumed Bye- Mone Chiba (216 Kinoshita), Kaori Sakamoto (203 Kinoshita), Wakaba Higuchi (159 Kinoshita),

Upcoming at Kinki Regionals- Hana (180 Kinoshita), Mai Mihara (no score yet)... Saki Miyake (196 Kinoshita) is upcoming at ChuShiKyu Regionals.

Top Scores from JGP
Mayuko Oka 199
Mao Shimada 199
Mei Okada 190
Haruna Murakami 186
Sumika Kanazawa 185
Kaoruko Wada 180

Current Top 5 Intl Scores, Senior
Mone 216, Rion 209, Ami 206, Kaori 203, Saki 196
 
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Cross-posting for someone who might be interested:

You can find many videos of Japanese Regionals that have been taking place now here: https://www.instagram.com/skateinjapan/

Chubu Regional
Sota Yamamoto (Sr Men 1st)
SP: https://www.instagram.com/p/DO_kjqrglItvJYQJQc3M8QABNz2G-ZC17hooT40/
FS: https://www.instagram.com/p/DO_yA6_gtCLbtnbgH1qvg7AvIVfu379bDbd3HE0/

Rino Matsuike (Sr Women 1st)
SP: https://www.instagram.com/p/DO_mB7pAlJ5zw_U37_bHP2OJGdm4GzUr_6jK9I0/
FS: https://www.instagram.com/p/DO_zLR0gp0MTxMBWna39SmcFGqEuvqfj2PilNA0/

Tokyo Regional
Shun Sato (Sr Men 1st)
SP: https://www.instagram.com/p/DPBRR1Rgk45anyBd05aKRqqBR1aVQphFRFxHHg0/
FS: https://www.instagram.com/p/DPBYc3tgl0AUaNsKtqhAIiwDCOLUJCtBJcUBY00/

Nozomu Yoshioka (Sr Men 2nd)
SP: https://www.instagram.com/p/DPBQ19TAoOFNq-1Asvhhq1BkOYpYDpdaVmjpnk0/
FS: https://www.instagram.com/p/DPBYMuSAosLMQb3fbStzh17X5PAMXizN6-xQ7o0/

Kao Miura (Sr Men 3rd)
SP: https://www.instagram.com/p/DPBRAnoArV9p44OqN_sakw2MYOVYCCwqjzBwzY0/
FS: https://www.instagram.com/p/DPBYDvKggzDL_jbbDtoC-Z8s8ksGDKp5_umR440/

Rion Sumiyoshi (Sr Women 1st)
SP: https://www.instagram.com/p/DPBTfYSggxmKsLXPLpAPko0yuBL1ycHyWMEBck0/
FS: https://www.instagram.com/p/DPBaB5FAlIf3QqE1yuleir5mXcBGZEU2YktHek0/

Ami Nakai (Sr Women 2nd)
SP:https://www.instagram.com/p/DPBTPdRAs4kVMH_JY3XD-ACwHxUapHuXYCedEM0/
FS: https://www.instagram.com/p/DPBZ22cglZpVu1OXWzNKCqn-K-I4YX6d59ofKs0/

Yuna Aoki (Sr Women 3rd)
SP: https://www.instagram.com/p/DPBTCWTgiqDpaI-Ep77-i86q-vSHR4zuoKnu600/
FS https://www.instagram.com/p/DPBZfkEAjm1WrrEgmxNGUo1C5vO9aYXzI6PLg80/
 
Score updates from Regionals/Intls

SENIOR MEN Regional Scores
Sota Yamamoto 246
Shun Sato 244
Kazuki Tomono 237
Nozomu Yoshioka 236
Kao Miura 219
Sena Miyake 217

Assumed Bye- Yuma Kagiyama (285 Lombardia), Tatsuya Tsuboi (231 Kinoshita)

Haru Kakiuchi somehow only scored 82.15 total points at Kinki Regionals so I am wondering if his NHK assignment may be in jeopardy?

SENIOR WOMEN Regionals

Rion Sumiyoshi 200
Saki Miyake 198
Rino Matsuike 194
Ami Nakai 192
Mako Yamashita 190
Mai Mihara 187
Yuna Aoki 181
Mana Kawabe 181
Rinka Watanabe 173
Kinayu Yokoi 171
Miyabi Oba 164
Hana Yoshida 167
Maria Egawa 158

Assumed Bye- Mone Chiba (216 Kinoshita), Kaori Sakamoto (203 Kinoshita), Wakaba Higuchi (159 Kinoshita),
 
Daisuke Takahashi, who skated to La Strada at the Vancouver Olympics, helped Ami Nakai, the winner of 2025 Grand Prix de France, refine her short program to the same music for this season.

www.sponichi.co.jp

17歳・中井亜美「100点です！」3A決めSP今季世界最高　五輪へニューヒロイン候補 - スポニチ Sponichi Annex スポーツ

女子SPが行われ、GPデビュー戦の17歳・中井亜美（TOKIOインカラミ）が自己ベストを9・00点も大幅更新する今季世界最高78・00点で首位発進した。来年…
www.sponichi.co.jp www.sponichi.co.jp
 
Rika Kihira / Shingo Nishiyama RD at 2025 Western Sectional.
This RD came second after Ikura Kushida / Koshiro Shimada.
Then told they only had time to practice this program for about one month :oops: .

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com

Ikura Kushida / Koshiro Shimada RD (1st at 2025 Western Sectional)

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
 
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Do we have the official Olympic selection document/criteria from the JSF anywhere?
 
Karen-W said:
Do we have the official Olympic selection document/criteria from the JSF anywhere?
Click to expand...
This is from user YuBluByMe on GoldenSkate.

Women
The Current Olympic Selection Pool

A.
  1. National champion will be selected.
  • TBD
B.
  1. Second and third at Nationals
  2. Top two GPF competitors
  3. Top three SB
  • TBD
  • Nakai, Sakamoto
  • Sakamoto (227.18), Nakai (227.08), Chiba (217.23)
C.
  1. Top three world standing
  2. Top three season rankings
  3. Top three highest average score in two competitions, including domestic competition
  • Sakamoto (1), Chiba (2), Yoshida (11)
  • Chiba (1), Nakai (3), Sakamoto (4)
  • Sakamoto (225.71), Nakai (223.99), Chiba (217.23),
Selection Pool: Sakamoto, Nakai, Chiba, Yoshida

Anyone not in the selection pool will need to place within the top three at Nationals to be considered for the Olympic team.
Click to expand...
Men
A.

  1. National champion will be selected.
  • TBD
B.
  1. Second and third at Nationals
  2. Top two GPF competitors
  3. Top three season’s best
  • TBD
  • Kagiyama, Sato
  • Kagiyama (302.41), Sato (292.08), Miura (253.69)
C.
  1. Top three world’s standing
  2. Top three season ranking
  3. Top three highest average score in two competitions, to include domestic competition
  • Kagiyama (2), Sato (5), Miura (11)
  • Kagiyama (2), Sato (4), Tomono (9)
  • Kagiyama (294.83), Sato (288.90), Tomono (248.52)

Selection Pool: Kagiyama, Sato, Miura, Tomono

Any skater not currently in the selection pool will need to make the podium at Nationals to be considered for the Olympic team.
Click to expand...
 
I'll put my wagers in early now two weeks before Japanese Nationals.

I can't imagine Yuma Kagiyama and Shun Sato NOT being sent to Milano-Cortina. I actually predict Rio Nakata to be the 3rd man on the podium, but Kazuki Tomono will be Japan's third Olympian this year. Admittedly, I'm betting a little w/my heart here.

Similarly, I can't imagine that the Japanese ladies' trio to Milano Cortina NOT consisting of Kaori Sakamoto, Mone Chiba, and Ami Nakai. Ami Nakai was my mild shocker this season! I knew she has the goods, but after failing to medal at Jr. Worlds last season, I honestly thought she'd be competing junior internationally again this season. To see her list on the Grand Prix circuit and doing as phenomenally well as she did was a shock and an even bigger shock, respectively!!

Your thoughts...
 
"【Japan Skating Federation】 Based on the selection criteria for dispatch athletes to the 2025-26 season international figure skating competitions, we hereby publicly disclose the selection target athletes as of the end of the Grand Prix Final, as per the attached document. *Note: The final selection target athletes will be determined based on the competition results of the All Japan Championships" https://x.com/figureskate_bot/status/2000475232969400709
Link to JSF's Dec. 15, 2025 document: https://www.skatingjapan.or.jp/common/img/info/fs_senkoutaishou2025_1215.pdf

Translation summary please? :)
 
Sylvia said:
"【Japan Skating Federation】 Based on the selection criteria for dispatch athletes to the 2025-26 season international figure skating competitions, we hereby publicly disclose the selection target athletes as of the end of the Grand Prix Final, as per the attached document. *Note: The final selection target athletes will be determined based on the competition results of the All Japan Championships" https://x.com/figureskate_bot/status/2000475232969400709
Link to JSF's Dec. 15, 2025 document: https://www.skatingjapan.or.jp/common/img/info/fs_senkoutaishou2025_1215.pdf

Translation summary please? :)
Click to expand...
It just lists the athletes who meet the selection criteria currently for the Men & Women which match the skaters listed in this post - https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...25-26-season-news-updates.112906/post-6851591
 
This interview with Kao Miura is very interesting. He explains how his season has been going, how he has been preparing for Japan Nationals, how other skaters, such as Shun Sato and Wakaba Higuchi, have been helping him, how a sports psychologist has changed his approach to competition, and his relationship with Ilia Malinin.

It is not behind a paywall, so I suggest machine translating it if you are interested.
meisupo.net

（11）全日本直前インタビュー　三浦佳生「エントリー１番、自分、終わり。Flow do it ^_^」 – 明大スポーツ新聞部

国内最高峰の大会である全日本選手権（全日本）がいよいよ12月19日に開幕する。この大舞台のために選手は日々研さんを積んできた。今シーズンの大一番を前に、選手それぞれの思いを伺った。 （この取材は12月12日に行われたも […]
meisupo.net meisupo.net

A few excerpts:

About Ilia and Japanese
- When Malinin used the word “super (meccha),” it sparked speculation that Miura had taught it to him.

Kao: “I don't remember exactly what I taught him, but I taught him quite a bit (laughs). I definitely remember teaching him ‘super.’ He also remembered words like ‘delicious’ and ‘right, left,’ so he must be studying Japanese pretty hard himself.”

About Shun and toeloop jump
―What kind of advice did you get from Shun about jumps?

Kao: "I was feeling uneasy about my toeloop, but Shun was so stable and never messed up. He jumps so lightly. So I asked him 'How do you do it?' Before, his answers were like ‘I just jump and it works,’ so I couldn't really rely on them. This time, I asked half-jokingly, and he gave me some pretty serious advice. He said, ‘Last year I kept messing up, so I practiced just the toeloop part over and over, focusing on its track and timing.’ I thought ‘Oh, I see. That's super helpful (laughs).’ I asked expecting I'd get a joke from him, but it turned out to be really solid advice. My form improved after that, so I'm really grateful."

About Wakaba and loop jump
―You posted an Instagram story before about how you got loop advice from Wakaba and finally got the hang of it.

Kao:“Back then, I kept getting so close but couldn't land it. I kept wondering why and she said, ‘You're tightening up after you've already been up, so you don't have enough room (for the rotation).’ She explained that by tightening while going up — or rather, consciously leaning forward slightly— which would help you tighten as you go up. I nailed it on the first try, so I was like, ‘Whoa!’ (laughs). Once she said it, it totally made sense. That really made things better for me.”

About the importance of mental care
―You also received mental care under Mr. Shunichi Tsuji, right?

Kao: "Honestly, I used to think mental stuff didn't matter much. I figured if I just went with my feelings, I could get by. But I realized it wasn't about getting sick or anything like that—it was training in how to manage a competition. It was a necessary thing.
To put it simply, just wanting to win and pushing forward with that alone won't cut it. The key is to keep your mind content and peaceful, and then you can give your absolute best and achieve peak performance.
During practice, I think everyone gets frustrated sometimes when things just aren't going well. That's when the bad mood creeps in, and that's what really gets in the way of your performance.

When I first went to see Mr. Tsuji, he had me write down the differences between being in a good mood versus a bad mood. Things like having a broader perspective or finding stairs easier to climb. From there, I gradually built up my own understanding of the value of being in a good mood. Even knowing that, though, when it came to practice, that bad mood inevitably surfaced. And in competitions, tension and anxiety would bring out that bad mood. So the training (with Mr. Tsuji) was about how to transform that into a good mood."
 
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