2023 Japan Open, October 7 + Carnival on Ice gala

[Sylvia]

Japan Open: https://jo-coi.com/jo.html
Kinoshita Group Cup Figure Skating Japan Open
Saturday, October 7, 2023
Saitama Super Arena

Team Japan: Koshiro Shimada, Kazuki Tomono, Kaori Sakamoto, Satoko Miyahara

Team North America: Ilia Malinin, Jason Brown, Isabeau Levito (debut), Mariah Bell

Team Europe: Kevin Aymoz, Morisi Kvitelashvili, Loena Hendrickx, Kimmy Repond (debut)

Guests: Riku Miura & Ryuichi Kihara, Gabriella Papadakis & Guillaume Cizeron


Carnival on Ice: https://jo-coi.com/coi.html
Performers in the exhibition include all the the skaters listed above plus:
Stéphane Lambiel
Shoma Uno
Shizuka Arakawa
Hana Yoshida
Utana Yoshida & Masaya Morita


Live streaming ticket info (registration required for the free Zaiko account): https://l-tike.zaiko.io/e/jo-coi2023

*You will need to purchase a viewing ticket to watch the live broadcast.
*Live streaming will be in real time. If you watch from the middle of the broadcast, you will start watching from that point. Rewinding and repeating playback is not possible.
*You cannot watch the live broadcast after it has finished. Also, there is no archive distribution.
*Due to rights issues, some videos and music may not be available for distribution.

ETA:

Official Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/jocoi2023_official_account/

Jason says he will debut his FS to The Legend of Tarzan, choreographed by Rohene Ward, at the Japan Open: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxuFpo6JjXp/

 

[Sylvia]

Kimmy Repond's message: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cx48MtiOfgf/

Jason working with Rohene on his new programs for Japan Open: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cx-f-jluZ7H/

 

[On My Own]

Who the heck out there is going "mmmm mm! I loves me some Morisi! "? One of the most confounding choices I could think of for a fluff event. Was Vasiljevs not available for Europe?

 

[tony]

Who the heck out there is going "mmmm mm! I loves me some Morisi! "? One of the most confounding choices I could think of for a fluff event.

Japanese audiences like him just fine, and as I've said elsewhere- he was often invited to the gala performances even when his placement didn't warrant it.

You're on Twitter quite a bit; I'm sure it wouldn't take much work to find some superfans.

 

[bladesofgorey]

I can't stand Morisi's presentation/skating at competitive events, but his genie show program was extremely entertaining. Impossible to believe it's the same person- but I can understand why he'd be invited to a fluff event.

 

[Evgeniafan]

Who the heck out there is going "mmmm mm! I loves me some Morisi! "? One of the most confounding choices I could think of for a fluff event. Was Vasiljevs not available for Europe?

Its really upsetting that Deniss did not get the spot. His coach is there already. Plus Deniss is popular in Japan. Its not right.

 

[tony]

Its really upsetting that Deniss did not get the spot. His coach is there already. Plus Deniss is popular in Japan. Its not right.

Every year I feel like there's something that triggers people with this invitational cheesefest.

It's 'right' because there's no standard for selecting the athletes.

ETA- I've already detailed in previous posts that it seems the organizers try to throw a retired/recently retired skater into each team as often as they can. With Bell and Miyahara here, it's not far-fetched to think that's a part of why Morisi was selected on top of already being popular from his gala skates.

 

[On My Own]

Its really upsetting that Deniss did not get the spot. His coach is there already. Plus Deniss is popular in Japan. Its not right.

I don't think it's 'right' or 'wrong' because it's a fluff event, I am loling at Morisi being invited over someone better. I didn't like that Aladin gala (or blue genie whatever).

You're on Twitter quite a bit; I'm sure it wouldn't take much work to find some superfans.

Of Morisi Kvitelashvili? I will try to keep my eyes pealed.

Japanese audiences like him just fine, and as I've said elsewhere- he was often invited to the gala performances even when his placement didn't warrant it.

Yes, I'm aware he seems an ISU favorite for some baffling reason.

 

[Sylvia]

sponichitokyophoto has official practice photos: https://www.instagram.com/sponichitokyophoto/

Absolute Skating as well: https://www.instagram.com/absoluteskating/

Why is Paddington on the ice? : https://www.instagram.com/p/CyDxFO3pqRF/

 

[On My Own]

X

twitter.com

Wow IDK man. Seems a bit less popular than Hanyu, IMO.

(I think it's obvious they invite him because he's Georgian - small skating fed and all - and he had Eteri power behind him for a bit, so he had tangential "popularity", and a European Medal to boot. Probably invited him here because he retired and it would be "nice")

 

[airgelaal]

Loena

 

[Evgeniafan]

X

twitter.com

Wow IDK man. Seems a bit less popular than Hanyu, IMO.

(I think it's obvious they invite him because he's Georgian - small skating fed and all - and he had Eteri power behind him for a bit, so he had tangential "popularity", and a European Medal to boot. Probably invited him here because he retired and it would be "nice")

Deniss is small fed and he has a European medal.

 

[On My Own]

Deniss is small fed and he has a European medal.

Not retired This is probably a retirement gift + I'm sure he's looking for work so Japanese can be excessively polite

 

[YukiNieve]

My friend saw Eteri there.

 

[On My Own]

Ramen sister just won't pack her "vitamins" and go.

 

[YukiNieve]

Mariah with Jason and Ilia in K&C

 

[YukiNieve]

The photos

フィギュアスケート　ジャパンオープン ［写真特集4/4］ | 毎日新聞

試合前、会場にあいさつする欧州の選手たち＝さいたまスーパーアリーナで2023年10月7日、猪飼健史撮影

mainichi.jp

 

[Sylvia]

2023 Japan Open results page: https://www.jsfresults.com/InterNational/2023-2024/japanopen/index.htm

1 Team Japan 614.79 - JSF's clip of the happy team: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyFov2mpKqs/
2 Team North America 577.87
3 Team Europe 543.31

Men - Free Skating protocols: https://www.jsfresults.com/InterNational/2023-2024/japanopen/data0105.pdf

Pl.	Competitor	Nation	TSS	TES	PCS	CO	PR	SK	Deduction	StN.
1	Ilia MALININ	USA	193.91	109.25	84.66	8.42	8.50	8.50	0.00	#6
2	Kazuki TOMONO	JPN	177.72	89.78	87.94	8.83	8.83	8.75	0.00	#5
3	Koshiro SHIMADA	JPN	164.26	83.21	81.05	8.25	8.17	7.92	0.00	#2
4	Kevin AYMOZ	FRA	155.20	69.88	86.32	8.75	8.67	8.50	1.00	#4
5	Jason BROWN	USA	144.38	59.20	85.18	8.67	8.33	8.58	0.00	#3
6	Morisi KVITELASHVILI	GEO	125.17	55.70	70.47	7.08	7.00	7.08	1.00	#1

Women - Free Skating protocols: https://www.jsfresults.com/InterNational/2023-2024/japanopen/data0205.pdf

Pl.	Competitor	Nation	TSS	TES	PCS	CO	PR	SK	Deduction	StN.
1	Kaori SAKAMOTO	JPN	149.59	77.26	72.33	9.00	8.92	9.17	0.00	#6
2	Loena HENDRICKX	BEL	140.31	69.31	71.00	9.00	8.92	8.67	0.00	#5
3	Isabeau LEVITO	USA	135.63	67.55	68.08	8.75	8.75	8.00	0.00	#4
4	Satoko MIYAHARA	JPN	123.22	54.89	68.33	8.67	8.67	8.25	0.00	#3
5	Kimmy REPOND	SUI	122.63	59.64	62.99	7.75	7.92	7.92	0.00	#2
6	Mariah BELL	USA	103.95	45.20	58.75	7.25	7.50	7.25	0.00	#1

 

[Lana K]

Have videos from Japan Open popped up anywhere yet? YouTube isn't yielding anything for me.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Have videos from Japan Open popped up anywhere yet? YouTube isn't yielding anything for me.

been wondering the same thing, I can’t find anything, and I really would like to see Loena

 

[airgelaal]

been wondering the same thing, I can’t find anything, and I really would like to see Loena

Loena https://youtu.be/722Tf9rItLs

 

[Allskate]

Here is Kaori's performance. Watch it while you can:

åæ¬ è±ç¹ ãã£ã®ã¥ã¢ã¹ã±ã¼ãã¸ã£ãã³ãªã¼ãã³ 2023 / Kaori Sakamoto. FS. Japan Open 2023

åæ¬ è±ç¹ ãã£ã®ã¥ã¢ã¹ã±ã¼ãã¸ã£ãã³ãªã¼ãã³ 2023 / Kaori Sakamoto. FS. Japan Open 2023

www.youtube.com

ETA: And here is Ilia's:

ÐлÑÑ Ðалинин / Ilia Malinin. FS. Japan Open 2023

Ilia Malinin. FS. Japan Open 2023

www.youtube.com

 

[Lanie]

That program from Leona is

 

[Allskate]

That program from Leona is

It's very Loena. I know the music kind of invites arm choreography, but I wish she had used this music for an exhibition.

ETA:
The video quality isn't very good, but here's an Instagram video of Jason Brown's Tarzan program:

@tccskaterss on Instagram: "Jason performed his new free program 'The Legend of Tarzan' at Japan Open. He earned 144.38 (TES: 59.20; PCS: 85.18). #jasonbrown"

tccskaterss on October 6, 2023: "Jason performed his new free program 'The Legend of Tarzan' at Japan Open. He earned 144.38 (TES..."

www.instagram.com

Papadakis and Cizeron from Carnival on Ice videos are on youtube.

Mentioning that they haven't decided whether they will compete again:

Papadakis-Cizeron Japan Open

www.youtube.com

In Line:

Papadakis-Cizeron Carnival on ice 2023 In Line

www.youtube.com

Roses. They can really make this kind of quieter, slower music work:

Papadakis-Cizeron Japan open 2023 Roses

www.youtube.com

Ditto for Shoma:

2023 Carnival One Ice Shoma Uno FS

www.youtube.com

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Loena https://youtu.be/722Tf9rItLs

DIVVVVVAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

OMG Team Jorik nevvvvvvveeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrr disappoints

wowwwww. After watching this a second time, I’d like to personally choreograph myself some more voguing arm movements in the Madonna footwork at the end, it needs more vogue style movements.

I think like starrs short program is going to get rave reviews and negative reviews from the prudish. Lol.

VIVA LA DIVAAAAA

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

but I wish she had used this music for an exhibition.

noooooo. She also used madonna frozen in the PyeongChang Olympics.

with Exogenesis and warhorses to no end out there, anything that’s refreshing like this is going to get an A from ANL

 

[Allskate]

with Exogenesis and warhorses to no end out there, anything that’s refreshing like this is going to get an A from ANL

There are options other than warhorses and Madonna. This program isn't exactly Loena extending herself or figure skating musically and choreographically. But, I'm sure she loves it, so that is a plus in my book.

I don't think "prudishness" is going to have anything to do with why people don't care for the choice of music and choreography.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

There are options other than warhorses and Madonna. This program isn't exactly Loena extending herself or figure skating musically and choreographically. But, I'm sure she loves it, so that is a plus in my book.

i’ve watched the third time just now, maybe a costume that’s a bit more elevated but I know her costumes are very Loena kind of like how Denise Biellmann was as a professional

I like this, but I also think there is more they can do with this

 

[Allskate]

i’ve watched the third time just now, maybe a costume that’s a bit more elevated but I know her costumes are very Loena kind of like how Denise Biellmann was as a professional

I like this, but I also think there is more they can do with this

On a superficial note, I would like them to start by not having those black tights over the white boots. It's very distracting.

 

[tony]

Loena is skating to a mix of music that Beyonce included in her latest album (sampling Vogue before transitioning to Madonna's original) and then performed in her Renaissance tour which had, at least in the early months of ticket sales, sold out all 57 tour stops. I was at the Tampa concert a few months ago and it was money well-spent.

I know most fans here won't know the first thing about the Renaissance album and many will probably hate both her program and Starr Andrews' short program, but younger fans certainly do know the music and will probably make the clips go viral. I think Loena's program could have more of a slow/low section, but it's still fun and fresh.