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

JGP#2
Men: Mitsuki SUMOTO placed 5th overall (5 5 193.13). I'm kind of a fan of Coach Onishi so I wish Sumoto will do well so that I can see Onishi in videos. hehe
Ladies: Rika KIHIRA's debut in JGP circuit was a bit bitter with a fall on the 3A. She placed 2nd overall (1 2 185.51). I was devastated with Yuna AOKI's results here. She repeated skates with mistakes like she did last season and placed 4th overall (4 4 155.79).
Paires: I quite liked Howe but Koga fell on jumps here and there. Is she injured or something? They placed 9th (9 8 135.42).

Yuna Aoki was replaced with Mako Yamashita (placed 3rd at JGP#3) at JGP#6 EST. Happy for Mako but sad for Yuna.

Sumoto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0d2AASPjmk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHOqcclc3tI
Kihira
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9hICKG960s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLB4phjJ1kA
Aoki
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5J9paROVrCY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C-WRdIiTgI
Koga/Howe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kW_eKsE-vM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZFE1Hen49o
 
JGP#3 Yokohama
Men: Kazuki TOMONO placed 6th in SP but did better in FS to place 3rd and finish in 4th overall with 212.04. Yuto KISHINA placed 9th overall (7 10 174.66). There was a rivalry between Sena MIYAKE and Koshiro Shimada in the past, but it seems Miyake is still struggling to have a breakthrough. Miyake placed 11th (14 9 162.09) here.
Ladies: Happy Kaori SAKAMOTO won this competition (1 2 187.81). She had great speed and HUGE jumps. She still has room to improve but she improved a lot from last season. Marin HONDA messed up in SP but did a strong skating in FS. She placed 2nd overall (5 1 184.11). She received a junior's highest record score in FS (128.64 67.86 60.78). She said in an interview that she aims at receiving 200 overall. We can say Mako YAMASHITA's debut in JPG series was a successful one. She has very good speed and big jumps. I have to note that Coach Yamada can teach correct edges on luz!
Ice Dance: Rikako FUKASE / Aru TATENO were cute together. They placed 6th overall (6 6 113.36). Wish they'll keep progressing.

Men's FS:
Tomono https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_Hy7-bwWtY
Kishina https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F_V5B3B9cM
Miyake https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2P1o3LjOGxY
Sakamoto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=or22n0HTqmM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMfF9ZgjgKI
Honda
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQpMtz1T6tE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UEIkefKSt8
Yamashita
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jm4C0uhoFIQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euasHIoDNDg
Fukase/Tateno
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNmzTO2vUig
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmXYdQGoQbs
Marin
Interview by Tedd
New commercial launched just before JGP Yokohama
 
Shoma had a media day today. He landed 4Lo during the practice.
Shoma: I'll not be satisfied with the new quad I can do. I'll do my best with keeping the thought in my mind that I have lots of things to work on other than that.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4tkaed_宇野選手-練習を公開_sport

The announcer said he worked mainly on 4F today, but if the consistency go better, he'll include 4Lo in his program(s).
 
Great day for Japanese ladies today! :cheer: Mai Mihara won gold at Nebelhorn Trophy and Rika Kihira gold at the JGP in Slovenia with Marin Honda taking the silver.

Mai Mihara's 7-triple FS to Cinderella (film soundtrack by Patrick Doyle), choreo. by Yuka Sato: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azJN7Bge6uQ

Rika Kihira's 8-triple FS (including clean 3A!) that won the gold in JGP in Ljubljana, Slovenia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSUEb85kiys
 
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:kickass: She's amazing, and the level of potential with her is ridiculous. I love that 3axel and her speed is impressive, she's going to be a huge star in seniors post-2018.
 
Brief summary of Tokyo regional.

Sr Ladies:
SP - Higuchi placed 1st, Nagai placed 2nd, Fujisawa 5th, Shoji 13th
protocol http://www.jsfresults.com/National/2016-2017/fs_j/block3/data0203.pdf
FS - Higuchi 1st, Nagai 2nd, Fujisawa 7th, Shoji 13th
protocol http://www.jsfresults.com/National/2016-2017/fs_j/block3/data0205.htm
Overall standing - Higuchi 1st, Nagai 2nd, Nana Matsushima 3rd, Fujisawa 4th, Shoji 14th
http://www.jsfresults.com/National/2016-2017/fs_j/block3/data0290.htm
(It's rumored Nagai injured in her ankle.)

Jr Ladies:
Akari Matsubara won SP, FS, and overall.
SP protocol http://www.jsfresults.com/National/2016-2017/fs_j/block3/data0403.pdf
FS protocol http://www.jsfresults.com/National/2016-2017/fs_j/block3/data0405.pdf
Overall standings http://www.jsfresults.com/National/2016-2017/fs_j/block3/data0490.htm
 
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but @rosewood posted this last year after Yuki Nishino won Tokyo Regionals:
rosewood said:
[2015] Tokyo Regional - Yuka Nagai(2nd), Yuki Nishino(1st). Narrator says Nishino will retire from competitions when she graduates from her Uni in next spring. Nishino's comment after LP- "I skated with the thoughts that this is my last Regional. I made a good start of this seaosn. I wish I'll do even better with the season progresses."
Click to expand...
Nishino's name wasn't mentioned in rosewood's post above about Tokyo Regionals.
 
@Jeschke Nishino skated wonderfully her long program at last Nationals. That was one of the happiest ending of a skater's competitive career I've ever seen. She together with her coach Yutaka Higuchi cried for joy right after the finish pose. :)
https://twitter.com/duLbnnbv2Djbd0b/status/747945752731652096

I thought Miyabi Oba was retiring last season too but it was my mistake. She's continuing. Aaaand Miki designed her costume this season. (Errr I don't know I like the costume, though. :shuffle:) Anyways Miki is supporting & kind of working as a sub coach under her first coach Yuko Monna who is known as a great developing coach who grew Miki, Mao, Mai etc who worked on 4S/4Lo/3A from novice years. So you have to :cheer: for them at regionals/sectionals/nationals this season!! :D

ETA:
Correction
I just remembered Nishino's swan song was last season's intercollageate competition. Here is an interview after finishing the event. She sounds pretty happy. (Use the google translation. :D) The article says she was the first ever skater who did four straight win at this competition.
http://www.meispo.net/news.php?news_id=9316

ETA2
Somewhere on net I saw Oba's costume designed by Miki but can't find now. I'll post if I find later.
 
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I'm neglecting to update the regionals (sorry @Sylvia) since I could not help keeping my eyes on my girl who skated in Finlandia Trophy ;), but this weekend there was a great battle between Kihira and Honda. They both skated clean at Kinki Regional (Kihira repeated completing the 8 triples program) and as a result Kihira won over Honda. See the news clip below. Their expressions just after they knew the results are all drama.
https://twitter.com/yuzuporuko/status/785231519770038272

ETA:
The bronze medalist was Sakamoto.
http://www.sankei.com/photo/images/news/161009/sty1610090015-p7.jpg
Kihira is still so small. Maybe around 150cm and smaller than Miyahara but taller than Midori (145cm). Three medalists in the picture are on the podium.
 
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Another clip from Kinki Regional. Kihira received 130.74 in total here. (It's over the highest world record score for Jr ladies at ISU competitions.) Reportedly Honda had bad cold and suffered from fever for two weeks before the competition. Kihira said her 3A in practice was a bit better so she wish she'll show her best 3A at the Jr GP final. Honda said it was the competition where she had fire in her mind, and she wishes the frustration (of losing) will lead her to a success at next competition.
https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/785138172325789696/pu/vid/1280x720/DF6qlILxM5QTt9wx.mp4

Round2 of Kihira vs Honda vs Sakamoto back to back is the Jr GP final. Don't miss it. :D :EVILLE:
 
Sylvia said:
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but @rosewood posted this last year after Yuki Nishino won Tokyo Regionals:
Click to expand...
thanks, it's a hard thing to keep updated ;)


rosewood said:
@Jeschke Nishino skated wonderfully her long program at last Nationals. That was one of the happiest ending of a skater's competitive career I've ever seen. She together with her coach Yutaka Higuchi cried for joy right after the finish pose. :)
https://twitter.com/duLbnnbv2Djbd0b/status/747945752731652096
Click to expand...
ah, and I missed it :wall:
seems like a moment i live for :encore:

rosewood said:
I thought Miyabi Oba was retiring last season too but it was my mistake. She's continuing. Aaaand Miki designed her costume this season. (Errr I don't know I like the costume, though. :shuffle:) Anyways Miki is supporting & kind of working as a sub coach under her first coach Yuko Monna who is known as a great developing coach who grew Miki, Mao, Mai etc who worked on 4S/4Lo/3A from novice years. So you have to :cheer: for them at regionals/sectionals/nationals this season!! :D
Click to expand...

yeah on miki back together with monna; i loved seeing them both together in mikis last appearance at nationals 2013.
the costume thing might be a different case. not for me, as i usually like them, but i know other opinions:rofl:
Great for Oba sticking around. I like when skaters do that, just hopefully only because they want to and not due to other reasons.
 
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@Jeschke I've not checked who they are yet but Miki choreographed programs for around 10 students under Monna. Have you heard it? I'd like to see the programs but it could be difficult. I'll tell you if any of them win through to Nationals and there are possibilities that their programs will be aired on TV.
 
rosewood said:
@Jeschke I've not checked who they are yet but Miki choreographed programs for around 10 students under Monna. Have you heard it? I'd like to see the programs but it could be difficult. I'll tell you if any of them win through to Nationals and there are possibilities that their programs will be aired on TV.
Click to expand...

no, i had no clue.
you are my source of japanese skating news :respec:
excited i am!
 
:watch: I've been catching up on the jr GP lately, and Marin Honda's R&J is one of the most beautiful junior programs I've ever seen. I could go on and on about her, basically once it hits you how good she really is you might exclaim wow! or holy sh!t! :kickass: I got a bit teary during "Kissing You" and she's not even old enough to know what the lyrics and emotions mean, she's incredible! A lot like Kwan too IMO (in all of the best ways). Her basic skating is also stronger than a lot of the senior ladies, I'm so impressed with her and Rika! :respec:
 
Skate America Thursday updates:

Lynn Rutherford tweeted earlier today that Daisuke Murakami's last-minute withdrawal :( "was due to a foot injury." https://twitter.com/LynnRutherford/status/789124882349064193

Rutherford also tweeted that Mai Mihara had a "clean FS run-thru, with all jumps incl. opening 3/3. Great attack." Off-ice photo: https://twitter.com/LynnRutherford/status/789201192962265088

Re. Mao Asada: https://twitter.com/LynnRutherford/status/789200206424178690
She "said she was having a bit of knee trouble, will not try 3A."
 
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Karpenko said:
:watch: I've been catching up on the jr GP lately, and Marin Honda's R&J is one of the most beautiful junior programs I've ever seen. I could go on and on about her, basically once it hits you how good she really is you might exclaim wow! or holy sh!t! :kickass: I got a bit teary during "Kissing You" and she's not even old enough to know what the lyrics and emotions mean, she's incredible! A lot like Kwan too IMO (in all of the best ways). Her basic skating is also stronger than a lot of the senior ladies, I'm so impressed with her and Rika! :respec:
Click to expand...
Haven't seen any skater hit musical nuances in spins since the 90's :respec: She is an absolute star. A mix of Yukina Ota and Kwan....with jumps as easy as Hanyu! Japan, how do you do it?
 
Karpenko said:
:watch: I've been catching up on the jr GP lately, and Marin Honda's R&J is one of the most beautiful junior programs I've ever seen. I could go on and on about her, basically once it hits you how good she really is you might exclaim wow! or holy sh!t! :kickass: I got a bit teary during "Kissing You" and she's not even old enough to know what the lyrics and emotions mean, she's incredible!
Click to expand...
Her best performance of her Jeff Buttle-choreographed FS to date: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UEIkefKSt8
 
Marin has short program issues but just skates so beautifully. Totally the future of Japanese ladies skating. I would say Mao should pass her torch to Marin after 2018 but am now thinking perhaps we would see her much sooner. Satoko is relatively safe, but Mao and Rika (and not to mention Kanako) are erratic as of late and very vulnerable compared to stronger competitors like Marin, Wakaba and now Mai.
 
Marin definitely has the look and potential to go far in this sport. But I don't feel she's that much better than her peers. I prefer her SP to LP. I think that program suits her personality more, whereas I don't really think she's bringing the nuances of Romeo and Juliet in the free. There are parts I feel she is just doing elements for sake of it. I actually think Kihara has as just as much potential, not to mention more difficult jumps.
 
poths said:
Haven't seen any skater hit musical nuances in spins since the 90's :respec: She is an absolute star. A mix of Yukina Ota and Kwan....with jumps as easy as Hanyu! Japan, how do you do it?
Click to expand...
Marin has "it". She really does remind me of Michelle and Yukina! Her jump landing reminds me o Shizuka too. She is just incredible.
 
i think Marin is one of the most special skaters to appear in a long time. I'm not usually a fan of junior ladies, but I love Marin. The only other skaters whom I've liked so much at such a young age are Mao Asada and Michelle Kwan. That's the company I see her in--potentially.

My interest in ladies' skating has fallen off since Sochi, but Marin and the other young Japanese ladies are helping to revive it.
 
My rough translation of an article about Nagai at Tokyo Regional published on Oct 19th. (For you @Jeschke. Hope this tag works OK this time.)
http://news.walkerplus.com/article/89936/

It's already reported Yuka Nagai's preparation is delayed. Based on her last season's good results such as finishing on a podium at Skate Canada she's assigned to two GP events. While it could be a break through season for her, it seems she's facing a barrier.

Nagai was known as a skater who had awesome huge luz with good quality and ice coverage. But today's Nagai is even unable to include a luz in her planned contents. At this competition she chose to do 3S-3T as a combo in SP but she couldn't execute it successfully.

"Since it was my first competition after a while, I participated in it with telling it to myself again and again that I'll accept any result and just enjoy my skating. My preparation did not go well and I was so nervous."

What's wrong or what's the solution? She said she is "groping" the way for a rebounce. She was told "So-so skating as the first showing after a while" from Coach Seki. While, "I can't say anything for the moment in myself," she looked feeling gloomy. She is the skater who did that great last season. It's tough for her to accept her current situation where she's struggling.

In the following FS she was far from her usual level of performance. She could nail only two jumps in total which were 3S and 3Lo.

"At first I didn't forget to keep relaxed and do my jumps one by one, but from the middle I started rushing. That was the reason of my mistakes."

Nagai skipped a summer local competition due to delay of preparations. It was the first showing after a while. "Enjoy yourself," she was told by lots of people and she felt happy for it. Hopefully this experience of a real competition will lead her to a recovery.

At the end of this interview she told me seemingly her true feelings.

"To be honest there are things I can't accept including current training. That said, just complaining will not make anything start. So I'll keep my face up and work on one by one from what I can do."

Running a long career, it must be inevitable to face this kind of slump. I wish she'll keep her face up and do one by one from what she can do like what she herself said. Her first GP event Skate Canada comes in the end of October.

"The one month is precious. I still have one month ahead. Way of thinking makes difference."
_____

I love this girl as a person!
 
Thanks so much @rosewood

She seemed quite fine yesterday in practice besides the lutz, so I hope without that jump and a different strategy girl might be still able to succeed! Love her determination!
Go Nagai!
#3rdspot
 
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