Japanese figure skating 2017-18 season news & updates

[Wyliefan]

Interview with Satoko:

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/...n-goes-on-after-missing-her-medal-chance.html

 

[Sylvia]

^^^ Thanks, @Wyliefan, for the Satoko Miyahara article! Excerpt from the end:

"While I was out injured I went through some tough times, but on my return to competition I found out how enjoyable it is to be able to do my best in each and every one," said Miyahara.
"I think I was able to express my thanks to all of the people that have supported me with this skate today."
Asked what she needed to improve moving forward, Miyahara said, "The quality of my jumps and liveliness of my program. I want to go to the next Olympics (in Beijing in 2022) and I want to go there with even more determination to win a medal."

Article in English on Hanyu published before the Exhibition Gala: https://english.kyodonews.net/news/...flag-at-closing-ceremony-worlds-in-doubt.html
Excerpt:

Speaking after practice for Sunday's gala exhibition, Hanyu, who became the first man in 66 years to defend his Olympic title last week, also said he is still undecided about whether to take part in the upcoming world championships in Milan.
He has been performing in Pyeongchang, his first competition in four months, with the aid of painkillers.
"I am still a bit undecided," Hanyu said of next month's worlds. "I think it is the federation that will make an announcement about that."
"My ankle is not in good shape and I have to keep that in mind and take various things into consideration before coming to a decision."
Hanyu said he will continue to take painkillers until the exhibition is done.
"I'll keep taking them so I don't lose my skating feeling but I will start reducing the dosage and then after that, I have to look at how I am feeling and take it from there."
"It is launching into the lutz and loop that is causing pain but landing is okay as long as I am taking the painkillers."

Hanyu can nail quadruple axel, says coach Orser: https://english.kyodonews.net/pyeon...can-nail-quadruple-axel-says-coach-orser.html

Japan's repeat men's figure skating Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu is "from another planet" and can succeed in his next mission of becoming the first man ever to nail a quadruple axel, according to his Canadian coach Brian Orser.
Hanyu said Sunday he has found new motivation with a plan to add a quad axel to his arsenal of jumps after he became the first man in more than six decades to defend the Olympic title at the Pyeongchang Winter Games.
"That (the quad axel) is in his hands but could he do it? Yes, if anybody could do it, it would be him. I just don't want him to get hurt again!," Orser told reporters earlier this week at the practice rink at Gangneung Ice Arena.
"He is very competitive. I have been around this sport a very long time and I have never seen anything like this type of athlete. It's like he is from another planet. He keeps moving the sport forward."

Orser said Hanyu's steely mental resilience played a key role in his victory.
"(He won it) because he is young, because he feels he is the best. He wanted to win another one. I never for one moment underestimated him," said Orser. "I know what he is capable of and once he sets his mind to something."

 

[Sylvia]

2018 Challenge Cup results:

Senior Ladies:
Wakaba HIGUCHI [S4] - GOLD 203.94 1 SP Video (69.25) | 1 FS Video (134.69) - Worlds is next for her
Rika HONGO [S6] - SILVER - 168.79 2 3
Marin HONDA [S7] - BRONZE 160.19 11 2

Senior Men:
Jun SUZUKI [S10] - 4th 194.10 3 4 (will turn 24 in May; this was his first senior international)
Ryuju HINO [S7] - 5th 193.77 5 5

Junior Ladies:
Nana ARAKI [J3] - GOLD 174.91 1 1
Yuhana YOKOI [J4] - SILVER 169.71 4 2

Junior Men:
Taichiro YAMAKUMA [J8] - GOLD 187.05 1 1
Yuto KISHINA [J5] - SILVER 169.35 2 2

Advanced Novice Ladies:
Hanna YOSHIDA [Novice A gold medalist] - GOLD 134.77 2 1
Kinayu YOKOI [Novice A bronze medalist] - BRONZE 108.18 3 4
Rika TEJIMA [Novice A silver medalist] - 4th 106.54 5 3

Advanced Novice Men:
Shunsuke NAKAMURA [Novice A bronze medalist] - SILVER 114.74 2 2
Haru KAKIUCHI [Novice A silver medalist] - BRONZE 100.92 5 3

ETA: More Challenge Cup video links are posted in the competition thread in the Kiss & Cry section.

2018 Bavarian Open results (late January):

Senior Ladies:
1 Rin NITAYA [S12] 185.44 1 1
2 Yura MATSUDA [S11] 165.42 2 2

Junior Ladies:
1 Tomoe KAWABATA [J6] 169.05 1 1
2 Rinka WATANABE [J5] 164.36 2 2

Junior Men:
1 Kazuki KUSHIDA [J4] 193.06 2 1
2 Shun SATO [J6] 183.34 1 3

Adv. Novice Boys:
1 Kao MIURA [Novice A gold medalist] 130.81 1 1

 

[Marco]

I am so inspired by Satoko. I will forever question the size of her jumps, but her skating is absolutely beautiful.

I am glad that Wakaba is skating well since she is going to Worlds in a months time. Marin's poor performance here is... interesting. Is there a coach in Japan who can coerce her to train harder?

What's sad is, at most Satoko and Wakaba can do is regain a 3rd spot, for a pool with Satoko, Kaori, Wakaba, Mai and Marin.

 

[Spun Silver]

What's sad is, at most Satoko and Wakaba can do is regain a 3rd spot, for a pool with Satoko, Kaori, Wakaba, Mai and Marin.

If Rika Kihira is turning senior next season add her to the pool.

 

[Marco]

If Rika Kihira is turning senior next season add her to the pool.

Oh no! (but oh yes!)

 

[MRani]

Oh no! (but oh yes!)

Give Japan (and Russia) six spots

I’m excited to see which 3 girls rise to the top next season. It’s such a deep pool of talent and potential.

 

[ToFarAwayTimes]

Sotoko is the most artistically beautiful of all the Japanese ladies. She's improved the height on her jumps from when I first noticed her artistry a few years ago. I'm heartbroken she missed a medal, she really deserved one, but I'm impressed with her work ethic and determination.

Kaori is the best skater out of all the girls in this new generation. I could just watch her skate and jump all day. Johnny Weir said there's something naive and endearing about her, and what I think he means is that there's no act or alter personality, she's just herself on the ice, a pure ball of joy who seems to really love skating. She's like a combination of Midori and Akiko but with her own unique style. Definitely my new favorite, but still needs more polish and refinement. Literally even! Probably the only girl whose nails are never done.

Rika Kihira is really going to bring it next year. I saw her do 3A+3T and another 3A seconds later in her FS at Japanese nationals. She has the elegance and projection that Sakamoto is missing. I feel like if you could combine both of them together they would be the next world champion.

 

[nimi]

Apparently Kozuka is now a dad? Congrats!

https://twitter.com/zasshi_covers/status/967568285599350784

 

[Sylvia]

Apparently Kozuka is now a dad? Congrats!
https://twitter.com/zasshi_covers/status/967568285599350784

Yes, he and his wife welcomed a daughter last April - refer to the Baby News thread here: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/figure-skating-baby-news.83749/page-4#post-5066116

ETA Team Japan for Junior Worlds (March 5-11, 2018):

Ladies (3): Rika KIHIRA, Mako YAMASHITA, Yuhana YOKOI
(subs: Nana ARAKI, Tomoe KAWABATA, Rinka WATANABE)

Men (2): Sena MIYAKE, Mitsuki SUMOTO
(subs: Shun SATO, Tatsuya TSUBOI)

Pair (1): Riku MIURA / Shoya ICHIHASHI

Dance (1): Haruno YAJIMA / Daiki SHIMAZAKI
They got their WJC minimums at Mentor Torun Cup in early February, placing 7th (112.14 total): [SD video (6th)] [FD video (10th)].

 

[rosewood]

This article has a short clip of Haruka Imai's retirement show held in her homerink in Niigata prefecture today. She was invited to Niigata by its local government. She was the only elite skater on the international level there. She says she loves Niigata and plans to keep staying there to work as a coach.
http://www.niigata-nippo.co.jp/news/movie/detail.html?bid=5744352956001

Wish the best of luck for this lovely skater's second career.

BTW, this is the rink where AOR held their camp for PyeonChang Olys.

 

[livetoskate]

Dice Murakami has been making lots of great videos on his youtube channel. I always enjoyed seeing Jonathan Cassar at US nationals and was pleasantly surprised to see him showing up in some of Dice's videos. They're at a rink in Carlsbad, CA. Here is the latest one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k6BrkZlGk8

Dice's reaction to Yuzuru's Olympic skate:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8UeiCxjP4U

Dice and Jonathan teaching us how to get killer abs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXZGj8D2p4E

 

[levineismine]

Francis Boudreau-Audet announced he is no longer representing Japan
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf3wEcMFtvS/?hl=it&taken-by=frankbouds

(we assume he's skating again for Canada?)

 

[Jeschke]

Francis Boudreau-Audet announced he is no longer representing Japan
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf3wEcMFtvS/?hl=it&taken-by=frankbouds

(we assume he's skating again for Canada?)

Always enjoyed their skating together

 

[ks777]

I hear Marin Honda is in Southern California. I wonder what she is doing there.. https://www.instagram.com/p/BgHZ94jAN3s/ Who coaches at Lakewood rink? Arutyunyan?

 

[kwanfan1818]

While most Japanese skaters train primarily in Japan, some do supplemental training elsewhere. But there is also the Asada connection with Arutunian.

 

[nimi]

Congrats to Tiny Queen for a fabulous skate!

Jackie's tweets re: Satoko from the post-SP press conference

Miyahara: On the lutz-toe, I was stuck on the lutz, but it was not the best jump. So I thought I would not get high points like I did today. But I was really happy to get the score I got.

On prep after Olympics
Kostner: I took a couple days off & went back to training, nothing diff than usual.
Zagitova: I spent a lot of my emotions at the Olympics, to recover was not easy.
Miyahara: Physically my body is getting stronger, mentally I'm excited to be here.

Miyahara: Especially this year, physically my body was not so srong. So I tried to have some days off more than usual and rest my body and concentrate on recover my body, so now, after Nationals, I was able to start to work harder and practice as usual.

By the way, Satoko Miyahara did her entire press conference in English without a translator - her English is really getting good! Love it. I wish my Japanese were 1/100 as good as her English is.

 

[Marco]

Her skating was just so beautiful that the lack of height on her jumps just didn't matter (from a spectator view point).

 

[shady82]

ITA. People have been talking about younger Japanese skaters dethroning Satoko for awhile and I keep expecting it, but she continues to prove us wrong. In particular I was expecting Wakaba, Rika (Kihira), or Kaori to start challenging her in the near future. But Satoko is so consistent (as consistent as Medvedeva) and her PCS continue to rise.

 

[SmallFairy]

@rosewood or @nimi do you know anything about Shoma's injury?

 

[nimi]

@rosewood or @nimi do you know anything about Shoma's injury?

Only what Jackie has tweeted and what people have said in his replies, which is mostly based on sources like this Asahi Sports article I think (I've no idea what the article actually says, haven't tried to google translate it): https://twitter.com/asahi_sports/status/976203240483139584

Apparently he's having boot problems + possibly some kind of ankle injury

Shoma said to the Japanese press that he had to break in new boots after Olys and that it hasn't gone too well :s

https://twitter.com/polymnia_skate/status/976080866865762305

Shoma Uno has pain at his right ankle, which was why he left practice early this evening. . From practice sessions I saw, he had a few rough unders/downgraded jumps yesterday & today that could’ve done that. Hope he feels better soon.

https://twitter.com/rockerskating/status/976214294277820417

Definitely in a bit of discomfort on that right ankle but Shoma Uno is smiling through this practice - still relaxed

https://twitter.com/rockerskating/status/976404266016542720

According to his team, Shoma was taken to hospital last night and was at least relieved that the X-ray did not show a fracture.

https://twitter.com/Jude20410224/status/976530832742539265

 

[SmallFairy]

Thank you so much @nimi ! Fingers crossed it's just the boots and some sore muscles or something, and nothing serious. New boots can be so much agony! So glad there's no fracture!

 

[rosewood]

@SmallFairy My translation of an article regarding his injury is here
https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...fun-etc-from-worlds-2018.103655/#post-5331570

 

[SmallFairy]

Thank you so much @rosewood

 

[nimi]

Wow. WOW.

It's gonna take a while until I can calm down after what happened in that last group of ladies. Just... Wow. So many feelings!

I did hope we would see 1 Japanese lady on the podium and 3 spots for Japan, but BOTH on the podium? WHOAH. I mean, it's awesome! I'm especially over the moon for Wakaba, for having that ultimate redemption skate... and finally beating her previous SB LP score from Lombardia!

(But wow, that last group...)

Anyway... Congratulations, WakaBond and Tiny Queen! Enjoy your shiny new medals!

 

[smarts1]

Congrats to Wakaba for getting her first medal (and silver at that) at Worlds!!!! And congrats to Satoko on her bronze!!

 

[kwanfan1818]

Sweet redemption for Higuchi! And a return to the podium for Miyahara!

 

[nimi]

Jackie is live tweeting the press conference: https://twitter.com/rockerskating/status/977308254224158726

Higuchi: After the mistakes in the short, I was determined to give everything I did in practice in the free. I was very pleased

Miyahara: After finishing my free, I didn't expect to win this bronze medal. I thought I had to do more. I have many things I could've done more.

Higuchi: I felt like we lost one spot last year due to my mistakes, so I felt responsible to get it back this year. Unfortunately, it was too late for the Olympics but I'm happy to be able to get three spots for next year's Worlds in Japan

Higuchi: It gave me a lot of confidence that I was able to show everything that I had at the end of the season. I got a lot of confidence at Challenge Cup that I lost at the national championship

Miyahara: I want to be a skater who moves people's hearts. Of course, the jumps are necessary to skate perfect programs, so I need to work harder. I think I have to work on dancing and ballet and everything

Higuchi: I have ice shows to skate right after I head back to Japan. Then I'll have a little break and will start working for next year. Miyahara: Me too, I have Stars On Ice. I want to rest my body and work on things for the next season.

It's past midnight for me so I'm gonna log off now. Goodnight!

 

[Frau Muller]

I’m so glad that both Satoko and Wakaba plan to continue into next season (at least).

 

[rosewood]

So happy for Wakaba's redemption! Maybe it's a minor opinion here, but, since I've been sick with Coach Hamada's upper body upper body strategy, I'm happy with Wakaba's winning silver here over her top student (Satoko) as well as Coach Nakano's students' (Kaori and Mai) winning gold & silver over Satoko at 4CC. I love skaters who can actually jump as well as use their upper body combined with their skating skills. I hope more skaters will go on this path, especially hoping for up and coming younger skaters.