Japanese figure skating 2017-18 season news & updates

rosewood said:
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.
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I actually appreciate how much diversity in skating style there is within the Japanese ladies. If i were to nitpick I would say that presentation wise Nakano’s skaters could be given programs of a higher standard. I really like how Hamada isn’t overly “stuck” in IJS like other coaches seem to be and gives the artistic side of skating priority as well.

Wakaba seems to be the ideal combination of powerful skating and good presentation.
 
rosewood said:
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.
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1st, I am happy for Wakaba too, and I like Kaori even more -- and while I admire Satoko's artistry and determination, I can't get over those tiny jumps. 2nd, I know nothing about Japanese coaches. That said, wouldn't an emphasis on the upper body be something necessary for Satoko precisely because she needs to get points every way she can to make up for her jump issues? It seems like an understandable strategy. I had the impression from various posters that Satoko can never have normal jumps because of her having to jump in the wrong (for her) direction.

Although, I did see that Jackie Wong not only quoted Satoko as saying she wants to work on a 3A, but also said he thinks it might be doable because her 2A is strong. :huh:
 
clairecloutier said:
What I like is how Wakaba has developed her own style. She’s not copying the Russians or emulating older Japanese stars like Mao, but is instead developing her own dynamic, committed look and style on the ice & choosing different music & themes.
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ITA! She talked about developing her style in the press conference, see here: https://twitter.com/rockerskating/status/977314027608199168
Higuchi: I wanted to try different things that other skaters don't try. For instance, in the choreographic step, I did some different things and I think I have been awarded for that
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Higuchi: Everyday, on ice and off ice, I try to express my feelings and emotions. I'm hoping that this will help me be more expressive on the ice as well. I want to practice more dance on the floor so I can use any type of dance for any type of program
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About her jumps
Higuchi: There were times when I had problem controlling my power and made mistakes. This season, I was much more consistent because I was controlling my jumps and not to jump too high. To get higher PCS, the key was to skate consistent
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Higuchi: I was not expecting junior ladies would be doing quads, she made it look so easy, so it was very shocking. My 3A consistency is not there yet, and I would like to try quads as well, but succeeding at the 3A comes first
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Amazing LP from Higuichi! Great choreo that was extremely well presented. Such IT factor for 17 years old.

I was trying to think who she reminded me of and then it dawned on me it's Julianne Seguin. Higuichi and Seguin have very similar body types.
 
What an amazing worlds for Team Japan. Two medals in ladies, one in men, earning three spots in each discipline, even without Hanyu. Yes, both competitions were totally weird, and not faultless, but Wakaba and Tomono's fab free skates, combined with gutsy Shoma and lovely Satoko makes it amazing indeed. Tanaka's effort was also good. Excited for next season!
 
Kazuki Tomono was definitely more than prepared for Worlds, helping his own cause for next season by ensuring Japan retain that third berth for Worlds next year at home in Saitama. Hopefully that was a wake up call for the judges to stop underscoring him in component scores (which was also an issue for many years at Jr. Grand Prix).
 
Kazuki was absolutely FANTASTIC! The expression, the speed, the multidirectional skating, body positions... And frankly a better performance all around compared to the podium finishers, IMO, and probably should’ve won the components.
 
SmallFairy said:
What an amazing worlds for Team Japan. Two medals in ladies, one in men, earning three spots in each discipline, even without Hanyu. Yes, both competitions were totally weird, and not faultless, but Wakaba and Tomono's fab free skates, combined with gutsy Shoma and lovely Satoko makes it amazing indeed. Tanaka's effort was also good. Excited for next season!
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Plus Muramoto/Reed placed 11th overall (SP 10th LP 11th). Shame they just missed the second spot but what a progress of Japanese ice dance! I really loved their programs of this season. I hope we'll see fabulous programs to come next season too.
 
rosewood said:
Plus Muramoto/Reed placed 11th overall (SP 10th LP 11th). Shame they just missed the second spot but what a progress of Japanese ice dance! I really loved their programs of this season. I hope we'll see fabulous programs to come next season too.
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A shame that Japanese pairs seem to have regressed. Remember, not so long ago, when a Japanese pair actually won Jr Worlds and made the senior podium?
 
What happened to Narumi Takahashi(?)-- the one who skated with Mervin Tran a few years ago? Is she still skating?
 
SmallFairy said:
What an amazing worlds for Team Japan. Two medals in ladies, one in men, earning three spots in each discipline, even without Hanyu. Yes, both competitions were totally weird, and not faultless, but Wakaba and Tomono's fab free skates, combined with gutsy Shoma and lovely Satoko makes it amazing indeed. Tanaka's effort was also good. Excited for next season!
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Indeed! Those three spots were quickly put back into their proper place. Focus and determination made it happen, not to mention just a wee bit of talent! ;)
 
Absolutely loved Higuchi and Miyahara and am glad both medaled. But even with 3 spots, competition is still going to be tough and many talents are not going to go to Worlds. Miyahara, Higuchi, Mihara, Sakamoto, Honda, soon Kihara. Perhaps they really should consider sending their B team to 4CCs - which would feel like an A team anyway.

Pleasantly surprised by the men. Although his performance was not perfect, Uno placed as high as he could place given how he skated. Now let that ankle heal. Tomono was so charming. If Hanyu returns next season, Tomono might have just helped secure his own spot for next season (which he would need to fight out with Tanaka).
 
@rosewood, I am under the impression that Mie Hamada is a very well-respected coach but your post seems to indicate you have a different opinion?

ETA: IIRC, Marin Honda has worked with Arutunian before so perhaps she is visiting Lakewood for a period of time?
 
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If it's true that Marin doesn't have much of a work ethic, she'll have to mend her ways in a hurry if she goes to Raf. He'll eat her for breakfast.
 
Belatedly ... Team Japan had a successful Coupe du Printemps in Luxembourg the week before Milan Worlds. In retrospect, winning the free skate here may have given Kazuki Tomono a nice confidence boost heading into his Worlds debut in Milan.

Senior Ladies medal sweep:
GOLD Mai MIHARA JPN 215.49 2 1
SILVER Kaori SAKAMOTO JPN 202.56 1 2
BRONZE Yuna SHIRAIWA JPN 181.79 3 3

This was what I posted after watching the March 18th live stream:
Mai Mihara was BEAUTIFUL in her FS to The Mission by Ennio Morricone (ISU bio lists 3 pieces: Carlotta / Gabriel's Oboe (Whispers in a Dream) by Ennio Morricone performed by Hayley Westenra / Vita Nostra) - all 7 triples landed (3Lz+3T, 2A / 3F, 2A+3T, 3Lo, 3Lz+2T+2Lo, 3S both arms up). 142.51 FS, 215.49 total! FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlb7wXB_5yc
Kaori Sakamoto finished 2nd 129.29 FS, 202.56. Rough skate for her. :(
Yuna Shirawa skated well to win bronze - 3Lz+3Lo(wrong foot landing <?), 2A / 3Lz+3T, 3S, 3F, 2A-half loop-2S, 3Lo. I really enjoy watching her glide/edges! Cathy Reed was with her in the kiss & cry and they shared a laugh over something on her watch - it was cute to see! 116.12 FS, 181.79 total. FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSyF7Anijkw

Cathy Reed (she coached Shiraiwa here and was team leader?) shared photos on her Instagram:
JPN Ladies' podium sweep
Shiraiwa, Sakamoto, Mihara holding stuffed bunnies
Team JPN on the ice after the exhibition gala

Senior Men final results:
SILVER Kazuki TOMONO JPN 227.84 3 1
4 Hiroaki SATO JPN 212.51 5 4
5 Sota YAMAMOTO JPN 197.81 6 5 (pretty clean SP: 3Lo+3T, 2A, 3Lz-)

Tomono (153.73, 1st in FS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFcqZpYL06Y
After he opened up on his opening planned 4S (called 3S<<), he landed 4S+2T and 7 triples -- 3A+2T, 2nd half 3A+3T, 3Lo, 3S+REP, 3Lz & 3F.
Sato (143.26, 4th in FS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7RZnQryops
Yamamoto (128.77, 5th in FS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ze77QJBuV_8

Junior Men final results:
GOLD Tatsuya TSUBOI JPN 195.83 1 1
SILVER Kazuki HASEGAWA JPN 187.28 3 2
 
rosewood said:
SL's tweet. Can someone around Arutunian confirm this? If it's true, I'm happy Marin finally left Hamada. Hopefully Kihira & Shiraiwa will move to somewhere too.
https://twitter.com/skatinglesson/status/978322296891936768?s=21
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STL with Meagan discussed Hamada and Marin's alleged move to Arutunian here (in passing): https://youtu.be/hWz36YTGU_0?t=23m37s

I haven't seen/heard any non-TSL sources for the coaching change, so we'll see.

ETA: Oh, and TSL also mentioned rumors about Wakaba possibly moving to Orser. IDK. https://youtu.be/hWz36YTGU_0?t=1h7m8s

Also there was the news that Komatsubara/Koleto are moving to Gadbois, thread here: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...oleto-moving-to-team-gadbois-montreal.103713/
 
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Sylvia said:
@rosewood, I am under the impression that Mie Hamada is a very well-respected coach but your post seems to indicate you have a different opinion?

ETA: IIRC, Marin Honda has worked with Arutunian before so perhaps she is visiting Lakewood for a period of time?
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Re Marin, my first thought was the same as yours, but, since TSL "heard" something, I wondered if there are some source. Maybe just a rumor?

Re Hamada, it's simply because I'm sad to see her young students like Kihira, Honda and Shiraiwa losing their momentum. Her students are too busy with moving their neck & arms and don't have enough room to focus on shifting their weight on the blade. IMO it's one of the reasons why their performances lack dynamic impression compared to someone like Osmond and Higuchi who feels/enjoys shifting their balance on the blade and it gives them good flow or sharp edge works. Another point which makes her students' performance less dynamic is kinda sacrificing the height/ice-coverage of their jumps for consistency. It must be a OK strategy but it seems other students gradually losing their jumps as they grow than someone who has tiny torso like Miyahara and yet Miyahara had to experience the stress fracture due to over-training and poor nutrition. It's somewhat frustrating to see Miyahara can't win a podium if other top skaters deliver their best like at Olys or Boston Worlds even when Miyahara delivered her best two skates. Lack of dynamic skating/jumps must be one of the main reasons. Emphasizing I! am! a! strong! woman! by using her face & arms are not enough to give the crowd the same effect as someone's performance who actually has dynamic skating and jumps like Osmond or even Higuchi.

The thing I didn't like about Hamada regarding Honda (Marin) was she threw Honda under the bus by blaming Honda's work ethics issue on several media. She emphasized the issue to several media even before the Nationals which was the final selection meeting for Olys. I saw Hamada's documentary recently. Some of her comments during it sounded like sarcastic too. I wish Hamada talked directly to Honda, not to press. It sounded like Hamada wanted to protect herself. She can do so, of course, but I didn't like that. And this is a word from someone who is not a fan of Honda. She frequently mentioned about Miyahara here and there like "Is Satoko-chan eating enough now?" when she traveled with Honda to Tronto for choreography. Seems Hamada has a special love for Miyahara among her students. It's OK. But I wish she talked with Honda about Honda herself when she was with Honda.

BTW, during the documentary, Hamada was invited to US National camp last summer. She taught jumps to American skaters there. It was reported the most important jump and Hamada teaches the first is loop. Doing so, Hamda teaches how to make a good axis. I kinda got why her students are good at getting into tight air-positions quickly. At the same time I kinda got why her students, like Honda, twist their body before they put their toe on the ice on toe jumps. Someone like Miyahara even spins on the ice with both foot when she does toe jumps. They lose their momentum sideways and don't get good momentum to jump up into the air. That must be another reason why her students' jumps tend to be small - at least none of her students have big jumps. And it can be one of the reasons why her students tend to decline when they grow into woman's body in Sr field. (It used to be an issue with her before Miyahara made a breakthrough in Sr field.) I secretly giggled thinking US will not solve your UR issues very soon. (Sorry Sylvia! ;P)

All in all, if Honda/Hamada relationships doesn't work well, I wish she will go to somewhere and turn a new leaf. If Shiraiwa or Kihira can't maintain their consistency with Hamada's technique, I wish they'll find someone else if possible. They've learned what to learn under Hamada, like body lines or listening to musics during their performances. They can take it with them and learn something else under another coach.

I also wish the fed will not push Hamada's students over everyone else when others actually did better than Hamada's students. Polishing a skater's lines/artistry who has good basics in skating & jumps can be easier than fixing a skater's basics who has good musicality/lines, or at least opposite case is more difficult in many cases. I was disappointed when Miyahara's URs on landing were overlooked and she won over Sakamoto in SKAM, and it prevented Sakamoto from winning through to GPF. So I was happy with Higuchi's silver at Worlds as well as Mihara's gold and Sakamoto's silver at 4CC over Miyahara. They showed there are skaters who can win a podium in big events over Hamada's student. Japan have diversity. There are skaters who have potentials of aiming at being on the level where they can be in the mix for top of the top in the world during the next Olys cycle. Higuchi can be one of them. Honda, maybe, but she lost her momentum at this point. I love Coach Nakano, and her students have big potentials. She needs to work on her students' lines and artistry during this off season, though. (Coach Nakano's group got better ice time with a new built rink in their area a few years ago. Their area was affected Hanshin-Awaji Great Earthquakes about a decade ago. And they are still in bad circumstances regarding available rinks, such as their one of homerinks is available only in winter etc. Anyways, Sakamoto & Mihara are the first generation after Coach Nakano got a better rink than before.) Yamada & Higuchi are growing Mako Yamashita too. I wish all of them will be given fair share of chances to be Japan's No1. And I wish Japan's No1 aims at being on the top of the top in the world again. Not a bronze (or a fluke silver)! If skaters don't have the quality to be in the mix for a gold, they even can't win a bronze when it counts the most. [/rant] ;D
 
nimi said:
STL with Meagan discussed Hamada and Marin's alleged move to Arutunian here (in passing): https://youtu.be/hWz36YTGU_0?t=23m37s

I haven't seen/heard any non-TSL sources for the coaching change, so we'll see.

ETA: Oh, and TSL also mentioned rumors about Wakaba possibly moving to Orser. IDK. https://youtu.be/hWz36YTGU_0?t=1h7m8s

Also there was the news that Komatsubara/Koleto are moving to Gadbois, thread here: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...oleto-moving-to-team-gadbois-montreal.103713/
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Thanks! A documentary of Honda siblings is going to be aired in a couple of hours today. So I wonder if we'll see how Marin is doing these days. We'll see. As for the rumor of Wakaba's possible move to Orser, I've heard it a few times in the past. My impression at this point is that she won't.
 
@Meoima just posted this in the Arutunian interview thread
Meoima said:
It’s official that Marin Honda will move to Rafael https://twitter.com/nikkansports/status/979450379107618817?s=20
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ETA: Marin's brother could be coming with her
Sylvia said:
The article ( https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/201803290000865.html ) also mentions that Marin's older brother, Taichi Honda, 19, plans to relocate to train with Arutunian as well. He finished 15th in senior at Nationals this past December.
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clairecloutier said:
What I like is how Wakaba has developed her own style. She’s not copying the Russians or emulating older Japanese stars like Mao, but is instead developing her own dynamic, committed look and style on the ice & choosing different music & themes.
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I completely agree. She has had Massimo Scali and ShaeLynn Bourne choreograph her programs for the last two years. I would love her to stick with these two in the future.
 
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