Japanese figure skating 2017-18 season news & updates

[Jeschke]

And then with all these amazing ladies we'll end up with Rika Hongo at the Olympics...

Side note: I almost feel a bit bad for Rika. Being at all worlds of this olympic cycle and then missing the Games really sucks.

 

[chapis]

what really would suck is Satoko missing the Olympic games, Korea would be her first olympic games. She is world medalist and simply too much fabulous, God, she deserves so much compete at the damn Olympics .

 

[SmallFairy]

And then with all these amazing ladies we'll end up with Rika Hongo at the Olympics...

I might be her only fan, but even I can't see that happening...

#riverdance4evah

 

[SCeline]

The interview with Satoko. "I'm a plain skater ..." Such classic modesty. I always sense an incredible Tigress within. She has seen and known and been through ups and downs. Rooting for her to rise like a Phoenix come the pressure cooker stage of Japan Nationals.

 

[Meoima]

what really would suck is Satoko missing the Olympic games, Korea would be her first olympic games. She is world medalist and simply too much fabulous, God, she deserves so much compete at the damn Olympics .

Other hard working and talented ladies in Team Japan deserve to be at the Olympic as well.

 

[chapis]

I think Satoko still can medal at NHK , obviously with some help of Carolina and Polina

 

[oleada]

I really enjoyed Yuna Shiraiwa's LP. It's such a great, rarely used, piece of music and I thought the choreography was so well done. Who choreographed it? It's a wonderful program!

 

[greenapple]

Her music bio states Tim Dickson, Jeffrey Buttle, Cathy Reed did her programs but does not designate who did what. Guessing it was Buttle.

 

[Sylvia]

Yuna Shiraiwa's wiki states Buttle is her SP choreographer but I don't see a source link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuna_Shiraiwa#Programs

ETA top ISU Season Best total scores after Grand Prix #5:

3) 217.63 Wakaba HIGUCHI JPN ISU CS Lombardia Trophy 2017 [GP: 207.17 & 212.52]
9) 206.07 Mai MIHARA JPN ISU GP Audi Cup of China 2017
11) 198.42 Marin HONDA JPN ISU CS US Internat. FS Classic 2017
19) 195.56 Yura MATSUDA JPN ISU CS Lombardia Trophy 2017
21) 194.00 Kaori SAKAMOTO JPN ISU GP Rostelecom Cup 2017
22) 193.18 Yuna SHIRAIWA JPN ISU GP Internationaux de France 2017
24) 191.80 Satoko MIYAHARA JPN ISU GP NHK Trophy 2017
26) 189.98 Rika HONGO JPN ISU CS Ondrej Nepela Trophy 2017
29) 185.81 Rika KIHIRA JPN ISU JGP Egna Neumarkt 2017

Miyahara and Sakamoto are scheduled for Skate America.

 

[Jun Y]

I am pretty sure Shiraiwa's free skate was choreographed by Tom Dickson, but I cannot find the informal source (it was some chatter on Chinese twitter around the time she competed in Hong Kong).

 

[Alilou]

Beverley Smith article about Satoko's (alarming!) injuries. With mention of Honda who apparently doesn't train hard enough!
ALL ABOUT WORKING SMART
https://bevsmithwrites.wordpress.com/2017/11/24/all-about-working-smart/

 

[Spun Silver]

Beverley Smith article about Satoko's (alarming!) injuries. With mention of Honda who apparently doesn't train hard enough!
ALL ABOUT WORKING SMART
https://bevsmithwrites.wordpress.com/2017/11/24/all-about-working-smart/

Oh my gosh. Scary stuff about Satoko. I am glad she has changed her routine significantly to address these overwork/poor nutrition injuries, and I wish her the very best of health.

My only possible quibble with the column is the quote about Marin Honda not being a hard worker. I don’t think you get to her level without tons of hard work. And the quote came from the same coach who permitted Satoko to overtrain to the point of sleeping only 5 hrs a night and seriously hurting herself. I wonder if Coach Hamada too is revising her training approach somewhat? Anyway I wish all of them the best, Satoko, Marin, Coach Hamada, and Team Japan!

 

[Meoima]

Oh my gosh. Scary stuff about Satoko. I am glad she has changed her routine significantly to address these overwork/poor nutrition injuries, and I wish her the very best of health.

My only possible quibble with the column is the quote about Marin Honda not being a hard worker. I don’t think you get to her level without tons of hard work. And the quote came from the same coach who permitted Satoko to overtrain to the point of sleeping only 5 hrs a night and seriously hurting herself. I wonder if Coach Hamada too is revising her training approach somewhat? Anyway I wish all of them the best, Satoko, Marin, Coach Hamada, and Team Japan!

Marin directly told the media she doesn’t like training so it’s not just the coach.

 

[firebleeder]

Everyone please check this video!
Rika Kihara won the Japanese Junior Figure Skating Championship.
She did Triple-Axel 2times(3A+3T+2T, 3A).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUyxMcmf68Q

 

[Meoima]

Everyone please check this video!
Rika Kihara won the Japanese Junior Figure Skating Championship.
She did Triple-Axel 2times(3A+3T+2T, 3A).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUyxMcmf68Q

Once she’s senior her BV, if she skate clean, her BV will be 70!!!

 

[Wyliefan]

It makes me livid to hear what Satoko's been through. What in blazes are some of these coaches thinking? Do they WANT their skaters to break down?

 

[umronnie]

Given those bone density issues, I am actually grateful for her small jumps. Imagine the force of big jumps on those fragile bones...

 

[Cachoo]

Given those bone density issues, I am actually grateful for her small jumps. Imagine the force of big jumps on those fragile bones...

And even beyond that....these jumping contests when I thought the best thing about the ladies competition yesterday was her lovely step sequence as a "geisha" and overall the feeling that her program did not feel at all technical. It was beautiful. I continue to believe that someday there will be two categories ...say 18 and under and then "adult" when the body has hopefully stopped growing and maturity also hopefully signals artistic growth. That is great that there is a skater out there doing triple axles easily. Stupendous! And that young lady will get the spot on the team and the "artists" will be left behind. There has to be a way that we don't lose the artists to exuberant (but unseasoned) youth. I want both.

 

[shady82]

Thrilled Satoko is back in world-class form! It was silly that posters and skating analysts were already overlooking her because of one so-so outing at NHK. It's her first major competition since Nationals, did people expect her to be at the top of her game so early? As expected, she gets the best scores among the Japanese ladies when she skates well. With this momentum, Satoko and Wakaba appear to be favorites heading into Nationals, which is not that surprising, TBH. Also, it's great to see the judges rewarding her PCS properly.

 

[livetoskate]

Everyone please check this video!
Rika Kihara won the Japanese Junior Figure Skating Championship.
She did Triple-Axel 2times(3A+3T+2T, 3A).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUyxMcmf68Q

Thanks for sharing this link; Rika is AMAZING! Huge jumps, speed, and a joy of skating. I can't believe she did those triple axels like they were no big deal, like easy doubles for her. I hope she continues to progress and makes a huge splash in seniors. How can Japan have so many incredibly talented skaters, while larger countries like China can't seem to produce any good female skaters (other than Chen Lu 2 decades ago)?

 

[Spun Silver]

Once she’s senior her BV, if she skate clean, her BV will be 70!!!

Incredible. They are so light and easy, she even added a tano arm to the combo! Hope she can stay healthy and keep loving skating! When will she be in seniors internationally?

 

[Bellanca]

Big, huge, whopping cheers and congratulations to the lovely Satoko!! So happy for her. One skate at a time. One competition at a time. This was a great start! Onward!!

 

[ks777]

Incredible. They are so light and easy, she even added a tano arm to the combo! Hope she can stay healthy and keep loving skating! When will she be in seniors internationally?

next year.

 

[Spun Silver]

next year.

Fingers crossed. She will make a big splash!

 

[Marco]

I am thrilled that Satoko seems to be back in form (although honestly she did get some generous help from the caller) and that Kaori is medaling in her first GP season. But this means:

Wakaba medals at both of her GP events and is in GPF. She is the top scored JPN lady this season internationally.

Satoko wins one GP event and is 1st alternate for GPF. She is the second top scored JPN lady this season internationally.

Kaori medals at one GP event. She is the third top scored JPN lady this season internationally.

Mai and Marin fail to medal in their GP events but medal in a fall international (Marin won). They are respectively the 4th and 5th top scored JPN ladies this season internationally.

I cannot choose 3, let alone 2.

 

[clairecloutier]

I know. The race for those 2 spots is just intense. And I must say, it's great to see the Japanese ladies really stepping up and going for it.

Is the Japanese National champion guaranteed a spot on the team?

 

[Seerek]

Johnny Weir could have used a different word than "meek" to describe Satoko, imo. A lot of times, the word is not used in the most flattering context.

 

[Jun Y]

On the ice, Satoko is one of the fiercest performers and competitors. Meek she is not.

Although it is vexing that only 2 Japanese ladies will go to Olys and Worlds, the bright side is that they are all young and have many years ahead of them. They just need to take good care of their bodies and mind.

 

[giselle23]

The Japanese team will likely be Miyahara and Higuchi. I think Satoko secured her spot yesterday. Japanese nationals will play a factor for the second spot and right now, it looks like Higuchi. I don't think they will send newbie Kaori and Mai has not delivered as well as Wakaba (though she has done quite well).

 

[Marco]

I do think the JPN Fed would love the team to be Satoko and Marin. But Marin is getting outplaced and outscored so far this season by four other JPN ladies so she will need a clear and convincing victory to Nationals to make it happen.