Japanese figure skating 2017-18 season news & updates

[cheremary]

Daisuke Murakami FS from Philadelphia: https://youtu.be/_C6NFZpY_YA

 

[Sylvia]

Daisuke Murakami FS from Philadelphia: https://youtu.be/_C6NFZpY_YA

Thanks! Also -- Daisuke Murakami's SP from the Philadelphia Summer Championships (he competed in the club competition, not the international one) with a beautiful 4S: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMIWAKveUeI
He kept both programs from his abbreviated season last year and scored 77.18 in SP and 137.46 in the FS (events were not combined in Philly) to win both segments. Frank Carroll was with him in Philadelphia.

 

[Sylvia]

Excerpt from an IN article on a couple of the skaters who competed in Philadelphia (Daisuke Murakami was featured in the middle section): http://web.icenetwork.com/news/2017/08/09/247349704

"There are a lot of improvements that can be done, hopefully by next month when I compete at the (Skate Canada) Autumn Classic," he [Murakami] said. "We've been working on four quads: salchow, toe loop, flip and lutz. They are about equal in practice, minus the salchow. Out of the three, the quad lutz is the most consistent, so I'm hoping to put either quad lutz or quad flip in the program for Canada."
...
"I definitely feel I am a contender for the Japanese team as the third spot, along with Takahito Mura and Keiji Tanaka," he said. "I am listening to everything Frank Carroll says, because he is the most experienced coach in the skating world. I feel like I've paced myself well for a strong season."

Murakami uploaded an "Ask Dice" vlog (in Japanese) on August 5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUCbwMohSW4

 

[Sylvia]

Article in English about Yuzuru Hanyu's media session in Toronto yesterday: https://english.kyodonews.net/news/...o-skate-to-onmyoji-during-olympic-season.html

Six months out from the games in South Korea, the 22-year-old has been working on his quad jumps in training. He plans to add a fifth quad to the free skate routine he put together for the world championships in Helsinki in April, when earned his second world title by racking up a world-record 223.20 points for his free skate.
"The quality of composition (of my free skate program) has definitely improved compared to last season and I'm eager to create strong, attacking choreography," said Hanyu, revealing his plan to jump three of the five quads in the second half of the program -- when jumps scores are multiplied by a bonus factor of 1.1.

 

[Sylvia]

Another link for the same Hanyu article in English: https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20170810/p2g/00m/0sp/017000c

Sorry if I missed it, but has the japanese fed already announced how they will select their olympic team?

Refer to the final link in post #1 of this thread.

Jack Gallagher on Team Japan's showing at the Asian Open Trophy in Hong Kong last week: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports...ing/kihira-shines-japan-skaters-sweep-titles/
Excerpt:

Though it was a dominant team effort by Japan, the real buzz was generated by the sensational performance of [Rika] Kihira. The 15-year-old really blew the doors off it in her free skate to “La Strada,” landing a triple axel at the outset of the program and going on to hit six more triple jumps.
It could have been eight triples, but Kihira under-rotated the triple lutz on the front of a three-jump (triple lutz/double toe loop/double loop) combination late in the program. A very minor issue when taking into account the totality of the accomplishments.
...
Kihira, who is coached by Mie Hamada, went on to finish fourth at the JGP Final last season.
Despite being just three weeks too young to be a candidate for Japan’s Olympic team for the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, the native of Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, is garnering significant attention in the skating community.

Rika Kihira's winning FS at Asian Open Trophy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okRptZ3l5-k
She scored 122.80 [67.47 TES/55.33 PCS] and her jumps were 3A (worth 8.83 points), 2A+3T, 3F, 2nd half 3Lz+3T (12 points), 3Lo, 3Lz<+2T+2Lo, 3S.

 

[Marco]

That 3axel was so easy I had to watch a few times just to make sure there were 3.5 revs, not 2.5.

 

[Karpenko]

Yeah it's a piece of cake for her, all of her jumps are (plus she trains quads). Artistically I'm starting to see nice potential as well. She's going to be a big deal next quad.

 

[kittysk8ts]

Japanese TV Report on Satoko Miyahara working w/ Lori Nichol /Memoirs of a Geisha

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5wrv54

(especially for you @Karpenko !)

 

[Karpenko]

Why can't our NA television media be this diligent and amazing? I swear it's tempting to go live in Japan just for the skating coverage alone! Satoko Miyahara can go for a picnic in the park, and there's a camera in her face watching her eat! and

Always a pleasure to see Lori and hear her insights. Thank you for posting! I love the program and think it's going to be a great one.

 

[Maofan7]

Some recent articles from Jack Gallagher and the Japan Times:-

Hanyu makes emotional return to Yokohama rink

Murakami aiming for spot on Olympic team

Hanyu returns to ‘Onmyoji’ soundtrack for Olympic season

Sakamoto, Shiraiwa start season in Hong Kong

 

[Sylvia]

^^^ Thanks, however I just wanted to note that the first article linked above is not by Gallagher (ETA: neither is the 3rd link) - re-posting from the Hanyu cheer thread:

Hanyu makes emotional return to Yokohama rink: https://english.kyodonews.net/news/...-makes-emotional-return-to-yokohama-rink.html

Related videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2N-oqIJETo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_EhLi_26g8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LmzWOL8e6M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTg6ET8O-oY

Wakaba Higuchi debuted her programs in (and won) a local competition, Kanto Summer Trophy, in early August -- protocols:
SP (62.39): http://www.jsfresults.com/local/2017-2018/fs/12/02/data0203.pdf
FS (131.49): http://www.jsfresults.com/local/2017-2018/fs/12/02/data0205.pdf

Here's a page for her by one of Higuchi's Japanese sponsors (skincare/cosmetics): http://www.noevir.co.jp/figureskate/

 

[Maofan7]

^^^ Thanks, however I just wanted to note that the first article linked above is not by Gallagher (ETA: neither is the 3rd link) - re-posting from the Hanyu cheer thread:

I said they were from Gallagher and the Japan Times, not that they were all from Gallagher

 

[Sylvia]

Phil Hersh's article on Shoma Uno working with Coach Alex Ouriashev in Chicago (link is cross-posted in Uno's fan thread): http://web.icenetwork.com/news/2017/08/22/249936070
Excerpt:

Uno comes into this season as the reigning world silver medalist from a nation that is gaga about figure skating. That his countryman, Yuzuru Hanyu, the reigning world and Olympic champion, is wildly popular in Japan deflects attention away from Uno.
"[Hanyu] is someone I look up to," Uno said. "I like the attitude he shows about skating. He is a great jumper, of course, but I think he is a well-balanced, all-around skater.
"It is mentally easier to chase someone, to have someone above me all the time. But I will probably end up skating longer than he does, so hopefully I am the one to carry that kind of pressure in the future."
Uno, from Nagoya, has sponsorship deals with Toyota Motor Company and Colantotte, a company that makes magnetic jewelry advertised to have health benefits (he wears a necklace). A "Shoma Uno Official Calendar 2018" is set to be released nationwide in Japan next month.

 

[Marco]

Beautiful spinning by Matsuoka at Aussie JGP! She has nice skating skills too! Too bad the program is kind of boring and her jumps are kind of small.

 

[all_empty]

Beautiful spinning by Matsuoka at Aussie JGP! She has nice skating skills too! Too bad the program is kind of boring and her jumps are kind of small.

Her jumps were Satoko-esque but she's still on 13.

The spins -- particularly the layback -- were jaw-dropping.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QV5QQswgVYs (she ends both programs with the insane layback)

 

[nimi]

The spins -- particularly the layback -- were jaw-dropping.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QV5QQswgVYs (she ends both programs with the insane layback)

WOW! Beautiful layback spin with beautiful arm variation that DOESN'T end with a biellmann... LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT!

 

[dinakt]

Beautiful spinning by Matsuoka at Aussie JGP! She has nice skating skills too! Too bad the program is kind of boring and her jumps are kind of small.

Thank you for mentioning her, I missed her. What a gem!!! I did not fine the program boring at all. The girl knows how to fill the music with prolonged gesture, I think she is very musical. And the spins are glorious.

 

[Sylvia]

The spins -- particularly the layback -- were jaw-dropping.

[109.82 in FS] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QV5QQswgVYs (she ends both programs with the insane layback)

What a gem!!! I did not fine the program boring at all. The girl knows how to fill the music with prolonged gesture, I think she is very musical. And the spins are glorious.

Here's Akari Matsuoka's SP (58.23): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPVs9PTqzsc
I also found her skating very appealing. This was her JGP debut.

Riko Takino, coached by Nobunari Oda's mother, won the bronze in her JGP debut in Brisbane:
SP (60.55): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OU6RfpCR9Lw
FS (113.61): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qm36A85nhVU

Ladies results:
3 Riko TAKINO JPN 174.16 3 3
4 Akari MATSUOKA JPN 168.05 4 4

Men's results:
5 Yuto KISHINA JPN 182.48 6 4
10 Taichiro YAMAKUMA JPN 149.21 10 9

 

[nimi]

Riko Takino, coached by Nobunari Oda's mother, won the bronze in her JGP debut in Brisbane:
SP (60.55): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OU6RfpCR9Lw
FS (113.61): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qm36A85nhVU

Just watched these. Gotta admire Riko's speed and attack!

According to the commentator & her isubio, Nobunari is also part of her coaching team. Maybe in the future we'll be lucky enough to see Nobu with her in the kiss&cry? (I just realized I never watched Nobunari as a junior skater so I youtubed his jr world winning programs from 2005. Do yourself a favor and watch/rewatch his SP. It's GREAT!!)

 

[Marco]

I don't find THEM boring, I find their programs boring. I find both girls to have great skills (for their ages), but Marin Honda they are not. (Sorry for the comparison, I am just on look-out mode now that many of my faves are likely retiring after this season...)

 

[nimi]

I just posted some Marin Honda news in the programs & music thread.

Marin Honda is going to scrap her tango SP and turn it into a show program. The new SP music isn't announced yet.

She'll return to her old Smile SP for US Int Classic and debut the new program at Skate Canada.

source: https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20170830-00000128-sph-spo

 

[Marco]

Thanks. I wish she would scrap Turandot instead...

 

[Karpenko]

Well I hope you tango-haters are happy now. I actually liked the program and thought she'd do well with it.

Maybe it'll be "Fantaisie Impromptu" and her ode to Shizuka Arakawa will be complete.

 

[nimi]

The word is Zueva is gonna choreograph the new SP.

Well I hope you tango-haters are happy now.

I'm not a fan of tango programs that don't have a tango feel, so I'm okay with this.

I sure hope the piece of music she heard and fell in love with doesn't have Ewan McGregor on vocals, though...

 

[alexikeguchi]

According to the commentator & her isubio, Nobunari is also part of her coaching team. Maybe in the future we'll be lucky enough to see Nobu with her in the kiss&cry? (I just realized I never watched Nobunari as a junior skater so I youtubed his jr world winning programs from 2005. Do yourself a favor and watch/rewatch his SP. It's GREAT!!)

I feel so old... I remember when he actually competed this program.

 

[Fozzie Bear]

WOW! Beautiful layback spin with beautiful arm variation that DOESN'T end with a biellmann... LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT!

Holy skategods! That's some Lucinda Ruh-esque speed on that layback.

 

[Sedge]

Miyahara withdraws from Finlandia

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports...p-planned-season-opener-finland/#.Wa1b2MKWzZ4

 

[Bellanca]

Miyahara withdraws from Finlandia

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports...p-planned-season-opener-finland/#.Wa1b2MKWzZ4

Obviously, the best call. But, sheesh, hope Satoko will be ready to go and - more importantly - healthy! Ugh, the injuries ... concerning! And now I have a splitting headache. Get well soon, Satoko! Please!

 

[MINAM]

Some news on Miyahara
http://www.iza.ne.jp/kiji/sports/ne...utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=related_link
She cancelled show appearances due to spraining her left leg. And as reported in the link posted by Sedge, she is limited her time on the ice to an hour "for her body to rest"
NHK trophy in November will likely (and hopefully for us) be her first competition this season. "I'm taking things one step at a time because it's too much stress when you forced yourself (to do too much). She is very much focused on Japan Nationals.

 

[Wyliefan]

Oh, crumbs. Get well soon, Satoko!