Japanese figure skating 2017-18 season news & updates

[Wyliefan]

I think Satoko secured her spot yesterday.

From your lips to God's ears!

 

[ks777]

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.

Not sure about that. at this point, Marin isn't as ready as Higuchi so no point of sending her to the Olympics even though I would love for Marin to make the team. I think Miyahara and Higuchi will be selected Unless Miyahara misses a few jumps and Honda, Mihara or Sakamoto go clean. Marin is still young so hopefully she'll make it eventually..

 

[Marco]

I do think the JPN Fed would love the team to be Satoko and Marin - from media and financial perspectives. Marin is appearing everywhere in Japan.

Obviously now that Wakaba is skating so well it just doesn't make sense to send Marin, UNLESS Marin trumps everyone at Nationals (which I don't see happening).

I also think Satoko and Wakaba are the likeliest choices. Mai has high scoring potential but like Marin has shown weaknesses in the short.

 

[shady82]

Before Worlds, I think the JPN fed was hoping the PC team would be Satoko, Wakaba, and Marin. Then, Wakaba skated poorly at 4CCs and Worlds while Mai was the flag bearer in Satoko's absence. Since then, Mai has gotten an edge. Then Sakamoto came along with really strong skating, especially the SP. Her PCS at Skam were quite inflated in the long though -- the program doesn't impress me as much as the short. Her poor posture, carriage, and juniorish interpretation in the long shouldn't be overlooked just because she has the best edgework in the business.

However, I do think Marin is marginally better than Mai at skating. Mai's extensions and interpretation still need some work. So if they both go clean, I might give Marin slightly higher scores though the judges are doing the opposite so far this season.

 

[Marco]

Kaori has wonderful edges and power. Not a fan of her posture (ugh...) and all the miming but I find myself focusing on the blades when she skates and am therefore able to overlook some of her stylistic weaknesses.

I think it is unfair and ironic that someone with her abilities may never make a world team because there already are Satoko, Wakaba, Mai and Marin (and soon Rika Mihara) fighting for World spots; yet Rika Hongo has been to 3 consecutive Worlds in this quad.

 

[MRani]

Kaori has wonderful edges and power. Not a fan of her posture (ugh...) and all the miming but I find myself focusing on the blades when she skates and am therefore able to overlook some of her stylistic weaknesses.

I think it is unfair and ironic that someone with her abilities may never make a world team because there already are Satoko, Wakaba, Mai and Marin (and soon Rika Mihara) fighting for World spots; yet Rika Hongo has been to 3 consecutive Worlds in this quad.

There’s also Nana Araki and Mako Yamashita coming up too. Japanese ladies have so much awesome talent.

 

[Marco]

Given how the top ladies also go to 4CCs these days (except for Olympic seasons), it is possible someone like Kaori would not even get to go to 4CCs.

 

[alj5]

And the Japanese Fed's Olympics decision gets even harder.

 

[shady82]

I think Kaori need not worry too much. Based on how she's been scored this season, she's quite competitive with Mai and has been outscoring Marin. But I also feel for Rika Hongo. She's been skating pretty well this year and I enjoy her long program a lot, but at this rate, she'll probably be 7th at Nationals.

 

[cohkaix]

Given how the top ladies also go to 4CCs these days (except for Olympic seasons), it is possible someone like Kaori would not even get to go to 4CCs.

Hard to say. 4CC 2018 will be less than two weeks away from the Oly team event. And considering Japan has only 2 spots for ladies, whoever would be sent to the individual event will most likely take turns in the team event (one skates to SP and one to FS). In that case, it will be most likely that neither will enter 4CC (esp. Satoko, I don't think she'll want that many competitions during such a short time frame as she just recovered from injury).

(And I'll welcome any one of them to participate in 4CC, as I'll be attending the event!)

 

[skatingguy]

I don't think the Japanese will have to worry about the free skates of the team event. I'm now convinced that Satoko Miyahara will make the Japanese national team - probably will win Japanese nationals - and that who ever is the 2nd place skater will be the 2nd skater sent and will do the short program in the team event. The Japanese weakness in pairs and ice dance makes it unlikely that they are among the top 5 even if Hanyu wins the men's short program, like he did in 2014, and the Japanese ladies skater finishes 2nd or 3rd in the ladies short program.

 

[DDNatalia]

Satoko was so impressive and seems to be finding her groove at just the right moment. For someone who only started seriously training jumps in October ... speaks volumes about how fundamentals/technique can play a role in consistency and a quick return to form.

 

[kwanfan1818]

Based on @RoseRed's post here:

https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/ladies-figure-skating-at-the-olympics.101911/#post-5139555

*If there are no "Do what they want anyway" caveats, or, if there are, they don't use them:

National champion [must be ISU age-eligible] gets the first spot

Second spot goes to #2 or #3 at GPF. If neither were at GPF, then placement on WS, WR, and 2017-18 SB (high score).

It's all about the top three (age-eligible?) placements at Nationals to be considered, because just making GPF doesn't help 4th and below (age-eligible?).

Right now Higuchi is the only Japanese Lady in GPF. Miyahara and Sakamoto are the first two alternates, and Miyahara will go if Medvedeva withdraws.

If Miyahara isn't at GPF, then Higuchi needs top 3 at Nationals as long as she skates GPF.

If Miyahara is at GPF, then to guarantee Olympic spots, Higuchi and Miyahara need to be first and second or third at Nationals for both of them to get in. If they go 2-3 at Nationals, then whoever is highest at GPF goes, along with #1. If one is Top Three, and the other is 4th or below, she will go, and the other won't. For anyone else not #1 to go, both Higuchi and Miyahara have to be 4th or below.

 

[kwanfan1818]

With Japanese Nationals at the end of December:

• There are only three senior Ladies events before Nationals in which to earn WS points (Santa Claus Cup -- no senior skaters skaters from JPN on the list of entries as of 20 Nov -- Golden Spin -- no senior Ladies on the list of entries as of 28 Nov -- and Bosphorous Cup, for which I can't find any entry info)
  • Ladies with free slot(s)
    • Hongo, one, incremental points over 210 only
    • Mihara, one, full points
    • Honda, one, full points
    • Matsuda, one, full points
    • Nitaya, one, full points
• Only one opportunity, Golden Spin, to earn a new SB, aside from GPF. No Japanese Ladies are competing at Golden Spin.

Some data, if Miyahara and Higuchi don't claim both spots, and WS, WR, and SB are in consideration for the second spot:

World Standings:

• Hongo-9 (2736)
• Mihara-12 (2610)
• Honda-18 (2074)
• Sakamoto-22 (2030)
• Shiraiwa-27 (1803)
• Matsuda-54 (1039)
• Nitaya-59 (990)

World Ranking:

• Sakamoto-4 (1091)
• Mihara-10 (854)
• Honda-13 (824)
• Shiraiwa-14 (812)
• Hongo-18 (719)
• Matsuda-84 (198)
• Nitaya-91 (178(

Season's Best:

• Sakamoto-7 (210.59)
• Mihara-11 (206.07)
• Honda-14 (198.42)
• Matsuda-21 (195.56)
• Shiraiwa-23 (193.18)
• Hongo-26 (189.98)
• Kihara-30 (185.81)
• Nitaya-62 (161.20)

 

[giselle23]

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.

Marin hasn't held up under the pressure of the Grand Prix. But not to worry, when Japan gets three spots back, Marin will be on the team.

 

[chapis]

‘Cherry blossom’ time for Japan’s Muramoto and Reed
https://goldenskate.com/2017/12/cher...muramoto-reed/

“Sakura or cherry blossom is one of the most iconic things in Japan,” Reed explained. “It’s beautiful, but yet it is short-lived. It’s magical from the start when it blooms. With our program, we wanted to depict that from the moment, when it is winter, and the flowers are trying to bloom, but it is not ready yet until the middle part where it is experiencing its breath for the first time, the beauty and full bloom, where it is just happiness, joy and beauty, until the petals fall away.”

“Before I changed to ice dance, I didn’t find myself loving skating anymore because all the other young skaters in Japan were doing triple-triples,” Muramoto recalled. “I had my triples, but I was not motivated at all. Once I started ice dancing, it was like a whole new life and I love skating right now. I just like to be on the ice which I kind of never felt the same way when I was a single skater. It’s awesome that I have a nice dancing career now and it’s really fun¨

It is amazing, she really was landing triples just 5 years ago https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g1QupPI2nk

¨The main change is that the dancers focus on one day in the week on skating skills instead of doing programs. While low impact, it helps them work on the basics.¨
Interesting

Muramoto and Reed are not yet sure about their plans after the Olympic season

For the time after their competitive career, both dancers would like to stay involved in skating and both can see themselves coaching and hope to give back and help to develop ice dance in Japan. That is great, Katy is already coaching in Japan.

 

[Seerek]

Kaori has wonderful edges and power. Not a fan of her posture (ugh...) and all the miming but I find myself focusing on the blades when she skates and am therefore able to overlook some of her stylistic weaknesses.

I actually think Benoit Richaud is/will be a good fit for Kaori. He knows not to give pretty princess programs where it doesn't fit (other example: Ivett Toth's short program this season from Richaud is an AC/DC medley).

Even though it may seem a little overdone on TV, I think the programs are suitable to where Kaori's at in terms of interpretation at the moment.

 

[all_empty]

A lot of Kaori hate, but let's not forget she is a solid, solid competitor and the reigning World Jr. bronze medalist. She's been competing against the Russians for a long time.

Her jumps are huge, maybe the biggest among the Japanese ladies. The SP is wonderful for her. FS, not so much.

I think she's probably 4th or 5th in the pecking order, but assuming Miyahara retires this season along with Hongo, and Honda's (relative) inconsistency, she could be a mainstay on the team for years to come, with the right programs.

I think she could do well with powerful music, or even comedy (her SP last season was charming). I wouldn't count out Yuna Shiraiwa, either. It's really a shame they only have two berths.

 

[Meoima]

According to JSF official, as of now Hanyu still feels pain in his ankle, and not yet returned to on-ice training. He is receiving treatment and doing rehabilitation and wants to come back for the nationals, but not sure whether he will join at the moment.
From https://twitter.com/pandaatlarge/status/939743830269607936?s=17

 

[Spun Silver]

^ Dislike. (Please don't take that as directed at you, Meoima!)

 

[umronnie]

According to JSF official, as of now Hanyu still feels pain in his ankle, and not yet returned to on-ice training. He is receiving treatment and doing rehabilitation and wants to come back for the nationals, but not sure whether he will join at the moment.
From https://twitter.com/pandaatlarge/status/939743830269607936?s=17

This is bad.

 

[Kateri]

*wrings hands*

 

[ks777]

Most likely Hanyu won't be competing at the Nationals but I am 100% sure he will be selected to be on the Olympic team. I hope he will be 100% for the Olympics, that's all I am concerned at this point.

 

[FSfan107]

I hope Wakaba didn't hurt her chances with her skate at the GPF.

 

[Marco]

I believe with the way Wakaba and Satoko placed at the GPF, everything will be reset. It's going to be all about Nationals now.

 

[MRani]

I believe with the way Wakaba and Satoko placed at the GPF, everything will be reset. It's going to be all about Nationals now.

I don’t think the GPF completely negates their performance over the rest of the Grand Prix season, and they still have better results than the other contenders, but I agree they’re not as secure anymore as they were before GPF, particularly Wakaba.

I think Satoko goes into Nationals in the strongest position of all the Japanese ladies. She has good chances to win if she replicates her SA and GPF skates. Wakaba needs to either win or be second behind Satoko. Being second behind anyone else could cause her to be left off in favor of a Satoko in third, and being third might not cut it for her at all depending on how others skate.

Wakaba has a good track record at Japanese Nationals. She’s been the silver medalist behind Satoko for 3 years in a row I believe.

 

[kwanfan1818]

The selection rules are clear: since only two Japanese Ladies qualified for GPF, by virtue of qualifying for the GPF, Higuchi is on the team if she's first or second at Japanese Nationals and if she's third at Japanese Nationals and Miyahara isn't second.

 

[Marco]

The selection rules are clear: since only two Japanese Ladies qualified for GPF, by virtue of qualifying for the GPF, Higuchi is on the team if she's first or second at Japanese Nationals and if she's third at Japanese Nationals and Miyahara isn't second.

Does the same apply to Satoko who also qualified for GPF?

 

[MRani]

The selection rules are clear: since only two Japanese Ladies qualified for GPF, by virtue of qualifying for the GPF, Higuchi is on the team if she's first or second at Japanese Nationals and if she's third at Japanese Nationals and Miyahara isn't second.

What if another contender is first, Wakaba is second, and Satoko is third? In that case I think the champion and Satoko will go because Satoko has the higher finish at GPF, even though Wakaba placed second.

 

[oleada]

Is there an entry list for Japanese nationals anywhere?