Japanese figure skating 2018-19 season news & updates

[Sylvia]

Time for a new season thread! Kicking it off with @rosewood's post in the previous thread with the translated names (thank you!) of all the 2018-19 Team Japan athletes (last season's major competition placements added by me):

List of 2018-2019 Team Japan athletes is published [4/26/18].
https://skatingjapan.or.jp/image_data/fck/file/2018/H30FS180426.pdf

MEN
Special: Yuzuru Hanyu [O1], Shoma Uno [GPF2/S1/4C2/O2/W2], Keiji Tanaka [S2/4C4/O?/W13], Kazuki Tomono [S4/W5]
A: Daisuke Murakami [S5], Mitsuki Sumoto [J1/JGPF3/S6/JW9], Ryuju Hino [S7], Hiroaki Sato [S8], Sena Miyake [J2/S11/JW18], Tatsuya Tsuboi [J3/S13]
B: Sota Yamamoto [S9], Jun Suzuki [S10], Kazuki Kushida [J4/S17], Yuto Kishina [J5/S19], Shun Sato [J6/S16], Kazuki Hasegawa [J7], Taichiro Yamakuma [J8]
{Not Listed-Retired: Takahito Mura [S3/4C12]}

LADIES
Special: Satoko Miyahara [GPF5/S1/4C3/O4/W3], Kaori Sakamoto [S2/4C1/O6], Rika Kihira [J1/JGPF4/S3/JW8], Mai Mihara [S5/4C2], Wakaba Higuchi [GPF6/S4/W2], Mako Yamashita [J2/S10/JW3]
A: Rika Hongo [S6], Marin Honda [S7], Yuhana Yokoi [J4/S8/JW6], Nana Araki [J3]
B: Yuna Shiraiwa [S9], Yura Matsuda [S11], Rin Nitaya [S12], Rinka Watanabe [J5/S19], Tomoe Kawabata [J6/S21], Riko Takino [J7], Hanna Yoshida [J8]

ICE DANCE
Special: Kana Muramoto / Chris Reed [S1/4C3/O15/W11]
A: Misato Komatsubara / Timothy Koleto [S2/4C10]
B: Rikako Fukase / Aru Tateno [S3/4C11]
{Not listed: Haruno Yajima / Daiki Shimazaki [J1/JW23]}

PAIRS
A: Miu Suzaki / Ryuichi Kihara [S1/4C8/O21/W24], Riku Miura / Shoya Ichihashi [J1/S3/4C10/JW10]
{Not Listed:
Split-she has retired: Narumi Takahashi/Ryo Shibata [S2]
Split after 2017 NHK Trophy: Sumire Suto/Francis Boudreau-Audet (he is released back to CAN)}

Synchronized
A: Jingu Ice Messengers [S1/W13]

-----

MEN 2017-18 ISU Season Best Total Scores (top 11) with ISU World Standings current rankings included [in brackets]:
2 319.84 Shoma UNO JPN ISU CS Lombardia Trophy 2017 [WS #2]
3 317.85 Yuzuru HANYU JPN XXIII Olympic Winter Games 2018 [WS #3]
14 260.31 Keiji TANAKA JPN ISU Four Continents Championships 2018 [WS #18]
17 256.11 Kazuki TOMONO JPN ISU World Championships 2018 [WS #19]
46 225.41 Takahito MURA JPN ISU Four Continents Championships 2018 [WS #35] (RETIRED)
57 214.45 Mitsuki SUMOTO JPN ISU Junior Grand Prix Final 2017/18 [WS #41]
72 200.59 Daisuke MURAKAMI JPN ISU CS Autumn Classic International 2017 [WS #110]
75 199.20 Hiroaki SATO JPN ISU GP NHK Trophy 2017 [WS #106]
76 198.44 Tatsuya TSUBOI JPN ISU JGP Egna Neumarkt 2017 [WS #107]
77 196.72 Koshiro SHIMADA JPN ISU JGP Croatia Cup 2017 [WS #68] (missed qualifying for Jr/Sr Nationals due to injury)
101 184.33 Ryuju HINO JPN ISU CS Ondrej Nepela Trophy 2017 [WS #81]
104 182.48 Yuto KISHINA JPN ISU JGP Brisbane 2017 [WS #98]

LADIES 2017-18 ISU Season Best Total Scores (top 13) with ISU World Standings current rankings included [in brackets]:
5 222.38 Satoko MIYAHARA JPN XXIII Olympic Winter Games 2018 [WS #8]
6 217.63 Wakaba HIGUCHI JPN ISU CS Lombardia Trophy 2017 [WS #4]
9 214.21 Kaori SAKAMOTO JPN ISU Four Continents Championships 2018 [WS #9]
10 210.57 Mai MIHARA JPN ISU Four Continents Championships 2018 [WS #7]
19 198.42 Marin HONDA JPN ISU CS US Internat. FS Classic 2017 [WS #19]
23 195.56 Yura MATSUDA JPN ISU CS Lombardia Trophy 2017 [WS #54]
24 195.17 Mako YAMASHITA JPN ISU World Junior Championships 2018 [WS #38]
26 193.18 Yuna SHIRAIWA JPN ISU GP Internationaux de France 2017 [WS #28]
27 192.45 Rika KIHIRA JPN ISU Junior Grand Prix Final 2017/18 [WS #44]
31 189.98 Rika HONGO JPN ISU CS Ondrej Nepela Trophy 2017 [WS #17]
37 184.78 Yuhana YOKOI JPN ISU World Junior Championships 2018 [WS #91]
40 183.00 Nana ARAKI JPN ISU JGP Minsk Arena Cup 2017 [WS #99]
49 174.16 Riko TAKINO JPN ISU JGP Brisbane 2017 [WS #107]

DANCE 2017-18 ISU Season Best Total Scores with ISU World Standings current rankings included [in brackets]:
20 164.38 Kana MURAMOTO / Chris REED JPN ISU World Championships 2018 [WS #13]
58 138.18 Misato KOMATSUBARA / Tim KOLETO JPN ISU Four Continents Championships 2018 [WS #60]
80 124.02 Rikako FUKASE / Aru TATENO JPN ISU Four Continents Championships 2018 [WS #50]

PAIRS 2017-18 ISU Season Best Total Scores with ISU World Standings current rankings included [in brackets]:
44 157.27 Miu SUZAKI / Ryuichi KIHARA JPN ISU Four Continents Championships 2018 [WS #33]
46 156.52 Sumire SUTO / Francis BOUDREAU-AUDET JPN ISU GP NHK Trophy 2017 [WS #26] (SPLIT)
61 137.22 Riku MIURA / Shoya ICHIHASHI JPN ISU World Junior Championships 2018 [WS #50]

 

[Sylvia]

Japan Times article by Jack Gallagher (May 8, 2018): Rafael Arutunian looking forward to coaching teen star Marin Honda

 

[nimi]

Japan Times article by Jack Gallagher (May 8, 2018): Rafael Arutunian looking forward to coaching teen star Marin Honda

Interesting! So the initial inquiry was made already last fall, right after Marin's underwhelming GP events:

“It was in Osaka (at the NHK Trophy in November),” Arutunian stated. “It was a small conversation with Marin’s father. He approached me. I had never met him before.

“They approached me and said they wanted to try out. I said, ‘That’s a good idea.’ I don’t want to take on anybody before I know them.

The goals for the first season under Raf sound realistic:

“The goals are very simple. She needs to try to make it to the Grand Prix Final,” Arutunian stated. “That should be a goal.

“She needs to try to make the Japanese team for worlds. It’s pretty simple. I would say that is the highest goal,” Arutunian added. “I would not say she should try to be the national champion. It would be perfect if she can get to the Grand Prix Final.”

 

[rosewood]

http://www.thevanguard.ca/sports/No...nt-lorelei-murphy-to-skate-in-germany-207259/

Three-and-a-half decades after she last competed as a figure skater, Lorelei Murphy is about to head overseas to take part in the International Adult Figure Skating Competition in Oberstdorf, Germany.
.....
The participants will include one of Murphy’s figure skating heroes: former world champion and Olympic silver medallist Midori Ito of Japan.

Can someone confirm this? Am I OK to say "wow"?

 

[patchris84]

Midori Ito's on the third page at the bottom left
file:///C:/Users/borde/Downloads/17.05.2018%20(1).pdf

 

[rosewood]

Midori Ito's on the third page at the bottom left
file:///C:/Users/borde/Downloads/17.05.2018%20(1).pdf

Shame I can't open the link. But you mean she is on the entry list, right? If so, wow! thank you! She skated wonderfully when she participated in the event last time. I'm excited to see her skate again.

 

[Sylvia]

^^^ I've started a thread for this month's ISU Adult Competition in Obertsdorf (how many times has Midori Ito competed there now?) in the MITF forum: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...tion-may-14-19-2018-in-oberstdorf-ger.103944/

Copying over @livetoskate's post from the previous thread and replying here:

Anyone know when tickets will be on sale for 2019 worlds in Saitama? Also, there's a Japanese tv special on the 28th [April] about the top Japanese ladies skaters and what they've been up to. If anyone is able to watch it, please let us know what's said. Thanks!

@rosewood (or anyone else), can you answer either of these questions?

The Mao Thanks Tour starts next week. Hopefully some videos will show up on YouTube.

Mao's tour thread in GSD has some clips and photos: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/mao-asadas-thanks-tour-starting-from-may-2018.103898/

GSD thread with a list of Japan's spring/summer ice shows (in recent past and upcoming) for handy reference: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/list-of-spring-summer-japanese-ice-shows.103745/

Lastly, Takahiko Kozuka has developed new skate blades. He has posted about his company on Instagram, and Mura has been using the blades for the past 2 years.

Thanks! I started a thread in GSD last night after I came across an article in English: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...nese-steel-firm-to-make-kozuka-blades.103942/

ETA:

Sean Rabbitt has posted a few photos with Marin & older brother Taichi Honda: https://www.instagram.com/p/BilfMDtBasX/?taken-by=seanrabbitt

 

[Bellanca]

^^^ I've started a thread for this month's ISU Adult Competition in Obertsdorf (how many times has Midori Ito competed there now?) in the MITF forum: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...tion-may-14-19-2018-in-oberstdorf-ger.103944/

Copying over @livetoskate's post from the previous thread and replying here:

@rosewood (or anyone else), can you answer either of these questions?

Mao's tour thread in GSD has some clips and photos: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/mao-asadas-thanks-tour-starting-from-may-2018.103898/

GSD thread with a list of Japan's spring/summer ice shows (in recent past and upcoming) for handy reference: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/list-of-spring-summer-japanese-ice-shows.103745/

Thanks! I started a thread in GSD last night after I came across an article in English: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...nese-steel-firm-to-make-kozuka-blades.103942/

ETA:

Sean Rabbitt has posted a few photos with Marin & older brother Taichi Honda: https://www.instagram.com/p/BilfMDtBasX/?taken-by=seanrabbitt

The best kind of ETA: when we are talking about Sean! Thanks, @Sylvia - always good to see the Rabbitt out and about doing his thing, and w/ Marin & Taichi to boot !

 

[rosewood]

Thanks @Sylvia for starting helpful threads. As for Midori participating in the International Adult Competition, as far as I know it's the third time - 2011, 2013 and 2018. 2011 IAC was the first ISU competition in 15 years since she put a period to her competitive career in 1996. And it was the 10th year since her last competition which was 2001 Pro-Am competition. The 5-page article which I linked to "2011" earlier in this post has good photos and reports from training/event written by a writer who also participated in the 2011 IAC. Happy to see her enjoy skating itself and share the joy with us fans.

 

[rosewood]

Anyone know when tickets will be on sale for 2019 worlds in Saitama? Also, there's a Japanese tv special on the 28th about the top Japanese ladies skaters and what they've been up to. If anyone is able to watch it, please let us know what's said. Thanks!

@rosewood (or anyone else), can you answer either of these questions?

Here is a video of the TV program.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7KJG3ZztPQ
Shame I don't know about the Nationals' ticket info (yet). Usually JSF announce the ticketing info around from the end of September to the beginning of October, and tickets are on sale from the end of October (by lottery).

 

[livetoskate]

Rosewood, thanks for the information. Here's a link to a recent show where Takahito Mura, Akiko Suzuki, and a Japanese skater from the late 80s (I don't recognize her but she still looks so young!) are the guests. There's a little bit about Midori Ito at the end too.
https://youtu.be/E4HcwTg7qZM

 

[rosewood]

Here's Midori's performance at 2018 Intl Adult Competition. Love love love her joy of skating!
https://twitter.com/icegreen03/status/998003569168072704

And here is a 2A she did during the warm up (at the age of 48 !).
https://twitter.com/azayakanablue/status/998027607886069761/video/1

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

Rosewood, thanks for the information. Here's a link to a recent show where Takahito Mura, Akiko Suzuki, and a Japanese skater from the late 80s (I don't recognize her but she still looks so young!) are the guests. There's a little bit about Midori Ito at the end too.
https://youtu.be/E4HcwTg7qZM

That's Junko Yaginuma. She would have to be 45 now.

 

[rosewood]

LOVED Wakaba's new EX to MJ medley choreographed by Richaud. So much fun to see her enjoying herself in the program.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74_DNBw1xTI

The commentator is Machida. He said she's gutsy enough to do 3S in the second half of this long number since it was the costly jump in this season to her. He also added that to skate this long number will be good preparation for next season stamina-wise.

Here's Machida's new number Bolero (8 minutes).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7O59dqJtoV0


ETA:
Team PIW group number with Kozuka.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2Tg4fkDyfU

Shoma made two ex numbers this spring. This is one of them to Time After Time choreographed by David Wilson.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35k2p8AwbXY
The other one was done by Bourne and it seems kind of a challenging one costume-wise.
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/local/shiga/graph/article.html?id=20180519-OYTNI50025

 

[rosewood]

Rika Hongo's new SP 'Kill Bill' (show ver.) choreographed by Bourne.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlwSFmLXq58

 

[nimi]

Rika Hongo's new SP 'Kill Bill' (show ver.) choreographed by Bourne.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlwSFmLXq58

That step sq has some nice touches. Looks like a good vehicle for her overall, methinks.

 

[Marco]

Rika Hongo is continuing. Great spirit.

 

[nimi]

Marin's Ex from PIW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXE7Q6Ug_3Q

Machida's observation (twitter source for the translation): "a very American program" and "you can see that her 2A is already executed Arutyunyan style", similar to Ashley and Adam, so "the critical question is whether [Arutyunyan's] jumping technique will suit her or not."

Not a big fan of this program TBH but looks like Marin is having fun performing it! Wishing her luck with her jump training!

 

[livetoskate]

That step sq has some nice touches. Looks like a good vehicle for her overall, methinks.

I really like Rika's choreography, costume and music, but her spins were so slow. She needs to take some spin lessons from Jason Brown and Adam Rippon.

 

[livetoskate]

Midori Ito's recent skate at an adult competition in Germany:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9A2fPsBxXZQ

 

[nimi]

I came across some Wakaba news on twitter that I think haven't been posted here yet

From Wakaba Higuchi’s interview:
-New choreo: SP is Shae-Lynn, FS is Yuko Sato (neither done yet)
-Wakaba spent a week at TCC working particularly on 3A
-She wants to add in 3A next season, plus more transitions
-Over the next quad, she aims to make GPF every year

I really really hope it'll work out and we'll see the 3A next season!

 

[Sylvia]

I came across some Wakaba news on twitter that I think haven't been posted here yet

Thanks - that tweet summarizes this original Japanese article on Wakaba Higuchi here: http://number.bunshun.jp/articles/-/830893
Higuchi's choreographers are mentioned on page 4 of the article (ETA: already cross-posted in the Programs/Choreographers thread and added to the spreadsheet): http://number.bunshun.jp/articles/-/830893?page=4

 

[Bellanca]

From Wakaba Higuchi’s interview:
-New choreo: SP is Shae-Lynn, FS is Yuko Sato (neither done yet)

Shae-Lynn for Wakaba's short and Yuka for her free is simply ! I cannot wait to see her programs!

 

[Plusdinfo]

Midori Ito's recent skate at an adult competition in Germany:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9A2fPsBxXZQ

I've been looking for comments on this, but it seems no one cared to post it or about it except for you. I thought Midori was adorable and fun. That kind of music would have suited her even as an amateur competitor.

 

[nimi]

I've been looking for comments on this, but it seems no one cared to post it or about it except for you.

Did you notice this link @Sylvia posted above?

^^^ I've started a thread for this month's ISU Adult Competition in Obertsdorf (how many times has Midori Ito competed there now?) in the MITF forum: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...tion-may-14-19-2018-in-oberstdorf-ger.103944/

 

[rosewood]

^And in my post #12. Anyways, happy to see people enjoy Midori's skate after a few years break.

 

[Plusdinfo]

^And in my post #12. Anyways, happy to see people enjoy Midori's skate after a few years break.

I was expecting a thread with her name on it. Was not thinking of a general thread, and I didn't know adult competitions go in the MITF forum.

 

[rosewood]

THE 30TH ANNUAL SKATE JAPAN 2018 WITH MAO ASADA SPECIAL TROPHY will be held on June 23-24. It's an event organized by ISI Asia.
https://isiasia.org/event/sjp18/

Mao Asada Special Trophy:
https://isiasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/sjp18-ann.pdf

Mao Asada Special Trophy Special category:
Spotlight Theme “ FUTURE” Celebrating the participation of special guest; the former Olympic Silver medalist and World Champion, Miss Mao Asada, a special category “SPOTLGIHT THEME” is created. The theme will be “FUTURE”. Skaters should demonstrate your dream or future goal with music, costume and props (optional) in accordance with the spotlight solo or couple event standard. Medals for the 1st thru 3rd place and award certificate for 1st thru 6th place will be presented. In addition, “Mao Asada Special Trophy” will be presented by Ms. Mao Asada for the most remarkable skater selected by herself.

Special Guest Mao Asada & Mai Asada will be appearing! Asada sisters will perform special exhibition at Skate Japan 2018. Date and Time will be announced together with competition event schedule.

 

[Bellanca]

Japan junior champion Rika Kihira will be moving up to the senior ranks this season...

 

[nimi]

Dice Murakami announces his retirement: https://twitter.com/DaisukeMurakami/status/1007186090644549633

His YT video (in Japanese): https://youtu.be/JKfZVOdvrLk

twitter translation/summary courtesy by user Iron_Klaus:

"I've decided to retire because it would be difficult (to be competitive) the next four years."

He says that there are talented younger skaters now and this along with him being 27 years old has resulted in this decision. #DICE's native language is English so he will probably issue a statement in EN as well.