Japanese figure skating 2020-21 season news & updates

[Marco]

The up-comer to watch in the Nats is Rino Matsuike! Memorize her name!

Loved her at NHK.

 

[AxelAnnie]

Did not she just win the Japanese JR. Nationals few weeks ago? I like her, she is so light, yet solid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxl-AYACGOg

She is absolutely lovely. Needs a little more cooking....but it will be so fun to watch!

 

[Sylvia]

JPN Nationals preview articles - first one is Hanyu-focused:

Hanyu Yuzuru discusses training alone: 'It has been really difficult'

Hanyu Yuzuru is back on competitive ice for the first time in 10 months, and spoke to reporters after practice about his challenging 2020.

www.olympicchannel.com

Japan figure skating nationals headlined by Hanyu, Uno, Kihira

Can the favourites prevail in Nagano? It's the first time this season we're seeing Hanyu Yuzuru, Uno Shoma, and Kihira Rika on competitive ice.

www.olympicchannel.com

Re-posting Hanyu's new programs here from his Cheer thread:

Yuzuru will skate to 'Let Me Entertain You' by Robbie Williams for his short program [choreo by Jeffrey Buttle] and 'Heaven and Earth' by Isao Tomita [choreo by Shae-Lynn Bourne] for his free skate this season.

His new FS also used another Tomita's piece from 1972 historical drama.

ETA:

Kyodo News article - Amid p*ndemic, Hanyu aims to end Japan title drought: https://tinyurl.com/y9vmn7yr

 

[Sylvia]

Japanese Nationals (Dec. 24-27, 2020 in Nagano) - entries with Eastern or Western Section qualifying placements included & NHK Trophy placements where applicable:

MEN
1 Reo ISHIZUKA Waseda Univ [E8]
2 Shoma UNO Toyota Motor Corporation (bye)
3 Kosho OSHIMA [J5]
4 Yuma KAGIYAMA Seisa highschool yokohama (bye) [E2; NHK Trophy, 1st]
5 Tsunehito KARAKAWA Nihon Univ [E9]
6 Yuto KISHINA Kansai Univ Skating Club [J4; NHK, 7th]
7 Kazuki KUSHIDA [W8]
8 Yuki KUNIKATA Nihon Univ [E7]
9 Kento KOBAYASHI Hosei [E4]
10 Ryoma KOBAYASHI Hosei [E5]
11 Shun SATO Fuji Corporation [E1; NHK, 5th]
12 Koshiro SHIMADA Kinoshita Group (bye)
13 Takumi SUGIYAMA [W11]
14 Mitsuki SUMOTO Kansai Univ Skating Club [W4; NHK-wd]
15 Keiji TANAKA [W3; NHK, 4th]
16 Kazuki TOMONO Doshisha F.Skating Club [W2; NHK, 2nd]
17 Kousuke NAKANO [W10]
18 Shunsuke NAKAMURA Kinoshita Academy [J6]
19 Kazuki HASEGAWA Science Univ of Tokyo [E6]
20 Yuzuru HANYU ANA (bye)
21 Ryuju HINO [W5]
22 Tatuma FURUYA [W12]
23 Taichi HONDA Kansai Univ Skating Club [W7]
24 Lucastsuyoshi HONDA Kinoshita Academy [J1; NHK, 3rd]
25 Kao MIURA Kose Shinyokohama prince [J2; NHK, 6th]
26 Sena MIYAKE Kansai Univ Skating Club [J3; NHK, 9th]
27 Sumitada MORIGUCHI Kinoshita Academy [W6]
28 Taichiro YAMAKUMA Meiji Univ [E3]
29 Koshin YAMADA SMBC [W9]
30 Sota YAMAMOTO [W1; NHK, 8th]

LADIES
1 Yuna AOKI Nihon Univ [E8]
2 Chisato URAMATSU Chukyo Senior High School [J9; NHK, 12th]
3 Rika OYA Meiji Univ [E9]
4 Tomoe KAWABATA Waseda Univ (bye) [E5; NHK, 10th]
5 Mana KAWABE Kinoshita Academy [W4; NHK, 6th]
6 Rika KIHIRA Toyota Motor Corporation (bye)
7 Kaori SAKAMOTO Sysmex [W1; NHK Trophy, 1st]
8 Ibuki SATOH Meiji Univ [E11]
9 Yuna SHIRAIWA Kansai Univ Skating Club [W5]
10 Natsu SUZUKI [J7]
11 Rion SUMIYOSHI Komaba Gakuen Hich School [J5]
12 Riko TAKINO Kansai Univ Skating Club [W11]
13 Hina TAKENO [W8]
14 Mone CHIBA Sendai FSC [J8]
15 Yuka NAGAI Waseda Univ [E6]
16 Rin NITAYA [W3]
17 Wakaba HIGUCHI Meiji Univ. NOEVIR (bye) [E1; NHK, 2nd]
18 Honoka HIROTANI [E7]
19 Rika HONGO [W9]
20 Marin HONDA JAL [E10; NHK, 9th]
21 Rino MATSUIKE Chukyo Senior High School [J1; NHK, 3rd]
22 Yura MATSUDA [W10]
23 Akari MATSUBARA Meiji Univ [E4]
24 Mai MIHARA Sysmex [W2; NHK, 4th]
25 Satoko MIYAHARA Kansai Univ Kinoshita Group (bye)
26 Mako YAMASHITA Chukyo Senior High School [W6; NHK, 5th]
27 Yuhana YOKOI [W7; NHK, 8th]
28 Shiika YOSHIOKA [E2]
29 Hana (Hanna) YOSHIDA Kinoshita Academy [J2]
30 Rinka WATANABE AomoriYamada hs FSC [E3]

ICE DANCE
1 Misato KOMATSUBARA / Takeru KOMATSUBARA (Tim Koleto ) [NHK Trophy, 1st]
2 Kiria HIRAYAMA / Aru TATENO
3 Rikako FUKASE / Eichu CHO CAN [NHK, 2nd]
4 Kana MURAMOTO / Daisuke TAKAHASHI, both Kansai univ.Kaisers Fsc [NHK, 3rd]
5 Haruno YAJIMA Musashino FSC / Yosimitu IKEDA Nihon Univ

Found this helpful explanation from last year about why Oliver Zhang's name turns into Eichu CHO:

One thing I want to add is about how the name of Oliver ZHANG is displayed. In Japan Chinese names are written in kanji. Pronunciation of kanjis are a bit different from the original pronunciation in current Chinese language. That made his family name Zhang(張) written/pronounced Cho in romaji. Oliver should be his English name and his another name written as 睿 中 is written/pronounced Eichu in romaji.

 

[all_empty]

30 skaters per each singles discipline?

What a treat.

I didn't scroll back but how many qualify from Eastern and Western areas? 11? 12?

Surprised Rika Hongo is in the game but admire her tenacity.

 

[Sylvia]

30 skaters per each singles discipline?

Top 24 men & ladies after the SP will advance to the FS.

I didn't scroll back but how many qualify from Eastern and Western areas? 11? 12?

Western Section Men: top 12
Western Section Ladies: top 11

Eastern Section Men: top 8 + seeded Yuma Kagiyama who elected to compete
Eastern Section Ladies: top 9 + seeded Wakaba Higuchi & Tomoe Kawabata who elected to compete

Seeded senior singles skaters with byes to Nationals: Shoma Uno, Yuzuru Hanyu, Yuma Kagiyama; Rika Kihira, Wakaba Higuchi, Tomoe Kawabata, Satoko Miyahara
Exemptions (assigned to a GP & training overseas): Koshiro Shimada (EASTERN Senior man); Rikako Fukase/Oliver Zhang & Kana Muramoto/Daisuke Takahashi (ice dance)
[Note: Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara (pair) train in Oakville, Ontario CAN & did not travel back to Japan.]

Junior Nationals top 6 men were invited to Senior Nationals, and top 2 ladies, plus 5, 7, 8, 9 (3, 4 & 6 were Novice ladies invited to Junior Nationals).

 

[japanice]

JPN Nationals preview articles - first one is Hanyu-focused:

Hanyu Yuzuru discusses training alone: 'It has been really difficult'

Hanyu Yuzuru is back on competitive ice for the first time in 10 months, and spoke to reporters after practice about his challenging 2020.

www.olympicchannel.com

Japan figure skating nationals headlined by Hanyu, Uno, Kihira

Can the favourites prevail in Nagano? It's the first time this season we're seeing Hanyu Yuzuru, Uno Shoma, and Kihira Rika on competitive ice.

www.olympicchannel.com

Re-posting Hanyu's new programs here from his Cheer thread:


ETA:

Kyodo News article - Amid p*ndemic, Hanyu aims to end Japan title drought: https://tinyurl.com/y9vmn7yr

Yuzuru Hanyu looks to end Shoma Uno’s four-year reign as Japan champion

NAGANO — Two-time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu was back on the ice Thursday afternoon at practice ahead of the Japan Championships for the first time since winning the Four Continents in Seo…

jackfigure.com

 

[Natanielle825]

What a treat.

Except that I literally have to stay up all night to get to watch JPTV is uploading videos...one...by one... Worth it to see Yuzuru and Shoma at about 3am (have I mentioned I named my kittens after them??), and Rika, Wakaba, Kaori and Satoko at about 6, wishing them all the best of luck!

 

[Gris]

JSF announced the Worlds team and substitutes following Nationals:

Worlds team: Hanyu, Uno, Kagiyama; Kihira, Sakamoto, Miyahara; Miura / Kihara; Komatsubara / Komatsubara (aka Tim Koleto)

Substitutes: Tanaka, Tomono, Sato; Matsuike (if she can get MTS), Higuchi, Mihara; Muramoto / Takahashi (if they can get MTS)

 

[alexikeguchi]

Rika Kihira landed quad salchow as well as triple axel in her FS to run away with another national title. Here is the link at least for now. If she skates like this at Worlds (should they actually happen), I have hope that she can land on the podium. I think it's important for the sport overall not to have one nation sweep, and Rika looks like the only non-Russian ladies skater who can compete at their level at this time.

 

[Sylvia]

Articles in English recapping Nationals:

Figure skating: Rika Kihira nails quad, seizes 2nd straight national title

Rika Kihira nails a quad salchow in her free skate to overcome a powerful challenge from Kaori Sakamoto and capture her second straight women's crown at Japan's national figure skating championships

english.kyodonews.net

Figure skating: Yuzuru Hanyu electric in Japan national championship victory

Two-time defending Olympic men's champion Yuzuru Hanyu delivers a dramatic and nearly flawless free skate to win his first Japan national championship in five years.

english.kyodonews.net

IN PHOTOS: Japan Figure Skating Championships

Photos of Yuzuru Hanyu, Shoma Uno, Rika Kihira and more from the Japan Figure Skating Championships held in Nagano over the weekend

english.kyodonews.net

Congratulations to all the medalists!

Men top 14:
GOLD Yuzuru Hanyu 319.36 1 1 (215.83 FS)
SILVER Shoma Uno 284.81 3 2 (190.59 FS)
BRONZE Yuma Kagiyama 278.79 2 3 (180.19 FS)
4 Keiji Tanaka 238.83 4 4 (155.22 FS)
5 Shun Sato 236.52 5 6 (153-21 FS)
6 Kazuki Tomono 223.16 7 8 (141.44 FS)
7 Kao Miura [J2] 221.26 13 5 (153.65 FS)
8 Koshiro Shimada 220.94 9 7 (149.06 FS)
9 Sota Yamamoto 217.34 6 9 (134.74 FS)
10 Sena Miyake [J3] 213.53 8 10 (134.44 FS)
11 Ryuju Hino 202.13 11 11 (132.34 FS)
12 Sumitada Moriguchi 196.10 17 12 (129.92 FS)
13 Lucas Tsuyoshi Honda [J1] 194.03 14 13 (126.51 FS)
14 Mitsuki Sumoto 193.37 15 14 (126.22 FS)

Ladies top 8:
GOLD Rika Kihira 234.24 1 1 (154.90 FS)
SILVER Kaori Sakamoto 222.17 2 2 (150.31 FS)
BRONZE Satoko Miyahara 209.75 6 3 (143.27 FS)
4 Rino Matsuike [J1] 204.74 7 4 (139.17 FS)
5 Mai Mihara 203.65 3 7 (134.10 FS)
6 Mana Kawabe 201.58 8 5 (136.88 FS)
7 Wakaba Higuchi 195.04 13 8 (133.51 FS)
8 Yuhana Yokoi 194.22 16 6 (134.39 FS)

Ice Dance top 4:
GOLD Misato KOMATSUBARA / Takeru KOMATSUBARA 175.23 1 1 (101 FD)
SILVER Kana MURAMOTO / Daisuke TAKAHASHI 2 3 151.86 2 3 (84.03 FD)
BRONZE Rikako FUKASE / Eichu Oliver CHO Canada 145.18 3 4 (83.16 FD)
4 Kiria HIRAYAMA / Aru TATENO 143.40 4 2 (86.79 FD)

English results page has all the protocols now but currently is missing the Men's final standings (since been added):
https://www.jsfresults.com/National/2020-2021/fs_e/nationals/index.htm

 

[all_empty]

Rika Kihira landed quad salchow as well as triple axel in her FS to run away with another national title. Here is the link at least for now. If she skates like this at Worlds (should they actually happen), I have hope that she can land on the podium. I think it's important for the sport overall not to have one nation sweep, and Rika looks like the only non-Russian ladies skater who can compete at their level at this time.

To be honest, Rika needs to up her technical content to compete with the top Russians.

Having a somewhat reliable 3A gives her an advantage, especially in the short.

But she needs the 4S and two 3A in the FS (especially if the 3Lz is MIA again -- though it was there in the short). I'm not sure how Young You is training but her technical content last year was already nipping at Rika's. I felt her spins were better before.

I think she'll need content like this:

4S
3A
3A + 2T
3F + 1Lo + 3S
3F
3Lo
2A + 3T

Kaori has been pretty consistent for a few seasons now and I can see them getting 4-6 at worlds and three berths.

Bummed for Wakaba who struggled mightily here. Also, I have to note that Mai Mihara got a little hosed; her FS was a little emotionally flat (I felt all of them were) but it's good to see her back.

 

[Natanielle825]

If there was going to be a worlds (and I highly doubt there will be), Young is less experienced and consistent than Rika, I wouldn't consider her a likely challenger. Its hard to tell how much Rika's SP triple axel would help her when Scherbakova got 80 points without one and a mistake. Yes I know Russian scoring is wack but Russian girls tend to be overscored internationally too. Can she do 2 quads by next year??
I feel so sad for Wakaba, I just want clean skates for her

 

[Marco]

Rika CAN do this - she has done all these elements separately:

4sal
3axel2toe
3axel
3flip euler 3sal
3flip3toe
3lutz
3loop

If she can do this cleanly she can medal at Worlds (if there is one this year).

And I am so happy (altho very predictable) to see Yuzuru, Shoma and Yuma skated wonderfully at Nationals to make Worlds. This is my ideal Olympic team for Japanese men.

 

[Meoima]

At this point I am still in the lalala land of “if we ever get WC”... Oh by the way

Average audience rating at Japan Nationals 2020:
Lady SP 10.0%(live)
Man SP 11.9%(recording)
Lady FS 12.3%(live)
Man FS 13.2%(live)

The highest rating at 9:16pm was marked 21.6% when Yuzu skated to Heaven and Earth free skate.

From https://hochi.news/articles/20201228-OHT1T50046.html

 

[Immortelle]

At this point I am still in the lalala land of “if we ever get WC”... Oh by the way

Average audience rating at Japan Nationals 2020:
Lady SP 10.0%(live)
Man SP 11.9%(recording)
Lady FS 12.3%(live)
Man FS 13.2%(live)

The highest rating at 9:16pm was marked 21.6% when Yuzu skated to Heaven and Earth free skate.

From https://hochi.news/articles/20201228-OHT1T50046.html

Wow, those ratings are amazing! I remember being in Japan during the Waka/Taka years, the Ichiro era and the 2002 World Cup and I don’t know if anything has commanded as high ratings as Hanyu’s FS? Maybe the World Cup but a lot of people went out to watch the matches in bars, which isn’t really possible at the moment...

 

[Meoima]

Wow, those ratings are amazing! I remember being in Japan during the Waka/Taka years, the Ichiro era and the 2002 World Cup and I don’t know if anything has commanded as high ratings as Hanyu’s FS? Maybe the World Cup but a lot of people went out to watch the matches in bars, which isn’t really possible at the moment...

During Olympic 2018, the peak rating was like 49% overall when Yuzu won his second Olympic gold. In Sendai, his hometown it was like 55% if I remember correctly. A lot of pressure on him.

 

[denise3lz]

During Olympic 2018, the peak rating was like 49% overall when Yuzu won his second Olympic gold. In Sendai, his hometown it was like 55% if I remember correctly. A lot of pressure on him.

I think Ando - Asada - Kim showdown in 2007 Tokyo World marked marked similar number.

 

[Immortelle]

During Olympic 2018, the peak rating was like 49% overall when Yuzu won his second Olympic gold. In Sendai, his hometown it was like 55% if I remember correctly. A lot of pressure on him.

I think Ando - Asada - Kim showdown in 2007 Tokyo World marked marked similar number.

Exactly.... I left Japan in 2005 so I don’t recall ever seeing ratings that high for sports from 1995 to then.

 

[Sylvia]

2020-21 Nationals recap articles by Nick McCarvel for the Olympic Channel:

Kihira Rika retains Japanese national title with knockout free skate

A quad Salchow and a triple Axel? That's what Kihira Rika delivered for the first time in her career as she secured back-to-back national titles.

www.olympicchannel.com

Hanyu reflects on Japanese figure skating title while looking to Worlds

Athletes are always reflecting on their performances and Hanyu Yuzuru is no different after a fifth national title. Now he's focused on world title number three.

www.olympicchannel.com

Takahashi Daisuke takes national ice dance silver after switch from singles

Has an elite athlete ever made such a difficult transition? The 2010 world singles champ won ice dance silver at Japan nationals with Muramoto Kana.

www.olympicchannel.com

 

[Sylvia]

Shoma Uno debuted a new exhibition program to Baroque music (eta: Marcello's Oboe Concerto in D Minor II. Adagio from the Anonimo Veneziano film soundtrack / Vivaldi's Concerto in C minor for Cello, Strings and Basso continuo, RV 401: III. Allegro ma non molto), choreographed by Kenji Miyamoto in the Medalist On Ice gala on Monday:

Part 1: https://twitter.com/yawning_shoma/status/1343475918166257664
Part 2: https://twitter.com/yawning_shoma/status/1343476081232404480

 

[rosewood]

One trivia: Shoma changed to Kozuka blades.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EqAKN35VEAA0Mfh?format=png

Ryuichi Kihara also uses Kozuka blades. (Use the photo to compare the shape of Shoma's blades.)

https://twitter.com/ryuichi_kihara/status/1316121004058574849

IIRC Takahito Mura who is skating in Mao's Thanks Tour uses Kozuka blades, too.

ETA:
Early greetings to everyone for a happy new year!

 

[reut]

Koshiro Shimada is also using Kozuka blades (maybe that's influenced Shoma's decision?)

Login • Instagram

Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

www.instagram.com

 

[japanice]

Christmas card by illustrator Mika Matsuda (@nigaoe877) ...

 

[skateboy]

I remember being in Japan during the Waka/Taka years

Who or what is Waka/Taka?

 

[Immortelle]

Who or what is Waka/Taka?

Sumo wrestler brothers - Wakanohana and Takanohana.

 

[skatingguy]

Christmas card by illustrator Mika Matsuda (@nigaoe877) ...

I need a version of this with all the names - there are some I recognize but many others that I'm not sure.

 

[robinhood]

One trivia: Shoma changed to Kozuka blades.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EqAKN35VEAA0Mfh?format=png

Ryuichi Kihara also uses Kozuka blades. (Use the photo to compare the shape of Shoma's blades.)

https://twitter.com/ryuichi_kihara/status/1316121004058574849

IIRC Takahito Mura who is skating in Mao's Thanks Tour uses Kozuka blades, too.

ETA:
Early greetings to everyone for a happy new year!

Kozuka blades as the former skater Takahiko Kozuka? Or is it just coincidence

 

[Sylvia]

Kozuka blades as the former skater Takahiko Kozuka? Or is it just coincidence

Yes: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...nese-steel-firm-to-make-kozuka-blades.103942/

 

[japanice]

Kozuka blades as the former skater Takahiko Kozuka? Or is it just coincidence

Interview with Takahiko here ...

No. 1 - Takahiko Kozuka

Takahiko Kozuka, the 2011 world silver medalist and 2006 world junior champion, is interviewed about his skating school, his invention of a special skating blade designed for elite skaters, his family

soundcloud.com