Japanese figure skating 2020-21 season news & updates

[Jeschke]

For @Jeschke - "Yuka Nagai (21), who will retire from active duty only this season when she graduates from Waseda University, has vowed to make a comeback free"

Thanks!
What means 'only'?
Is there a possibility she is staying? #confused

 

[RoseRed]

Eastern Sectional Championships results are being updated in the Kiss & Cry section: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...estic-competitions.107441/page-2#post-5892872


Yuma Kagiyama will debut a FS to the Avatar OST, choreographed remotely by Lori Nichol, tomorrow (he had previously skated to the Lord of the Rings musical at Japan Open & Kanto Regionals):

鍵山優真がフリー曲「アバター」に変更　６日初披露 - フィギュア : 日刊スポーツ

フィギュアスケート男子の20年ユースオリンピック（五輪）金メダリストで、22年北京五輪を目指す鍵山優真（17＝星槎国際高横浜2年）が、今季フリー曲を映画「アバ… - 日刊スポーツ新聞社のニュースサイト、ニッカンスポーツ・コム（nikkansports.com）

www.nikkansports.com

Is this the 3rd FS Yuma has announced for this season?

 

[ChelleC]

Is this the 3rd FS Yuma has announced for this season?

I think this is the second FS. Take Five was originally announced as the SP. I'm still incredibly disappointed he changed it.

 

[RoseRed]

I think this is the second FS. Take Five was originally announced as the SP. I'm still incredibly disappointed he changed it.

Didn't he announce Princess Mononoke around the same time, then say he changed both, and now the newest FS? Or something like that.

 

[Sylvia]

Didn't he announce Princess Mononoke around the same time, then say he changed both, and now the newest FS? Or something like that.

Good memory! During the senior training camp back in July: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...eason-news-updates.107299/page-2#post-5836732

 

[Natanielle825]

Wakaba! Wakaba! Wakaba!

 

[haribobo]

East Senior Ladies Final Results (top 11)

1. Wakaba Higuchi 203.24
2. Shiika Yoshioka 174.12
3. Rinka Watanabe 167.19
4. Akari Matsubara 163.12
5. Tomoe Kawabata 155.97
6. Yuka Nagai 154.20
7. Hirotani Honoka 153.42
8. Yuna Aoki 152.45
9. Rika Oya 151.97
10. Marin Honda 144.11
11. Ibuki Sato 141.71

 

[haribobo]

East Senior Men (top 5)
1. Shun Sato 229.18
2. Yuma Kagiyama 212.32
3. Taichiro Yamakuma 203.36
4. Kento Kobayashi 180.56
5. Ryo Kobayashi 169.55

 

[ana]

Very low score for Marin Honda. What happened with her?

 

[AxelAnnie]

Wakaba Higuchi - thanks for sharing. That was totally amazing!

 

[skatingguy]

Very low score for Marin Honda. What happened with her?

Lots of talent, maybe not the hardest worker, in a deep country of ladies figure skating.

 

[mikeko]

Very low score for Marin Honda. What happened with her?

All triples and 2A were UR or DG or q except one 3T. She needs to overhaul her jumping technique.
No coach can help her unless she's really willing to work hard, though.

 

[Sylvia]

To be fair, Honda has been affected by injury:

Marin Honda (said her right shoulder, dislocated before Tokyo Regionals last month, is healed and she "hasn't had any pain for the past two weeks."):

本田真凜８位　納得ＳＰ演技の裏に兄太一からの助言 - フィギュア : 日刊スポーツ

本田真凜（19＝JAL）は50・41点の8位で翌7日のフリーに進んだ。鳥をイメージした全身を覆う黒に薄紫が輝く衣装で登場すると、冒頭の3回転ループ－2回転トー… - 日刊スポーツ新聞社のニュースサイト、ニッカンスポーツ・コム（nikkansports.com）

www.nikkansports.com

And Marin's confidence seems low & emotions high: https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202011070000608.html
She will join older brother Taichi at Nationals.

Byes & exemptions through 2020-21 qualifying competition season document (Oct. 7, 2020) https://www.skatingjapan.or.jp/common/img/info/2020_qualifying.pdf

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 Sectional Senior man); Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara (pair); Rikako Fukase/Oliver Zhang & Kana Muramoto/Daisuke Takahashi (ice dance)

ETA:

Western Sectional Ladies top 11 advance to Nationals:
1. Kaori SAKAMOTO Sysmex 1 2 200.23 (129.83 FS)
2. Mai MIHARA Sysmex 2 1 194.87 (130.37 FS)
3. Rin NITAYA 5 3 187.82 (125.87 FS)
4. Mana KAWABE Kinoshita Academy 4 4 186.73 (123.63 FS)
5. Yuna SHIRAIWA KANSAI UNIV SKATING CLUB 3 5 185.29 (121.23 FS)
6. Mako YAMASHITA Chukyo Senior High School 6 6 181.46 (121.16 FS)
7. Yuhana YOKOI 14 7 168.83 (116.43 FS)
8. Hina TAKENO 10 8 168.30 (111.69 FS)
9. Rika HONGO 7 10 162.07 (104.45 FS)
10. Yura MATSUDA 11 9 161.27 (106.19 FS)
11. Riko TAKINO KANSAI UNIV SKATING CLUB 8 12 156.05

Eastern Sectional Ladies top 11 advance to Nationals:
1. Wakaba HIGUCHI Meiji Univ. NOEVIR 1 1 203.24 (132.53 FS)
2. Shiika YOSHIOKA 2 2 174.12 (113.89 FS)
3. Rinka WATANABE AomoriYamada hs FSC 6 3 167.19 (111.77 FS)
4. Akari MATSUBARA Meiji Univ 3 6 163.12 (103.13 FS)
5. Tomoe KAWABATA Waseda Univ 4 9 155.97
6. Yuka NAGAI Waseda Univ 11 5 154.20 (106.33 FS)
7. Honoka HIROTANI 5 7 153.42
8. Yuna AOKI Nihon Univ 15 4 152.45 (106.53 FS)
9. Rika OYA Meiji Univ 7 8 151.97
10. Marin HONDA JAL 8 12 144.11
11. Ibuki SATOH Meiji Univ 17 10 141.71

Western Sectional Men top 12 advance to Nationals:
1. Sota YAMAMOTO 2 1 221.22 (144.15 FS)
2. Kazuki TOMONO DOSHISHA F.SKATING CLUB 1 4 212.92 (129.30 FS)
3. Keiji TANAKA 3 3 211.05 (134.05 FS)
4. Mitsuki SUMOTO KANSAI UNIV SKATING CLUB 6 2 202.14 (136.09 FS)
5. Ryuju HINO 4 5 199.45
6. Sumitada MORIGUCHI Kinoshita Academy 5 6 190.69
7. Taichi HONDA KANSAI UNIV SKATING CLUB 8 7 177.17
8. Kazuki KUSHIDA 7 10 174.99
9. Koshin YAMADA SMBC 11 8 171.00
10. Kousuke NAKANO 10 9 166.65
11. Takumi SUGIYAMA 9 11 162.27
12. Tatuma FURUYA 13 12 147.87

Eastern Sectional Men top 10 advance to Nationals:
1. Shun SATO FUJI CORPORATION 1 1 229.18 (147.34 FS)
2. Yuma KAGIYAMA Seisa highschool yokohama 2 2 212.32 (140.60 FS)
3. Taichiro YAMAKUMA Meiji Univ 3 3 203.36 (137.01 FS)
4. Kento KOBAYASHI Hosei 5 4 180.56
5. Ryoma KOBAYASHI Hosei 4 7 169.55
6. Kazuki HASEGAWA Science Univ of Tokyo 10 5 164.58
7. Yuki KUNIKATA Nihon Univ 7 6 159.93
8. Reo ISHIZUKA Waseda Univ 6 9 153.92
9. Tsunehito KARAKAWA Nihon Univ 9 8 151.21
10. Kinari SUGAHARA Toyo Univ. 8 10 140.66

The top age-eligible finishers at the National Junior Championships (Nov. 21 - 23, 2020 in Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture) will receive invites to Nationals.

 

[ostile17]

News report on Muramoto/Takahashi training in Florida before their NHK Trophy debut.

With English audio

NEWSWATCH9 Kana MURAMOTO & Daisuke TAKAHASHI Sub-Audio

youtu.be

 

[Gris]

Tim Koleto has received Japanese citizenship.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CHwthBjJY_-/?igshid=1v328pcta2gb6

 

[seabm7]

JSU canceled the pair competition of the National Championships,

フィギュア全日本選手権　ペアは実施せず　スケート理事会で承認 - スポニチ Sponichi Annex スポーツ

日本スケート連盟の理事会が24日に都内で行われ、12月24日から行われるフィギュアの全日本選手権（長野）でペアの競技を実施しないことが承認された。昨季の世界選手権代表の三浦璃来（18）、木原龍一（28）組（ともに木下グループ）のみがエントリーしていたが、カナダ・オークビルが拠点の2人が全日本出場のため帰国した場合、新型コロナウイルスの影響で再び拠点に戻るのが困難となるため。

www.sponichi.co.jp

The only entry, the team of Miura & Kihara, has been training in Canada. Once they come to Japan, they cannot get the return entry to Canada. JSU will discuss about the pair entry to the Worlds after the National Championships.

 

[Sylvia]

Junior Nationals concluded yesterday - I've posted full results in the Kiss & Cry thread along with this results link in English: https://www.jsfresults.com/National/2020-2021/fs_e/national_jr/index.htm

Junior Ladies top 8 (photo of medalists: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH-Ad9UJ-64/):
1. Rino MATSUIKE Chukyo Senior High School 1 1 198.38 (129.32 FS) [FS (1st)]
2. Hanna YOSHIDA Kinoshita Academy 2 2 189.49 (127.44 FS - landed 3A (8.0 base value+2.24 GOE=10.24 points!) [FS (2nd)]
3. Mao SHIMADA Kinoshita Academy 6 3 173.44 (115.55 FS) - Novice A champion [FS (3rd)]
4. Ayumi SHIBAYAMA Kinoshita Academy 4 4 170.68 (112.60 FS) - Novice A, 2nd [FS (4th)]
5. Rion SUMIYOSHI Komaba Gakuen Hich School 3 5 170.37 (110.41 FS) [FS (5th)]
6. Ami NAKAI 7 6 166.32 (109.78 FS) - Novice A, 3rd [FS (6th)]
7. Natsu SUZUKI 10 7 159.32 (104.54 FS) [FS (7th)]
8. Mone CHIBA Sendai FSC 13 8 152.47 (99.30 FS)

Competing at NHK Trophy this week: Junior champ Matsuike & Chisato Urumatsu (9th).

Junior Men top 7 (photo of medalists: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH96MU1p7-H/):
1. Lucastsuyoshi HONDA Kinoshita Academy 1 3 209.48 [FS (3rd)]
2. Kao MIURA KOSE Shinyokohama prince 5 1 207.71 [FS (1st)]
3. Sena MIYAKE Kansai Univ Skating Club 2 4 203.53 [FS (4th)]
4. Yuto KISHINA Kansai Univ Skating Club 3 5 201.73
5. Kosho OSHIMA 6 2 198.84
6. Shunsuke NAKAMURA Kinoshita Academy 8 6 182.23
7. Tatsuya TSUBOI Chukyo Senior High School 4 10 180.56

Competing at NHK Trophy this week: Honda, Miura, Miyake, Kishina (top 4 here) & Nozumu Yoshioka (11th).

Utana YOSHIDA & Shingo NISHIYAMA won Junior Dance 149.80 (3 teams total) - article: https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202011220000759.html
Podium photo: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH90_WZJWiI/

Top 6 Junior men and top 2 Junior ladies will compete at Nationals in Nagano, Dec. 23-27, 2020:
Lucas Tsuyoshi Honda, Kao Miura, Sena Miyake, Yuto Kishina, Kosho Oshima, Shunsuke Nakamura;
Rino Matsuike, Hanna Yoshida, Rion Sumiyoshi (5th), Natsu Suzuki (7th), Mone Chiba (8th), Chisato Uramatsu (9th).

Top 4 ladies articles:
Matsuike: https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202011230000836.html
Yoshida: https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202011230000815.html
Shimada https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202011230000636.html
Shibayama: https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202011230000727.html

Top 2 men articles:
Honda: https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202011230000478.html
Miura: https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202011230000416.html

ETA links above to some FS videos (top 7 ladies, men's medalists) & photos of the medalists in 3 disciplines.

 

[Sylvia]

Kaori Sakamoto interview article before NHK Trophy (Nov. 24):

坂本花織、コロナ禍経て「やる気ＭＡＸ！」／連載 - フィギュア : 日刊スポーツ

フィギュアスケートのグランプリ（GP）シリーズ最終戦NHK杯が、27日から大阪・東和薬品ラクタブドームで行われる。新型コロナウイルスの影響でGP第2戦スケート… - 日刊スポーツ新聞社のニュースサイト、ニッカンスポーツ・コム（nikkansports.com）

www.nikkansports.com

ETA - Komatsubara/Koleto article (Nov. 25):

小松原、コレト組　観客への「尊さ」再確認／連載 - フィギュア : 日刊スポーツ

フィギュアスケートのグランプリ（GP）シリーズ最終戦NHK杯が、27日から大阪・東和薬品ラクタブドームで始まる。新型コロナウイルスの影響でGP第2戦スケートカ… - 日刊スポーツ新聞社のニュースサイト、ニッカンスポーツ・コム（nikkansports.com）

www.nikkansports.com

 

[Gris]

JSF has published the entry lists for Nationals:

Men
Ladies
Dance

(Seems the English page for Nationals hasn't been created yet.)

 

[twizzletoes76]

NBC article on events from NHK with focus on Daisuke Takahashi:

Daisuke Takahashi begins ice dance career in ‘very special’ fashion

Quote from Daisuke Takahashi:

“Not everything was the way we hoped and it was not a 100 percent, but the rhythm dance was good. I did not realize how difficult ice dance is. So hat off to all ice dancers.”

 

[Natanielle825]

I don't care what JSF says, Wakaba's 3A looked great to me, tons of confidence going in this time, height and distance, wasn't < and q isn't a real thing. She should be very proud of herself. And Kaori too, seems back to her old self, a well deserved win.

 

[Sylvia]

Article on NHK Trophy men's gold medalist Yuma Kagiyama:

鍵山優真、父譲りの４回転２種類でＶ、世界へ第１歩 - フィギュア : 日刊スポーツ

20年ユースオリンピック（五輪）金メダリストでシニア転向1年目の鍵山優真（17＝星槎国際高横浜2年）が初優勝した。新型コロナ禍で変則開催ながら、GPデビュー戦… - 日刊スポーツ新聞社のニュースサイト、ニッカンスポーツ・コム（nikkansports.com）

www.nikkansports.com

Machine translated excerpts:

The son won the NHK Trophy, which his father Masakazu (49), who participated in two consecutive Olympic games, could not achieve.
...
Although not officially recognized by the International Skating Union (ISU), the new program "Avatar", which is less than two months old, has scored 188.61 free points, which is equivalent to the fifth place in the world. He started in October with world-famous choreographer Lori Nichol and fell four times at the East Japan Championship in November, which was unveiled for the first time. The amount of practice was doubled in order to crush the crying task, and the jump was changed to a structure that makes it easier to jump by remote instruction at midnight on the 15th.

Participated in the 1992 Albertville Olympics and the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics. Japan's first successful quadruple jump in the official game was Takeshi Honda in 1998, but "first in practice" is said to be Masakazu. When my father said, "I succeeded in quadruple toe loop in practice in 1994. I was also working on Salchow," my son said, "The softness of the knee is inherited from my father." With the same two types of quadruples as weapons, he won the NHK Trophy that his father could not win. "I think I was able to fulfill my father's revenge," he laughed.
My dream is to "win the Beijing Olympics", but "I want to concentrate on the All Japan Championship now", aiming at Nagano from December 24th. Although my father won the tournament three times in a row from 1991 to 1993, the wall is in front of me, not in the past. "In order to become the top in the world in the future, I have to become the top in Japan. I want to practice so that I can compete with Uno and Hanyu (1st and 2nd last year) on an equal footing."

 

[Marco]

Wakaba's 3axel was wonderful. Strong all around.

Rino was such a revelation. She was beautiful! Mana was also promising.

Also very happy for Mai's comeback. Marin was royally hosed in PCS.

Yuma is simply wonderful. I wanna say this wouldn't pale in comparison even if Yuzuru and Shoma were here. I am enjoying Kao more so than Shun even though Shun's jumps are quite wonderful (when landed).

 

[Sylvia]

A few more articles:

Kaori Sakamoto grins "Aiming for No. 1 Judge ...":

坂本花織がニヤリ「１番ジャッジさんを狙って…」 - フィギュア : 日刊スポーツ

女子でGPシリーズ初優勝を果たした坂本花織（20＝シスメックス）が、ユーモアあふれるコメントでフリーの好演技を振り返った。この日、第1部と第2部の間に設けられ… - 日刊スポーツ新聞社のニュースサイト、ニッカンスポーツ・コム（nikkansports.com）

www.nikkansports.com

坂本花織ＧＰ初Ｖ「ノーミスで出るんだ」自己ベスト - フィギュア : 日刊スポーツ

女子ショートプログラム（SP）首位の坂本花織（20＝シスメックス）がGPシリーズ初優勝を飾った。フリーも1位の153・91点を記録し、国際スケート連盟（ISU… - 日刊スポーツ新聞社のニュースサイト、ニッカンスポーツ・コム（nikkansports.com）

www.nikkansports.com

"Wow!" Sakamoto shouted when she saw the number of 229.51 points. "Matrix" which is the second season. All 7 jumps are given points, and the performance composition points out of 10 points that show the expression side are 9 points in 4 out of 5 items. "I hadn't skated cleanly last year. If I didn't make a mistake, I would get this much." I was aiming for this.

Wakaba Higuchi: https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202011280000584.html
On her 3A in the FS being called a quarter short of rotation:

Even if I was really jumping on my own, I got off and thought "Ah". I think it wasn't enough. I think it's almost timing. The speed was also very good. The direction was also good. I think that the timing of tightening was delayed and the rotation was delayed. I was able to land the ice in the tension of the game, so I will connect to the next.

Rino Matsuike (won the bronze at NHK Trophy less than a week after becoming Junior national champion): https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202011280000560.html

Yukari Nakano provided commentary after NHK Trophy Day 1 via her Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptT8-wO52lk
Also after NHK Trophy Day 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=673TInIcrM0
I learned about her new channel (launched Nov. 1) in these articles: https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202011280000026.html

中野友加里さん、坂本演技は一番スピード感を感じた - フィギュア : 日刊スポーツ

フィギュアスケート女子で05年NHK杯優勝経験を持つ中野友加里さん（35）が29日未明、28日に競技が終わった同杯（大阪・東和薬品ラクタブドーム）の解説を行っ… - 日刊スポーツ新聞社のニュースサイト、ニッカンスポーツ・コム（nikkansports.com）

www.nikkansports.com

Re. Higuchi's 3A:

I think it was a very high jump. It had a "q" mark (slightly under-rotated), but I think it was a great jump in height, width, landing flow, and even so at that speed. " I thought about my efforts.

 

[Sylvia]

Tim Koleto posted this backstage photo of the 2020 NHK Trophy champions: https://www.instagram.com/p/CINcgywpz5j/

Komatsubara/Koleto article: https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202011280000820.html

This season's first "international tournament" was packed with 3,000 spectators. Komatsubara said, "Thank you from the bottom of my heart for creating this tournament. I will cherish each day and do my best so that I can do my best even if there is a next tournament," Koleto said. I want to improve my physical condition. I want to improve so that I can ride the waves."

Misato K. posted this photo of the NHK Trophy ice dance podium: https://www.instagram.com/p/CIJxzOSpMYX/

 

[Tinami Amori]

Rika Kihira news for Nationals.

https://mobile.twitter.com/edgequality/status/1341042093284876288

 

[Frau Muller]

Rika Kihira news for Nationals.

https://mobile.twitter.com/edgequality/status/1341042093284876288

May the force be with her! It’s so exciting to be seeing Rika & other “mystery skaters” not yet seen this season

 

[rosewood]

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

 

[Tinami Amori]

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

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

 

[kittyjake5]

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

She reminds me so much of a young Mao. Beautiful skater!