Japanese figure skating 2023-24 season news & updates

[Sylvia]

Koshiro Shimada is keeping his "Danse Macabre" FS music from last season: https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202403090001669.html
Machine translated excerpt:

The [SP] song used was a version sung by Shawn Mendes on the piano, and they skated together in front of the audience. He also jumped a quadruple toe loop at the beginning. Although his landing was erratic, he successfully completed three jumps while still having time until next season, and even hummed the singer's song occasionally, showing his care in his facial expressions.
He commissioned choreographer Shae-Lynn Bourne, who is collaborating with him for the first time, to create a work that evokes emotions of joy, anger, sadness, and joy. The unveiling of her costume, which was not yet completed, gave a sense of his enthusiasm for next season. The free skate continues this season's "Dance of Death [Danse Macabre]."

Misha Ge posted that he has choreographed Junior World men’s silver medalist Rio Nakata's SP to “Arroul/Uccen (Flamenco)”: https://www.instagram.com/p/C4SndheJdn4/

 

[Sylvia]

Announced retirements this season:

Marin Honda held a retirement press conference back on January 11 and gave an interview to Nikkan Sports afterwards:

【フィギュア】本田真凜の本音、走り抜けた先に財産「大好きなまま」第２章へ　単独インタビュー - フィギュア : 日刊スポーツ

フィギュアスケート女子で2016年世界ジュニア選手権優勝の本田真凜（22＝JAL）が11日、シニア転向後の葛藤と財産を振り返った。都内での引退会見後には日刊ス… - 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

Her ISU bio: http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00014689.htm
She has been hired as a Fuji TV sports reporter - was in Taipei for Junior Worlds and will be in Montreal for Worlds:

Nana Araki on her Insta: https://www.instagram.com/araki_nana/p/C3zncitJfDr/
ISU bio: http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00054892.htm

【フィギュア】荒木菜那が現役引退「楽しかったです！」18年全日本ジュニア選手権２位 - フィギュア : 日刊スポーツ

フィギュアスケート女子の荒木菜那（21＝中京大）が27日、自身のX（旧ツイッター）で現役引退を報告した。写真を添えて「14年間続けてきたフィギュアスケートを引… - 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

Tomoe Kawabata, 2019 national bronze medalist; ISU bio: http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00034886.htm

【フィギュア】19年全日本銅メダルの川畑和愛が涙の引退発表「競技から離れる事に悔いはない」 - フィギュア : 日刊スポーツ

フィギュアスケート女子で19年全日本選手権銅メダルの川畑和愛（22）が競技生活からの引退を発表した。9日に東京・東伏見ダイドードリンコアイスアリーナで行われた… - 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 a clip from her memorable SP to "The Blue Danube" waltz: https://x.com/midorimoonlight/status/1766583482782801958
Full program (2019 JGP Gdansk): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi7vzRlGJ5g

 

[japanice]

[ICE TIME] Tomoe Kawabata Bids a Tearful Farewell to Skating | SportsLook

For Tomoe Kawabata, a traffic accident had a profound impact on her career:

featured.japan-forward.com

 

[Kateri]

[ICE TIME] Tomoe Kawabata Bids a Tearful Farewell to Skating | SportsLook

For Tomoe Kawabata, a traffic accident had a profound impact on her career:

featured.japan-forward.com

That's so sad. She was really wonderful as a junior.

 

[Sylvia]

Link to Tomoe Kawabata’s retirement announcement post with photos (includes some lovely comments from fans in English): https://www.instagram.com/p/C4UWMx0JU_-/

ETA from Gallagher's article:

Kawabata expanded on her feelings in an Instagram post on Sunday.
"First of all, from last year, I'm sorry for being away from competition without an announcement, and finally leaving behind the stage without showing you a performance," Kawabata wrote. "Thank you to everyone for your warm wishes during this time.
"The reason for my determination to retire is that in one year away from competition, I have reaffirmed my experience of skating and my thoughts without regret," Kawabata continued. "For me, my feelings overcame a tough time and I am glad I skated again in a final push.
"To everyone who has supported me so far, I really appreciate it. So many people have supported me in my skating life and I can't thank you enough. I will move forward in my life with the words and thoughts I received in my heart forever.
"Thank you very much."

 

[japanice]

#26 Sports Talk ― Figure Skating Expert Jack Gallagher Previews the World Championships | SportsLook

Kaori Sakamoto and Shoma Uno are aiming to win their third consecutive figure skating world titles. Other key storylines are also highlighted.

featured.japan-forward.com

 

[japanice]

[ICE TIME] World Championships Preview: Shoma Uno and Kaori Sakamoto to Vie for Three-Peats | SportsLook

Uno is seeking to match Patrick Chan's accomplishment (2011-13), while Sakamoto is aiming to equal Peggy Fleming's feat (1966-68) at the world championships.

featured.japan-forward.com

 

[Frau Muller]

[ICE TIME] World Championships Preview: Shoma Uno and Kaori Sakamoto to Vie for Three-Peats | SportsLook

Uno is seeking to match Patrick Chan's accomplishment (2011-13), while Sakamoto is aiming to equal Peggy Fleming's feat (1966-68) at the world championships.

featured.japan-forward.com

This is exciting! I hope that Peggy will be watching via stream/Peacock!

 

[japanice]

Kaori Sakamoto Goes Through Final Preparations in Bid for a 3rd Straight World Title | SportsLook

After Skating to

featured.japan-forward.com

 

[livetoskate]

This channel has some videos of the World Figure Skating Championships. Here's Shoma Uno's SP:

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtu.be

 

[Sylvia]

And Yuma's SP (NBC/from USA cable network live coverage earlier today): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3NWvWYIBzM

Congrats to Riku Miura & Ryuichi Kihara on winning the FS tonight & the silver medal - it's very unfortunate that they couldn't take part in the medal ceremony : https://twitter.com/goldenskate/status/1771012955447972103

Coach Bruno Marcotte spoke to the press about his team Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara who just took the silver medal at Worlds:
“They were extremely proud of their performance. After their performance. Ryuichi started to cough, he hyper ventilated, and he had low suger, he was dizzy. He tried to stand up a couple of times but couldn’t keep his balance. The medical team took care of him, gave him some fluids and when I just saw him he started feeling a lot better.
He felt bad to not go and do his duties but he also felt very bad that he couldn’t go congratulate Deanna and Max. So I want to congratulate them in behalf of Riku and Ryiuchi.”

 

[livetoskate]

Here's my short fan cam video of the end of Kaori Sakamoto's free skate tonight:

Kaori Sakamoto Free Skate Ending World Figure Skating Championships 2024

youtube.com

 

[Sylvia]

With third straight title, Sakamoto leaves her mark on skating history by Hiro Yoshida (March 25):

With third straight title, Sakamoto leaves her mark on skating history

Japan's other skaters didn't fare so well in Montreal, with Shoma Uno missing out on achieving the same feat.

www.japantimes.co.jp

Excerpts:

World champion in both 2022 and 2023, Kobe native Kaori Sakamoto arrived in Montreal aiming to become the first woman to win three consecutive world titles since Peggy Fleming from the United States claimed gold from 1966 to 1968.
Mission accomplished. But it was far from a straightforward march to the top step of the podium. [...]
“I couldn’t perform well today, and I don’t feel like this performance deserved the score I received,” Sakamoto told reporters after her short program.

Sakamoto had a full day of rest to recover ahead of the free skate on Friday — and this time she would hardly put a foot wrong.
Performing to “Wild Is The Wind” and “Feeling Good” by Lauryn Hill, Sakamoto had the audience in the Bell Center in the palm of her hand for four minutes and by the end there was not a single person in the building who was not on their feet. She posted a free skate score of 149.67 points — over 10 points clear of any other skater — giving her a total of 222.96.
“After my triple-triple combination, the roar of the crowd was really loud, but I tried to stay calm and focused until the end,” Sakamoto said. “At the end, after my spin, I was finally able to let it all out and say, ‘I did it!’”
Sakamoto had set the benchmark and none of the following three skaters could match her, giving her that all-too-rare third straight world title. Among Japanese skaters, only Mao Asada has won as many world titles, [...]

The news was better for Japan’s other top male skater, Yuma Kagiyama.
Uno’s younger compatriot has been on the comeback trail this season after being forced to miss last year’s worlds in Saitama as he rehabilitated a left foot injury. He was sitting just over a point behind Uno after the short in second place and, apart from a fall when he caught an edge after landing a second triple axel, he delivered a performance in the free that would have been good enough in most years to claim a maiden world championship gold.
Kagiyama and the rest of the field, however, were simply unable to match the technical prowess of America’s Ilia Malinin, who completed a free routine with six quadruple jumps, including his signature quadruple axel, which eluded even the great Yuzuru Hanyu — only Malinin has ever cleanly landed it in competition. The American finished ahead of Kagiyama by over 32 points, leaving Kagiyama with a third world championship silver in his trophy case.

The harsh reality is that even if Kagiyama had skated perfectly, it would not have been nearly enough to trouble Malinin in Montreal.
Kagiyama, 20, is resigned to the fact that he will be playing a game of catch-up for the immediate future against his 19-year-old rival.
“I will be competing for years to come against him,” Kagiyama said at the post-competition news conference. “When I see him at our next competition and we both perform at 100% ability, I don’t think I will be able to win against him.
“Next season all I can do is to improve myself. I will have two new programs, I’ll be working on my skating skills, and to acquire GOEs (Grades of Execution) on all of my elements.”

 

[Frau Muller]

With third straight title, Sakamoto leaves her mark on skating history by Hiro Yoshida (March 25):

With third straight title, Sakamoto leaves her mark on skating history

Japan's other skaters didn't fare so well in Montreal, with Shoma Uno missing out on achieving the same feat.

www.japantimes.co.jp

Excerpts:

I love Kaori in her own way…but she doesn’t beat Peggy in my mind. Sorry - No way.

 

[Marco]

Do JPN women have others to rely on besides Kaori? In the past 3 Worlds, besides Kaori who won all 3 times, JPN had sent 2 different women each time and not that successfully. None of Mone, Hana, Mai, Rinka, Wakaba and Mana had been consistent - Mai came closest last season but still missed the world medal and still had health issues. Mao (Shimada) isn't going to be age eligible in a couple of seasons still - is there anyone else who can help take some pressure off Kaori?

 

[ptvvibezz]

Yuna Aoki maybe? Hopefully she gets more international experience next year.

 

[Sylvia]

ISU Season Best Total Scores in 2023-24 - Japanese women with 180+:

1	Kaori SAKAMOTO	JPN	ISU GP Skate Canada International 2023	28/10/2023	226.13	S
3	Mao SHIMADA	JPN	ISU World Junior Championships 2024	01/03/2024	218.36	J
4	Mone CHIBA	JPN	ISU Four Continents Championships 2024	02/02/2024	214.98	S
9	Hana YOSHIDA	JPN	ISU GP Cup of China 2023	11/11/2023	203.97	S
10	Rinka WATANABE	JPN	ISU GP Cup of China 2023	11/11/2023	203.22	S
14	Rino MATSUIKE	JPN	ISU GP Skate Canada International 2023	28/10/2023	198.62	S
15	Rion SUMIYOSHI	JPN	ISU GP Grand Prix de France 2023	04/11/2023	197.76	S
16	Rena UEZONO	JPN	ISU Grand Prix Final 2023/24	08/12/2023	196.46	J
20	Ami NAKAI	JPN	ISU JGP Istanbul 2023	08/09/2023	194.65	J
24	Wakaba HIGUCHI	JPN	ISU GP Grand Prix de France 2023	04/11/2023	190.02	S
27	Yo TAKAGI	JPN	ISU JGP Osaka 2023	16/09/2023	188.15	J
32	Yuna AOKI	JPN	ISU GP NHK Trophy 2023	25/11/2023	184.46	S
33	Mai MIHARA	JPN	ISU Four Continents Championships 2024	02/02/2024	184.07	S
39	Ikura KUSHIDA	JPN	ISU World Junior Championships 2024	01/03/2024	180.97	J

 

[skatfan]

Just saw Ryuichi Kiara post this on X:

“Due to Miura's injury, he will be stepping down from Stars on Ice.
I am truly sorry to everyone who was looking forward to the performance and to all those involved.
This is because Miura fell and was injured during the six-minute practice session for the free skating at the World Championships last week.”

https://x.com/ryuichi_kihara/status/1773564716054413757?s=46

That explains why they didn’t skate the Gala.

I hope they both have a full recovery from their injuries.

 

[japanice]

[ICE TIME] For Kaori Sakamoto, Sublime Skating Sets Her Apart | SportsLook

Three-time world champ Kaori Sakamoto is on a different level than her peers, and what has always set her apart is her strength, speed and mental fortitude.

featured.japan-forward.com

 

[Desperado]

Just saw Ryuichi Kiara post this on X:

“Due to Miura's injury, he will be stepping down from Stars on Ice.
I am truly sorry to everyone who was looking forward to the performance and to all those involved.
This is because Miura fell and was injured during the six-minute practice session for the free skating at the World Championships last week.”

https://x.com/ryuichi_kihara/status/1773564716054413757?s=46

That explains why they didn’t skate the Gala.

I hope they both have a full recovery from their injuries.

And they skated well right after, wow.

So she was hurt during the warmup, he had a bad back and suffered from an issue requiring medical help right after the competition. They missed the medal ceremony and now SOI.

A season of hell. Wishing them all the best for next year.

 

[Lara]

Even more respect for their skate now, wow. Here’s hoping they’re both fully recovered next season.

 

[Sylvia]

Here’s Riku's post about her injury: https://www.instagram.com/p/C5FYWU0JUEQ/
Google translation:
I have recently had to withdraw from appearing on Stars on Ice due to re-subluxation of my left shoulder, and I feel truly sorry for everyone involved and the many people who were planning to attend.

During the 6-minute practice on the day of the World Championships free skate held in Montreal the other day, I fell down on Throw Lutz[?] and subluxated it again.
However, it is milder than the dislocation two years ago, and the doctor says it will get better with six weeks of rest and rehabilitation.
We would like to do our best to do what we can now for next season.
Thank you for your continued support.

Riku Miura

 

[Sylvia]

Kaori interview clip: https://twitter.com/Olympics/status/1774057252330074437

https://twitter.com/x/status/1774057252330074437

By Nick McCarvel (March 30): https://olympics.com/en/news/sakamoto-kaori-world-figure-skating-three-peat-targeted-year-exclusive
Embedded video of Olympics.com's almost 4-min. interview - Sakamoto Kaori’s balanced road to three world titles: 'Everything is fulfilling' – Exclusive
Excerpt:

Happiness is something Sakamoto appears to have chosen in a competitive life that can otherwise be pressure-filled and stressful. She dedicated her short program this season to her niece and nephew, saying their presence in her life often offer a respite from the daily rigours of training.
Outside of her programs, she has become a singular, joyful force in figure skating: To know Sakamoto the person is to appreciate her zest for life... and want to laugh – a lot.
Where does that come from? We ask. She smiles, unsurprisingly.
“Life is good. Right now, everything is fulfilling,” she responds. “But more often than not, things don’t work out the way I want them to. [Life is] full of accidents and troubles, but that’s how I get a laugh out of each day: I try to turn all the negatives into a positive. And I can’t get enough of that.”

 

[Sylvia]

Replying to @Allskate here:

@Allskate Yoshida’s own Instagram account spells her first name “Hanna” and her ISU bio used to be that way too but is “Hana” now as well as in ISU results.

For those without Instagram access, this fan posted a clip of Isabeau & Hana enjoying Osaka cheese coins and a screenshot of them on X: https://x.com/violetsvirtue/status/1774046194920006059

Yes, I know. That's why I posted it as "Hana (Hanna?)" when I was posting a link to her Instagram. She spells it differently than the ISU, NBC, etc. do. Everybody else is using "Hana." It seems kind of rude not to use her chosen spelling, but she may not have given much thought to the English spelling.

JSF's English results website also lists Yoshida's first name as Hana now (it used to be "Hanna" IIRC) - Senior women's final results at Nationals (Dec. 2023): https://www.jsfresults.com/National/2023-2024/fs_e/national/data0290.htm

ETA that I've always wondered why the JSF's results site has listed Mako's last name as YAMASITA (instead of Yamashita as in her ISU bio: http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00054890.htm)

 

[Rukia]

ETA that I've always wondered why the JSF's results site has listed Mako's last name as YAMASITA (instead of Yamashita as in her ISU bio: http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00054890.htm)

That has to be a typo?? "Si" isn't even a sound in Japanese (plus I checked the kanji of her name and it's definitely Yamashita).

 

[Lara]

That has to be a typo?? "Si" isn't even a sound in Japanese (plus I checked the kanji of her name and it's definitely Yamashita).

Yep - whereas “n” is a sound so you could have Ha-na or Ha-n-na, and it seems either one can correspond to 花 (the kanji for flower) at least per my dictionary app.

 

[japanice]

[ICE TIME] Exclusive: Legend Peggy Fleming Salutes Kaori Sakamoto's Success at the World Championships | SportsLook

"I'm honored to have set such a lasting benchmark and equally thrilled for Kaori's incredible accomplishment," three-time world champion Peggy Fleming said.

featured.japan-forward.com

 

[japanice]

[ICE TIME] American Junior Taira Shinohara Details Successful Season and Ambitions Moving Forward | SportsLook

At the 2024 US Junior Championships, runner-up Taira Shinohara showed his skating skills, including the thrill of landing two triple axels in the free skate.

featured.japan-forward.com

 

[Sylvia]

Brian Boitano worked with skaters at the Kinoshita Academy: https://www.instagram.com/p/C5rvqiPpibL/

Sumitada Moriguchi’s video (“This is why Brian Boitano called me Sumitano”): https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5vbPziJZC2/
His photo with Boitano: https://www.instagram.com/p/C5vPDMtpoDf/

Article (subscription required to read in full): https://mainichi.jp/articles/20240410/k00/00m/050/352000c

Brian Boitano (60) ... gave instructions to Kinoshita Academy students on the 10th in Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture. The main discussion after the lesson is as follows.
The skaters at the academy are amazing and full of talent. I have never seen so many talented players come together in one place.
(What I want to convey is) everything I've learned. I want to help them solve their own problems and give them tools they can use in the future.

 

[Sylvia]

Brian Boitano gave lessons at the Kinoshita Academy from April 9-12:

【フィギュア】カルガリー五輪金メダルのボイタノ氏が特別レッスン　吉田陽菜らみっちり指導 - フィギュア : 日刊スポーツ

フィギュアスケート男子で、88年カルガリー五輪金メダリストの名スケーター、ブライアン・ボイタノ氏（60＝米国）による木下アカデミー生への特別レッスンが10日、… - 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

Translation of Hana Yoshida's quote plus an excerpt from the end:

``I was able to jump in a different way and gain a different perspective than before.'' [...]
True to the image of ``jumping with no waste'', I learned how to jump efficiently and with high reproducibility, such as stopping the leg that is away from the ice before completing a triple axel (three and a half revolutions). "I got a different perspective," he said, exuding a sense of fulfillment.

The academy students ... are scheduled to perform at the ice show "Bloom on Ice" (Kinoshita Academy Kyoto Ice Arena) on the 20th and 21st [of April]. There will be two performances a day (starting at 11:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.) for a total of four performances, and in addition to [Mone] Chiba and Yoshida, Koshiro Shimada and Shunsuke Nakamura will also appear.

Mao Shimada - ``I am practicing well'' I feel fulfilled by direct instruction from famous skater Mr. Boitano:

【フィギュア】島田麻央「いい練習ができている」名スケーター・ボイタノ氏から直接指導に充実感 - フィギュア : 日刊スポーツ

フィギュアスケート女子で、世界ジュニア選手権日本勢初の2連覇を飾った島田麻央（15＝木下アカデミー）が10日、京都・宇治市内の木下アカデミー京都アイスアリーナ… - 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