Japanese figure skating 2025-26 season news & updates

[YukiNieve]

Ami Nakai trains at the MF Academy which was established just 5 years ago and led by Kensuke Nakaniwa, a former competitor (single men). Kensuke was a two-time Ondrej Nepela Memorial champion, and a three-time Japanese Nationals medalist.

While Kinoshita Academy is one of the most well-known skating centres in Japan, the MF Academy, which has Yuna Aoki and Rio Nakata, is increasingly getting more attention after Ami won a bronze medal at the Milan Olympics.

The thoughts entrusted to Ami Nakai's skating: the 'choices' her coach wanted to demonstrate.

https://digital.asahi.com/articles/ASV2M4SQ8V2MPTQP003M.html?ptoken=01KJK5X5PPJA4KS8Q9MRQ7G60E (in Japanese, behind the paywall)

When Ami was in elementary school, she was overwhelmed by the high level of the other skaters at the Nationals. “I can't stay like this.” Ami decided to move to the Kanto region for skating.

Among several options, Ami chose the MF Academy in Funabashi City, Chiba Prefecture, which had been established that year (2021).

“Since it was a newly formed team, I thought I could go without feeling too much pressure.” She was a first-year member.

“I wanted to push through with fun and positivity rather than strictness.” Coach Nakaniwa's philosophy permeates the academy's coaching style.

Unlike many clubs, the team only has one “morning practice” per week. “Health comes first, rather than practicing a lot.” Sleep is crucial.

This is also for the parents. Since the skaters also go to school (after training), skating lessons (usually) take place from 6AM to 8AM. Parents have to get up at 4AM or 5AM. “If parents get stressed, it affects the kids too.”

Looking at practice time “per day,” it is indeed short. “But because they can maintain their health, they can consistently build up (the level of) practice over the entire year.”

Parents are only allowed to watch practice on Fridays. “I want the skaters to push themselves out of their own will, not because their parents are watching.”

Neither weight nor diet is managed. Information (about them) is provided, but "we can only supervise them for two to three hours a day. The rest of the time belongs to the children themselves and their family.'

Nakai describes his coach: “He's still my coach, but lately it feels like we're competing together. I'm thrilled to be able to take my coach to the Olympics.” Nakai's smile at the Olympics is striking. “It's part of my coach's philosophy, but I've stopped obsessing over winning or losing itself, and I can approach competitions more easily now.”