Kaori Sakamoto cheer thread

[Bellanca]

Wow! Allow me a moment to gush… I love this FS of Kaori’s!! Beautiful! Such an improvement, imho. A complete 180 when compared to last season. No over-emoting or miming… Ah, thank you, Skating Gods!! Wonderful! Okay, gushing over…

It appears that at this early stage, Kaori looks to be in great shape with this FS. Always solid and secure. I don’t find myself white-knuckled or holding my breath throughout her program(s). I’m sure this is just the beginning, a foundation and framework they’re building toward and that she is likely to adjust and tweak it here and there. It appeared to me that Kaori was, at this point, focused on getting comfortable with the jumping passes and I do believe the program will evolve and round itself out.

I like Kaori’s blue dress, looks comfortable (most important!) but I also wonder if it will be the actual FS dress we’ll see her wearing when she does start competing? At any rate, it looks like Kaori is gearing up for a successful season – I hope!

 

[cohkaix]

I like Kaori’s blue dress, looks comfortable (most important!) but I also wonder if it will be the actual FS dress we’ll see her wearing when she does start competing? At any rate, it looks like Kaori is gearing up for a successful season – I hope!

No, I don't think the costume she wore during DOI is the finalized one but most likely a temporary one, as her choreographer Richaud commented (and hinted) in his IG that he's looking forward to Kaori performing in the new costume. But I also like Kaori's costumes from last season, which were made by some French designer? So perhaps she'll work with the same designer and we may get to see that during Japan Open this year!

 

[rosewood]

Congratulations to Kaori for winning silver at SKAM twice in a row. I luuuurve her The Piano long program. Kudos to her "lovely freedom."
SP https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7G3R1WYS8R4
FS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSXxcCBjmak
results http://www.isuresults.com/results/season1718/gpusa2017/

 

[rosewood]

As for her black/white dress for the piano lesson long program, I by far prefer deep blue! I quite liked her former blue dress. It looked like she was floating on and in the blue sea in the blue dress at Dreams on Ice. Yes the dress looked like unfinished but the color was nice. Watching the choreography in the second half, an image came to me that the woman she portrays struggled with her life, and she was once so devastated that she sunk into the deep blue ocean with her piano, but at some point she decided to live her life in a new world out of the sea, and her finish pose was the symbol of her determination with a hope. So, I wish she'll make a new BLUE dress to wear in the second half of the season. Kaori's freshness and young power can make the woman she portrays look happier than she actually was in the real movie. I'm happy with that.

Dreams on Ice performance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0eZlgYmE7c

Seems she improved a lot in performing at SKAM than in Dreams on Ice. After finishing her first Challenger Series event of this season (she bombed there), she said she was kinda burnout after Olys, and she could not come back to the same level of focus. But, it seems she's getting her commitment back and it showed at SKAM this past weekend. I'm relieved for that. I'm looking for watching how far she can go this season!

 

[Seerek]

They were smart to back-end "The Piano" with the Cacciapaglia selection to give the ending more of an emphatic feel as opposed to sticking with the former selection the whole way through.

 

[rosewood]

They were smart to back-end "The Piano" with the Cacciapaglia selection to give the ending more of an emphatic feel as opposed to sticking with the former selection the whole way through.

I didn't know whether I liked Richaud programs or not before, but I quite like this piano lesson program. I also like Daisuke Takahashi's new long program "The Pale Ghost". I found Richaud programs are not always awkward but can be a program that I can call it beautiful. The music selection is nice, and I like how he gives Kaori rooms to show off the flooooow of her strokes. I wish she can hold her lines a bit longer and be trained properly in making a bit better postures. The choreography/music toward the end give me chills.

 

[rosewood]

Stuffs during/after SKAM:

TAT praised Kaori's upper body movements etc;
https://twitter.com/IrinaMastyaeva/status/1055192684460171265

Doug Mattis's comment about Kaori's skating at SKAM in STO's vid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ps9Li_q_08

Richaud talked about working with Kaori in TSL's vid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PXgGprlBCY

 

[rosewood]

Kaori skated in a domestic competition this past weekend just after coming back home from SKAM.

Kaori Sakamoto flashed 'Noda peace sign' of joy
cute photo: https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20181028-00376045-nksports-spo.view-000
(my rough translation)
On Dec 28th at All Hyogo Championships, 'Noda Sr High School trio' won a spot for National Sr High School Championships (scheduled January 24-27, at Nagoya). Ayumi Kagoya (17 yo) won a silver and Rio Manabe (15 yo) placed 5th in the Jr field. Kaori Sakamoto won a gold [in the Sr field] by receiving 202.99. They shared 'Noda peace sign' that is a popular hand sign in their school according to them.

When Kaori Sakamoto, who placed 6th at PyeongChang Olys, together with Ayumi Kagoya entered to Noda SHS, 'Noda figure skating club' was born in their school. Kagoya, their club's first ever captain, explained why she became a captain, "Since Kao-chan is so busy that she can't participate in briefing meetings etc..." And Sakamoto calls Kagoya "Captain! Captain!" When they were in the first grade at their high school, they won through to National Sr High School Championships as well, and their school placed the 5th among other schools. Whereas other schools' points could count total points of three skaters, their school had only two skaters to compete with them. This time around they have three skaters since one more member joined from this past spring.

From a perspective of Manabe who is younger than the two by two years, they are so "sweet." "I wish we'll make a podium," she sets a goal for the National SHS Championships. Team captain Kagoya said "I'm so happy. When we were in the first grade, the disadvantage behind other schools who had three members was very big. We aim at a podium by doing our all three's best," she showed a big smile on her face. In her final year of the school, it will be a good chance to enjoy a school life for Sakamoto who competes in international events as well.

 

[DreamSkates]

Love both her programs. But she really rocked it [the free program] in Finland! Way to go!

 

[nimi]

What a redemption skate, and in front of her home crowd! (Seriously, I'm sure the Japanese fans were the majority in the audience.)
Way to go indeed!

Funny footage of Kaori after receiving her medal:
https://twitter.com/stanyuzuru/status/1058809437006295045

 

[rosewood]

Here is an interview with Kaori after the disappointing SP. Seems she lost her focus due to the changes in stsq that was made in the morning. It's not a good idea to give a young skater instant changes in the morning of a competition day. Coach Nakano should be regretful about it.


https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20181102-00000185-spnannex-spo
(my rough translation)
.....
"Since the 6 mins warm-up went quite well, I thought things would go well. Though, it turned out to find myself lacking in good concentration. " She was too cautious about changes in her stsq which was suggested by her coach in the morning and she lost focus on her jumps.

In September she also made two mistakes in SP at Lombardia Trophy such as falling on a flip like she did today. "The trauma came back. I bombed so badly." As soon as she finished her program, she covered her face with palms.

Two weeks ago she placed 2nd at SKAM. As the GP final's spot depends on results of this competition, being way behind the placement that was wished is painful. That said, the distance from the second is as small as 6.51 points. There still remains a chance to slip into a podium. "I'll do my best", she said in a thin voice squeezed out, "That's all I can say at this point."

 

[tamms]

So I haven't caught up with most of GP Helsinki but of course I had to watch her FS. She did well. A couple of minor mistakes but she redeemed herself from the SP. I'm so proud of her!

 

[rosewood]

Loved this beautiful comment from @insideskating.

Watching #KaoriSakamoto is an emotional experience. She’s a seagull, and we’re on the ground, watching her fly. #goosebumps #GPHelsinki

 

[rosewood]

Beautiful/dynamic photos from Helsinki (getty images)
https://media.gettyimages.com/photo...ies-short-program-during-picture-id1056434524
https://media.gettyimages.com/photo...mens-free-program-at-the-picture-id1057574764

The epic redemption
https://media.gettyimages.com/photo...short-program-during-day-picture-id1056435588
https://media.gettyimages.com/photo...ng-her-free-skate-in-the-picture-id1057574772
https://media.gettyimages.com/photo...-bronze-in-the-womens-at-picture-id1057574780

"She’s a seagull, and we’re on the ground, watching her fly."
https://media.gettyimages.com/photo...dies-free-skating-during-picture-id1056907646


ETA:
I thought she improved in the long program since SKSM. (Actually she improved in the short program too except the falls.)
FS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcSM0QsjQ9g

 

[Sylvia]

Congratulations to the new Japanese national champion!

Kaori Sakamoto 228.01 2 2
(75.65 in SP): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okANu-COFvs
(152.36 in FS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVdnPEdOHrc

 

[tamms]

Congrats to Kaori on her first Nats title! I totally teared up at the last half of the program.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Congratulations to the new Japanese national champion!

Kaori Sakamoto 228.01 2 2
(75.65 in SP): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okANu-COFvs
(152.36 in FS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVdnPEdOHrc

Ok just returned from Germany, where I also unplugged from the computer completely. So my girl one? How did Rika do?

I know this is the wrong thread but what happened to Alexander ENBert? ANL got a lot of reading to do

 

[Sylvia]

How did Rika do?

https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...eason-news-updates.103938/page-7#post-5492327

ETA:

Jack Gallagher's latest "Ice Time" column (focus on Kaori Sakamoto & Benoit Richaud): https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports...ion-no-surprise-gifted-choreographer-richaud/

I spoke with Benoit Richaud, who choreographed Sakamoto’s lovely free skate to “The Piano” this season, via telephone this week and he seconded my feelings about his prized pupil.
Richaud was first approached by Kaori’s coaches (Sonoko Nakano and Mitsuko Graham) at the 2016 world juniors in Taipei about working with the young skater.
“The people who say she is just a jumper, I’m thinking, ‘Do you really watch Kaori Sakamoto?’ Benoit stated. “You cannot say she is only a jumper. I think you can say she is one of the skaters who has her own personality. It means that she looks like no one else, and this is something really unique.”
Benoit, a former junior ice dancer for France, remembered back to his first interaction with Sakamoto.
“When I first started working with Kaori, nobody really talked about her,” Richaud recalled. “When I did my first practice with her (in 2016), I remember saying to a friend, this girl may be a champion.”

 

[tamms]

Some news from Kaori:

She graduated from high school today!

https://www.fnn.jp/posts/00412578CX

She is also attempting to add 3A next season. May be attempting quads as well.

https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2019/02/21/kiji/20190221s00079000098000c.html

I am always supportive of ladies who want to add the 3A and Kaori’s jumps have great height.

 

[kittysk8ts]

Well, this is absolutely AMAZING. Kaori does 10 2A in a row in 30 seconds.

https://twitter.com/fsigstories/status/1100261790649368576?s=21

 

[mollymgr]

Well, this is absolutely AMAZING. Kaori does 10 2A in a row in 30 seconds.

https://twitter.com/fsigstories/status/1100261790649368576?s=21

I just got dizzy watching that clip.

 

[kittysk8ts]

I just got dizzy watching that clip.

25 revolutions in 30 secs will do that!

 

[rosewood]

Japan Times interview with Richaud
Rising choreographer Benoit Richaud says Kaori Sakamoto in good form ahead of worlds

 

[rosewood]

Belated update but I think Kaori's underwhelming FS at 4CC was partly because she practiced Jr size long program to participate in a domestic competition 'Inter-high-school Championships' which was held just a week before 4CC.

Her coaches were against her participation since she needed to practice both of Jr size and Sr size long programs at the same time, but it was Kaori who wanted to participate in the team event no matter what.
https://www.hochi.co.jp/sports/winter/20190127-OHT1T50171.html

That said, reportedly lots of her teachers & friends from her school came to the competition to cheer for Kaori & Kagoya there. Kaori said she wanted to participate the competition so that she can show her gratitude to her school. As I posted earlier on this thread, her school didn't have skating club but they created it for Kaori & Kagoya when they entered the school.

Anyways I wish Kaori will be able to show everything that she can do at Saitama worlds!

 

[falling_dance]

Oh, well. At least she won the SP silver...

 

[mollymgr]

I think she has great potential. Just needs the experience of a few more big competitions.

 

[Spun Silver]

I think she has great potential. Just needs the experience of a few more big competitions.

She's already the Japanese champion! I think it's more that she was up against these driven Russian/Russian-trained women who were absolutely hellbent on (re)claiming the podium and title. She mentioned in an interview that she had upped her training between 4CC and Worlds. She may need to do even more. And I'm betting she will.

 

[mollymgr]

She's already the Japanese champion! I think it's more that she was up against these driven Russian/Russian-trained women who were absolutely hellbent on (re)claiming the podium and title. She mentioned in an interview that she had upped her training between 4CC and Worlds. She may need to do even more. And I'm betting she will.

It has only been two seasons as a senior. What I meant is competing under pressure internationally. She can't afford to leave points. She did so well in the SP. Competing well, whether you are ahead or behind, comes with experience. In any case, I just enjoy watching her programs.

 

[Spun Silver]

It has only been two seasons as a senior. What I meant is competing under pressure internationally. She can't afford to leave points. She did so well in the SP. Competing well, whether you are ahead or behind, comes with experience. In any case, I just enjoy watching her programs.

She's two years older than Zagitova who also just completed her second senior season. Just saying.

Anyway, I love Kaori's skating and I agree she's still learning about international competition pressure.

 

[nimi]

She's already the Japanese champion! I think it's more that she was up against these driven Russian/Russian-trained women who were absolutely hellbent on (re)claiming the podium and title. She mentioned in an interview that she had upped her training between 4CC and Worlds. She may need to do even more. And I'm betting she will.

That's a good bet!

Apparently her coach said that she's going for the 3A next season and the goal is to include it in her program at Nats.