Shoma is going coachless this season

[aftershocks]

And jump coach seems an odd choice for him, given that he was such as artistic skater.

I personally never thought Takeshi Honda was particularly superior artistically. He was very good technically and quite explosive with his jumping ability. In terms of artistry, he was fine, but not necessarily better than the best artists. He grew aesthetically as he matured:

[4K60P] 本田武史 Takeshi Honda 2002 SLC SP "Don Quixote"

Takeshi Honda / Такэси Хонда / 本田武史 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Men's Short Program зимних Олимпийских играх 2002 года ソルトレイクシティ オリンピック フィギュアスケート...

www.youtube.com

 

[Madhatter]

Just watch; while we critcize Uno's decision, Takeshi Honda becomes a new hot coach on the block.

 

[MR-FAN]

This is never, ever, EVER a good decision. I hope he proves me wrong but UGH.

 

[Japanfan]

I personally never thought Takeshi Honda was particularly superior artistically. He was very good technically and quite explosive with his jumping ability. In terms of artistry, he was fine, but not necessarily better than the best artists. He grew aesthetically as he matured:

[4K60P] 本田武史 Takeshi Honda 2002 SLC SP "Don Quixote"

Takeshi Honda / Такэси Хонда / 本田武史 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Men's Short Program зимних Олимпийских играх 2002 года ソルトレイクシティ オリンピック フィギュアスケート...

www.youtube.com

I thought his Don Quixote SP at the 2002 Olympics was such an amazingly fluid and musical performance. And also joyful. Such is the standard by which I measure Takeshi Honda (certainly not by 'The Mummy', with the toilet paper costume )

 

[Sylvia]

Thank you to @rosewood for translating this article and posting in Uno's fan thread on Monday:

宇野昌磨、今季はメインコーチ不在「僕一人でやっていく」/デイリースポーツ online

フィギュアスケート男子で２０１８年平昌五輪銀メダリストの宇野昌磨（２１）＝トヨタ自動車＝が今季はメインコーチ不在となることが１５日、明らかになった。この日公開された全日本強化合宿（愛知県豊田市・中京大アイスアリーナ）で宇野は「今季はメインコ...

www.daily.co.jp

(my rough translation)
.....
"Eteri was a tough and kind coach. It was a very good experience," said Uno, "It's been a long time since the last time, probably since I was little, to train at the environment's pace and not at my own pace." It sounded the training was fruitful. Meanwhile, he plans to train in Chukyo University's home rink as well as go abroad. "I don't belong to any club. It makes me easy to go and see various places. The most important thing is what kind of determination I have in my mind," he explained the reason why he plans to train on his own this season.

One of the reasons why he left his long-time home club is "Coach Machiko [Yamada] suggested me to leave them as well. She also said our relationships had been like a family and it was the time to change the environments," he revealed that his teachers pushed his back to leave them. "Coach Mihoko [Higuchi] told me that she'll continue to be one of my biggest supporters from now on, too. I won't let my results down. Even if it's just one placement, I'll not let it down. I try my best to do so for Machiko-sensei and Mihoko-sensei."

 

[DreamSkates]

Shoma is so talented! It’s a shame he cannot find the right coach.

Sometimes people need a change. So he's taking a break but not without a jumping coach and excellent choreos and some time with Lambiel. He has a plan.

 

[nguyhm]

I will miss seeing him with coach Mihoko in the kiss & cry, the support she always gives him is so genuine but sometimes one has to leave the comfort zone in order to grow. Best wishes to Shoma.

 

[Japanfan]

I thought his Don Quixote SP at the 2002 Olympics was such an amazingly fluid and musical performance. And also joyful. Such is the standard by which I measure Takeshi Honda (certainly not by 'The Mummy', with the toilet paper costume )

Just remembered his Aranjuez (sp?) LP - I loved that one too.

 

[Tinami Amori]

Shoma's skating and performance quality were mature and special since he was a child..

Figure Skating Shoma Uno 2

第12回全日本フィギュアスケート・ノービス選手権大会

www.youtube.com

Figure Skating Shoma Uno

`07 中部フィギュアスケート選手権

www.youtube.com

 

[caseyedwards]

Risky!!!!!!!!

 

[MacMadame]

It's risky but also, if he's going to do this, it's better this season than next. If he gets a coach next year, they have a whole season to get used to each other before the Olympic season.

And he isn't really going coachless. He's just not having a main coach who oversees everything. He has a jump coach and he probably has other people he uses to bounce ideas off of as well.

It's also possible that this is the first step in moving into retirement and that we won't see him at the next Olympics at all. It probably depends on what happens this year and how he feels about it.