The Shibutanis Thread 6: Paradise Found

[DreamSkates]

It might have given us a different vision of Maia and Alex if they skated with other partners, but I would have missed their incredible synchronization and seeing Alex's look of adoration toward his sister at the end of every skate. From the first time I saw them skate in Spokane as a novice team, they had me hooked. They had a long and successful career and treated us fans to videos full of personality and outreach activities. I loved their connection and commitment to the class of Korean students during the pre-Olympic season.

I personally am highly delighted with my lasting vision of them as ice dance partners.

 

[Cayuse]

I personally am highly delighted with my lasting vision of them as ice dance partners.

Me too!!!!

 

[Rukia]

Look who's getting into the USFS Hall of Fame!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1598392435192651776

 

[VGThuy]

Look who's getting into the USFS Hall of Fame!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1598392435192651776

Isn't this the first year that they're eligible? Not bad! I'm so proud of them.

But also...I guess it's official. I knew they were constructively retired with no plans to compete again, especially after Maia's kidney cancer diagnoses, treatment, and long recovery, but this seems to be the first official word. I mean...I guess being in the HoF doesn't preclude a team from coming back to compete, but I doubt that's going to happen and they probably got word from the Shibs themselves that they ain't coming back.

 

[Spiralgraph]

I have to post in this thread too. I'm very happy for the Shibs. I've never skated I'm not of Asian descent, but I've been a fan of theirs for a long time and they always brought something endearing and unique to ice dancing.

 

[VGThuy]

Since this is the Shibs' thread, I wonder...going by their Instagram posts, have they moved to Japan?

 

[Ena Grins]

I'm so proud of Maia and Alex. They were something unique as a team and they definitely had to work to reach the heights they did. They were also one of the teams who really got me invested in ice dance after 2014.

Since this is the Shibs' thread, I wonder...going by their Instagram posts, have they moved to Japan?

I've noticed that they've been in Japan for a while! I'm curious what they've been up to lately.

 

[DreamSkates]

Isn't this the first year that they're eligible? Not bad! I'm so proud of them.

But also...I guess it's official. I knew they were constructively retired with no plans to compete again, especially after Maia's kidney cancer diagnoses, treatment, and long recovery, but this seems to be the first official word. I mean...I guess being in the HoF doesn't preclude a team from coming back to compete, but I doubt that's going to happen and they probably got word from the Shibs themselves that they ain't coming back.

Happy for them to become a member of the HOF! Sad that they are no longer competing but happy for their "new" lives and all they are accomplishing. And that Maia seems to have gotten through cancer. Whew. That's the biggest thing.

 

[Rukia]

Well I thought this pic warranted a post on here

https://twitter.com/x/status/1615172570831290370

 

[Sylvia]

Short clip of them on the ice: https://www.instagram.com/p/CndbaIbq7Dh/

 

[VGThuy]

Good! It’s been too long since we’ve seen them on the ice in any capacity.

 

[TheresMaude]

There’s good and bad in this photo. The good: Maia’s at the Ted Lasso Premiere! The bad ... well, her outfit. And her outfit got a deserved thumbs-down from the ice-skating-fan Fug Girls: https://www.gofugyourself.com/photo...ere-los-angeles-california-usa-07-mar-2023-22

Who talked you into this, Maia?!!!

 

[Sylvia]

There’s good and bad in this photo. The good: Maia’s at the Ted Lasso Premiere! The bad ... well, her outfit.

Here's Maia's clip ("Wearing a look from @31philliplim Spring/Summer 2023 "): https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpjRy78JwHo/

 

[VGThuy]

The front photo does make her look too square and the material looks drab. At least the cut was interesting, and it's different from the form-fitting tailored suits she usually wears. I do think the outfit looks better from the side and when she's moving in it from @Sylvia's link, and, of course, when she's walking, she's incredibly elegant with perfect posture.

Maia was also at the Independent Spirit Awards last weekend with Rupi Kaur:

Maia Harumi Shibutani on Instagram: "2023 @filmindependent #SpiritAwards • A beautiful and inspiring day with the best friends 💙 Huge congratulations to the entire Joyland team on winning Best International Film!! @saim.sadiq @onlyalinakhan @rastist

maiashibutani on March 5, 2023: "2023 @filmindependent #SpiritAwards • A beautiful and inspiring day with the best friends 💙 Huge congratulations to the entire Joyl..."

www.instagram.com

 

[Sylvia]

Maia was also at the Independent Spirit Awards last weekend with Rupi Kaur:

And Malala! https://www.instagram.com/p/CpaU3AsrHk8/

 

[VGThuy]

There’s good and bad in this photo. The good: Maia’s at the Ted Lasso Premiere! The bad ... well, her outfit. And her outfit got a deserved thumbs-down from the ice-skating-fan Fug Girls: https://www.gofugyourself.com/photo...ere-los-angeles-california-usa-07-mar-2023-22

Who talked you into this, Maia?!!!

Here's Maia's clip ("Wearing a look from @31philliplim Spring/Summer 2023 "): https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpjRy78JwHo/

Maybe she read this thread or saw that Fug Girls post and decided to tell them to “Fug off” because she just posted another pic of her in the outfit less than an hour ago, .

Maia Harumi Shibutani on Instagram: "This @31philliplim look for the Season 3 premiere of Ted Lasso 💙⚽️ Photo: Frazer Harrison"

Maia Harumi Shibutani (@maiashibutani) on Instagram: "This @31philliplim look for the Season 3 premiere of Ted Lasso 💙⚽️ Photo: Frazer Harrison"

www.instagram.com

 

[AYS]

I thought the outfit looked great on her. But then, I've never been an arbiter of fashion to say the least, I just like what I like.

 

[Rukia]

I thought the outfit looked great on her. But then, I've never been an arbiter of fashion to say the least, I just like what I like.

You're right though. She looks fab.

 

[Sylvia]

IDC's article (Feb. 7):

Shibutanis inducted into USFS Hall of Fame – Ice-dance.com

www.ice-dance.com

Hall of Fame ceremony photos in San Jose (Jan. 28, 2023): https://photos2.ice-dance.com/2022-23/23USN/HOF/

Fan Zone article (March 14) - eta - by @Jayar:

A Hall of Fame Perspective with the ShibSibs - U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone

When Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani made their debut at the World Championships in Moscow back in 2011, the siblings were simply seeking to establish themselves

usfigureskatingfanzone.com

 

[VGThuy]

Anybody in Los Angeles from May 4-June 5? You can see Alex’s photo exhibition at the Leica Gallery!

Alex Hideo Shibutani on Instagram: "My first photo gallery exhibition will be in Los Angeles at the @leicagalleryla from May 4-June 5th. Grateful and excited for this opportunity. プロの写真家として初めてのギャラリー展！5月にロサンゼルスにいらっしゃる方は、ぜひギャラリーに足を運んでみてください！ @leicac

Alex Hideo Shibutani (@alexshibutani) on Instagram: "My first photo gallery exhibition will be in Los Angeles at the @leicagalleryla from May 4-June 5..."

www.instagram.com

 

[Sylvia]

Just caught a glimpse of Maia & Alex on NBC's Chasing Gold show from this event they posted about back in February: https://www.instagram.com/p/Contgj0L6Hu/

We were thrilled to be at Gold Meets Golden’s 10th Anniversary supporting Angel City Sports, an organization that provides adaptive sports programming for kids, adults, and veterans with physical disabilities or visual impairments. @goldmeetsgolden @angelcitysports

Honolulu yesterday was the first of their 3 booksigning events for their first children’s picture book, Amazing: Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Who Inspire Us All:

Amazing by Maia Shibutani, Alex Shibutani, Dane Liu: 9780593525432 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

From Olympic ice dancing medalists Alex and Maia Shibutani, this beautifully illustrated picture book highlights the achievements of many Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have made invaluable...

www.penguinrandomhouse.com

Coming up: https://www.instagram.com/p/CqmMIRvponL/
Saturday, April 15th - @bneventsgrove at @thegrovela in Los Angeles, CA @ 2pm [sign up via Eventbrite] https://www.eventbrite.com/e/alex-a...-amazing-at-bn-the-grove-tickets-462315075837
Tuesday, April 18th - @yuandmebooks in Chinatown, NYC @ 5:30 - 7pm https://www.yuandmebooks.com/events

ETA - "HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Local ice skaters got a chance to learn from two of the best at the Ice Palace on Saturday.
Two-time Olympic Gold Medalists and siblings Maia and Alex Shibutani took pictures and signed autographs with fans.
They also shared tips and tricks with kids striving to improve their ice skating skills.":

Local ice skaters hit the ice with Olympic bronze medalists Maia and Alex Shibutani

Local ice skaters got a chance to learn from two of the best at the Ice Palace on Saturday.

www.hawaiinewsnow.com

ETA #2: https://twitter.com/TheRock/status/1644881103826882560

 

[Sylvia]

Video highlights reel of their Honolulu book signing last week: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cq6kdSCPCFq/

And for Los Angeles this past Saturday: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CrHQiylL3TE/
Maia's photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/CrHVuMJvdB6/

Alex's post's yesterday: https://www.instagram.com/p/CrHcfCHvznT/
They will be on CBS Mornings tomorrow (Tuesday, April 18) before their NYC book signing at Yu and Me Books in Chinatown, 5:30 - 7pm: https://www.yuandmebooks.com/events

A 4th booksigning stop has been added - Washington, D.C. on April 19 @ 6 pm Busboys and Poets (2021 14th St NW Washington, D.C.) - RSVP at this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/amazing-a-busboys-and-poets-books-presentation-tickets-616077553547

 

[Sylvia]

Vifdeo of their appearance this morning on CBS: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CrLe50XrT70/

ETA - same video segment is also on Twitter: https://twitter.com/cbsmornings/status/1648330038138527745

Maia and Alex tell us about how their childhood passions in the creative arts led them to write, representation in Ice Dance, and why they’re focusing on young readers. Read the full article on Substack:

Renegades, Issue 5: Maia and Alex Shibutani (Olympic Medalists, Producers, Authors, Artists, Sports Envoys)

Creating change from the ice to the page and beyond

goldhouse.substack.com

 

[Sylvia]

Podcast episode (April 17):

Film Vs. Food Criticism, Top Five Culinary Cultures, and Pizza With Maia and Alex Shibutani

Dave and Chris are joined by two-time Olympic medalists, figure skaters Maia and Alex Shibutani

www.theringer.com

Dave [Chang] and Chris [Ying] are joined by two-time Olympic medalists, figure skaters Maia and Alex Shibutani. The “Shib Sibs” dropped in to talk about their new children’s book titled Amazing: Asians and Pacific Islanders Who Inspire Us All, which Dave is on the cover of. They also bring mystery gifts from Japan and chat all things pizza. The episode begins with a comparison of film vs. food criticism and consumption. Later Euno Lee joins the discussion for a new segment called Top 5. This week they rank the top five culinary cultures, as well as the top five Asian countries for cuisine.

 

[VGThuy]

I may give the podcast a listen, but I really can't stand Dave Chang.

 

[deegee]

I may give the podcast a listen, but I really can't stand Dave Chang.

who is he?

 

[Sylvia]

who is he?

David Chang - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Sylvia]

Nikkei Asia article by Masako Hara (April 23, 2023 19:30 JST):

Bronze medalist Shibutani siblings rack up post-Olympic successes

Alex and Maia 'ShibSibs' turn to books, photography, even cultural diplomacy

asia.nikkei.com

[Today] "We celebrated #WorldBookDay at the L.A. Times Festival of Books at USC!" https://www.instagram.com/p/CrZw464L7BZ/

Now it's back to NYC for the Figure Skating in Harlem Gala tomorrow (Monday, April 24 starting at 6:00PM).

 

[Sylvia]

3 arrival photos of Maia & Alex at last night's Figure Skating in Harlem's Gala: Getty Images

 

[Sylvia]

POPSUGAR interview (May 1):

How the Shibutani Siblings Have Stayed Friends Through the Olympics and Book Launches

We got an insight into how the siblings, Olympic ice-dancing partners, co-authors, and best friends interact over Zoom.

www.popsugar.com

Since stepping away from competing, the two have been busy — their latest book, "Amazing: Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Who Inspire Us All," was released last month. This is their third book and first nonfiction children's book, and it highlights the achievements of various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The pair started working on it more than two years ago, amid the pandemic and a rise in anti-Asian racism.
"Initially what inspired us, or part of it, was wanting to see more representation than what we had when we were children," Maia tells POPSUGAR. Alex adds that they want its impact to go far in that sense: "It was a way for us to uplift, celebrate, and highlight AAPI figures and improve the representation in children's literature — and hopefully advocate for increased educational resources and even mandated AAPI curriculum across all 50 states."

"They Call Us Bruce" podcast (April 30):

They Call Us Bruce: 195: They Call Us Shib Sibs

Jeff and Phil welcome amazing sibling duo Alex and Maia Shibutani, two-time Olympic medalist ice dancers and authors of the children's picture book AMAZING: ASIAN AMERICANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS WHO INSPIRE US ALL. They discuss their unique journey growing up as brother/sister teammates on the...

theycallusbruce.libsyn.com

Jeff and Phil welcome amazing sibling duo Alex and Maia Shibutani, two-time Olympic medalist ice dancers and authors of the children's picture book AMAZING: ASIAN AMERICANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS WHO INSPIRE US ALL. They discuss their unique journey growing up as brother/sister teammates on the ice, their evolution as role models and community advocates, and The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of working with your sibling.