The Shoma Uno fan thread - Go for número UNO!

[Allskate]

Congratulations to Shoma! His long program was fantastic! Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. My favorite program of the entire World Championships. I'm so glad that the injury did not prevent this and that he was able to perform so well under the pressure of skating at home in Japan.

For those of you in the U.S., his long program is here. I've already watched it about a half dozen times. https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2023/03/25/ilia-malinin-shoma-uno-figure-skating-world-championships/

 

[kittyjake5]

Congrats Shomajesty!!! Two time World Champion!!!!!

 

[Sylvia]

Awwww : https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr7jAeVOX8u/

ETA that the photos linked above were taken at the Prince Ice World shows May 3-5 - Shoma performed a new program to "Come Together" and last season's exhibition "Padam, Padam" by Patricia Kaas; his next PIW shows will be on June 10-11.

His summer show schedule also includes:

The Ice tour: https://fs-theice.com/
July 22-23 in Aichi (3 shows)
July 25-27 in Nikko (3 shows)
July 29-30 in Osaka (3 shows)
August 2-4 in Morioka (3 shows)

One Piece on Ice - August 11-13 in Yokohama & Sept. 2-3 in Nagoya: https://www.onepiece-on-ice.com/

It is Shoma Uno who will play the leading role, Luffy!

ワンピース・オン・アイス【公式】 on Instagram: "‼️情報解禁‼️ 『ワンピース・オン・アイス ～エピソード・オブ・アラバスタ～』 モンキー・D・ルフィ役 　宇野昌磨 に決定！ ４月８日（土）12時～ 公式HPにてチケット先行予約スタート！ #ONEPIECE #ワンピース #ONEPIECEONICE #ワンピースオンアイス #アイスショー #OPOI #ルフィ #宇野昌磨 #宇野昌磨ルフィ"

3,062 likes, 40 comments - onepiece_on_ice on April 1, 2023: "‼️情報解禁‼️ 『ワンピース・オン・アイス ～エピソード・オブ・アラバスタ～』 モンキー・D...".

www.instagram.com

Article:

ONE PIECE ON ICE ~Episode of Alabasta~ Reveals Luffy Performer, Show Dates

ONE PIECE ON ICE ~Episode of Alabasta now has its leading man in three-time Olympic medalist Shoma Uno, who will bring the series' first ice skating show to life at the KOSE Shin Yok

www.crunchyroll.com

 

[On My Own]

I really love both his step sequences this season. And I thought he deserved that win at NHK. No number of 'q' calls is really going to diminish the vast gap in choreography and musicality between him and the gold medalist.

 

[Allskate]

I really love both his step sequences this season. And I thought he deserved that win at NHK. No number of 'q' calls is really going to diminish the vast gap in choreography and musicality between him and the gold medalist.

I think Yuma and Shoma are both wonderful, but Shoma is my favorite. I think Kagiyama has improved. However, I definitely think that Shoma is more artistic and musical than Kagiyama and that the PCS score difference doesn't show that enough. (I do think that's a chronic problem with the way programs are scored.) Shoma doesn't just have movement that matches the choreography (which Kagiyama does). I never would have picked the music Shoma chose this season and it isn't as dynamic as Kagiyama's. But, Shoma interprets that music so beautifully with his whole body and makes it seem so organic. I can't imagine many skaters being able to interpret that music well.

Kagiyama does have beautiful jumps. But, he fell on the axel, had fewer quads, and didn't have any quads later in the program. I don't think the tech score adequately reflected this. I hope this doesn't get into Shoma's head or diminish his interest in competing. Maybe it will just fuel him.

They are both wondeful, and Japan is lucky to have them.

 

[On My Own]

I never would have picked the music Shoma chose this season and it isn't as dynamic as Kagiyama's.

Uno's music is difficult to choreograph with the CoP requirements of skating. I won't say it's perfect, but the attempt to interpret the quietness of the music is amazing, and he does it very well, and the way they tried to fit all the requirements to the quiet section does deserve extra consideration.

Kagiyama's music is very obviously oriented to CoP skating. The tempo of the music rises towards the end, so he can easily show he can maintain the glide. The turn clusters can be more easily choreographed. Of course it's going to take good basic skating to actually skate the steps like that, but if you look at his body movement and his face, it's very sloppy and unfinished. (and this is why Rain in your Black Eyes has become a warhorse - easy, basic music for CoP style skating, and yet none of the attempts have been close to Sui/Han's or Papadakis/Cizeron's)

Kagiyama does have beautiful jumps.

I would say he has great landings. His take offs on the toe jumps have always been flawed, and his amplitude isn't that great. His (!) calls on the lutz vanished after he started winning Senior national medals, lol.

Which isn't to say Shoma's jumps are done with great technique, but he does have harder jumps, and attempts some of the quads later in the program.

 

[DreamSkates]

Shoma hasn’t reached his peak yet. He’s aiming for another world medal -gold.

 

[On My Own]

Lambiel's not wrong that the result at NHK was foolish, but I'm rolling my eyes at him calling it a 'scandal'. The word 'disagreement' is totally fine, sometimes.

 

[kittyjake5]

Congratulations to Shoma for winning his sixth National Title, well done!

 

[Sylvia]

Shoma’s Worlds winning streak may be over but I still appreciate his skating!

Translation of paywalled post-FS interview: https://x.com/chaosice4/status/1772211652152414715
ETA: "before everyone freaks out, he doesn't say he is retiring. It's an interview filled with gratitude, acceptance and love, so whatever your take is, take those feelings as well(also: i was careful with the wording and I think i've stayed close to his words, but i am not a pro)"

 

[Allskate]

Shoma’s Worlds winning streak may be over but I still appreciate his skating!

I love his skating so much. So, from a selfish perspective, I hope he continues to compete. He sounds happy with a healthy outlook.

 

[On My Own]

Shoma recently changed his management company to that of Asada and Honda (Marin), so there seems to be more intense speculation about his retirement now.

 

[Sylvia]

Shoma recently changed his management company to that of Asada and Honda (Marin)

4/30/24 article:

【フィギュア】宇野昌磨がマネージメント会社との契約終了を発表　浅田真央さんら事務所へ移籍 - フィギュア : 日刊スポーツ

株式会社ユニバーサルスポーツマーケティングは30日、フィギュアスケート男子で五輪2大会メダリストの宇野昌磨（26＝トヨタ自動車）との15年に始まった独占代理人… - 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

Universal Sports Marketing Co., Ltd. announced on the 30th that the exclusive agency contract that began in 2015 with Shoma Uno (26, Toyota Motor Corporation), a male figure skater and two-time Olympic medalist, will expire on April 30, 2024.
It was also announced at the same time that Uno would be transferring to Heroes Management Co., Ltd. from May 1st. The company includes professional figure skaters Mao Asada and Mai Asada, Marin Honda, who announced her retirement in January, and Shuzo Matsuoka [the pro tennis player?].

 

[On My Own]

4/30/24 article:

【フィギュア】宇野昌磨がマネージメント会社との契約終了を発表　浅田真央さんら事務所へ移籍 - フィギュア : 日刊スポーツ

株式会社ユニバーサルスポーツマーケティングは30日、フィギュアスケート男子で五輪2大会メダリストの宇野昌磨（26＝トヨタ自動車）との15年に始まった独占代理人… - 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

Shuzo Matsuoka [the pro tennis player?].

Yes. The one Fanyus love/hate for reasons I'm not aware of but I'm sure aren't sane (well, Asada is evil in their minds, and they share the same management company, I'm guessing it stems from there).

 

[Sylvia]

"After a long period of not posting, Shoma Uno has restarted his YouTube channel, with a video showing different types of jump fails he’s made in practice. He’s also starting channel memberships." https://twitter.com/figureskatingm1/status/1788157272365097404
May 8 (11+ mins.): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moiC8hcaxY8

 

[On My Own]

"After a long period of not posting, Shoma Uno has restarted his YouTube channel, with a video showing different types of jump fails he’s made in practice. He’s also starting channel memberships."

Well that'll be a lifetime of fun.

 

[Karen-W]

Well that'll be a lifetime of fun.

Shoma needs to give the fans the content they want out of Team Champery - cute, quirky, fun reels of him, Deniss, Stephane and Koshiro plus any other skaters in that training group. Jump fails ain't gonna cut it, lol.

 

[On My Own]

Shoma needs to give the fans the content they want out of Team Champery - cute, quirky, fun reels of him, Deniss, Stephane and Koshiro plus any other skaters in that training group. Jump fails ain't gonna cut it, lol.

There was a "discussion" on twitter when made his YT and set the membership fee about how money-minded he was, and it was led by Japanese Mao/Dai/Shoma fans.

I imagine stuff is happening on twitter right now and will continue happening till the day I die and I wish to not see.

 

[bladesofgorey]

Shoma needs to give the fans the content they want out of Team Champery - cute, quirky, fun reels of him, Deniss, Stephane and Koshiro plus any other skaters in that training group. Jump fails ain't gonna cut it, lol.

I wish I understood Japanese, because this actually seemed pretty interesting to me (if he was indeed analyzing his mistakes, which it seemed like? Unless I am wrong about that?). Granted, the audience interested in a self-analysis of jump technique and errors is probably pretty small, but we are very devoted.

 

[zebobes]

It appears that Shoma is retiring???

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[skatfan]

I’m not completely surprised. He’s accomplished a lot and Adam and Ilia have tech that he can’t compete with. I will treasure getting to see him skate in Anaheim at the 4CCs!

 

[On My Own]

Nobody's surprised.

Thank you for the beautiful skating, Shoma! It will be sorely missed among the current top men, at least for me.

 

[jenny12]

Congratulations on an amazing career to Shoma! I’m going to so miss his gorgeous skating. His artistry and passion was so needed in the men’s field, especially in recent year and it really won’t be the same without him. However, he’s accomplished so much and I hope his future brings him every happiness.

 

[ChelleC]

Not surprised. Congratulations on an amazing career. Loved finally seeing him win Worlds in 2022.