Wakaba Higuchi Fan Thread (vol. 1)

[Former FS FAN]

Wakaba had great attack today in the LP. Sooo.... noticeable after the boring Americans.

 

[MRani]

I’m positively giddy with joy for her! So happy that she was able to give this incredible Bond program the final performance that it deserved! That crowd reaction was incredible and her own reaction was so emotional. That was the best and most emotive FS she’s ever done I think.

Congratulations to World Silver Medalist Wakaba Higuchi!

 

[topaz]

I am so happy and excited for her. The disappointment of missing the olympics and her performance in the free at the GPF was washed away.

This is should help her confidence going forward.

 

[oleada]

Best moments of Worlds so far:

1. Aljona and Bruno’s FS
2. WAKABA IS THE WORLD SILVER MEDALIST!!!!

 

[3Lz+3Lo]

Delighted she got silver! Loved both her programs this season!

 

[briancoogaert]

Oh My God.
I was so sad at Japanese Nationals. At last, she had the skate she is capable of and the medal she deserves. Congrats !
I love her powerful glide and energy !

 

[Mad for Skating]

I have no words to describe my happiness. The first time I cried over skating this season was when Wakaba missed the Olympic team, but I always believed she would rise again at Worlds. She is my very favorite ladies skater (only Ashley is even close) and i can't think of a more perfect way to end this season. The sky didn't fall - Queen Wakaba brought it down!!!

 

[nimi]

Oooh just noticed this video of WakaBaby the flower girl circa 2013!

https://youtu.be/gQ9PWWQot5Y?t=4m7s

(I barely recognize her but Twitter told me it's really her!)

 

[BlueRidge]

omg watch Wakaba's exhibition. Such gorgeous skating! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMvVz9uwGmU

 

[Bellanca]

Looking forward to more great skates from Wakaba! Congratulations! WC silver medalist! Japan is blessed with a wealth of talent! Next season promises to be fabulous!

 

[rosewood]

Finally!
This is a startline in the true sense.

 

[Mad for Skating]

Wakaba for 2022 Olympic champ, say it with me. I know it sounds impossible, but who would've thought Osmond for World Champ? I'm down for this.

 

[Sylvia]

I came across Wakaba Higuchi's Worlds FS (British Eurosport) - watch while you still can!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aje35anSxyQ

Re-posting from the Japanese skating news thread in GSD (article was published before Worlds):

Here is a nice article of Wakaba Higuchi by Hiro Yoshida. What a roller coaster season it was for her!
WAKABA HIGUCHI: ANOTHER JOURNEY BEGINS


Go Wakaba! Beijing Olys will come very soon.

 

[Mad for Skating]

I came across Wakaba Higuchi's Worlds FS (British Eurosport) - watch while you still can!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aje35anSxyQ

Re-posting from the Japanese skating news thread in GSD (article was published before Worlds):

Seriously if I watch again, I might cry...

 

[Sylvia]

Fun Michael Jackson medley performed by Wakaba at the "Heroes and Future" Nagano show back in June: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hK8IWsPn9Kc

Love love loved Wakaba's MJ ex!

(This was a better overall performance than her televised "Dreams on Ice" skate from this past weekend.)

ETA:

Tweeted by her fan account today: https://twitter.com/wakahfans/status/1016352259817390080

Since DOI is over, we will report a little of content of booklet. · Wakaba will incorporate 3A into its configuration in the middle of the season · She doesn't rule out the possibility of 3Lz-3Lo. She said that she'll decide after considering new ISU rules firmly.

Article in Japanese by Akiko Tamura (May 28, 2018): http://number.bunshun.jp/articles/-/830893
Wakaba worked on the triple Axel with Ghislain Briand, a coach at the Toronto Cricket Club, for a week in May. She mentioned on page 4 that her choreographers are Shae-Lynn Bourne (SP) and Yuka Sato (FS).

I believe her SP music is to Sofi Tukker's "Energia"? Tweeted video thank you message to Wakaba by the 2 artists (Sophie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern): https://twitter.com/sofitukker/status/1015995066970771456
Wakaba's response: https://twitter.com/wakawakaskate/status/1016156952139665408

 

[savchenkoboss]

With Osmond out, and Medvedeva and Zagitova both big question marks this year I honestly think Higuchi with her powerful and sensual style can become world champion this year!

 

[Sylvia]

From the Programs/Choreographers thread in GSD (first video of her "Energia" SP?):

Wakaba Higuchi sp
https://twitter.com/figureskate5ch/status/1019454813711446017

Google translation:
July 16 Ice show was held at Jingu Ice Rink, # Higuchi Shinba showed off the new SP! A new program telling that "I want to challenge new expressions" is a popular dance number!

 

[Mad for Skating]

With Osmond out, and Medvedeva and Zagitova both big question marks this year I honestly think Higuchi with her powerful and sensual style can become world champion this year!

I hope so, as long as the judges don't screw her over for Miyahara.

 

[savchenkoboss]

I hope so, as long as the judges don't screw her over for Miyahara.

Miyahara will never be World Champion due to her weak jumps. I see the Japanese fed. pushing Kaori and Higuchi over her from here, maybe even Honda and Miyara too if they improve.

 

[Mad for Skating]

Miyahara will never be World Champion due to her weak jumps. I see the Japanese fed. pushing Kaori and Higuchi over her from here, maybe even Honda and Miyara too if they improve.

In a perfect world, Kaori and Wakaba would be beating Satoko consistently because they are way better jumpers, but at Japanese Nationals Kaori skated a perfect SP and FS and still got stuck 7 points behind Satoko so it seems Japan will hold up Satoko as their lord and savior if they at all can. If she continues getting called for <'s though, they will have to turn to Kaori and Wakaba which is totally fine with me.