Wakaba Higuchi Fan Thread (vol. 1)

WanderlustTO

WanderlustTO

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Sylvia said I could start a thread for her, even though she's not in senior.

Even though there are Japan-related threads, I wanted to start one for Wakaba - because I'm a huge fan - and I'm sure i'm not the only one.

I was so impressed by her this season - yeah, she's got 'flip' issues - but I suspect they're easily corrected. Other than that, her technical ability is most impressive (and doesn't require 'tano's to get things done!).

This was the first season she was eligible for int'l junior - and it was a smashing success - she was 3rd at world juniors, grand prix, and sr. japanese nationals. she was 1st at german jgp and jr. japan nationals. she was second at czech grand prix.

She has her own Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wakaba_Higuchi

Her choreography needs improvement and her programs need more transitions - but she's an extremely strong skater and has a natural musicality about her that bodes well for the future.

For those who need an introduction to this fantastic skater, here is a compilation of her past programs: http://www.rinkresults.com/skater?skater_id=3386
 
Wakaba's twitter
https://twitter.com/wakawakaskate

ice shows in schedule

Prince Ice World (Yokohama, last week)
Prince Ice World (May 9-10, Hachinohe)
Fantasy on Ice (May 29-31,Makuhari, Chiba)
Dreams on Ice (June 12-14, Yokohama)
Figure Skating Ao-re Nagaoka (July 11-12, Nagaoka, Niigata)
 
I too was impressed with Wakaba this season, more than any other Japanese skater that competed this season.
 
The following video clip is about PIW2015 at Yokohama. From about 0:45s there's a sneak preview of Wakaba's new FS "Mask of Zoro". There are also parts in which she practices her FS (seems to be) and an interview about her new FS. It seems she has been consulting previous programs of the same music, and she mentions Kanako's version as the one she has the most impression with. (Bonus: watch till the end of the clip, you'll get to see Wakaba practices the finale number with Kozuka!)

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2pobr7_0510-tv-special-piw部分_sport

Adding: in the clip, after Kozuka's interview, the interviewer Junko Yakinuma comments on Wakaba's new FS. She said it's 'fresh yet powerful'. Sounds like Yakinuma is also looking forward to Wakaba's performance of the program in the new season.
 
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^^ thanks.

This is a bit off topic, but can any of our Japanese friends (or those who follow figure skating in Japan) comment on how they anticipate (as of today, May 2015) Marin Honda and Wakaba to compare with each other this upcoming junior season (ISU-wise, Wakaba is still junior level and I believe this will be Marin's first year of jr. isu eligibility).
 
Did she say she is staying junior next season? Unless Asada returns, I think she has a very good chance to land a spot on Team Japan for 2016 Worlds.

Even if Asada returns, I still think she has what it takes to go up against Hongo.
 
WanderlustTO said:
This is a bit off topic, but can any of our Japanese friends (or those who follow figure skating in Japan) comment on how they anticipate (as of today, May 2015) Marin Honda and Wakaba to compare with each other this upcoming junior season (ISU-wise, Wakaba is still junior level and I believe this will be Marin's first year of jr. isu eligibility).
Click to expand...

I had a chance to watch Wakaba (at junior level) and Marin (at Novice A level) competing in the same competition last year, and it was during Asian Trophy at the very beginning of the season. Ever since then I've been paying attention to these Jpn competitors of younger generation.

It's difficult to say about Wakaba vs. Marin, as they were competing at different levels last year. Interestingly, I actually don't remember much from Wakaba's performances at Asian Trophy. It was probably because Wakaba won the competition with a not so spectacular FS (I recall she singled at least two jumps). I was more impressed by competitors at Novice A ladies' in the end: the competition between Marin and Yuna (Aoki) turned out to be more exciting for me. I had the impression that Marin's skating was quite lovely, her FS was almost perfect with only one singled jump. I'd say watching her skating, one can tell Marin as Hamada's student.

As for their performances later on throughout the season, I think in general Wakaba was very impressive with her speed and explosive jumps. Marin, on the other hand, was not as consistent in terms of her jumps (although Marin does seem to have the ability with some of the more difficult jump combinations). There were times when Marin did quite well (i.e. at junior national FS), but she could fall out of the competition (i.e. at junior high school skating competition).

Another one to watch for the up-coming junior will be Yuna. Yuna once won over Wakaba in FS (at junior high school competition) throughout the season. Unlike most other skaters, Yuna has 3Lo as the 2nd jump in her jumping combinations. Yuna is featured in a recent video, in which she met and chat with Hanyu at the back stage of WTT. Yuna is now training under Coach Tuzuki, who is Hanyu's former coach.

They'll all be interesting to watch at the junior level in the upcoming season.
 
^^^ Thanks, @cohkaix! :) Maybe we can get some discussion going in the Junior Grand Prix 2015 thread in GSD about returning top contenders like Higuchi as well as Honda and Aoki who are expected to make their JGP debuts this year- link is: http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/ind...ouncement-news-early-discussion-thread.95490/

Marco said:
Did she say she is staying junior next season?
Click to expand...
Higuchi has to stay junior internationally in 2015-16 because she will not be 15 by July 1st. She turned 14 in January.
 
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NMURA said:
Mao's comeback and three girls (Higuchi,Aoki,Honda)
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2qenkq_少女スケーターたちの今-樋口新葉-青木祐奈-本田真凜_sport
Click to expand...

@NMURA posted this new video about Wakaba, Yuna and Marin in the Jpn FS news discussion.
Some interesting points from the video: all three were asked about their prospects towards Pyeongchang (since there's 1000 days left up to next Oly) at the end of their interviews. Rough translation of their answers as follow:

Wakaba: 'I think there's no more time (left to waste)'
Yuna: 'I want to keep up with my physical condition and have good programs' (Interviewer asks: would like to have more time (to prepare)? Yuna: yes)
Marin: 'I think there's still time. I used to dream about Olympics and now it's more like a goal for me.'
 
rosewood said:
Wakaba's new ex number is full of joy! Happy to see her enjoying herself. :)
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2s1v36_faoi2015-wakaba-higuti_sport

@WanderlustTO, adding (1) to the thread title is a good job. We can enjoy her skating for a decade from now, if not longer. :D
Click to expand...
thank you so much for this!! :40beers:

I purposely said 'vol 1' in the thread title - b/c I just know there will be multiple threads to come...especially come '18 olympics!

This performance you linked to is one of the reasons i'm very confident that while Wakaba needs a bit of polish (like all skaters her age do) - she has a great performer in her and as she gets more confident, I think her pct score will sky rocket!
 
I think it's imperative that Wakaba get polish and a style to her skating while she's still this young because if she doesn't she will get labeled as just a jumper like Midori Ito did in her career.
 
Jammers said:
I think it's imperative that Wakaba get polish and a style to her skating while she's still this young because if she doesn't she will get labeled as just a jumper like Midori Ito did in her career.
Click to expand...
Wakaba is already way ahead of most of her peers artistically. She is still very young - and I think that it will not be too much of a problem for it. She won't ever be Mao or Yuna stylistically - but who is?

Something that will really benefit Wakaba is the fact skaters' PCS tends to get dragged upwards by their technical scores - and I think she's going to be an extremely strong skater technically even as she gets older/bigger.
 
Sylvia said:
Wakaba Higuchi's new Mambo SP as performed in the "Dreams on Ice" show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rLtNmHX3G4
Click to expand...
Thanks for posting this link. I love her new SP so much. It's visible that she enjoys her skating in it. I found she improved in projecting musics after she finished this past season. She is even a very good show girl at this point. Wish the best for her new season. Go for the Jr Worlds gold medal! :cheer2:
 
Sylvia said:
Wakaba Higuchi's new Mambo SP as performed in the "Dreams on Ice" show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rLtNmHX3G4
Click to expand...
She has a natural verve and confidence that are very appealing. I wish Gracie could borrow a little of those from her. (Should Gracie try a mambo number? Hmmm.) I like the freedom of her upper body. I hope she can get her spins a little faster. That seems to be her weak spot technically.
 
Sylvia said:
Wakaba Higuchi's new Mambo SP as performed in the "Dreams on Ice" show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rLtNmHX3G4
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot for posting this link. I am really impressed with Wakaba's performance. She has improved her step sequences, musicality and flair. There is more connection between the movements in her upper and lower body so that she moves in unison to the music with more fluidity and fire and she projects a lot of emotion to the audience. She definitely has a showiness to her skating and her beautiful red costume really brings extra vitality. As usual, her jumps and skating skills are simply gorgeous, the combination of power, speed, excellent height, and quick symmetrical rotation is marvelous, especially this early in the season. I hope she is able to get a Biellmann and or a triple axel one day and maintain a bit more speed through her spins, since her skating skills are so good.
 
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Sylvia said:
Wakaba Higuchi's new Mambo SP as performed in the "Dreams on Ice" show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rLtNmHX3G4
Click to expand...
Who is doing Wakaba's choreography!?! - watching this program, she's driving me a bit insane. She has a natural 'musicality' that many skaters could only dream of - and when she decides to hold a position she has pretty good extension - but much of this program is her punching her arms and legs - i get it's an 'up beat' tempo - but geez.

Ok, I know - it's not a competition piece. I will calm down and wait patiently for her programs this coming season. I'm being a bit pushy over a show piece i know.

In any event, I can't wait to see her this season. I love her to bits and am so very excited to see what she comes up with this year.
 
WanderlustTO said:
Who is doing Wakaba's choreography!?! - watching this program, she's driving me a bit insane. She has a natural 'musicality' that many skaters could only dream of - and when she decides to hold a position she has pretty good extension - but much of this program is her punching her arms and legs - i get it's an 'up beat' tempo - but geez.

Ok, I know - it's not a competition piece. I will calm down and wait patiently for her programs this coming season. I'm being a bit pushy over a show piece i know.
Click to expand...
Eh, didn't you notice the 'SP' abbreviation (or whatever it is called) in Sylvia's post? It's not just a show piece, it is actually her new SP. Of course, this is a show version of it, but still - I don't think that the style of the choreography is going to change. That said, I understand you - I like the energy of the program, but the movements could be more polished.
 
does anyone have updates on what JGP events Wakaba (*the great*) will be competing at?

lauravvv said:
Eh, didn't you notice the 'SP' abbreviation (or whatever it is called) in Sylvia's post? It's not just a show piece, it is actually her new SP. Of course, this is a show version of it, but still - I don't think that the style of the choreography is going to change. That said, I understand you - I like the energy of the program, but the movements could be more polished.
Click to expand...

Sorry at being late in responding - yes, I had read Sylvia's post too fast when i responded and was thinking about it being just a demo program.
 
Since Yuna Aoki showed major melt downs in this week's JGP, I'm a bit worrying about Wakaba. Top promising Jr skaters such as Wakaba, Yuna and Marin were all skated in many benefit shows (Fantasy on Ice etc) during this off season. So I've been worrying about their conditions since this spring.

Today Wakaba participated in a small local competition. People who watched her in person tweeted she skated clean and received 62.49. She did all her jumps (3Lz-3T, 3F, 2A) in the second half of the SP. I'm a bit relieved but the score is not great. She may be given a call somewhere. It is supposed she'll skate FS tomorrow. We'll see more info then.
 
I'm guessing an edge. All on the flip? She does struggle with that. The fact that it's the solo jump in the Sp works against her this year.
 
The protocols were open. Wakaba placed 1st in both segments.

SP http://www.jsfresults.com/local/2015-2016/fs/13/01/data1203.pdf
Jump layout - / 3Lz-3T(+1.4 GOE), 3Fe(-0.42), 2A(+1.0)...all jumps were in the second half.
She lost Levels in Stsq(Lv3, not bad), LSp(Lv2, should be worked on) and CCoSp3p3(Lv3) but received plus GOEs for every element except 3F(e).

FS http://www.jsfresults.com/local/2015-2016/fs/13/01/data1105.pdf
Jump layout - 3Lz-3Lo(-0.70 GOE), 3S(+0.84) /3F!+2T+2Lo(-0.28), 2A(0.60), 3Lo(+1.26), 3Lz+3T<<(-1.26), 2A(+0.25)
She lost levels in Stsq(Lv2) and Lsp(L3).

Her LP is very challenging with 3Lz-3Lo along with 3Lz-3T which was toward the end of the program. She & her team might be inspired by Satoko's LP at Worlds where she had the second 2A-3T combo in the very end of the program.

I rather wish she had worked on spins and artistic side during spring and summer instead of up grading the jump layouts this high. IIRC she stated she wishes introducing 3A in the second half of this season. Now I'm afraid she & her team were influenced by the over hype. Japanese media were eager to show junior girls bigger than they really are during off-season and they were treated so in the shows IMO. Wish she'll lean towards the strategy with which she can put things together.
 
rosewood said:
The protocols were open. Wakaba placed 1st in both segments.

SP http://www.jsfresults.com/local/2015-2016/fs/13/01/data1203.pdf
Jump layout - / 3Lz-3T(+1.4 GOE), 3Fe(-0.42), 2A(+1.0)...all jumps were in the second half.
She lost Levels in Stsq(Lv3, not bad), LSp(Lv2, should be worked on) and CCoSp3p3(Lv3) but received plus GOEs for every element except 3F(e).

FS http://www.jsfresults.com/local/2015-2016/fs/13/01/data1105.pdf
Jump layout - 3Lz-3Lo(-0.70 GOE), 3S(+0.84) /3F!+2T+2Lo(-0.28), 2A(0.60), 3Lo(+1.26), 3Lz+3T<<(-1.26), 2A(+0.25)
She lost levels in Stsq(Lv2) and Lsp(L3).

Her LP is very challenging with 3Lz-3Lo along with 3Lz-3T which was toward the end of the program. She & her team might be inspired by Satoko's LP at Worlds where she had the second 2A-3T combo in the very end of the program.

I rather wish she had worked on spins and artistic side during spring and summer instead of up grading the jump layouts this high. IIRC she stated she wishes introducing 3A in the second half of this season. Now I'm afraid she & her team were influenced by the over hype. Japanese media were eager to show junior girls bigger than they really are during off-season and they were treated so in the shows IMO. Wish she'll lean towards the strategy with which she can put things together.
Click to expand...

Well these are good results - but I'm concerned to see she's still having problems with her flip - especially because its the mandatory jump this season.

I'm also a bit worried by your comment that her upgrade has been on technical difficulty rather than spins/artistic. Wakaba is an extremely strong technical skater (flip excluded). Junior is the time to start trying to improve the weaker aspects of her skating - once she hits senior, she won't have the same dominance jump-wise over the competition - and if her spins are weak, her choreography is mediocre, and her flip is poor she will fall down the pack (assuming she gets out of JP nationals - anything but a given).
 
On the bright side, she has three weeks between the local competition and her first JGP event scheduled next week. Maybe she used the local competition as a test skate before the serious season starts. She may change the layouts or she might have worked hard to fix the things i.e. spin/stsq levels or lip. And her scores were not so bad compared to the scores her rivals received in the first two JGP events so far.
-SP-
Tsurskaya 66.08
Fedithikina 63.49
Sotskova 62.73
Higuchi 62.49
Le 61.45
Mihara 60.81
Sakamoto 58.75
Choi 57.21

-FS-
Tsurskaya 123.42
Sotskova 12l.22
Mihara 118.55
Higuchi 117.88
Le 114.85
Sakamoto 112.20
Choi 111.08

-Total-
Tsurskaya 189.50
Sotskova 184.45
Higuchi 180.37
Mihara 179.36
Le 176.30
Sakamoto 170.95
Choi 168.29

JGP #1 http://www.isuresults.com/results/season1516/jgpsvk2015/
JGP #2 http://www.isuresults.com/results/season1516/jgplat2015/
 
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