Well, anyway they came to Japan with some shows and Japanese skaters as guests skaters:
www.tv-tokyo.co.jp//soi2012/index.html
I didn't plan to go because I never really liked SOI. Slow, boring, typical exhibitions numbers, same sparkling costumes but of different colors and, which is the main point, most of the skaters are not in a good sport form. But after the shows in Osaka last weekend I read in J-press and on fan forums that Daisuke showed his SP (that I haven't seen this season live, only on TV) and his old exhibition number Roxanne, and that Hanyu was on the list of guest skaters too. So, this Tuesday I bought a ticket for a Tokyo show. Best tickets (arena) were naturally sold out but I was surprised that there were tickets available for the first bowl. Today, just before the show, I saw the line for a ticket office, also many seats were empty in the second bowl. It's not a norm in Japan. Usually all tickets for FS events are sold out during the first days. Probably I am not the only one who thinks that SOI is not that exciting. Anyway, from foreign skaters I got what I expected: two jumps 3T and 2A as the only jumps performed (if you see a 3S, you are lucky) plus a final spin. Todd was just impossible to watch- dull to death. Pretty much the same can be said about Bradly. Sasha put on much weight and couldn't jump anything at all, not even a single jump. She did a spin and the rest of the time she was either sitting or lying on the ice. Buttle was very mannerish, like a ballerina, and slow, but he could land a 3lutz. Joanne was usual. I liked Katya Gordeeva. I haven't seen her for ages, and she hasn't been a competitive skater for almost two decades. Nevertheless she was very fast, smooth, elegant, with good original spins and footwork, jumps were only doubles (2loop and 2t if I remember correctly). But at her age of 40 she was really amasing. Next to her Kerr-sister was like a heavy cow, even if she is not supposed to be since she is an ice-dancer. Kurt was funny, did some steps and a bunch of abnormally huge 2A. Of course it's just a 2A but I'd rather watch it in Kurt's performance because it was a quality jump (especially for a short men with short legs the height of the jump was wow!), than to see some so-so 3T from jeffrys, todds, ryans and others. Is anybody else skating at his age of 45? Chinese Tong/Pang showed Liebestraume and they were quite clean. Narumi/Tran surprisingly landed a throw jump, probably because it was her birthday. Shizuka seems like she is losing her form. In Osaka at Nationals gala I noticed she was quite shaky. Today she landed what she wanted, singled an axel, but her gorgeous spins and spirals are gone. Even her trademark ina bauer that she could do through all the rink was only for a couple of meters. Miki showed "Mission", she was good, clean and looked confident. Kozuka was with his Cello Song and did what he could, still this guy is not inspiring for the audience. Kanako landed a combo 3-3 but fell on a 3lutz. Mao was a true ice beauty, fairy and magic. She tried 3F-3l but failed. The fisrt jump had a shaky landing, she added a single turn, then did a 2T. The rest of the program was beautiful. Hanyu skated his SP and was perfect. He landed 4T-3T (it was the only quad in a show, and in combo), nailed 3A, 3lutz and all the rest. The choice of music is very right for him this season. Both programs, SP and FS, as if the music was written specially for him. Dai skated Roxanne, landed 3A, 3F, 3T and was just Dai. What else would you expect. The announcer announced him "the dramatic, the Daisuke Takahashi!". That article "the" before his name said a lot. A lovely afternoon I had today in Yoyogi.
Videos were not allowed. But later today TV Tokyo will show the stuff, then no doubt it will be on youtube.
upd. Yeah, vids here, from TV Tokyo broadcast of Saturday show. Btw, yesterday Mao landed 3F-3L but 3L was UR I think:
Mao "Jupiter":
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlDi2ryghL4
Dai "Roxanne":
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M34FeOxhI4
