2016-17 State of Japanese Ladies Skating

[hippomoomin]

So now Japanese lady is a battle of Wakaba vs. Marin vs. Satoko? We cannot count Mai and Rika out though.

 

[gotoschool]

If she retires many of the dedicated fans will retire from this sport too, and i'm one of them, the scoring today is soo unpredictable and biased, skaters like Mao are the only reason why we still find a reason to keep watching this sport, i hope she will have a quick recovery and be back stronger then ever!

I agree with you. I was drawn into figure skating because of Mao's unique ability to effortless blend ballet and skating with finesse, grace, power and intense beauty and deep emotion and I joined this forum because of my love for Mao's Sochi Lp and the deep feeling of injustice for its score. Discovering the preference and deflation given to different skaters has made it extremely difficult to watch any more especially when announcers back up the ISU scores without question or refuse to report things like Mao's left knee injury and criticize her harshly without giving the real reason for her difficulties in jumping, while those with the top scores are often praised as untouchable in greatness. So even though I do like to watch some other skaters, the biased scoring and coverage of Mao in particular (but other skaters as well) going back to even before the days of Vancouver makes me want to stop watching after my favorite skater, Mao, retires.

I also agree with another post you had that Coach Sato should be doing more to prevent Mao from competing with a knee injury and instead shift the focus to treatment and recovery since the injury has been getting steadily worse for her jumps with each competition. I find it frustrating that this hasn't been done, especially when I see Mao crying because the injury is preventing her from jumping the way she dreams of. Perhaps, Mao is intent on competing and Coach Sato can't change her mind, but it doesn't seem like he has stood up to her on this issue. He has said the best course is taking a break and recovery but that he is afraid that she will retire if she does so, but if she has this much trouble doing triple jumps under the system she won't be satisfied with her scores or reach her goals anyway and quickly be discouraged from competing. So, treatment and recovery seems the best course to me.

As far as the comment that Mao should be forgotten and left to retirement if she can't do triples made by hippomoomin, my love of Mao's skating extends to so may other areas of her skating besides just her triple jumps (which I think get far too much emphasis in scoring and are scored in a biased nature), including her spins, steps, her erect posture, her supreme skating skills and depth of expression to name just a few and it is not dependent on the ISU's evaluation of her programs. Plus, it is inevitable that I will feel a connection to the person who has given me such incredibly beautiful moments of skating that spoke to my soul even now, and the fact that she can't do a few triple jumps doesn't take away from this.

I hope Mao can recover from her injury and reach her dreams of performing again in the Olympics and I hope she will finally be scored fairly there if she goes. But after that, I think it would be if Mao could start an exhibition tour after she retires where skating and performing didn't depend on scoring the highest under the ISU system by appealing to judges in a national organization like the JSF or an international one like the ISU. There are other kinds of great skating besides just what the these organizations deem to be great and Mao has already proven herself under this system anyway even if she was underscored. Plus, watching skating in this context would make watching other skaters more enjoyable as well.

 

[Crossover]

So now Japanese lady is a battle of Wakaba vs. Marin vs. Satoko? We cannot count Mai and Rika out though.

Marin is still a junior, so getting into the World team is a battle between Wakaba, Satoko, Mai and Rika.

I'm looking so forward to Cup of China where Mai and Rika are to compete. The event place, Beijing is close to Japan, so they won't suffer jetlag this time, so can better than their outing in previous GP events.

 

[mcq]

I might miss it, anyone has the schedule for the Japanese junior nationals?

So now Japanese lady is a battle of Wakaba vs. Marin vs. Satoko? We cannot count Mai and Rika out though.

Are you talking about nationals? Or world team? World team would be between Satoko, Wakaba, Mao, Rika Hongo, Mai mihara most likely (Kaori Sakamoto might be in the mix if she is consistent, she is senior eligible. But she needs to go to a senior competition beforehand to fulfill minimum TES).
If you are talking about Nationals podium, I would put Marin Honda, Kaori Sakamoto and Rika kihira (who does 3A!) in the mix too.

I think JSF would be very very careful on who they will choose for the world team this year since the olympics spot is at stake here. Being relatively consistent throughout the season + getting on that podium will be a good insurance for the ticket.

 

[Biellmann]

I might miss it, anyone has the schedule for the Japanese junior nationals?



Are you talking about nationals? Or world team? World team would be between Satoko, Wakaba, Mao, Rika Hongo, Mai mihara most likely (Kaori Sakamoto might be in the mix if she is consistent, she is senior eligible. But she needs to go to a senior competition beforehand to fulfill minimum TES).
If you are talking about Nationals podium, I would put Marin Honda, Kaori Sakamoto and Rika kihira (who does 3A!) in the mix too.

I think JSF would be very very careful on who they will choose for the world team this year since the olympics spot is at stake here. Being relatively consistent throughout the season + getting on that podium will be a good insurance for the ticket.

Probably Wakaba, Satoko and Rika or Mao. I would like to see Mai at worlds, but i don't think it's going to happen :think:

 

[sailormoon]

Marin Honda and Rika Kihira scored above 195 at a recent regional contest but Kaori Sakamoto seems to be the most consistent of all, who won the West Japan Junior Championships by beating the two others. It's hard to predict who will prevail in the upcoming Japanese Junior Championships, which will be held over this weekend. With these talented Japanese juniors, Mao Asada's place in the Olympic team could even be threatened.

Kinki Junior Championships

1. Rika Kihira 　195.18
2. Marin Honda　195.06

West Japan Junior Championships

1. Kaori Sakamoto 193.59
2. Marin Honda 186.34
3. Rika Kihira 178.60

 

[mcq]

Since Wagner finish 6th, that means as long as either Wakaba or Satoko finishing on the podium, Japan will get at least 1 Japanese Ladies at the GPF right?
Both got 11 points and a 2nd place finish would give them 24; and 3rd would give them 22. Still higher than Wagner's 20 pts.
Medvedeva, Radionova and Osmond is a lock and then 3 spots will be left for Pogo, Sotskova, Wakaba or Satoko (Pogo will most likely make it unless she bombs like last year and finish below 5th).

For the ladies to both make it to the GPF, Sotskova needs to finish below 4th and both Satoko and Wakaba have to make it to the podium, regardless if Pogorilaya winning or not, I think. If Sotskova make it to the podium chances are slim for both ladies to qualify. That means there will be 4 russian, 1 canadian and only 1 Japanese Ladies (and no American!). Things can change of course, based on who bomb or not, who would have thought Wagner likely won't make it.

 

[Biellmann]

Too bad about Mai

 

[Arriba627]

Darn - I was so hoping for at least another bronze for Mai. But what a Grand Prix debut season for her! She has a great future ahead of her!

 

[JuliaHols]

Japan Junior Nationals

RikaK finished a disappointing 11th at the Japan Jr Nats
Mako Yamashita finished 16th after an error filled fs.
Marin podium in 3rd with a 1 axel and a downgraded 3Lz??
Yuna S was perfect and won the free skate to take 2nd overall behind Kaori.
Kaori was almost flawless with only a step out on her 2axel of her 2Axel3Toe combo!!!

Congrats Kaori, Yuna and Marin!! The future of Japanese ladies skating will be a bloodbath with all these young talents. Still upset for Rika and Mako. Mako's season likely ends here unfortunately. Kaori is a lock for the Junior Worlds team with her win here and she seems most consistent, having beaten Marin and Rika in Western Sectionals too. And I'm so glad Yuna S is back. I hope Marin can gain more consistency. I think only if Rika wins the Junior Grand Prix Final can she have any chances of making the Junior Worlds team because she won't qualify for Senior Nats.

I think the JW team will be Kaori, Marin, Yuna S, unless Rika wins the jgpf and JSF chooses her instead of Yuna S. But of course this will also depend on their showing at Sr Nats and the JGPF.

Good Luck to Kaori, Marin and Rika at the JGPF!! Please do your best!

 

[ioanna]

Rika Kihira won't go to Sr Nats due to her low placing here but Yuna Shiraiwa will go. Rika injured her knee before Jr Nats so her chances of winning JGPF are looking slim. The real disappointment here is Marin Honda; her coaches have repeatedly said she doesn't practice as much as they'd like and it shows in situations like this. I wonder when she'll start listening.

Great job Kaori and especially Yuna :luv17: who's been struggling after an injury all season and won the free skate here. Kaori had a disappointing GP season in 2014-2015 and didn't make it to the final (Wakaba Higuchi, Yuka Nagai and Miyu Nakashio made it) but after placing 2nd at Jr Nationals, she was sent to Jr Worlds with Wakaba and Yuka. I think the same will happen with Yuna this season.

 

[Crossover]

Are there any available video for the Jr. Nationals? The final result shows how deep the field is.

 

[largeman]

Are there any available video for the Jr. Nationals? The final result shows how deep the field is.

You can find videos here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUaMGNb5Uks&list=PL5BYWZQVK-8F9LDp2Pt4SffeOCvcpQIi4

Thanks ioanna for the information on Rika... you know something is likely wrong with the knee when Rika falls on a 2A... :sad21:

 

[shiroKJ]

Rika Kihira won't go to Sr Nats due to her low placing here but Yuna Shiraiwa will go. Rika injured her knee before Jr Nats so her chances of winning JGPF are looking slim. The real disappointment here is Marin Honda; her coaches have repeatedly said she doesn't practice as much as they'd like and it shows in situations like this. I wonder when she'll start listening.

Great job Kaori and especially Yuna :luv17: who's been struggling after an injury all season and won the free skate here. Kaori had a disappointing GP season in 2014-2015 and didn't make it to the final (Wakaba Higuchi, Yuka Nagai and Miyu Nakashio made it) but after placing 2nd at Jr Nationals, she was sent to Jr Worlds with Wakaba and Yuka. I think the same will happen with Yuna this season.

I don't want to be harsh on Marin since shes still so young but perhaps her winning Jr. WC last season wasn't a good thing in hindsight. Girls got elegance and beauty in spades but shes so emotionally fragile and it seems like she expects her natural talent to keep her at the top but when it doesn't, she breaks down. If things continue as is, I don't think she'll survive the harshness that comes when she moves up to seniors.

She needs to take a few pages from Satoko's book about work ethics.

 

[Crossover]

You can find videos here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUaMGNb5Uks&list=PL5BYWZQVK-8F9LDp2Pt4SffeOCvcpQIi4

Thanks ioanna for the information on Rika... you know something is likely wrong with the knee when Rika falls on a 2A... :sad21:

Thanks. Those videos are only free skate, so I guess the SP segment was not aired.

 

[hippomoomin]

I wonder if Marin does not practice "hard enough", what does she do? Does she simply not follow the practice schedule set up by her coach? Who knows if she will be more consistent if she does follow her coach, since there is no way to compare two situations. I just feel her coach is not very nice talking to the media about her students this way, like she's saying "it's not my fault that Marin did not place high enough, because I told her to work harder and she didn't listen."

 

[ioanna]

I wonder if Marin does not practice "hard enough", what does she do? Does she simply not follow the practice schedule set up by her coach? Who knows if she will be more consistent if she does follow her coach, since there is no way to compare two situations. I just feel her coach is not very nice talking to the media about her students this way, like she's saying "it's not my fault that Marin did not place high enough, because I told her to work harder and she didn't listen."

To put it simply in Yamato Tamura's words, she slacks off. She gets bored easily. Team Hamada has plenty of examples of girls who listen to their instructions and know how to fight. Look at Yuna Shiraiwa winning the free skate here. If everyone else is confident by following Hamada's instructions, why would Marin be any different?

 

[hippomoomin]

With this level of disagreement regarding training between a skater and a coach, I am surprised that they remained on good terms with each other.
In Japanese culture, it is probably considered bad behavior for Marin to "disobey" her coach. What I can say, as long as Marin is happy and as long as her coach does not expel Marin from her rink.

To put it simply in Yamato Tamura's words, she slacks off. She gets bored easily. Team Hamada has plenty of examples of girls who listen to their instructions and know how to fight. Look at Yuna Shiraiwa winning the free skate here. If everyone else is confident by following Hamada's instructions, why would Marin be any different?

 

[Skater Boy]

So now Japanese lady is a battle of Wakaba vs. Marin vs. Satoko? We cannot count Mai and Rika out though.

I think Mao needs to get some good training and build up her confidence. I wonder if part of the problem besides confidence is finding some consistent jumps? I mean the 3A is not there right now. So where is the triple triple combo. We haven't seen her tack on a triple toe to too many jumps and adding a loop on the tail end of a combo isn't easy. However, with her amazing skating skills if she coud skate clean she could do say in the short a 2A in the first half and then a triple flip double loop and a triple loop. Could she not train and realistically do a triple loop triple loop combo (hard as that is two edge jumps back to back) and a triple flip as her individual jump? Is this realistic? Mao can win pcs and if she skate cleaning do fairly well and get that third spot on the Japanese National team or maybe even second with something like that. With her long she some how needs to do two triple flips; two triple loops Preferably in three jumping passes so she would need the 3loop 3 loop, then I guess a lutz, A salchow, a toe loop and a double axel.

 

[Hevari]

So now Japanese lady is a battle of Wakaba vs. Marin vs. Satoko? We cannot count Mai and Rika out though.

Satoko vs. Wakaba vs. Yuna Sh., maybe... And not count Rika H., Mai, Yuka, Yura, Marin out, of course