Junior Men 2018-2019 season
Here is the boys one.
Last year, Japanese men originally got only 6 spots for JGP, but obtained a few extra spots from other countries.
5 boys were named initially, Sumoto, Shimada, Kishina, Miyake & Yamakuma, and the first three got the second spot, then later Tsuboi got the two, out of the sub list. So the total was 10 spots. Sumoto made it to the final.
This year Japan got the 7 spots as the result of the Junior Worlds, and probably will get a few extra spots like last year though they are not guaranteed.
All the top juniors are predicted to stay on the junior ranks because none of them are good enough to move up. Realistically if a male junior skater wants to make a smooth transition from JGP to senior GPS, he needs consistent both 3A & 4T/4S, plus top 24 SB & other criteria, but all the Japanese juniors are still struggling with their 3A.
This is the final group of the National high school competition which was held in Feb.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32kyono16o8&t=2212s
Ichigo Santo - Mistuki Sumoto - Yuto Kishina - Sota Yamamoto - Kazuki Hasegawa - Sena Miyake
Top junior, Mitsuki Sumoto (will be 5th year on the junior ranks, 1st at the Junior Nationals)
He got the nice skating skill, semi-consistent 3A, pretty consistent other jumps without much height, and no facial expression. He has been training with coach Onishi who is known for the basic skating skills and the fact that he helped Machida to get a ticket to the Olympic Games.
Koshiro Shimada (will be 4th year, WD from JN due to injuries)
Being parted with his ex-coach, Kotoe Nagasawa due to her relocation to take care of her elderly mother, now he trains with Lambiel. Still no sign of 3A or any quad partially due to the injuries. He needs one so desperately if he likes to be considered as one of the elite juniors .
SP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2C_59EgAYY
FS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObECk6E5AII
During the 2017-2018 season, unfortunately he could compete only at JGP. Both of SP & FS were choreographed by Lambiel. SP is cute, but FS is a little bit heavy for him. I would like to see more character driven program from him like Chaplin FS he did a couple of seasons ago.
Sena Miyake (will be 4th year, 2nd at JN)
He used to share the coach with Shimada, but now he is coached by Utako Nagamitsu and Takeshi Honda, who coached Daisuke Takahashi. This nice looking kid needs the good stamina to finish his FS seriously. He bombed miserably at FS of the recent Junior Worlds, dead last of that segment of the competition.
Yuto Kishina (will be 4th year, 5th at JN)
He is coached by Dad of Takahito Mura, and he was the most consistent during the prior season due to the non attempt of 3A. However, after he started to try them, all his jumps were messed up.
Tatsuya Tsuboi (will be 3rd year, 3rd at JN)
He is coached by Howa club coaching team, and his strength is his consistency besides 3A. Unlike Kishina, Tsuboi also started to make an attempt on 3A, which always ended as a fall, but he has been so consistent on the rest of his programs even after the big fall. Also his skating style has become more & more resembling Sota's who he admires.
Taichiro Yamakuma (will be 5th year, 8th at JN),
I do think he is very talented. Shimada's expressiveness is more like theatrical one/character driven, on the other hand Taichiro can dance. And his jumps are big and impressive when he hits them, but they have been wildly inconsistent though he started hitting some 3A. He shares his coach with Keiji Tanaka.
These are from the recent Challeneg Cup, where he won by beating Kishina.
SP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut4fAn7Zrnw
FS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLVIH3O2zTE&t=168s
To me, all these boys are more or less same, all talented and each of them got their different strength & weakness though Sumoto is ahead of others probably like one step or two. Whoever gets consistent 3A & 4T/4S can move up.
So who else can challenge thier JGP spots?
Shun Sato (will be 2nd year, 6th at JN)
Despite of his young age, he already got semi-consistent 3A. However, there are a lot more to be desired for his other elements.
This is his FS at the Senior Nationals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2ltosUSpLQ
Kazuki Hasegawa (will be 4th year, 7th at JN)
He has started getting some attention since the last season and been steadily making improvement. Needing better presentation and expression, he is pretty much on the same level, comparing him elements to elements, with the guys who have been sent to JGP. No 3A or 4T/4S attempt yet.
SP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFbrDy8BqLQ
FS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NfaItwIzzc
These are from recent Coupe du Printemps, where he finished 2nd after Tsuboi, and also this is his first international competition. As you see, he does have decent basics and jumps.
Kao Miura (will be new to the junior ranks, the Novice Champ and 13th at JN)
I think he just might be a next big thing because of his presence and energy on ice. Keep an eye on his development! He is coached by the coaching legend Tsuzuki.
His performance at Asian Open
SP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqR7z-1PMM0&t=65s
FS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8pcn0i6kc4
His EX at NHK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgKi15b4Tfk
And a few other guys deserve to be mentioned:
Shingo Nishiyama (9th at JN), who has been with Brian Orser's team.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G56kb3RfkeY&t=280s
Takeru Kataise (will be 2nd year, 10th at JN) who shares the coach with Kaori & Mai, and more musical than them.
This is his performance from the last year's Coupr du Printemps.
SP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2riBHOfGiDI
FS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lr3J4E6uwzE
I LOVE Takeru, and just hoping & wishing that coach Nakano will make him a skater like Kaori or Mai.
Ichigo Santo (will be 6th year, 11th at JN) who is coached by Hata, who used to coach Machida, and he is the first skater of the National high school competition video (the very first video link of this post).
Yuma Kagiyama (will be 2nd year, 12th at JN) who is the son of the Japanese Champ, Masakazu Kagiyama.
Haruya Sasaki (will be 2nd year, 14th at JN) who shares coaches with Tsuboi.
Lucas Tsuyoshi Honda (will be 3rd year, 16th at JN) who has been steadily improving, also started 3A attempt.
This video is from the National Middle school competition, and you get to see a little bits of Lucas Tuyoshi Honda and Yuma Kagiyama at the begining, then followed by Tsuboi who won there.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXcHGA8YHZQ
While I'm a little bit worried of Junior field, this sounds good at the same time because every skater has still a chance to move up. I did not know the reason for Koshiro's coaching change, do you know his process of going to Lambiel? (I watch Junior's competitions sometimes but am not following info)
