2018-19 Japanese Ladies' figure skating

[chopinskate]

Wow i havent been here and watched figure skating since Mao Asada retired, anyone know what she is doing now, i would die of happiness if i saw her compete again

Playing hockey.

 

[yume]

Wow i havent been here and watched figure skating since Mao Asada retired, anyone know what she is doing now, i would die of happiness if i saw her compete again

Doing her own ice show tour, being woman of the year by GQ, getting contracts with more brands, etc.

I would like to see her in christmas on ice show which is broadcasted.
Unlikely to see her at Japan open even if she posts videos of her jumping 3F-3lo-3lo and other combos just for fun.

 

[Joekaz]

In the last two international championship events(Worlds and GPF) Satoko has finished last of the Japanese both times. Behind Wakaba, Kaori and Rika. I don't think that would merit her jumping over anyone that would finish third over her.

 

[irriya]

I'm so happy for Kaori. Despite the accidental fall in 2t, the FS is getting better and better. A litter nervous in SP, but she held to make it work. It's really good experience for her, and I wish all her best in Japan National!

 

[Spinning]

And now...we are at the point where Satoko is done!

Seriously I heard that before. But our Tinyqueen is tough as nail. She will be around to proof people wrong I'm sure.

 

[Leonardo]

She will be around to proof people wrong I'm sure.

She always does .

 

[yume]

Satoko is not done. Far from that. She stills a strong competitor. She's maybe more vulnerable but not done. Her finishing last at gpf is mostly due to tech panel calling her URs, which doen't happen everytime. Most important, that happens rarely at nats. Or if she gets one or two calls, others will get calls too, sometimes she's the few ones with no calls. Remember how TP saw Mai and Kaori's URs in the free but didn't see Satoko's at last nats.
So she's not unbeatable, but she has very good chances to be on that podium.

 

[sk8ath]

Satoko is not done. Far from that. She stills a strong competitor. She's maybe more vulnerable but not done. Her finishing last at gpf is mostly due to tech panel calling her URs, which doen't happen everytime. Most important, that happens rarely at nats. Or if she gets one or two calls, others will get calls too, sometimes she's the few ones with no calls. Remember how TP saw Mai and Kaori's URs but didn't see Satoko's at last nats.
So she's not unbeatable, but she has very good chances to be on that podium.

I think she is somehow lucky because the competition was not so fierce in her first three senior seasons.
So she had time to develop and improve.
(And I think her improvements are tremendous.)

 

[Ziotic]

I think that Satoko will likely be on the worlds team this year with Kaori and Rika.

I do however wish there could be more placements for 4cc as wakaba( if heeled) is the reigning WSM and Mai is lovely and consistent and deserves a chance at some ISU championships too.

If somehow Rika, Satoko. Mai. Kaori. I think they’ll send Mai to worlds and Kaori to 4CC to defend her title

 

[skatenewbie]

Am I the only one that thought that Kaori‘s lutz edge looked like flat/slight outside even in the replay? Because I‘ve seen a lot talking on the power ranking thread that it was inside and she escaped a call and now I‘m confused. Does someone have frame to frame pictures? Maybe I‘ll have to watch it again...

I also thought it looked flat/slight outside even in replay. People talk about UR reputations but I think skaters can a Flutz reputation... both are deservedly so... that being said, it *looked* like it took off on the right-ish edge to me!

https://youtu.be/d5T-8vYoXbs

go to @5:52 its DEEP inside edge takeoff clearly. i know its not GPF but GP helsinki, but its not possible for her to change deep inside edge takeoff (flutz) to a outside for only 1 month

 

[Noxchild]

My selfish desires for the next half of the season: Rika, Kaori, and Mai to 4CC (they get three spots, right? Kaori deserves the right to defend her title, I selfishly want Rika to continue her winning streak, and I want Mai to feel a sense of pride and accomplishment lol) and Rika, Kaori, and Satoko for Worlds, because they are the best of the best in Japan atm and it'll make the hometown crowd happy. Sadly, unless Wakaba pulls out the skate of her life at Nationals I think this is just not her season, though I would love to see her, Marin, Mako, and Yuna at some springtime B-comps to enjoy the spotlight a little more. If only Worlds had 9 spots, y'all...

 

[GoodMorningGrapeseed]

Question: Do people consider Mie Hamada to be one of Japan's top ladies coaches now? Satoko's consistently in the top 6, Rika is a champion, and she used to coach Marin Honda who won Junior worlds. Alena Kostornaia is also a fan of her team or so I've heard.

 

[yume]

If by some miracle Mai finishes above Satoko at nats i really hope that fed will give her the worlds spot.

 

[BillNeal]

Does anyone else think Tomoe would be the best chance for a Japanese lady to get on the WJC podium? The judges were willing to award her with a first place in the SP in JGP Slovenia. She just needs more experience with skating under pressure. She has probably the best toe jumps in the entire circuit and the skating skills to go with them .

 

[Canadianskatingfan]

Does anyone else think Tomoe would be the best chance for a Japanese lady to get on the WJC podium? The judges were willing to award her with a first place in the SP in JGP Slovenia. She just needs more experience with skating under pressure. She has probably the best toe jumps in the entire circuit and the skating skills to go with them .

No. Yuhana clean should go above Tomoe IMO. And yuhana is more consistent in the free program than tomoe.

 

[rlopen]

Does anyone else think Tomoe would be the best chance for a Japanese lady to get on the WJC podium? The judges were willing to award her with a first place in the SP in JGP Slovenia. She just needs more experience with skating under pressure. She has probably the best toe jumps in the entire circuit and the skating skills to go with them .

I wish she could go clean more often because when she’s clean she’s SUCH a gorgeous skater.

 

[yume]

Does anyone else think Tomoe would be the best chance for a Japanese lady to get on the WJC podium? The judges were willing to award her with a first place in the SP in JGP Slovenia. She just needs more experience with skating under pressure. She has probably the best toe jumps in the entire circuit and the skating skills to go with them .

I think that Yuhana has more chances since judges are ready to score her big too. She always does mistakes in the short but is consistent in the free. Which is better than Tomoe who is more consistent in the short than in the free.
Even if i prefer to see Tomoe on the podium, or top5 as podium chances are not that high.

 

[KweenAsada]

I think Satoko is far from being "done", but I do believe that this will be the last year she gets the best Grand Prix slots due to her reputation as the top Japanese woman. Moving forward, she will have to BRING It..not that she doesn't always, but there is so much talent in Japan. Her time as the Golden child is over imo.

 

[TunaKeem]

If by some miracle Mai finishes above Satoko at nats i really hope that fed will give her the worlds spot.

I really think it is a possibility. Nationals, ironically, is one of the places Satoko had her URs called even in the prior seasons when the quarter landing rule was present. That paired with the possibility that her GoE's do not go beyond a +3 (if even that) because of the lack of height, I think Japan has a good case to not send her over someone like Mai who has relatively cleaner jumps.

I truly admire Satoko and her consistency and the grace she brings to the ice but I think the current scores are a more accurate reflection of her skating. Her PCS should be high but technically speaking, I don't think she should be getting mid to high 70's technically.

I'm not so sure about the federation giving the spot to Satoko based on her track record. That didn't stop the federation from not sending Mai to the Olympics when they had 2 tickets because Mai placed 5th at 2017 worlds.

 

[randomfan]

I think Satoko is far from being "done", but I do believe that this will be the last year she gets the best Grand Prix slots due to her reputation as the top Japanese woman. Moving forward, she will have to BRING It..not that she doesn't always, but there is so much talent in Japan. Her time as the Golden child is over imo.

Just out of curiosity - may I ask what you mean by “getting the best slots”? The fed only has control over who gets NHK.