2018-2019 State of Japanese Men's Skating
- Thread starter yume
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which junior probably move up to senior next season? none have high enough SB to get into top 24 yet so juniors probably have harder time to get GP though
I hope that even if they’re lowballing Sato on PCS, they working with him in order to get him where he needs to be in a couple years. I’m not so bothered by it now because he’s so young, but he probably has the most potential technically of the current crop of juniors. It’s a technicians game these days and the rest aren’t really showing they’re ready to play. The basics are there though, he just needs a concerted effort to work on his weak points.
Same with Kazuki. The consistency isn’t there, but I’m hoping they’re working with him to capitalize on his potential.
Same with Kazuki. The consistency isn’t there, but I’m hoping they’re working with him to capitalize on his potential.
That's why i hope that Tsuboi and Shimada will do a good job, so get 3 spots for worlds and maximum spots for JGPs. I want to see Shun Sato, Kao Miura who has a great technical potential too and Yuma Kagiyama in JGPs.
Mitsuki Sumoto will surely move to seniors. Maybe Shimada too. It's possible for them to have a GP even without being in the 24 SB list.
It seems Mitsuki wanna spend one more year in junior (which is impossible IMO)
Yeah, he won bronze in the junior prix final already and will be 18 next year.
Time to give Shun Sato some junior grand prix experience.
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A YouTube commentor named "chima chibi" (on TSL's recap of Japanese Nationals) has offered a more in-depth translation of why Daisuke Takahashi decided not to accept the invitation to Worlds in his comments to the press (I have slightly edited the comment for grammar):
“I’m thirty-two now. Let’s be frank. I’m too old to improve. As to Worlds, I’ve given it a lot of thought. In my heart of hearts I really, really wanted to go, but I have reached the conclusion that I shouldn’t. I couldn’t find it in me to compete on the world stage. I’m not ready and not good enough. The Worlds is a unique experience where young skaters can grow by competing with the very best from other countries. I wanted a younger guy to have that experience. I want the younger guys to build the foundation to eventually develop into the pillars of Japanese figure skating. That’s more important than my ego in the grand scheme of things.”
He was asked if he was going to aim for the Worlds next season.
“Look, I couldn’t even pull off a single quad at Nationals. Given the levels of my programs, I’m far from that level where I could confidently say 'yes' to that question. That’s just not realistic. But I will strive to push myself with that goal in mind however distant and elusive it is.”
A comment from the press: “The younger generation failed to place above you (obviously Uno is the only exception).”
“I can’t comment on that. I don’t have enough confidence to fight the pressure to compete at the highest international level. That’s my major reason to refuse the ticket to the Wolrds. But I also feel very strongly about how the younger guys need the experience which is only possible at Worlds. I want them to grow and get better than Hanyu and Uno. I want to see that happen someday. The rational part of my brain says, 'In order for that to happen, I shouldn’t be the one to go at my age.' ”
A question from the press, “Any plans for the rest of the season?”
“I have no idea. No plans except that I want to figure out what to do next season. No, I’m not going to retire. If I stop now, there’s no coming back from it. And I cannot go with today’s performance as my swan song. When I retire, I want to go on a better note.”
“I’m thirty-two now. Let’s be frank. I’m too old to improve. As to Worlds, I’ve given it a lot of thought. In my heart of hearts I really, really wanted to go, but I have reached the conclusion that I shouldn’t. I couldn’t find it in me to compete on the world stage. I’m not ready and not good enough. The Worlds is a unique experience where young skaters can grow by competing with the very best from other countries. I wanted a younger guy to have that experience. I want the younger guys to build the foundation to eventually develop into the pillars of Japanese figure skating. That’s more important than my ego in the grand scheme of things.”
He was asked if he was going to aim for the Worlds next season.
“Look, I couldn’t even pull off a single quad at Nationals. Given the levels of my programs, I’m far from that level where I could confidently say 'yes' to that question. That’s just not realistic. But I will strive to push myself with that goal in mind however distant and elusive it is.”
A comment from the press: “The younger generation failed to place above you (obviously Uno is the only exception).”
“I can’t comment on that. I don’t have enough confidence to fight the pressure to compete at the highest international level. That’s my major reason to refuse the ticket to the Wolrds. But I also feel very strongly about how the younger guys need the experience which is only possible at Worlds. I want them to grow and get better than Hanyu and Uno. I want to see that happen someday. The rational part of my brain says, 'In order for that to happen, I shouldn’t be the one to go at my age.' ”
A question from the press, “Any plans for the rest of the season?”
“I have no idea. No plans except that I want to figure out what to do next season. No, I’m not going to retire. If I stop now, there’s no coming back from it. And I cannot go with today’s performance as my swan song. When I retire, I want to go on a better note.”
Dai is such a sweetheart.
I have to admit though, I do wish the 3rd Worlds spot went to somebody besides Keiji. I don't have anything against him personally and I think he has great performance skills, but he's had several chances at high stakes international competitions already and has failed to produce in each instance. He didn't have a great GP performance this year either so it isn't as though he's looking stronger this season either. Well, hopefully he'll go on to prove me wrong, but I'm feeling thoroughly 'meh' about his selection.
I have to admit though, I do wish the 3rd Worlds spot went to somebody besides Keiji. I don't have anything against him personally and I think he has great performance skills, but he's had several chances at high stakes international competitions already and has failed to produce in each instance. He didn't have a great GP performance this year either so it isn't as though he's looking stronger this season either. Well, hopefully he'll go on to prove me wrong, but I'm feeling thoroughly 'meh' about his selection.
I think JSF could have waited until after the results of 4CC to decide on the third men's spot for Worlds. Hopefully Keiji's standing at nationals will give him renewed confidence for his next competition. But Kazuki to aim for the stars!
Shimada is one of the most musical athletes I have seen in the junior field in the last three years in any discipline. I think Japan made the right call, honoring his presentation at Nationals. It is a shame, IMO, that the judges at Russian Nationals did not do the same with Gubanova, who is also one of the most musical athletes I have seen in the junior field in the last three years in any discipline.
Not this year they couldn't. It was already decided that the decision would be made up to Nationals results. Those are the rules everyone knew about going into this.
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- Mar 9, 2013
Just came across this piece of news regarding the selection of Team members for WC (the men's side): https://twitter.com/midorisan_love/status/1078240468763238401
- As Shoma won the Nationals, he was picked as the 1st candidate of Team Japan.
- Keiji was picked as the 2nd candidate.
- Daisuke was picked as the 3rd candidate, but Daisuke declined the post.
- Hanyu was then picked to make up for the last post via special remedy rule/condition/measure.
- As Shoma won the Nationals, he was picked as the 1st candidate of Team Japan.
- Keiji was picked as the 2nd candidate.
- Daisuke was picked as the 3rd candidate, but Daisuke declined the post.
- Hanyu was then picked to make up for the last post via special remedy rule/condition/measure.
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- Feb 14, 2018
What? So if Daisuke had accepted, they would have left Hanyu out of 4CC and Worlds?
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- Feb 12, 2015
I don’t think so. Hanyu was selected based of previous results and World Ranking (their own textbook rules), and was already guaranteed a spot, JSF already announced that weeks ago; they wanted him ready for Worlds.
They proposed the 3rd spot to Daisuke, who then declined so it went to Keiji instead.
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- Feb 14, 2018
I see. It came across as Shoma and Keiji were guranteed spots and the decision was between Daisuke and Hanyu, which would be a really dumb scenario.
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- Feb 12, 2015
A guaranteed scenario for Japan to loose the 3 spots for Men; And a way to create massive trouble for JSF, especially since Worlds is in Japan.
Kenji being guaranteed a spot makes 0 sense, especially since he’s the weakest between him, Shoma and Yuzu (no offense, it’s just the truth).
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- Mar 9, 2013
This is actually how I read the news as (of course the interpretation could be wrong...) Yes there were rules re. selection process made but I'm not aware of any guarantee made before the National took place.
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- Feb 12, 2015
I don’t blame you for translating as it is.
But the news are clearly in the wrong, purposely or not. Yuzu got a guaranteed spot, Shoma won and got a spot (tho even if he didn’t win, I highly doubt he wouldn’t have been chosen unless his injury took him out for the rest of the season). Dai got the 3rd spot, but give it away to Kenji (as he said he would at the start of the season if he were chosen, no matter how tempting it was to accept).
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- Dec 25, 2012
I think it's open to interpretation (by the author of the photographed news article). In reality, If the choice comes down to who ever JSF wants to select from their pool of eligible skaters, (that meet the previously written criteria) I doubt that Keiji was selected before Yuzu. -Also just my speculation, but the wording of this article may be chosen to garner views, and stir a little drama.
The twitter handle who posted the article is certainly the 'Scandal/Drama' type of account.
It would have to be some crazy alternate universe that the selection people would say "It's too bad that Hanyu is injured right now and can't compete in Nationals. We'll have to leave the 2 time World and Olympic champion, and highest scores holder off the team."
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