2018-2019 State of Japanese Men's Skating
- Thread starter yume
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- Nov 3, 2013
:think::think::think:
I think this the person you quoted is twisting what the newspaper article says very intentionally.
The original article is badly written, it's a kind of telephone game.
Yuzuru is guaranteed spots for 4CC and of course, Worlds. The Number ONE spot goes to Yuzuru. Japan's People's Honor, Yuzuru Hanyu and the World's honor. Yuzu, Shoma and Keiji. These men are the current with Yuzu pushing the sport forward into the future. Go Yuzuru.
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- Feb 12, 2015
Yup, I also think this article is written in order to try to confuse people/create drama. That or whoever wrote it knows next to nothing about the subject. 
But back on the subject regarding the state of JPN men, I really hope JSF will stop turning a blind eye on good talent, and give GP spot to skaters like Sato next season. So, kids who have the ability to deliver and can do quads too (even when they don’t have their PCS drastically lower at Nationals for no reason...)
This season’s choice for JGP were near disastrous for JPN skating.
But back on the subject regarding the state of JPN men, I really hope JSF will stop turning a blind eye on good talent, and give GP spot to skaters like Sato next season. So, kids who have the ability to deliver and can do quads too (even when they don’t have their PCS drastically lower at Nationals for no reason...)
This season’s choice for JGP were near disastrous for JPN skating.
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- Jan 10, 2017
Actually, Yuzuru got selected to the Worlds Team in the third spot, not the first, Linda, no matter if he's number one in your heart. He met the criteria for the third spot, having not participated at Nationals. It is, however, not a special clause, exception or whatever some articles may want to use; the third spot is selected based on various criteria, not just on Nationals participation and placement.
Also, him winning the People Honor's Award is fantastic, but absolutely irrelevant to Worlds spots allocation.
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- Apr 23, 2018
JSF made it clear several weeks ago that Yuzu was to rest for Worlds, even if it meant no Nationals.
Though the reaction in Japan to their Yuzuru being left of the team - for anyone - would have been pricelessly explosive.
Had Takahashi wanted it, the second spot would have been his (no one could be blind to the appeal in PR and sales to that three-man team)
Though the reaction in Japan to their Yuzuru being left of the team - for anyone - would have been pricelessly explosive.
Had Takahashi wanted it, the second spot would have been his (no one could be blind to the appeal in PR and sales to that three-man team)
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- Feb 28, 2012
I wonder who wrote this article on Yomiuri, Junko Nagai was my favorite writer but it seems she is not working now as much as she did before and other male writers are in charge. Maybe I'll check this later.
The person tweeted this is apparently Yuzuru's anti, famous anti responded to her, too. (that panda...)
It's just poor wording. Hanyu has occupied the third spot for three years now, because he hasn't competed at Nationals.
Conversely, this is why Shoma has HAD to compete at Nationals, because the Worlds team can only contain one person that didn't skate at Nationals. So if Shoma had also pulled out, then the choice for the third spot would be between Yuzuru and Shoma, and I think we know who wins there.
Conversely, this is why Shoma has HAD to compete at Nationals, because the Worlds team can only contain one person that didn't skate at Nationals. So if Shoma had also pulled out, then the choice for the third spot would be between Yuzuru and Shoma, and I think we know who wins there.
The rules are there for a reason. And Japanese are sticklers for rules. The resulting backlash may cause them to change rules the following season, but they would never break their own rules mid-season like that. Everyone knows the rules going in, and everyone accepts them.
Nationals are important.
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- Mar 9, 2013
It's kind of interesting to read ppl's reaction to this. As I said, the interpretation could be wrong and I totally understand that everyone has their own perspectives. To be honest, when I first came across with this news report, I didn't really care much who's in the third position to be picked (as it was not surprises for me that Daisuke would declined the post and Yuzuru should be on the team). I think my first thought was that I felt sorry re. ppl saying Keiji shouldn't be picked as the third. As for my other statement about any guarantee made, I meant specifically that it's impossible for JSF OPENLY makes a statement before Nationals to announce that 'We hereby announce that X skater has been rewarded a post to WC' or something like that. In the end it's just obviously that results from nationals matter and no one could have predicted to guarantee the results of nationals beforehand.
JSF did openly made a statement before Nationals to assure Yuzu's spot. It is in line with the requirement for their third slot, where a skater did not go to the Nats due to medical reason but have world rank/score. Nationals results are required for first and second slot (Shoma and Keiji).
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- Aug 16, 2018
I think the Nationals requirement for the Japanese spots for Worlds will continue to be interesting (aka media fodder) as long as Yuzuru and Shoma continue competing and scoring as high as as they do right now. One country only has 3 spots and so far Japan has 2 guys who can still score really high even when they're having issues. The real problem comes when both of them can't do Nats, because even if Shoma doesn't have an automatic spot, leaving him for Worlds would also be kind of dumb as long as he can score like he does (if he can't in the future, that's another matter entirely). I have no idea how JSF can pull that out of the bag though.
That kind of makes me wonder: if this year Shoma had withdrew from Nationals after the SP, would JSF still consider him for a spot at the Worlds team? Shoma's self-admitted reason for continuing is for pride, but I wonder if it's also to secure his spot for Worlds.
Anyway, if one of Yuzuru/Shoma is out at Worlds, Japan has a real risk of losing the 3rd spot. I really thought they were going to lose the 3rd spot in Worlds 2018, the same way they lost it in Worlds 2015 despite finishing 1-2 the year before, after Tatsuki retired and they had no clear Japanese #2. Especially after Yuzu WD and Shoma started having issues. But Kazuki had /the/ skate of his life (he hasn't come close to it since, the closest perhaps at Rostelecom) and Shoma somehow pulled out 3 clean combos in his 2nd half FS, so thank God we got past that.
That kind of makes me wonder: if this year Shoma had withdrew from Nationals after the SP, would JSF still consider him for a spot at the Worlds team? Shoma's self-admitted reason for continuing is for pride, but I wonder if it's also to secure his spot for Worlds.
Anyway, if one of Yuzuru/Shoma is out at Worlds, Japan has a real risk of losing the 3rd spot. I really thought they were going to lose the 3rd spot in Worlds 2018, the same way they lost it in Worlds 2015 despite finishing 1-2 the year before, after Tatsuki retired and they had no clear Japanese #2. Especially after Yuzu WD and Shoma started having issues. But Kazuki had /the/ skate of his life (he hasn't come close to it since, the closest perhaps at Rostelecom) and Shoma somehow pulled out 3 clean combos in his 2nd half FS, so thank God we got past that.
I remember the first spot on the World team goes to the National champion, but I thought the second spot is selected based on other criteria that isn't strictly limited to participation in Nationals if there's injury involved (i.e. placement at the GP Final or ISU World standings). In that case, even if Shoma needed to WD he meets the other selection criteria and could be chosen for the second spot and Yuzu could be chosen for the third. Am I misunderstanding this?
OK, I went over the Japanese a little more thoroughly, and I no longer think that lack of participation in Nationals limits eligibility to the third spot.
Basically, Nationals is a requirement, but the lone exception is for people that have medeled at Worlds in the past AND cannot participate due to illness, injury, or some other accepted reason that makes compulsory attendance out of their control. So they could indeed be chosen for either the second or third spot, pending eligibility.
I suppose the reason Hanyu always gets the third spot is in deference to people that do participatate at Nationals.
Basically, Nationals is a requirement, but the lone exception is for people that have medeled at Worlds in the past AND cannot participate due to illness, injury, or some other accepted reason that makes compulsory attendance out of their control. So they could indeed be chosen for either the second or third spot, pending eligibility.
I suppose the reason Hanyu always gets the third spot is in deference to people that do participatate at Nationals.
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- Apr 23, 2018
With all due respect, given that Shoma DID skate and win (yay for Shoma!), and therefore gets the spot for the winner... isn't this 'what if he hadn't' turning into a loooong discussion for a completely imaginary alternate universe?
The 'what if' this time is not because of Shoma since Shoma has earned his spot legitimately and so does Yuzu. I guess some people are just like being thorough in arguing on why Yuzu shouldn't be allowed to go to Worlds. Not that the arguing will change the outcome though; JSF rules are clear and they do want to get medals.
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- Feb 28, 2012
Ok, I don't know if you are interested in this but I checked Yomiuri newspaper on December 25 since my family is subscribing it. Whole page was for Japanese nationals. 小沢理貴 (I don't know how to pronounce first name, last name is Ozawa) wrote about Shoma, Junko Nagai (good to see her here) wrote about Daisuke and a little about Keiji, but there was no name of the writer in world selection part. So probably one of the editors in the sports section of Yomiuri wrote this with false wording and it happens sometimes actually. I hope they will be more careful but probably they don't even know how scary some Japanese figure skating fans are
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- Feb 14, 2018
I just saw this tweet whereby JSF made an exception and allowed a speed skater to onto the World's team even though she withdrew last minute. I'm not sure if this is actually a rule since the translation was 'against tradition' but seems like JSF is willing to amend their position if it really comes down to an undesirable scenario.
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