Shoma Uno: 2014-2024

[rabidline]

I'm referring to before the 2018 JNats... he got a bad ankle sprain during the 6 minute warmup. Even though he did well, he caused me a lot of worry before 4CC 2019.

Although I do feel more confident about his ability to avoid injury this time around....

The last time he changed his SP costume to a new one for Nationals technically is Japanese Nationals 2019 and we knew how that SP went

Something else.. I hope he gets asked about how Nationals feel as the reigning World Champ (plus GPF winner ofc) compared to the others. I guess now Shoma realizes a bit how it often felt for Yuzuru, coming into this not only as a favourite for the podium, for the win, but also with the titels next to your name

They already asked him after the first official practice. Here's his answer:





There's also a really great, long interview done by FNN here: https://www.fnn.jp/articles/-/461947. The first half of the interview is past quotes from Shoma about Yuzuru, but the second half is new material which is pretty great, I'll share some machine translation:

All-Japan, too: 'You never know what's going to happen'
Uno has competed in All-Japan uninterruptedly since his junior and senior debut.

This season, Uno has won every competition he has competed in.

He has won the All-Japan four times in the past, but in an interview in mid-December after returning from the GP Final, Uno laughed: "The interesting thing about [the All-Japan] is that you never know what's going to happen."

Uno says, "It's interesting to compete in a competition where you don't know what's going to happen.
The people who do the fighting don't like it when they don't know what's going to happen, but the people who watch the matches find it interesting when they don't know what's going to happen.

I think All-Japan is a tournament where this comes out even more than in other tournaments. It's a stage where all the competitors get really nervous, so it's an interesting tournament to watch, and I'm going to be there too (laughs)."

Uno says he "watched the FIFA World Cup (World Cup) in Qatar like crazy".

He said that the matches were interesting and she was really into it, and he also experienced the fun of watching matches where you never know what's going to happen.

Perhaps from the afterglow, Uno wrote the much-talked-about "Bravo! on the board of the All-Japan Kiss and Cry.

In an interview after the match, Yuto Nagatomo, a member of the Japanese national football team, said "Bravo! Uno revealed that he thought, "I could never do that" when Yuto Nagatomo, a member of the Japanese national football team, said, "Bravo!

Uno was asked what the meaning of "Bravo! Uno grinned and said, "It doesn't mean anything. I don't mean anything at all," he replied with a grin. "I thought it would be nice to have something a bit funny."

Uno working on ice practice.
Time is limited between his return from the GP Finals and All-Japan.

Uno is still a "practicing bug", as he says he wants to practice and improve her issues from the GP Finals in the short time before All-Japan, while getting rid of fatigue.

He says that the reason he has been able to compete at her best this season is because of "practice".

"I have practiced with no regrets," he says. I've been able to compete in most of the tournaments in a condition where I can say that. I think I'm practicing well in the run up to the games, so I think I'm less anxious."

Uno, who recently turned 25, is a veteran in the Japanese figure world.

Four Japanese men, including Uno, competed in the GP Finals. After that competition, Uno felt the momentum of the Japanese team, but also mentioned some issues that only a "veteran" who has experienced many competitions could see.

"I thought everyone was young. There were many jumpers, and they all have excellent jumps, but I think that if they can combine not only their jumps but also their 'expressiveness', they will be suitable for the new era."

Uno's determination to "lead".

With the season underway and many Japanese skaters, including juniors, competing at All-Japan, we asked Uno about his desire to "pull".

"There are so many different kinds of 'pulling'. There are people who lead by results, people who communicate directly with juniors and tell them what to do, people who show their attitude towards skating in competitions, etc. I think it depends on each person.

For me, I hope the results follow, but I have been skating longer than everyone else, so I have a lot of different experiences. I think I can show how I face skating and various ways of facing it, including the rules, by the way I practice and the way I approach competitions, more efficiently than the young skaters of today, saying 'why do I practice like this' and 'what is the most important thing right now'.

I want to be the one who can improve each other and do it while getting along and working hard. I think figure skating is about everyone giving their best performance and competing against each other.

I want to be someone who can inspire each other, someone who doesn't have any rifts even though we are different in age."

Uno, who is determined to "lead", spoke about her own way of "leading".
The new era of "Shin Figure" has arrived with Hanyu's switch to professional skating, having watched his back.

When asked what "Shin" means to Uno, he replied with a view to the future of figure skating as a sport.

"I think that young skaters will continue to improve their jumps in the future, too.

What I felt at the Grand Prix Final is that figure skating is a sport that combines both jumps and expressiveness, and I have to make sure that people don't forget that. I also said 'jumps' recently, and I will continue to do jumps in the future.

But in order for figure skating to continue to evolve, I want to continue to embody the importance of combining art and technique as a foundation."

 

[demarinis5]

Good Luck to Shomajesty!!!

 

[Magill]

Just dropping by to wish Shoma two great skates and adding another title to his collection. It really feels like it is going to be HIS year, I still remember him so lost and lonely after leaving his long-term coach and trying to define his life all anew. That was heartbreaking and must have been so bloody difficult. And it is really heart lifting to watch him now realizing his full potential, such a great lesson. It seems it was such a good move for him to find Lambiel. I wish him all the best on the ice and off the ice!

 

[yuumagical]

The last time he changed his SP costume to a new one for Nationals technically is Japanese Nationals 2019 and we knew how that SP went

Thanks for the reminder! After I posted that, I was trying to remember whether that beautiful crimson and teal Great Spirit costume was from before JNats 2019 or not...Man, that performance is still so epic.

The costume change in 2019 was for the better, though, in my opinion. I truly hope it was his own decision to change costumes and not online pressure from certain members of the Unoverse...

Anyway, I'll do my best to stay up late enough to cheer for Shoma! No matter which costume he wears, he is still an amazing, inspiring, and gravity-defying fire! Good luck Shoma!

 

[rabidline]

Something for us to enjoy before Nationals start... Shoma looks absolutely scrumptious.

 

[yuumagical]

I

Something for us to enjoy before Nationals start... Shoma looks absolutely scrumptious.

Oh no, I am now melting into a puddle of happiness...

 

[Arriba627]

Sorry... we're quiet because the 25and magazine cover just dropped!!! OMG!!!

That loud thud you heard was me fainting! Sheesh. I'm gone for a few hours and Mr. I-Don't -Have-Time-For-Love is talking about a family AND he has a new SP costume?!?! What is this world coming to?!?! That magazine cover is just . Kakkoii! He skates at around 4:30 am my time. I'm going to TRY to get up to see it. GO SHOMALINO! You are the class of the field!

 

[Arriba627]

BTW, I loved at Skate Canada SP practice where he took off his jacket and people cheered when they saw he had on a new costume. What a shame there is no cheering allowed STILL at the JPN competitions. Please JSF, everyone is wearing a mask! I'm sure many people will be cheering in their hearts!!!! More excitement coming up -- this weekend we will find out Sho's assignments. Pretty sure he would be assigned to.Worlds. Will he also get 4CC?!

Ah here we go. Here's a !little better look at the new costume. I'm anxious to see how it looks on the ice. It's hard to see that it's a deep blue. It's much more fitted than the slouchy look one he wore for the ice shows. Note the all black ColanTotte.






Adding: I was missing in action from here for a bit because we are preparing for a blizzard!

 

[yesterday]

yes! It's a blue

 

[Vilya]

Those magazine photos.... I needed some time to gather myself jahshsjjdjd he looks absolutely AMAZING!
I'm really just so happy for Shoma... He has so many things to look forward to in his future and to have been able to witness his growth to this point where he can say he'd like to have a family one day and live up to that feels so special to me I feel lucky to be his fan!!

He's gonna skate soon as I'm writing this and I think it's the first time I feel like this before his skate - usually (okay every time) I'm a ball of stress pacing around the house, I will surely be nervous when he starts but now there's this sense of calm, I just wish he'll have fun and be happy with what he puts out there! He has been looking amazing in his practices. Goooo Shoma!

 

[Arriba627]

Stepen had a tough skate!


******************
Great to see yawning shoma back and helping us out with some of Sho's comments!

 

[Louby]

Fabulous SP Shoma. Loved the magazine cover. Very shocked to hear him talk about children but that shows how much he has grown up. I think the dogs must have brought out his paternal side

 

[yesterday]

Well obviously that is a very heavy backpack

 

[Arriba627]

Asking what everyone else is asking! Where was the new costume? Sho, you little tease! Either something happened to it or it wasn't comfortable enough?

 

[yesterday]

Asking what everyone else is! asking! Where was the new costume? Sho, you little tease! Either something happened to it or it wasn't comfortable enough?

At least it did not have a zipper at the neck?

 

[Arriba627]

Hello there sir. Where is your other costume?...Love his comment that he'll do his best in hopes of being chosen for Worlds. Sho, I think you MAY be chosen for Worlds!!!!

 

[yesterday]

Maybe he's ruined the suit and left the red one at home?
But anyway, changing right and left did not affect his skating

 

[yuumagical]

Hello there sir. Where is your other costume?
View attachment 6197

I think my dislike of the new suit somehow reached Shoma... I didn't even realize it was new until too late, thought it was the same suit from the ice shows. Commentator was saying that Shoma lost a level on the last spin...hence Stephane's reaction. What level, I wonder? It looked cool like that. Still good to see Shoma in first place after the short, still an incredibly expressive performance.

 

[rabidline]

I think my dislike of the new suit somehow reached Shoma... I didn't even realize it was new until too late, thought it was the same suit from the ice shows. Commentator was saying that Shoma lost a level on the last spin...hence Stephane's reaction. What level, I wonder? It looked cool like that. Still good to see Shoma in first place after the short, still an incredibly expressive performance.

Likely the difficult exit feature, he didn't make it in time

I can see he struggled with the steps right after the 3A and was behind the music, but the first half is still super smooth and languid. Again, it boggles my mind that Gravity IS a competition program. And it broke 100! Well, yes, only at Nationals but still. He looks super calm and controlled, happy to see him broke into such a big smile at the end. Today was a pretty rough day for everyone... so glad Shoma was able to use his experience to navigate a tricky day.

He probably saw us today being so happy with the 25ans photos and videos and excerpts and his new costume and decided it's not chaotic enough and went, "Behold, CHAOS". (last minute costume change)

 

[yesterday]

Likely the difficult exit feature, he didn't make it in time

I can see he struggled with the steps right after the 3A and was behind the music, but the first half is still super smooth and languid. Again, it boggles my mind that Gravity IS a competition program. And it broke 100! Well, yes, only at Nationals but still. He looks super calm and controlled, happy to see him broke into such a big smile at the end. Today was a pretty rough day for everyone... so glad Shoma was able to use his experience to navigate a tricky day.

He probably saw us today being so happy with the 25ans photos and videos and excerpts and his new costume and decided it's not chaotic enough and went, "Behold, CHAOS". (last minute costume change)

I would not be surprised if he goes "well, today I just moved my blades a bit again"