2022-23 Japanese figure skating: Pairs and Ice Dance

[Dreamer57]

Haruno Yajima/Tsutomu Matsui have split, Matsui has retired.
They were 6th at 22-23 Japanese Nationals in ice dance.

https://twitter.com/AnythingGOE/status/1629065769530150912?s=20

I think here's a good place for this article as well

Bruno Marcotte: 'The door is wide open'

The door is wide open During an interview, Coach Bruno Marcotte pointed out that the door is wide open for a new generation in pair skating. He also hopes

www.goldenskate.com

Well done to HaruSumi who placed 4th in pairs at junior worlds!

 

[rabidline]

Japan's assignment for World Team Trophy, to be held on April 13-16, at Tokyo:

Men: Shoma Uno, Kazuki Tomono
Women: Kaori Sakamoto (Team Captain), Mai Mihara
Pairs: Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara
Ice Dance: Kana Muramoto and Daisuke Takahashi

Worlds top 2 finishers for both Men and Women.
Source: https://twitter.com/figure365/status/1640211396112814082

 

[Dreamer57]

So delighted for RikuRyu's gold at Worlds - making history for Japan!

New ID team for Japan:

Wishing them good luck (and also wishing Shingo good luck finding a new partner! He's leaving singles for ID, but I don't know if he has a partner yet)

Good luck to Ayano and Yoshimitsu

 

[synesthesia]

Congrats to Rikako Fukase on winning the synchro world championships with Canada's "Les Suprêmes":






This is seriously cool!


______________________

 

[Dreamer57]

Congrats to Rikako Fukase on winning the synchro world championships with Canada's "Les Suprêmes":






This is seriously cool!


______________________

I just watched their free skate which came up on my YT (this is why ISU mustn't hide skating behind a paywall) and it was amazing!! Congrats Les Suprêmes!

Team Les Supremes (CAN) | Free Skating | Lake Placid 2023 | #WorldSynchro

To license ISU footage: https://bit.ly/3M7bcaFSUBSCRIBE to our channel:https://www.youtube.com/SkatingISU?sub_confirmation=1LIKE us on Facebook:https://www.f...

youtu.be

Can't believe this discipline is not yet an Olympic event - I'd love to watch it live one day!

 

[gleungc6]

Azusa Tanaka is on ice partner search! http://icepartnersearch.com/showbio.php?i=7367 (sorry about the bold text, it somehow won’t un-bold)​

 

[mikeko666]

Nao Kida and Masaya Morita announced their split at Bloom on Ice, Kinoshita Academy's annual Spring ice show.
They both will continue ice dance.
Azusa Tanaka performed a solo dance.

 

[synesthesia]

Nao Kida and Masaya Morita announced their split at Bloom on Ice, Kinoshita Academy's annual Spring ice show.

Oh noooo! What's up with promising Japanese junior dance teams splitting up? Did they give a reason?

 

[skim1001]

Nothing official has come out yet about them ending their partnership. Maybe tomorrow after the show we'll get something?

 

[mikeko666]

Oh noooo! What's up with promising Japanese junior dance teams splitting up? Did they give a reason?

No, they didn't. It was only announced that this show is the last time they skate together.

 

[skim1001]

Guess it's official. HaruSumi have also ended their partnership which is less surprising given the age thing.

フィギュアスケート - 【写真】りくりゅう、かなだい、島田高志郎らが「ブルーム・オン・アイス」で共演 | 4years. #学生スポーツ

世界を目指す木下アカデミー生のアイスショー「Bloom On Ice（ブルーム・オン・アイス）2023」が4月22日、京都府宇治市の木下アカデミー京都アイスアリーナで開幕した。早稲田大学の島田高志郎（4年、木下グループ）や同志社大学の森口澄士（4年、木下アカデミー）らが出演した。今年3月の世界選手権で日本ペア初の金メダルを獲得した「りくりゅう」こと、三浦璃来、木原龍一組（木下グループ）や、「かなだい」の愛称で人気のアイスダンス・村元哉中、高橋大輔組（関大KFSC）も登場した。

4years.asahi.com

 

[mikeko666]

Guess it's official. HaruSumi have also ended their partnership which is less surprising given the age thing.

フィギュアスケート - 【写真】りくりゅう、かなだい、島田高志郎らが「ブルーム・オン・アイス」で共演 | 4years. #学生スポーツ

世界を目指す木下アカデミー生のアイスショー「Bloom On Ice（ブルーム・オン・アイス）2023」が4月22日、京都府宇治市の木下アカデミー京都アイスアリーナで開幕した。早稲田大学の島田高志郎（4年、木下グループ）や同志社大学の森口澄士（4年、木下アカデミー）らが出演した。今年3月の世界選手権で日本ペア初の金メダルを獲得した「りくりゅう」こと、三浦璃来、木原龍一組（木下グループ）や、「かなだい」の愛称で人気のアイスダンス・村元哉中、高橋大輔組（関大KFSC）も登場した。

4years.asahi.com

Strange. There was no announcement about Haruna and Satosumi today, and they skated together in the opening.

EDIT:
I see their names have been deleted from the skaters list of Dreams on Ice, the JSF's exhibition show in July.

 

[yesterday]

mhh sad. But on the other hand, if JSF could persuade more of the 194.834 singles skaters to switch to either pairs or dance, they could form so many super skilled partnerships

 

[skim1001]

Another update. HaruSumi are planning on reuniting after 3 years.

【フィギュア】「はるすみ」初出場Ｖ“二刀流”村上遥奈・森口澄士ペア３年後再結成へ「はい！」 - フィギュア : 日刊スポーツ

シングルとの“二刀流”で注目の新星「はるすみ」ことジュニアの村上遥奈（はるな＝14）森口澄士（すみただ＝20）組（木下アカデミー）が初優勝した。107・86点… - 日刊スポーツ新聞社のニュースサイト、ニッカンスポーツ・コム（nikkansports.com）

www.nikkansports.com

 

[yesterday]

I hope they do train pairs elements regularly "in private" during the three years to have a smoother restart

 

[Sai Bon]

The thing is, both Haruna and Sumitada are also doing really well in singles. Haruna is very young still, and she could grow and become too tall for him. It makes sense to wait until a) she is old enough for seniors and b) she finishes growing before they resume their pairs career while focusing on other things. And if Sumitada happens to find a new partner who is closer in age, so be it. Another pairs boy might step up for Haruna. At this stage, Japan needs more young people taking up pairs skating.

 

[rabidline]

Riku and Ryuichi reported their achievements this season including their Grand Slam of gold medals (GPF, 4CC, and Worlds) to their sponsor, Kinoshita Group. They were rewarded with JPY 14 million each (around USD 100,000 each) for their achievements.



Correct me if I'm wrong but I think there hasn't been any Japanese singles skater who won Worlds, 4CC and GPF in one season (I know there are several Japanese singles skaters who have done it across their career). Congratulations on making history!

 

[Sai Bon]

Wow, that's a lot of money...but they deserve it!

 

[rabidline]

JSF has issued their list of Development Athletes for the 2023-2024 season, will list down the ice dance, pairs and synchro here.
Source: https://www.skatingjapan.or.jp/common/img/info/2023-24_FS_20230426.pdf

Special Level
Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara

Level A
Kana Muramoto/Daisuke Takahashi
Misato Komatsubara/Takeru Komatsubara
Jingu Ice Messengers

 

[rabidline]

Yosuke Takeuchi from JSF explained that it's unlikely that Harusumi (Moriguchi/Murakami) will reunite, but Sumitada (the guy) will continue training under Bruno Marcotte. IIRC there was a recent pairs tryout in Japan that Bruno was present at, so it can be about finding a partner for Sumitada. Anyway, I also think this was the right decision for them to split.

Haruna seems to be sticking with singles for now, which as @Sai Bon said above is a sensible decision given she likely hasn't finished growing, and Japan has the maximum number of JGP spots up for grabs next season for her to try qualify for.

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