Kazuki Tomono

[kwanette]

Thank you for sharing, I really appreciate both him and non-no taking time to produce this update. It's reassuring to know he's doing well and has been able to practice
I was also shocked to know that he was ill for about a month after last year's nationals! It puts in perspective the sheer effort of going from sickness to Kokutai, to Kassouya (which we know demanded a lot from him, physically and mentally), then Challenge Cup. No wonder he wasn't at his best at Challenge Cup (but also he was robbed lol).

On a different note, Haruya Sasaki has been posting some interesting analysis about the JNats top skaters, here's Kazuki's video:

He speaks super fast but it's possible to understand with the auto-translation function on YouTube

Colantotte send support to their skaters:

He had some heavy breathing in the competition he did w Oda after All Japan..I remember in a previous article he said that he was sick.

 

[kwanette]

Shoma's favorite athlete and favorite program at JNats is none other than Kazuki and "Tshegue" (Kazuki's SP) and he wishes Kazuki well in his Men's preview for ESSE Magazine.

PS. His other favorite is Koshiro but for that he fully admits he's biased for that one

宇野昌磨さんが語る「全日本フィギュアスケート選手権」の要注目ポイント。実況アナも徹底解説 | ESSEonline（エッセ オンライン）

12月20日から22日まで開催される第93回全日本フィギュアスケート選手権。スペシャルアンバサダーを務める宇野昌磨さんと、大会実況を担当するフジテレビのアナウンサー3人に、それぞれの考える見どころを…

esse-online.jp

Shoma knows..

 

[KiraraChin]

Shoma's words were so touching The way he spoke about Kazuki being on the very verge of whether he can make it or not made my heart hurt I'm truly grateful that Shoma is such a good friend and able to articulate thoughts so well.

Meanwhile, official practice started today, and Kazuki landed a gorgeous 4T3T


Press report: https://hochi.news/articles/20241219-OHT1T51084.html
Kazuki Tomono: ‘I want to give everything I can and aim for the top’ All-Japan in my hometown Osaka ‘I hope I can be the best competitor too’.

Figure skating ▽World Championships Preliminary Rounds All-Japan Championships Practice Day (19 December, Towa Lactab Dome, Osaka).

The men's official practice session was held in the afternoon and Kazuki Tomono (Daiichi Juken Group), silver medallist at the 2022 Four Continents Championships, gave an interview, saying: ‘My jumps are getting better. Overall quality has improved. I heard it at the venue and thought the bass sound was amazing. I hope I can be the best competitor so that I can make Osaka more exciting. I believe in what I've done and I want to give it everything I can and aim for the top.

In practice on the day, he landed a quadruple-triple toeloop at the beginning of the short programme (SP), followed by a quadruple salcow which lost a rotation, but he landed the final triple axel jump.

IG Reel from JSF:

 

[KiraraChin]

Kazuki will be the last to skate tomorrow

 

[Arriba627]

I know this costume is polarizing, but I want to just say I LOVE it!!!

 

[KiraraChin]

I know this costume is polarizing, but I want to just say I LOVE it!!!

Kazuki himself said it's his favourite costume ever and he feels amazing when he wears it. I suspect the costume also plays a part in the fact that he's been performing his SP relatively well this season.

What can I say about his performance today (I won't even mention the robbery of the scores lol that's a given). Could have been better? Yes. Could have been worse? Hell yes.

For one, I'm actually relieved he made some mistakes today. Had he gone clean, he would be the last to skate again tomorrow and the pressure would be higher. This way, he's in a good position placement-wise and the fact that scores are so close will ensure that he will have to approach the competition with a challenger mentality




Having said that, instead of a challenger mentality, he said he tried to incorporate a character, imagining himself as a champion like Yuzuru Hanyu

https://the-ans.jp/news/490264/

The result of becoming an ‘absolute champion’ of the Yuzuru Hanyu class... 3rd place in the SP, Kazuki Tomono: ‘I felt hypnotised’ [All Japan Figure]

The All-Japan Figure Skating Championships opened at the Towa Yakuhin RACTAB Dome in Osaka on 20 December. In the men's short programme (SP), Kazuki TOMONO (Daiichi Juken Group), who was the last skater to appear, finished 3rd with 89.72 points. The 26-year-old went into the big stage with a ‘champion mentality’. He imagined himself as an absolute presence like Yuzuru Hanyu, the 2-time Olympic champion. He is determined to have the same feeling and champion mentality tomorrow.

"I am a champion". Tomono started well, becoming the absolute skater he had pictured in his mind. He started with a quad-triple toeloop and then a quad salchow. 'What is this, I've never seen a salchow like this before', he said. He missed his triple axel and regretted it, saying it was a waste, but he will enter the free skate on the 21st at the top of the standings.

He says he is ‘not good at’ performing in the final run. He made use of his experience when he appeared in the story-telling ice show Hyoen 2024, where he played the role of a character. As a result of becoming like Hanyu, he started in the top three. 'I liked the way I didn't analyse myself too much and went through the motions. I hope I can go out there again tomorrow with the same fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants mentality. I felt like I was hypnotised today.'

The All-Japan stage has a unique atmosphere. Tomono, who repeatedly said during the interview that he had a ‘champion mentality’, nodded his head and said: ‘I wanted to do it, but I was too scared to do it, but I thought it would be good to do it at All-Japan. I think the free skate will show the results of my practice. I hope I can have the mentality to surpass it.'

 

[rabidline]

Shoma was commentating today on Men's SP, and it's very funny- he was said to be soft spoken and gentle on the men (probably because of the skates they were having) and then it was time for Kazuki and Kazuki stepped out of the 3A and Shoma was like, "what were you doing?!" ahahahah he really wants Kazuki to go clean.

Very happy that Kazuki got it all (mostly together)- and yes, you really have to go for it like a champion and take it like a champion.

 

[KiraraChin]

Shoma was commentating today on Men's SP, and it's very funny- he was said to be soft spoken and gentle on the men (probably because of the skates they were having) and then it was time for Kazuki and Kazuki stepped out of the 3A and Shoma was like, "what were you doing?!" ahahahah he really wants Kazuki to go clean.

With all due respect to Koshiro, Keiji and other Shoma friends, I do think Shoma and Kazuki have a special kind of friendship. I can recall numerous occasions when Shoma, who's always so low key and polite, acted 'out of character' when it comes to Kazuki, either laughing and smiling a lot, being savage, being physically close etc It's like he knows with Kazuki he doesn't have to hold anything back, and I think that's really beautiful.

 

[Soapsuds]

so glad that kazuki is third going into the free, but that also makes me very nervous haha. will be crossing my fingers and lighting candles for him to get on the podium tomorrow!

 

[Arriba627]

Kazuki himself said it's his favourite costume ever and he feels amazing when he wears it. I suspect the costume also plays a part in the fact that he's been performing his SP relatively well this season.

Oh, didn't realize that! There's something fun and kind of cheeky about it, not to mention the amazing colors. Wonder who made it. Wishing him well in the free!

 

[DizzyFrenchie]

Oh, didn't realize that! There's something fun and kind of cheeky about it, not to mention the amazing colors. Wonder who made it. Wishing him well in the free!

It's a fascinating reinterpretation of the traditional wax cloths, it gives this impression at some distance, then when approaching, we can see the details and they are so well thought, and so well in tune with the music! I'm not surprised that he loves it.
Do you remember Eva-Lotta Kiibus' Baianá Short Program in 2021-2022 and 2022-2023? She has a dream costume maker, and the inspiration and coherence of this program (music, costume and skating) reminded it to me.

(...)

The result of becoming an ‘absolute champion’ of the Yuzuru Hanyu class... 3rd place in the SP, Kazuki Tomono: ‘I felt hypnotised’ [All Japan Figure]

(...) He imagined himself as an absolute presence like Yuzuru Hanyu, the 2-time Olympic champion. He is determined to have the same feeling and champion mentality tomorrow.

"I am a champion". Tomono started well, becoming the absolute skater he had pictured in his mind. He started with a quad-triple toeloop and then a quad salchow. 'What is this, I've never seen a salchow like this before', he said. He missed his triple axel and regretted it, saying it was a waste, but he will enter the free skate on the 21st at the top of the standings.

He says he is ‘not good at’ performing in the final run. He made use of his experience when he appeared in the story-telling ice show Hyoen 2024, where he played the role of a character. As a result of becoming like Hanyu, he started in the top three. 'I liked the way I didn't analyse myself too much and went through the motions. I hope I can go out there again tomorrow with the same fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants mentality. I felt like I was hypnotised today.'

The All-Japan stage has a unique atmosphere. Tomono, who repeatedly said during the interview that he had a ‘champion mentality’, nodded his head and said: ‘I wanted to do it, but I was too scared to do it, but I thought it would be good to do it at All-Japan. I think the free skate will show the results of my practice. I hope I can have the mentality to surpass it.'

Hence the "murder faces"?

 

[kwanette]

Will Kazuki get named to 4 Conts??

 

[DizzyFrenchie]

Will Kazuki get named to 4 Conts??

He's ending 8th after the Free Skating with 144.23, 5th overall with 233.95. As Rio Nakata is still a Junior, and Tatsuya Tsuboi has had perhaps his best skates ever in an isolated way, and Nobunari Oda doesn't have a high Season's Best, had Kazuki Tomono had a good early season, I would say that he's on his way to the Worlds team. This being said, I believe that he'll get at least a spot for Four Continents.
I think that his Short Program is here?

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Edit: Kazuki Tomono's Short Programs starts at 30:33.

 

[Figskater23]

He's ending 8th after the Free Skating with 144.23, 5th overall with 233.95. As Rio Nakata is still a Junior, and Tatsuya Tsuboi has had perhaps his best skates ever in an isolated way, and Nobunari Oda doesn't have a high Season's Best, had Kazuki Tomono had a good early season, I would say that he's on his way to the Worlds team. This being said, I believe that he'll get at least a spot for Four Continents.
I think that his Short Program is here?

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

It hasn’t been his season and that’s heartbreaking. I’m so sad for him because I know how badly he wanted to succeed this season. He still could go to 4CC. Maybe Worlds but based on what you said it’s more likely 4CC. Fingers crossed.

 

[Soapsuds]

oh, kazuki... he must be so disappointed with how his free skate went but he never gave up on the performance and that's why we all love him! i hope jsf will at least give him something but i'm not holding my breath.

 

[kwanette]

Shun went to medical rm hyperventillating after the FS..no press..just an fyi..Kazuki should get 4 Conts..but after last yr..only one w no post nationals assigment...and no Challengers this yr..and no camp in Italy..well..

 

[synesthesia]

I enjoyed Kazuki's performances despite not having perfect skates! He's simply one of the most expressive skaters out there and, as Soapsuds said, never lets go of his program whether he's having a good or a bad skate. After the first two jumping passes in the SP I thought he'd have the skate of his life, so the step-out on the Axel came as a bit of a shock, but the 4T-3T and 4S were as good as it gets and overall it was still one of the most positively memorable skates of this year's JNationals, considering that almost none of the guys lived up to their potential.

Re. 4CC, I think he has a decent chance to make the team, if JSF does the sensible thing and sends two completely different squads to Worlds and 4CC. I know they don't always do the most sensible thing though...ugh. *fingers crossed*


Now that Nationals are (almost) over, I also hope he gets a call from a certain senior inviting him to join the Kassouya cast again. (Btw. that certain senior was spotted in the audience and I'm sure he was rooting very hard for Kazuki and all of the other boys. )

 

[kwanette]

I enjoyed Kazuki's performances despite not having perfect skates! He's simply one of the most expressive skaters out there and, as Soapsuds said, never lets go of his program whether he's having a good or a bad skate. After the first two jumping passes in the SP I thought he'd have the skate of his life, so the step-out on the Axel came as a bit of a shock, but the 4T-3T and 4S were as good as it gets and overall it was still one of the most positively memorable skates of this year's JNationals, considering that almost none of the guys lived up to their potential.

Re. 4CC, I think he has a decent chance to make the team, if JSF does the sensible thing and sends two completely different squads to Worlds and 4CC. I know they don't always do the most sensible thing though...ugh. *fingers crossed*


Now that Nationals are (almost) over, I also hope he gets a call from a certain senior inviting him to join the Kassouya cast again. (Btw. that certain senior was spotted in the audience and I'm sure he was rooting very hard for Kazuki and all of the other boys. )

Daisuke knows

 

[DizzyFrenchie]

I enjoyed Kazuki's performances despite not having perfect skates! He's simply one of the most expressive skaters out there and, as Soapsuds said, never lets go of his program whether he's having a good or a bad skate. After the first two jumping passes in the SP I thought he'd have the skate of his life, so the step-out on the Axel came as a bit of a shock, but the 4T-3T and 4S were as good as it gets and overall it was still one of the most positively memorable skates of this year's JNationals, considering that almost none of the guys lived up to their potential.

Re. 4CC, I think he has a decent chance to make the team, if JSF does the sensible thing and sends two completely different squads to Worlds and 4CC. I know they don't always do the most sensible thing though...ugh. *fingers crossed*


Now that Nationals are (almost) over, I also hope he gets a call from a certain senior inviting him to join the Kassouya cast again. (Btw. that certain senior was spotted in the audience and I'm sure he was rooting very hard for Kazuki and all of the other boys. )

I'm sure that he'll have at least a 4CC spot!

 

[KiraraChin]

Am I surprised? No. This has been the story of this season, right? Doing well in the short just to collapse in the free.

I hope he understands that working with Lori was a mistake. Yes, he might have enjoyed the process, and the concept and step sequence are cool, but the programme is disjointed and really didn't work for him competitively. The sooner he ditches it, the better. He mentioned potentially recycling Halston for the Olympic season and I think that would be a great idea.

As for assignments, personally I'm not expecting anything - at most, Challenge Cup or something like that. On the plus side, I guess it's fairly certain he and Koshiro will be at Kassouya again.