2025 Kinoshita Group Cup Men's Short Program

[dorispulaski]

ISU CS Kinoshita Group Cup 2025​

Kanku Ice Arena 1-23, Rinku Orai Kita, Izumisano-shi
Osaka, 598-0048, Japan

MAP

5 Sep - 7 Sep, 2025

Men's Short Program
Friday, September 5, 2025
18:00. JST (UTC +9)

Time in Other Places​

• Official Site
• ISU Event Page
• Announcement
• Schedule
• CS TV Asahi Channel 2 - Live Broadcast Details
• Entries
• Start Time for Each Skater
• Detailed Results & Protocols

Start Order and Live Results​

StN.​	Name​	Nation​
.	Warm-Up Group 1​
1	Jimmy MA​	USA
2	Tatsuya TSUBOI​	JPN
3	Kao MIURA​	JPN
4	Goku ENDO​	USA
.	Warm-Up Group 2​
5	Jaekeun LEE​	KOR
6	Sota YAMAMOTO​	JPN
7	Sihyeong LEE​	KOR
8	Tomoki HIWATASHI​	USA
9	Kazuki TOMONO​	JPN
.	Warm-Up Group 3​
10	Shunsuke NAKAMURA​	JPN
11	Haru KAKIUCHI​	JPN
12	Junhwan CHA​	KOR
13	Aleksa RAKIC​	CAN
14	Tao MACRAE​	GBR

Men's Entries​

No.​

Name​

Nation​

1. Aleksa RAKIC CAN j
SP: "Punga" by Klingande
FS: "Holocene" by Bon Iver; "The Gallows" by Audiomachine; "The Grotto" by Audiomachine choreo by Benoit Richaud


2. Tao MACRAE. GBR
SP: "Gosse de Paris" by Jean Leccia; Gosse de Paris by Charles Aznavour, Jo Moutet
FS: "The Hardest Button to Button" by The White Stripes; "Ball and Biscuit" by The White Stripes; Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes; choreo by Kehaunani Malama (SP), John Kerr (FS)

3. Haru KAKIUCHI JPN
SP: "Love The Hell Out Of You" by Lewis Capaldi
FS: "I Giorni" by Daniel Hope, Ludovico Einaudi; "The American Four Seasons" by Philip Glass, Baltic Sea Philharmonic: choreo by Stéphane Lambiel, Guillaume Cizeron

4. Kao MIURA JPN
SP: "Sunset on M." by Dardust; "Sturm I-Fear" by Dardust
FS: "To Know My Enemy" (from "The Last Samurai" soundtrack) by Hans Zimmer; "Hiten" by Naoki Sato; "Curfew" by Hiromitsu Agatsuma; "Red Warrior" (from "The Last Samurai" soundtrack) by Hans Zimmer;" choreo by Benoit Richaud

5. Shunsuke NAKAMURA JPN
SP: "Yesterday" by The Beatles, performed by Babyface, Chloe Flower, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; choreo by Misha Ge
FS: The Last Samurai soundtrack by Hans Zimmer; choreo by Kana Muramoto

6. Kazuki TOMONO JPN
SP: "That’s It (I’m Crazy)" by Sofi Tukker
FS: "Halston" by Stephan Moccio; choreo by Misha Ge; Shae-Lynn Bourne; Kana Muramoto

7. Tatsuya TSUBOI JPN
SP: "Anniversary" by YOSHIKI
FS: "Vesti la giubba" by Ruggero Leoncavallo, BBC Concert Orchestra, Barry Wordsworth; "Preludio" by Ruggero Leoncavallo, Philadelphia Orchestra Ricerdo Muti; "Vesti la giubba" by Ruggero Leoncavallo- Philadelphia Orchestra Ricerdo Muti; "Vesti la giubba" by Ruggero Leoncavallo, BBC Concert Orchestra, Barry Wordsworth; "No!Pagliaccio non son" by Ruggero Leoncavallo, National Philharmonic Orchestra; "Suvvia, Coserribile" by Ruggero Leoncavallo, Philadelphia Orchestra Ricerdo Muti; choreo by Massimo Scali


8. Sota YAMAMOTO JPN
SP: "Yesterday" by The Beatles, Michael Bolton cover (recycled from 2021-2022 and 2022-2023); choreo by Mihoko Higuchi
FS: "Hallelujah;" choreo by Lori Nichol

9. Junhwan CHA KOR
SP: "Rain, In Your Black Eyes" by Ezio Bosso
FS: "The Show Must Go On" by Queen; "El Tango de Roxanne" (Moulin Rouge soundtrack); "Come What May" (Moulin Rouge soundtrack); choreo by Shae-Lynne Bourne

10. Jaekeun LEE KOR
SP: Il Postino soundtrack by Luis Bacalov
FS: "Piano Concerto No. 2" by Rachmaninoff; choreo by Jeffrey Buttle, Haejin Kim

11. Sihyeong LEE KOR
SP: "All I Ask of You" (from Phantom of the Opera) by Andrew Llyod Webber, Josh Groban, Kelly Clarkson, London Symphony Orchestra
FS: "Le Bolero" by Prequell; choreo by Sihyeong Lee (SP), Yeaji Shin (FS)

12.Goku ENDO USA
SP: "Kaneda’s Theme" (from "Akira") by Geinoh; "Yamashirogumi" (Remix by Solidseeker)
FS: "Golden Butterflies" by Ludovico Einaudi; "Where’s My Love" by SYML; choreo by Mari Malama

13. Tomoki HIWATASHI USA
SP: "Free Bird" by Lynyrd Skynyrd
FS: "Creep" by Vincint Cannady; choreo by Cathy Reed, Misha Ge

14. Jimmy MA USA
SP: "The Firebird Suite (Excerpt)" by Isakson Foundation Music Collective; "Witchdoctor" by Camo & Krooked
FS: "Nessun Dorma" by The Mantovani Orchestra; Turandot: "Nessun dorma" by Luciano Pavarotti, John Alldis Choir, Wandsworth School Boys Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra & Zubin Mehta; choreo by Nikolai Morozov

 

[tsuyoboogie]

Calling it now~
We're getting The Last Samurai v.2, not POTO v.3 for Kao's FS

CALLED IT! (from July 21, 2025, PIW thread)
I know my child so freakin' well!...or he's just that predictable

Edit: Just noticed choreographer mentioned in the linked X post is incorrect
This program was choreographed by Eiji Iwamoto not Kenji Miyamoto

 

[dorispulaski]

Also Shunsuke NAKAMURA is using The Last Samurai; we will have duelling warriors!

 

[synesthesia]

CALLED IT! (from July 21, 2025, PIW thread)
I know my child so freakin' well!...or he's just that predictable

I wasn't sure - had he already skated the program somewhere before Friends on Ice or was that the public debut? I like this program very much for him and think it's a great choice, if he sticks with it.

 

[tsuyoboogie]

Also Shunsuke NAKAMURA is using The Last Samurai; we will have duelling warriors!

I actually thought Shunsuke having a Last Samurai program might deter Kao from using his this season

I wasn't sure - had he already skated the program somewhere before Friends on Ice or was that the public debut? I like this program very much for him and think it's a great choice, if he sticks with it.

He debuted The Last Samurai v.2 at FOI
Kinoshita Cup will be his first time competing this FS
He performed POTO v.3 at the two summer competitions he participated in

I haven't seen this FS yet but Kao's 2020~21 Last Samurai (also choreographed by Eiji Iwamoto) is still IMO, the competitive program that suited his skating style and personality the most (out of the 19? programs I've seen)
Also, out of all of his costumes the one used for that FS is my favorite

In a pinch, which Kao is currently in, an Iwamoto-sensei program is a reliable backup/go to
His choreo isn't usually the most innovative or special but it's familiar for Kao and seemingly easier for him to time and execute his jumps and other elements within the given program

Super excited to see this new FS. Hoping he's able to acclimate to it quickly.

 

[rabidline]

In a pinch, which Kao is currently in, an Iwamoto-sensei program is a reliable backup/go to
His choreo isn't usually the most innovative or special but it's familiar for Kao and seemingly easier for him to time and execute his jumps and other elements within the given program

I agree! And Iwamoto-sensei gave Kao Beauty and the Beast and that was a successful program for him (and why I was super excited when the pre P O T O news was that they re-teamed...)

 

[synesthesia]

I actually thought Shunsuke having a Last Samurai program might deter Kao from using his this season


He debuted The Last Samurai v.2 at FOI
Kinoshita Cup will be his first time competing this FS
He performed POTO v.3 at the two summer competitions he participated in

I haven't seen this FS yet but Kao's 2020~21 Last Samurai (also choreographed by Eiji Iwamoto) is still IMO, the competitive program that suited his skating style and personality the most (out of the 19? programs I've seen)
Also, out of all of his costumes the one used for that FS is my favorite

In a pinch, which Kao is currently in, an Iwamoto-sensei program is a reliable backup/go to
His choreo isn't usually the most innovative or special but it's familiar for Kao and seemingly easier for him to time and execute his jumps and other elements within the given program

Super excited to see this new FS. Hoping he's able to acclimate to it quickly.

Thanks for the thorough answer. I was only aware that he had skated POTO in his last outing, but wasn't sure, if there had been a previous presentation of the Last Samurai (e.g. in a practice video or comp that I had missed).

I haven't seen this FS yet but Kao's 2020~21 Last Samurai (also choreographed by Eiji Iwamoto) is still IMO, the competitive program that suited his skating style and personality the most (out of the 19? programs I've seen)
Also, out of all of his costumes the one used for that FS is my favorite

In a pinch, which Kao is currently in, an Iwamoto-sensei program is a reliable backup/go to
His choreo isn't usually the most innovative or special but it's familiar for Kao and seemingly easier for him to time and execute his jumps and other elements within the given program

Super excited to see this new FS. Hoping he's able to acclimate to it quickly.

Yes, at FOI I thought it was visible that he felt comfortable with the program/theme, although the jumps aren't all there at the moment. It does suit the speed and power he has. I do also rather like the choreography and felt it was quite enjoyable even outside of the required elements.

I posted Kao's performance from the matinee show on Sunday in his fan fest, if you don't mind spoilers before the competitive debut.

 

[tsuyoboogie]

Sota might have to WD...
Wishing him a quick (if that's even possible) and full recovery

WHY ARE SO MANY JAPANESE MEN STARTING THIS SEASON INJURED?!!!

No more illness or injuries! PLEASE STOP!

 

[rabidline]

WHY ARE SO MANY JAPANESE MEN STARTING THIS SEASON INJURED?!!!

No more illness or injuries! PLEASE STOP!

There has never been 2 open Olympic spots for the Japanese men since 2013-2014.

 

[rabidline]

Stephane Lambiel and Koshiro Shimada doing their part to save Kao from P H A N T O M:

 

[tsuyoboogie]

There has never been 2 open Olympic spots for the Japanese men since 2013-2014.

Which means Yuma aside, all the other guys are likely overtraining or possibly cursed and destined to be broken by Nationals?...lovely~

Gonna be just like that time Mura and Kozuka were both competing injured at WC and fighting to stay above 12th in order to keep 3 spots

 

[tsuyoboogie]

Stephane Lambiel and Koshiro Shimada doing their part to save Kao from P H A N T O M:

Omigod...He mentions the virtually non-existent ChSq in POTO v.3
That was my biggest gripe with that program...about a 2 second SE and that was it...barely a transition let alone ChSq

Thanks for sharing!

 

[rabidline]

Which means Yuma aside, all the other guys are likely overtraining or possibly cursed and destined to be broken by Nationals...lovely~

Gonna be just like that time Mura and Kozuka were both competing injured at WC and fighting to stay above 12th in order to keep 3 spots

Yeah, it's psychologically different because all of the non-Yuma guys have a real chance to go to the Olympics. In 2017-2018 it's really Keiji vs. Mura (with Dice also there), and in 2021-2022 you already knew who the Olympic team is as early as 2021 Worlds.

There is no one with 0% chance unless they broke themselves too badly they can't compete. Even Shun, who I think is a frontrunner for the 2nd spot and JSF has been a bit soft about this season, is not a guarantee. And that's like... new for this crop of men in particular. So it's not just about proving themselves, but also making sure they will be the last men standing.

 

[cocteautwin]

Maybe it's unpopular opinion but if all of this Japanese guys (Yuma aside) have worked on their spins in last three years rather then getting injured and messy by quicky and forcefully adding another quad they would be getting more points in their programs right now (both in TES and PCS). I've seen so many points lost in the spins like a plague (levels, quality, overall impression impact). I say it as a big fan of those boys, love all of them.

 

[Andrea82]

Officials

Function	Name	Nation
Referee​	Ms. Susan LYNCH​	AUS
Technical Controller​	Ms. Ayumi ONO​	JPN
Technical Specialist​	Ms. Jae Eun CHUNG​	KOR
Technical Specialist​	Ms. Whitney GAYNOR​	USA
Judge No.1​	Ms. Elena KHMYZENKO​	GEO
Judge No.2​	Mr. Kevin ROSENSTEIN​	USA
Judge No.3​	Ms. Tatiana YORDANOVA​	BUL
Judge No.4​	Ms. Veronique GOSSELIN​	CAN
Judge No.5​	Ms. Chihee RHEE​	KOR
Judge No.6​	Mr. Attila SOOS​	HUN
Judge No.7​	Ms. Akiko KOBAYASHI​	JPN

 

[rabidline]

Maybe it's unpopular opinion but if all of this Japanese guys (Yuma aside) have worked on their spins in last three years

This is so accurate LMAOOOOO the Japanese men spins situation is DIRE.

 

[labgoat]

Wow Jimmy Ma to start followed by Tatsuya and Kao Miura
paging @moonvine

 

[elektra blue]

 

[Karoltyna]

 

[labgoat]

It is dark o'clock here, but I am awake to lend moral support to Jimmy Ma and all the rest

Are we able to watch anywhere?