2025 Japanese Nationals - Women's SP

[essence_of_soy]

How great to read that Wakaba skated well in the Women's Short Program at what will likely be her last eligible competition. Hopefully she can do well enough in her free skate for Four Continents selection / World alternate consideration as well.

 

[Skatingcat]

Thank you @figureskatingandrainbows. I didn't get to watch it (time and geoblock issues) so it was wonderful to see how everyone did.

 

[tsuyoboogie]

Women's SP Video

Sorry for the delay, I unexpectedly fell asleep for a couple of hours

Links are to video of entire Groups rather than individual performances
I did experience some stream glitches during a few programs but decided for now, it didn't warrant more delay to rerecord an entire Group
If I have time later to re-record and upload better quality videos I will update the links
Videos are not high quality but can be viewed in up to 720p by clicking on the settings gear

Please let me know if there are any major issues with the links or videos

Warmup Group 1
1. Mako Yamashita
2. Miyabi Oba
3. Mai Mihara
4. Kei Yamada (Jr)
5. Sae Shimizu
6. Yo Takagi (Jr)

Warmup Group 2
7. Mei Okada (Jr)
8. Saiki Ikkanda (Jr)
9. Haruna Iwasaki
10. Mana Kawabe
11. Mayuko Oka (Jr)
12. Haruna Murakami (Jr)

Warmup Group 3
13. Sumika Kanazawa (Jr) (temporarily freezes going into her second jump)
14. Arisa Kamoi
15. Ikura Kushida (Jr)
16. Miai Mori
17. Kaoruko Wada (Jr)
18. Chikako Saigusa

Warmup Group 4
19. Saki Miyake (glitch just before her opening jump)
20. Mone Chiba
21. Hana Yoshida
22. Rinka Watanabe
23. Mao Shimada (Jr)
24. Ami Nakai

Warmup Group 5
25. Wakaba Higuchi
26. Maria Egawa
27. Rion Sumiyoshi
28. Kaori Sakamoto
29. Rino Matsuike (glitch during her CCoSp)
30. Yuna Aoki

 

[essence_of_soy]

Women's SP Video

Sorry for the delay, I unexpectedly fell asleep for a couple of hours

Links are to video of entire Groups rather than individual performances
I did experience some stream glitches during a few programs but decided for now, it didn't warrant more delay to re-record an entire Group
If I have time later to re-record and upload better quality videos I will update the links
Videos are not high quality but can be viewed in up to 720p by clicking on the settings gear

Please let me know if there are any major issues with the links or videos

Warmup Group 1
1. Mako Yamashita
2. Miyabi Oba
3. Mai Mihara
4. Kei Yamada
5. Sae Shimizu
6. Yo Takagi

Warmup Group 2
7. Mei Okada
8. Saiki Ikkanda
9. Haruna Iwasaki
10. Mana Kawabe
11. Mayuko Oka
12. Haruna Murakami

Warmup Group 3
13. Sumika Kanazawa (temporarily freezes going into her second jump)
14. Arisa Kamoi
15. Ikura Kushida
16. Miai Mori
17. Kaoruko Wada
18. Chikako Saigusa

Warmup Group 4
19. Saki Miyake (glitch just before her opening jump)
20. Mone Chiba
21. Hana Yoshida
22. Rinka Watanabe
23. Mao Shimada
24. Ami Nakai

Warmup Group 5
25. Wakaba Higuchi
26. Maria Egawa
27. Rion Sumiyoshi
28. Kaori Sakamoto
29. Rino Matsuike (glitch during her CCoSp)
30. Yuna Aoki

This Australian thanks you. These are amazing.

 

[RafaelAstro]

Mako Yamashita’s combinations are the only ones that always make me gasp in awe. Kaori Sakamoto sometimes does this as well when she’s in form, but lately her combos have been good rather than spectacular, especially compared to the 2021–2022 Olympic season.

Why do my babies Rion, Hana, and Rino have to suffer and make me suffer?

I’m impressed by Mao Shimada, Mayuko Oka, and Ami Nakai for attempting the triple axel, and because I really like their programs especially Mayuko’s.
Rinka, you did well, but you need to do better in the free skate. Please rotate your jumps .

And Wakaba, my girl, I’m so pleased to see you in better shape with a clean program. I will always admire your skating. Please have a good free skate and end your career with a strong competition, there is still hope for an assignment in the second half of the season.

 

[RafaelAstro]

Why do I feel Ami was underscored? Her PCS went down, but why? She was clean and truly committed to her program. Her combination wasn’t the best she’s done, but that’s on the technical side. I would have given her 78–79 points. If she were more consistent with her triple axel, she would definitely try two in the free program as she has done before and would be an even stronger contender for an Olympic medal.
If Rinka improves her consistency, she could fight for that as well, but she lacks expression, skating skills, flow, and speed, has rotation issues, and is not really favored by the Japanese federation.

 

[Anna K.]

Why do I feel Ami was underscored? Her PCS went down, but why?

What do you mean by "her PCS went down"? This is her best PCS score this season as far as I know

 

[readernick]

What do you mean by "her PCS went down"? This is her best PCS score in seniors as far as I know

I find it strange that anyone would have an issue with Ami's PCS. She has extremely simple programs with a lot of crossovers. Compare her programs to Kaori, Yuna, Mone's, even Mao's. Imho she's been getting overscored in components all season because her jumps are great and she's powerful.

 

[RafaelAstro]

What do you mean by "her PCS went down"? This is her best PCS score this season as far as I know

What? She has been scored in the 33s for her short

 

[Anna K.]

I find it strange that anyone would have an issue with Ami's PCS. She has extremely simple programs with a lot of crossovers. Compare her programs to Kaori, Yuna, Mone's, even Mao's. Imho she's been getting overscored in components all season because her jumps are great and she's powerful.

"Power" is a significant aspect of components that automatically raises every other component if the skater has it.

I don't think that Ami is either over-scored or under-scored. In components, she was 5th after Kaori, Mone, Yuna and Wakaba, separated merely by hundreds of a point from Rinka (6th) and Mao (7th).
I think it's where Ami objectively stands components wise.

 

[Anna K.]

What? She has been scored in the 33s for her short

Yup. She never had more than that. She had 32.68 today.
If you say "the score went down" then you must mean that she normally scores way more than that. Or how?

ETA: I've been a bit wrong - after a re-check, I realized that Ami had her second season's best PCS score today (32.68). Her absolute best was in GP France (33.16). Apart of that, she had 30.85 in Lombardia Throphy, 29.60 in Kinoshita Cup, and 31.59 in GP Canada. I'd say she scored within her range - within the best of her range.

 

[Blueshirt]

Thank you very much for the videos, tsuyoboogie. I am always grateful for your work in sharing Japanese nationals.
I'm hoping for Kaori, Rinka, and everyone else to have their best free skate.

 

[RafaelAstro]

Yup. She never had more than that. She had 32.68 today.
If you say "the score went down" then you must mean that she normally scores way more than that. Or how?

You’re saying she hasn’t scored higher than that in PCS this season, which is false. This is actually one of her lowest presentation scores, even with a fairly clean skate. That’s why I’m saying she was a bit underscored. I don’t get what you didn’t understand, there’s a real difference between 33.40 and 32.68, or maybe it was just a misunderstanding?

 

[Anna K.]

You’re saying she hasn’t scored higher than that in PCS this season, which is false. This is actually one of her lowest presentation scores, even with a fairly clean skate. That’s why I’m saying she was a bit underscored. I don’t get what you didn’t understand, there’s a real difference between 33.40 and 32.68, or maybe it was just a misunderstanding?

Yeah, yeah, I checked and edited my post a bit

So, when did she score 33.40?

 

[RafaelAstro]

I find it strange that anyone would have an issue with Ami's PCS. She has extremely simple programs with a lot of crossovers. Compare her programs to Kaori, Yuna, Mone's, even Mao's. Imho she's been getting overscored in components all season because her jumps are great and she's powerful.

IMO, I don’t think she is overscored. I think she has been fairly scored this season. Other skaters are clearly underscored, and maybe that’s what makes you think she is overscored.
For example, in my opinion, Yuna Aoki, Wakaba Higuchi, and Mai Mihara should receive higher PCS. However, judges tend to reward consistency, as well as spins and jumps, as part of PCS. That’s why, for me, Alysa is getting high component scores this season, even though I think her presentation scores shouldn’t be that high.
This is just an honest and personal opinion, not meant to be taken too seriously and not intended as criticism against any skater.

 

[RafaelAstro]

Yeah, yeah, I checked and edited my post a bit

So, when did she score 33.40?

GPF and she had a step-out on the triple axel

Edit: I don’t usually count scores from Challenger competitions because they are generally lower than what skaters normally receive, especially for a newcomer like Ami, who needs to build her reputation over time and through competitions.

 

[Anna K.]

GPF and she had a step-out on the triple axel

Oh, right! I didn't watch that one

 

[Sai Bon]

I find it insane that Ikura and Sae are also doing pairs!

 

[readernick]

IMO, I don’t think she is overscored. I think she has been fairly scored this season. Other skaters are clearly underscored, and maybe that’s what makes you think she is overscored.
For example, in my opinion, Yuna Aoki, Wakaba Higuchi, and Mai Mihara should receive higher PCS. However, judges tend to reward consistency, as well as spins and jumps, as part of PCS. That’s why, for me, Alysa is getting high component scores this season, even though I think her presentation scores shouldn’t be that high.
This is just an honest and personal opinion, not meant to be taken too seriously and not intended as criticism against any skater.

I didn't compare her components to Alysa but Imho Alysa's SP is actually good. Complex, well skated and musical. Her LP is overscored in components in my opinion and is as you say just the result of consistency. But, I compared Ami to other skaters in this competition not to Alysa. I understand why she gets high components. Skaters who are fast get high PCS even when an objective analysis of their programs tells you something different. I find this to be true in this competition with Ami and Kao. Empty, fast programs can be appealing. But, an analysis of Ami's program compared to the bullet points would tell you it doesn't meet many of the requirements for performance or choreo. Her crossovers are good but there are very very few transitions in her program. So, I do think she is comparatively overscored. This doesn't mean I don't like her. Good jump technique and good basics but it does mean imho that her 3rd place placement is correct and I would have her components much lower compared to Wakaba, Yuna, Mai, Rino etc.. .. Their programs are a lot more complex.

 

[PaulE]

My heartfelt thanks to @figureskatingandrainbows for all the lovely program descriptions and to @tsuyoboogie for all the information and for posting videos of the competition. I was not up to trying to watch anything live so I read the whole thread before I tried to watch any videos. I appreciated the play by play descriptions and all the other commenters which almost made me feel like I was watching it live. Thank you everyone.