Kazuki Tomono

[KiraraChin]

Shuntaro Asaga, who competed for team Osaka alongside Kazuki last month, reveals Daisuke Takahashi and Kazuki Tomono as his idols

憧れの高橋大輔さんのように刻みたい　新「ステップ王子」朝賀俊太朗：朝日新聞

ミラノ・コルティナ五輪で躍動したフィギュアスケート男子。「4年後は自分も狙いたい」という大阪出身の選手がいる。20歳の朝賀俊太朗選手（関大）だ。今季は9月に左足首を負傷して手術を経験したが、昨年12…

digital.asahi.com

Translation of Kazuki's part:

With the golden words of the respected Kazuki Tomono close to my heart

Among skaters from Osaka, Kazuki Tomono (27) of Daiichi Juken Group remains active at the highest level. For Asaga, Tomono is also "the skater I respect most among all competitors," someone he looks up to like an older brother. They competed together this season at the National Sports Festival of Japan Winter Games as representatives of Osaka.

Tomono frequently advises him, saying, "Figure skating is all about the skating."

Asaga has endured numerous injuries throughout his career, which delayed his mastery of jumps. Consequently, he devoted considerable time to elements like steps and spins that place less strain on his legs. Tomono's words resonated with him: "Jumps can come later. There's no mistake in what you've done."

What Takahashi and Tomono share is the ability to 'melt' the hearts of judges and spectators with their passionate skating. Asaga will continue to challenge hhimself, taking inspiration from these Osaka-connected seniors.

There's also a picture of Shuntaro showing he has a Tomono curry photo card on the back of his mobile phone The article says he has a picture of Daisuke as his screensaver. Cute!

In other news:

 

[surimi]

I'm still watching Kokutai little by little, and noticed a program that was basically a Kazuki tribute yesterday. ^ ^ Mr. Tobinaga, a junior skater from Osaka (sorry, I forgot his first name), and his version of Happy Jazz start at approximately 2:15 mark: https://japangamestv.japan-sports.or.jp/kyougi/figureskating/10066
Aww... he didn't have a good skate, but Kazuki and Shuntaro were sitting in the KnC with him ^ ^

 

[DizzyFrenchie]

I'm still watching Kokutai little by little, and noticed a program that was basically a Kazuki tribute yesterday. ^ ^ Mr. Tobinaga, a junior skater from Osaka (sorry, I forgot his first name), and his version of Happy Jazz start at approximately 2:15 mark: https://japangamestv.japan-sports.or.jp/kyougi/figureskating/10066
Aww... he didn't have a good skate, but Kazuki and Shuntaro were sitting in the KnC with him ^ ^

Thank you! The video worked even for me! The young Tobinaga started at about 2:14:10.

 

[kwanette]

Kazuki has been assigned to Coupe du Printemps, taking place in Luxemburg on 13-15 March

 

[DizzyFrenchie]

This year, the Coupe du Printemps doesn't have a Gala, it's all the more a pity as Kazuki Tomono is participating...
It's the Bellu Memorial that is likely to have one?

 

[KiraraChin]

I'm still watching Kokutai little by little, and noticed a program that was basically a Kazuki tribute yesterday. ^ ^ Mr. Tobinaga, a junior skater from Osaka (sorry, I forgot his first name), and his version of Happy Jazz start at approximately 2:15 mark: https://japangamestv.japan-sports.or.jp/kyougi/figureskating/10066
Aww... he didn't have a good skate, but Kazuki and Shuntaro were sitting in the KnC with him ^ ^

Aww yes, IIRC Tobinaga has been skating Happy Jazz for a couple of seasons now. This is part of the 'Kazuki Tomono inheritance project' in which younger skaters get to 'inherit' Kazuki's programmes. I think there's another skater who inherited New Cinema Paradiso as well

Kazuki has been assigned to Coupe du Printemps, taking place in Luxemburg on 13-15 March

I'm honestly devastated because I can't go In a cruel twist of fate, I have *just* booked a trip with friends in April, so there are no funds to go to Luxembourg If only JSF understood that not all figure skating fans are rich and they need time to be financially prepared...

I'm also extremely surprised because he said around the time of the National Winter Sports Festival that he had no other competitions scheduled for the rest of the season, but he would continue to train as an alternate. So I'm wondering if the situation has now changed, and a Worlds substitution is now more likely, so JSF decided to send both Rinka and Kazuki to CdP to ensure they will be in a competitive shape/mindset ahead of Worlds. That would track with what happened in both 2018 and 2022...

In other news:



Heir!Kazuki is back, and Daiichi Juken updating his profile gives me hope that they will continue to sponsor him next season

 

[surimi]

Oh, I didn't know about Tobinaga using Happy Jazz in the past seasons... He must really love that program!
Congrats to Kazuki on his assignment! I won't pretend I'm not miffed and disappointed that Sota isn't there, hopefully he was offered CdP but picked Kassouya instead.
I wish JSF had announced the assignments earlier, like they used to. WTF, JSF? This is so unfair to fans who cannot go due to other plans they made in the meantime, like Kirara. Fingers crossed for next season for you, @KiraraChin ! I hope you get to see and meet Kazuki yet.

 

[KiraraChin]

I won't pretend I'm not miffed and disappointed that Sota isn't there, hopefully he was offered CdP but picked Kassouya instead.

Ok, so this is my theory as to what happened:

Initially, the alternates were told there would be no spring assignments, and the general expectation was that there wouldn't be many WDs from Worlds (apart from perhaps Kaori). So I think that's why second alternates Sota and Yuna felt it was safe to commit to Kassouya. That would also explain why Kazuki was so clearly treating the National Sports Winter Festival as the end of his competitive season, and he even hinted he could be at Kassouya, too.

However, I think something might have changed in the Men team that is making a WD more likely. Maybe Shun's foot injury flared up, or maybe Kao is still having boot problems, coupled with the fact that many men (including Malinin) will be looking for redemption performance at Worlds, so it probably won't be a particularly easy tournament.

So, now, they have both Rinka and Kazuki preparing for a possible substitution, so they probably realised that it makes sense to assign them to CdP to make sure they are in competitive shape/mindset if they get called up, and if they are sending them, they might as well send a couple more skaters. However, at this point, Sota and Yuna are on the Kassouya's posters, doing rehearsals etc so I think that's why Mana and Nozomu are being sent instead.

In a way, Sota's situation is the same as mine: he wasn't counting on CdP being an option, so he made other commitments As much as he'd have a lot of fun going to Luxembourg with Kazuki, I'm sure he feels a greater sense of responsibility towards the Kassouya crew and the fans who already bought tickets to see him in Fukuoka.

Of course, this is all JSF's fault for not having the foresight to assign the alternates to CdP from the start

On that note, monthly magazine Kateigaho posted about 'the trio that shone at 4CC':


Kansai TV broadcaster MBS posted this cute pic they took last Sunday during the skating class. They will broadcast some of the class in the early hours of Wednesday.

 

[DizzyFrenchie]

Ok, so this is my theory as to what happened:

Initially, the alternates were told there would be no spring assignments, and the general expectation was that there wouldn't be many WDs from Worlds (apart from perhaps Kaori). So I think that's why second alternates Sota and Yuna felt it was safe to commit to Kassouya. That would also explain why Kazuki was so clearly treating the National Sports Winter Festival as the end of his competitive season, and he even hinted he could be at Kassouya, too.

However, I think something might have changed in the Men team that is making a WD more likely. Maybe Shun's foot injury flared up, or maybe Kao is still having boot problems, coupled with the fact that many men (including Malinin) will be looking for redemption performance at Worlds, so it probably won't be a particularly easy tournament.

So, now, they have both Rinka and Kazuki preparing for a possible substitution, so they probably realised that it makes sense to assign them to CdP to make sure they are in competitive shape/mindset if they get called up, and if they are sending them, they might as well send a couple more skaters. However, at this point, Sota and Yuna are on the Kassouya's posters, doing rehearsals etc so I think that's why Mana and Nozomu are being sent instead.

In a way, Sota's situation is the same as mine: he wasn't counting on CdP being an option, so he made other commitments As much as he'd have a lot of fun going to Luxembourg with Kazuki, I'm sure he feels a greater sense of responsibility towards the Kassouya crew and the fans who already bought tickets to see him in Fukuoka.

Of course, this is all JSF's fault for not having the foresight to assign the alternates to CdP from the start

On that note, monthly magazine Kateigaho posted about 'the trio that shone at 4CC':


Kansai TV broadcaster MBS posted this cute pic they took last Sunday during the skating class. They will broadcast some of the class in the early hours of Wednesday.

This would make sense!

 

[rabidline]

Kazuki's on Kassouya with Saki Miyake as well!

 

[KiraraChin]

Kazuki's on Kassouya with Saki Miyake as well!

I guess they now got confirmation that no-one is planning to WD from Worlds, so they felt confident in making this announcement. I wonder what kind of participation it will be, as I think it's likely that due to the circumstances he wasn't able to be as involved with the production this time.

ETA: just checked the schedule and one *could* in theory finish Kassouya on 22 March, and go straight into the Worlds Championships the next day, to start official practice on 24 March. No sane person would do that, of course

 

[KiraraChin]

Daiichi Juken:
'Good morning
It's a rainy day in Tokyo

Regarding Tomono's recent activities
He's been spending his time productively, training and taking on various challenges

Thank you for your continued support today'



The more I think about it, the more baffled I am by Kazuki's schedule. Clearly his Kassouya participation had been long decided, given that he was likely part of the photoshoot. Which is totally fine, but why the hell is he doing Coupe du Printemps? It's not like it'll give him standing points. The schedule will be sooooo tight, and there could be flight delays on top of it

 

[kwanette]

Daiichi Juken:
'Good morning
It's a rainy day in Tokyo

Regarding Tomono's recent activities
He's been spending his time productively, training and taking on various challenges

Thank you for your continued support today'



The more I think about it, the more baffled I am by Kazuki's schedule. Clearly his Kassouya participation had been long decided, given that he was likely part of the photoshoot. Which is totally fine, but why the hell is he doing Coupe du Printemps? It's not like it'll give him standing points. The schedule will be sooooo tight, and there could be flight delays on top of it

He does earn points..not as many as a Challenger..When he won in 2022..it knockedCamden down a group..for Worlds..

 

[KiraraChin]

He does earn points..not as many as a Challenger..When he won in 2022..it knockedCamden down a group..for Worlds..

I'm not sure, since he did two challengers this season, both of the 'international event' boxes are already filled in the WS list.

Back in 2021-22, he didn't do any challengers because of COVID restrictions, that's why he was able to gain points with CdP.

 

[kwanette]

I'm not sure, since he did two challengers this season, both of the 'international event' boxes are already filled in the WS list.

Back in 2021-22, he didn't do any challengers because of COVID restrictions, that's why he was able to gain points with CdP.

ok

 

[KiraraChin]

Another beautiful illustration by Paoz:

 

[KiraraChin]

Kassouya visual/poster has been updated to include Kazuki. Looks so cool!


It's funny because it's so clear he's been involved with this project for a while now

 

[KiraraChin]

Came across this gorgeous pic from 4CC

 

[KiraraChin]

 

[KiraraChin]

Cute Halston illustration! I'm looking forward to seeing Halston once more this week