2016-17 State of Japanese Ladies Skating

[FlattFan]

I have not seen wakaba much aside of junior world. One of midori's great technical prowess is the ridiculous height of her jump (her 3A is wow), that even most of today's ladies can't come close to. I really wish I can see that again from these ladies

I can count in one hand how many male skaters with bigger 3A than Midori, past & present.

 

[cohkaix]

Is there anyone moving up to juniors from novice? (besides Rika Kihara, unless she's too young?)

Rika Kihara, also
Rinka Watanabe (Jpn. Novice Nationals 4, was at Coupe du Printemps 2016, has quite stable jumps)
Mako Yamashita (Jpn. Novice Nationals 2, was also at Coupe du Printemps 2016. Mako trains with Shoma)
and perhaps also
Moa Iwano (Jpn. Novice Nationals 3, this girl is quite interesting in terms of her performing skill, but was having not so good result due to coach changing issues last season)

 

[tinnychan]

Moa will not be age eligible for 2016/17 JGP, she will turn junior in season 2017/18
Kaori should stay junior internationally, Rin will turn senior and Mai might turn senior (she is guaranteed to earn one GP event)
The JGP selection meetings will be held this weekend, good luck, girls.

Potential name to make to the team:
Marin HONDA
Yuna SHIRAIWA
Kaori SAKAMOTO
Yuna AOKI
Yuhana YOKOI
Rika KIHIRA
Mako YAMASITA
Rinka WATANABE
Kokoro IWAMOTO
(Any other?)

 

[Sai Bon]

Moa will not be age eligible for 2016/17 JGP, she will turn junior in season 2017/18
Kaori should stay junior internationally, Rin will turn senior and Mai might turn senior (she is guaranteed to earn one GP event)
The JGP selection meetings will be held this weekend, good luck, girls.

Potential name to make to the team:
Marin HONDA
Yuna SHIRAIWA
Kaori SAKAMOTO
Yuna AOKI
Yuhana YOKOI
Rika KIHIRA
Mako YAMASITA
Rinka WATANABE
Kokoro IWAMOTO
(Any other?)

Looks like it will be a bloodbath...so much talent, so few opportunities!

 

[ioanna]

Speculation time is over, here are the GP assignments for the Japanese ladies:

Skate America: Mao Asada, Kanako Murakami, Mai Mihara
Skate Canada: Satoko Miyahara, Rika Hongo, Yuka Nagai
Rostelecom Cup: Kanako Murakami, Yura Matsuda
Trophee de France: Mao Asada, Wakaba Higuchi, Yuka Nagai
Cup Of China: Rika Hongo, Mai Mihara
NHK Trophy: Satoko Miyahara, Wakaba Higuchi, Yura Matsuda

 

[mcq]

Speculation time is over, here are the GP assignments for the Japanese ladies:

Skate America: Mao Asada, Kanako Murakami, Mai Mihara
Skate Canada: Satoko Miyahara, Rika Hongo, Yuka Nagai
Rostelecom Cup: Kanako Murakami, Yura Matsuda
Trophee de France: Mao Asada, Wakaba Higuchi, Yuka Nagai
Cup Of China: Rika Hongo, Mai Mihara
NHK Trophy: Satoko Miyahara, Wakaba Higuchi, Yura Matsuda

I am super surprised that Mao will not be at NHK. Even more surprised that not only that she doesn't get NHK, she gets TEB and SA with such stacked field
But to be fair almost all ladies GP series is stacked , so...
Also, yay at Wakaba getting 2 spots

 

[tinnychan]

Speculation time is over, here are the GP assignments for the Japanese ladies:

Skate America: Mao Asada, Kanako Murakami, Mai Mihara
Skate Canada: Satoko Miyahara, Rika Hongo, Yuka Nagai
Rostelecom Cup: Kanako Murakami, Yura Matsuda
Trophee de France: Mao Asada, Wakaba Higuchi, Yuka Nagai
Cup Of China: Rika Hongo, Mai Mihara
NHK Trophy: Satoko Miyahara, Wakaba Higuchi, Yura Matsuda

All 8 ladies have 2 spots, so excited to Mai, Wakaba and Yura to make the GP debut

I am surprised the NHK don't have a TBA spot, Rin, Mariko, Riona, Haruka and Miyu have almost no chance to make them GP appearance :eeking:

 

[ioanna]

I am surprised the NHK don't have a TBA spot, Rin, Mariko, Riona, Haruka and Miyu have almost no chance to make them GP appearance :eeking:

No chance at all actually, because NHK Trophy already has 3 ladies assigned. You can tell the field is getting deeper and deeper.

 

[mirai4life]

Wakaba!!

 

[ioanna]

These have already been posted in Team Japan's fan fest thread but I believe they belong here too. New programs from the Japanese ladies:

Wakaba Higuchi - Byakuyako (EX)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4A1DFfB85M

Marin Honda - Smile (SP)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bk0YTsw2Dgk

Rika Hongo - Carmina Burana (SP)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nepDOAjZpM

Satoko Miyahara - Hernando's Hideaway (EX)
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4jvjvg_faoi2016-nagano-satoko-miyahara_sport

 

[JuliaHols]

These have already been posted in Team Japan's fan fest thread but I believe they belong here too. New programs from the Japanese ladies:

Wakaba Higuchi - Byakuyako (EX)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4A1DFfB85M

Marin Honda - Smile (SP)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bk0YTsw2Dgk

Rika Hongo - Carmina Burana (SP)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nepDOAjZpM

Satoko Miyahara - Hernando's Hideaway (EX)
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4jvjvg_faoi2016-nagano-satoko-miyahara_sport

Thanks for the links really appreciate it. My thoughts, Wakabas byakuyakou has really grown on me. She just looks to calm and serene. She's definitely improved in the upper body movements. I hope her jumps aren't giving her troubles cause she's growing. Is this program not meant to have any combos? Or was she just not able to put one on? The landing of the lutz or whatever the second jump is (i have no clue about jumps haha) was a bit leaned on one side and in FaOI Makuhari, I think she had a lean on the landing too for that second jump. But the last double axel was gorgeous. So huge and high. Wonderful distance and height and the exit was nice too and flowy and it didnt take long to set up. But for me, this program is the type of program that can be just beautiful without any jumps (kinda like jeff buttled programs). Also i notice she didn't include the layback spin, i guess she really hates that spin hahha, but her spinning in both directions is cool, tho not as smooth looking as satokos.
For Marin, I didnt really like this music but i think its fine and suits her well. I also hope she emotes more than just a smile because the song is "smile".
Rika's seemed like a nice program. I dont particularly fancy the music, but she can make it work. Hopefully she'll tidy up her jumps.
Satoko's omg, is gorgeous. Its so suiting. I love the choreography and her expression like "thats right, look at me"

 

[ioanna]

Thanks for the links really appreciate it. My thoughts, Wakabas byakuyakou has really grown on me. She just looks to calm and serene. She's definitely improved in the upper body movements. I hope her jumps aren't giving her troubles cause she's growing. Is this program not meant to have any combos? Or was she just not able to put one on? The landing of the lutz or whatever the second jump is (i have no clue about jumps haha) was a bit leaned on one side and in FaOI Makuhari, I think she had a lean on the landing too for that second jump. But the last double axel was gorgeous. So huge and high. Wonderful distance and height and the exit was nice too and flowy and it didnt take long to set up. But for me, this program is the type of program that can be just beautiful without any jumps (kinda like jeff buttled programs). Also i notice she didn't include the layback spin, i guess she really hates that spin hahha, but her spinning in both directions is cool, tho not as smooth looking as satokos.

Exhibition programs don't require jump combos, the skaters are free to choose which jumps to include and how many. The first jump was supposed to be a triple salchow but she doubled it, the second jump is a pretty good triple flip, and the double axel goes well with the music. Her expression and upper body movements are very similar to Tatsuki Machida's. She's been studying his Byakuyako program closely, that's for sure.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAJ-dmHjX_A

Choosing to skate to this music after she saw Machida's program was a wise choice, she's learning from a great performer.

 

[JuliaHols]

Exhibition programs don't require jump combos, the skaters are free to choose which jumps to include and how many. The first jump was supposed to be a triple salchow but she doubled it, the second jump is a pretty good triple flip, and the double axel goes well with the music. Her expression and upper body movements are very similar to Tatsuki Machida's. She's been studying his Byakuyako program closely, that's for sure.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAJ-dmHjX_A

Choosing to skate to this music after she saw Machida's program was a wise choice, she's learning from a great performer.

Oh k thanks, wow if the jump was a flip, was it a lip? I really can't tell at all but hope she's fixing that. Yes i agree, machida is brilliant performer. His byakuyakou was amazing. Maybe she's using these ice shows as a chance to practice and correc ther flip edge haha.

 

[ioanna]

Oh k thanks, wow if the jump was a flip, was it a lip? I really can't tell at all but hope she's fixing that.

To be honest I'm not sure myself but that's usually how the entrance to a flip jump looks.

 

[Seruleane]

These have already been posted in Team Japan's fan fest thread but I believe they belong here too. New programs from the Japanese ladies:

Wakaba Higuchi - Byakuyako (EX)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4A1DFfB85M

Marin Honda - Smile (SP)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bk0YTsw2Dgk

Rika Hongo - Carmina Burana (SP)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nepDOAjZpM

Satoko Miyahara - Hernando's Hideaway (EX)
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4jvjvg_faoi2016-nagano-satoko-miyahara_sport

Thanks! Love Satoko's new Ex- she sure vamps it up and it's great to see her doing different styles extremely well.

 

[Interspectator]

I really like Rika's SP. still rough in many places, but the choreo is interesting and it's got so much potential.

 

[kalee]

Liked Rika's SP too - has the potential for more energy than when Liza did Carmina Burana last year

 

[cathlen]

Rika Kihara jumping 3A. In slow mo you can she pre rotates tough.

 

[burntBREAD]

Rika Kihara jumping 3A. In slow mo you can she pre rotates tough.

Looked like a normal axel take-off to me...

Amazing for a 13 year old (I think only Asada/Tuktamysheva have done it at this age or younger)!

 

[Li'Kitsu]

Woooow. That looked easy!

Her pre-rotation is okay and normal, skaters usually 'skid' going into the jump.
There are some comments on that Video regarding "iffy technique", but it looks good to me. I'll remember her name now