2018-19 Japanese Ladies' figure skating

[rikaquegira]

Omg I’m so worried for Wakababy! Really, the timing couldn’t have been worse! I see people saying she doesn’t have good programs this season but honestly, she’s yet to perform them well. The Free isn’t even ready yet, I think it’s a work in progress. So I had high hopes for her this season, even with the shaky start. But now an injury like that... It could really set her back.
I hope she doesn’t push herself too far. [emoji24] I wish her the best! [emoji120]

 

[ioanna]

Makoto Okazaki was the technical specialist at last year's Nationals. I watched SP from the stand and 3Lo was clearly at least UR, possibly DG. I could see the trace of UR from my seat. The panel reviewed 3Lo but never called.

https://youtu.be/Kbuczp0-sw8?t=2m6s

Your eyesight is clearly better than his then.

 

[Joekaz]

Agree. It sounds like what ended Yu Darvish season this year. If it's a precursor to stress fracture you have to rest it.

 

[Globetrotter]

It says Kihira is working on two quads, the Sal and Toe, but Hamada says she’s not going to compete with quads this season. She wants her to be a beautiful skater, she wants edges and flow. Hamada wants to have a beautiful lady skater with quads and triple axel. [emoji122]

Sounds like Coach Hamada’s ideal skater will have Rika’s jumps, Marin Honda’s X factor and Satoko’s work ethics and smoothness. Her skaters generally do have superior blade work and SS and are generally very refined but lack the explosive power of say Kaori Sakamoto or Wakaba Higuchi.

 

[yume]

The perfect Japanese lady would be surely Marin, Satoko, Rika, Wakaba, Kaori, Mai combined.

 

[leoleo]

The perfect Japanese lady would be surely Marin, Satoko, Rika, Wakaba, Kaori, Mai combined.

Give me a lady with Rika great jumps, Wakaba's explosiveness and speed, Satoko's grace and awareness of the music with Marin's skating skills and i'd give my life for her

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

Give me a lady with Rika great jumps, Wakaba's explosiveness and speed, Satoko's grace and awareness of the music with Marin's skating skills and i'd give my life for her

They're each pretty strong in all those areas individually. Aside from lacking consistency in some cases, the top Japanese women have very few deficiencies overall.

 

[rikaquegira]

Sounds like Coach Hamada’s ideal skater will have Rika’s jumps, Marin Honda’s X factor and Satoko’s work ethics and smoothness. Her skaters generally do have superior blade work and SS and are generally very refined but lack the explosive power of say Kaori Sakamoto or Wakaba Higuchi.

Agreed.

I love Mie Hamada’s point of view, the importance she gives to the artistic aspect of this sport is really heartwarming.

I think I’ve said this before: I feel like Kihira is in the middle in a spectrum that goes from Satoko to Kaori. [emoji23]
I said that a while ago and every time I watch Rika I’m more convinced of it. She really is becoming a powerful but refined skater.

I love how Mie Hamada states she wants a skater with quads and 3A but who is also a Satoko kind of skater, with deep edges and beautiful flow. I think she’s getting just that from Rika!
And the process(because it is a long process and Hamada knows that) is so exciting to watch!

Another interesting point was how Hamada said she hopes a woman wins NHK, the winner should be someone with history not just jumps, according to her. It’s like she’s not expecting or doesn’t really want to or would prefer not to have Rika win over Satoko. The way she sees it, Satoko is the better skater. I find that point of view at least refreshing. In a time where everyone just wants to see difficult combos and quads, even if they are not correct and the rest of the skating is sloppy, there is Mie Hamada, valuing beautiful skating more than anything.

 

[skatenewbie]

i really hope we can see 3-4 japan skaters in GPF. With many Russian skaters bad outing so far this year is time for Japanese girls to shine in seniors. Wakaba, Mai, Kaori, Rika, Satoko all have chance going to GPF. Wakaba with recent injury is unknown yet though and Mai with very tough field may have hard time to qualify but im rooting for her. She's been overlooked so much and doesnt get score she deserve imo!

 

[Globetrotter]

Another interesting point was how Hamada said she hopes a woman wins NHK, the winner should be someone with history not just jumps, according to her. It’s like she’s not expecting or doesn’t really want to or would prefer not to have Rika win over Satoko. The way she sees it, Satoko is the better skater. I find that point of view at least refreshing. In a time where everyone just wants to see difficult combos and quads, even if they are not correct and the rest of the skating is sloppy, there is Mie Hamada, valuing beautiful skating more than anything.

At this stage, Satoko certainly is an overall better skater than Rika SS and edge wise. Very few other skaters have Satoko’s blade control except CaroK and perhaps Marin Honda on a good day.

 

[rikaquegira]

At this stage, Satoko certainly is an overall better skater than Rika SS and edge wise. Very few other skaters have Satoko’s blade control except CaroK and perhaps Marin Honda on a good day.

Exactly. It annoys me that the scores don’t show that. Satoko should be getting the highest marks for SS, higher than any other lady competing.

 

[yume]

Mai with very tough field may have hard time to qualify but im rooting for her. She's been overlooked so much and doesnt get score she deserve imo!

As she start with NHK, i expect higher marks than usual for her. If she skates two cleans programs she has good chances to be on the podium.


Speaking of the qualities of Japanese ladies, assuming that everyone is clean at nats, the best skater will be the one that combine athletic and artistic prowess. As usual, that best skater will not be the best for everyone.

 

[Spirals for Miles]

As she start with NHK, i expect higher marks than usual for her. If she skates two cleans programs she has good chances to be on the podium.

NHK is a relatively weak field anyway. There are no American challengers, and the only real Russian challenger is Tuktamysheva. So Mai can definitely be on the podium

 

[rikaquegira]

As she start with NHK, i expect higher marks than usual for her. If she skates two cleans programs she has good chances to be on the podium.


Speaking of the qualities of Japanese ladies, assuming that everyone is clean at nats, the best skater will be the one that combine athletic and artistic prowess. As usual, that best skater will not be the best for everyone.

Oohhh, Japanese Nationals will be polemic! I hope! [emoji23]
If I had to predict now I’d say Rika and Satoko will certainly be on the podium! Kaori is making a strong case for Japanese top lady too. Will we see a repeated podium??!! So far it looks like it!
Wakaba is injured, Mai is great but Satoko, Rika and Kaori seem to be in another class. Marin’s moment is not this season, unfortunately. I kind of have given up on her already. Perhaps in the future she will come back stronger but so far I can’t possibly see her making the podium at Nats. It would make an excellent turn of events for sure though!!! [emoji23]

 

[chopinskate]

At this stage, Satoko certainly is an overall better skater than Rika SS and edge wise. Very few other skaters have Satoko’s blade control except CaroK and perhaps Marin Honda on a good day.

Satoko at her best has better edge control than Carolina at this stage. She made quick, sharp moves in her SP last season that I don't think Carolina can do anymore.

 

[christinaskater]

Exactly. It annoys me that the scores don’t show that. Satoko should be getting the highest marks for SS, higher than any other lady competing.

I totally agree

 

[christinaskater]

Satoko at her best has better edge control than Carolina at this stage. She made quick, sharp moves in her SP last season that I don't think Carolina can do anymore.

Her is SP is one of the greatest SP’s ever! The whole program builds and builds (ever second is a highlight that keeps getting better and better).

Satoko is truly a gem!

I’m happy she is performing more for the audience.

I’m happy she is building more muscle and strength to have higher and more explosive jumps.

I’m really proud of her work ethic, passion and determination.

I hope and pray that one day she wins the World Championships and medals in the Olympics!

 

[yume]

Oohhh, Japanese Nationals will be polemic! I hope! [emoji23]
If I had to predict now I’d say Rika and Satoko will certainly be on the podium! Kaori is making a strong case for Japanese top lady too. Will we see a repeated podium??!! So far it looks like it!
Wakaba is injured, Mai is great but Satoko, Rika and Kaori seem to be in another class. Marin’s moment is not this season, unfortunately. I kind of have given up on her already. Perhaps in the future she will come back stronger but so far I can’t possibly see her making the podium at Nats. It would make an excellent turn of events for sure though!!! [emoji23]

I wouldn't give up on Marin already. She can come to TDF and skate two perfect programs with no URs (if some can do that why not her). And can be even stronger at nats. Most of the time the start of the seasin and mid season are differents, and Marin has never been an early season skater.
Mai should be at the same stage than Kaori IMO. There is no reason for what she wouldn't get the same PCS for clean skates, and she can score the same in TES too. Overall she's more consistent too. Anyway her best scores are not far from what Kaori got at SA.
Everyone clean, Rika wins for me. An then Wakaba, Kaori/Mai should complete the podium, just my opinion. But since everyone can't be clean....

 

[Dreamer57]

Her is SP is one of the greatest SP’s ever! The whole program builds and builds (ever second is a highlight that keeps getting better and better).

Satoko is truly a gem!

I’m happy she is performing more for the audience.

I’m happy she is building more muscle and strength to have higher and more explosive jumps.

I’m really proud of her work ethic, passion and determination.

I hope and pray that one day she wins the World Championships and medals in the Olympics!

I'd say that this season is a great chance for to do just that Both her programs are stellar!

I like Wakaba's skating a lot and I'd love to see her in the GPF - but most of all I'm rooting for her to podium at Nationals so that she has the best chance of making Worlds! So I hope she gives her foot a chance to heal rather than pushing on too much.

 

[yume]

They're each pretty strong in all those areas individually. Aside from lacking consistency in some cases, the top Japanese women have very few deficiencies overall.

I agree for the few deficiencies overall. But IMO they are pretty consistents compared to americans, canadians, russians (but Zagitova and Medvedeva). They just don't have the PCS and GOEs to make up the few mistakes they do sometimes, unlike others. They end with lower scores than those who make more mistakes overall and that's why some people think they are more inconsistents.