2019-20 Japanese ladies' figure skating

[RafaelAstro]

Shizuka Arakawa called it underrotated on the replay commentary. Looked obvious to me once she pointed it out.

Speaking of commentary, I love how Fuji TV provides a no commentary audio subtrack. I appreciate the commentary, but it's also great to go back and experience the performances as the people in the stands do.

She called it ur because they can see how the panel are evaluating the jumps at the time of the skate review, for me the call was so strict, even the judges didn't thought that the triple toe was ur so they still give her positive GOE, and the reason why Rika went for 3A-3T instead of 3F-3T it's probably because she wants to show she still has that combination and the reason why she doesn't do it on international competition it's because of lower base value compared with the 3f-3t combo in the second half, plus it could be because that amazing combo always impress the judges and they give her amazing GOE for that compared to the 3f-3t combo, the fact is that the 3a-2t combo it's not that impressive for the judges compared with the 3a-3t, even whe she adds a tanno in the 2t. In the end she is the first woman ever to land that combination and maybe the judges expect that combo from her? idk

 

[RafaelAstro]

They will choose Wakaba. JSF loves to go by national results. The one who might be out is Kawabata.

Yeah, I'm expecting that

 

[rosy14]

Kawabata is not eligible for 4CC, and I don't know of a senior competition happening before then where she can become eligible. She would have time to qualify for senior Worlds though.

If i’m not mistaken, there’s usually a competition in Poland at mid January, which is often the last resort to get the most minimum scores for Euros and Worlds.

 

[Batsuchan]

Kihira’s been struggling with the 3F+3T. She URed it at least once in the SP and visibly URed the landing on the combo in the NHK free skate. You probably didn’t notice the landing at NHK the first time watching, but you’ll notice it when going through the skate again. She also fell when attempting the combo at GPF. Her 3F is fine, but she’s been having a hard time with the second jump for whatever reason. Funnily enough, the 3A+3T looked just fine to me, but the 3T was called UR. Tough crowd.

Thank you all for your responses!

I did see the UR on her combo in the FS at NHK, and I did see her fall in the GPF SP, but I just assumed that was due to nerves...But if she's been having some trouble with the combo in practice as well, then it makes sense to try the 3A+3T instead. :yes: It's pretty crazy that the 3A+3T combo would be "easier" for her though! :agree:

 

[randomfan]

Thank you all for your responses!

I did see the UR on her combo in the FS at NHK, and I did see her fall in the GPF SP, but I just assumed that was due to nerves...But if she's been having some trouble with the combo in practice as well, then it makes sense to try the 3A+3T instead. :yes: It's pretty crazy that the 3A+3T combo would be "easier" for her though! :agree:

Along with what the others said, I also think that it may be less nerve-wracking for her to do the 3T earlier than in the second-half bonus. That way, she can get it out of the way in the first minute and not have to worry about it during the second half when obviously she's more exhausted.

 

[theharleyquinn]

I just don't think JSF has enough information right now to make a decision about March. It would be beneficial for them to not tie their hands to a choice now, but that could just be delaying the inevitable. I guess we'll see how worried they really are about maintaining 3 spots.

 

[RafaelAstro]

I feel so bad for Yuna Shiraiwa, this was not her season, I don't think we will see her competing internationally next season :'( ToT

 

[Greengemmonster]

If they depended on Rika only to maintain 3 spots, how badly can the second and third person bomb if we are to be super pessimistic and assume Rika comes 4th at Worlds?

 

[zanadude]

I just don't think JSF has enough information right now to make a decision about March. It would be beneficial for them to not tie their hands to a choice now, but that could just be delaying the inevitable. I guess we'll see how worried they really are about maintaining 3 spots.

The rules are clear and unchangeable. All decisions made as of end of Nationals. That is the rules that the JSF have already decided.

 

[Colonel Green]

If they depended on Rika only to maintain 3 spots, how badly can the second and third person bomb if we are to be super pessimistic and assume Rika comes 4th at Worlds?

If Rika is fourth, Skater #2 has to be at least ninth.

 

[zanadude]

No they don't, if they take the current season's results since 2017, then Wakaba must have went to 2018 winter olympics

If you go back even further, the previous year she was entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining three seats for the Olympics. She bombed, and Japan fell back to two. As it turned out, the spot she lost was her very own.

Of course, her last trip to Worlds went much better, so the situation is a bit different now.

 

[nussnacker]

It will be a tough decision for Japanese fed. The unexpected placements definitely complicated everything.
Whatever they decide, I hope they make the right call.
I’d love to see Kaori and Wakaba kn the world team though, although it seems virtually impossible for Kao to make it...

 

[Ice Dance]

Wakaba Higuchi has a pretty outstanding record at Japanese Nationals. She has finished 3rd, 2nd, 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 2nd there.

Not only do I not think the Japanese Fed hates Higuchi. I think the judges at Japanese Nationals have loved her a lot longer & more consistently than the international ones.

 

[zanadude]

Kawabata has apparently said that her next goal is Junior Worlds. So either she thinks she has no chance of being selected for Senior Worlds, or she has no interest in going regardless.

 

[RafaelAstro]

If you go back even further, the previous year she was entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining three seats for the Olympics. She bombed, and Japan fell back to two. As it turned out, the spot she lost was her very own.

Of course, her last trip to Worlds went much better, so the situation is a bit different now.

Oh again with that thing! I have heard it so many times, the responssability for maintain the three spots is not in only one person, it's the responsability for all the ones who are sent for competing, Wakaba was healing for an injury, that's why she bombs at 4cc that year, and she recovered something at WC but even when she made mistakes the judges really underscored her, the responsability of maintain the three spots was for Wakaba, Mai and Rika Hongo, the three did a poor job, Mai did a clean free skate but the mistake she made in the sp cost her being one place above where she ended, Rika Hongo did and absolute poor job and I don't see no one bleming her for that, that's it, the three made mistakes and japan lost it's 3 spots, it's not only Wakaba fault, also the federation should not take in count past competitions to see what skaters made a dissapoint and don't deserve to go to olympics, that's not something taking in count in their critreria

 

[Ice Dance]

The reality is that it was really bad luck that Satoko was injured that year. No one expected Japan to be without its leader during the qualifying season. It's a crazy tough challenge to attend your first senior Worlds and have the pressure of trying to obtain Olympic berths on one's shoulders. (I mean, seriously, I remember Shoma in tears at his first Worlds). I've always thought it best for young athletes to be able to come up with a couple veterans ahead of them, and that just wasn't the way it worked in 2017. Same as with the Russian ladies prior to 2014 and the Chinese pairs team prior to Sochi as well. We all know when a country has the goods for the following Olympic season but for some reason--either age or injury--they don't have the firepower during the qualifying season.

Just as we knew last season at Junior Worlds that Korea had the goods for the three berths this season. Sometimes it doesn't happen. When you only have two spots & you send a couple top-notch youngsters to their first major international, quite often the new experience turns out to be a learning one.

It was what it was. Higuchi had the goods to finish top 2 at Japanese Nationals in 2018. And she knew it. That can make qualifying for an Olympic team really tough. She has learned from the experience. And Sakamoto learned from the experience of going to the Olympics and finishing 6th. I think both are fully capable of continuing to grow as athletes. In the ladies' field, we hear so much about the quick turnover. But the field in Japan--I think this generation at the top right now is the stronger one. There really is a good chance that these top ladies have time to weather the challenges of growing up & be ready to lead the field through another Olympiad. I would say Higuchi's performance today was a terrific example of that possibility.

 

[zanadude]

Regarding not doing the quad, Kihira told NHK that it was because her triple axel was very bad during the morning practice, so she took extra time focusing on fixing that instead of practicing the quad.

 

[Ophelia]

Higuchi is SO GOOD when she is on.

I selfishly want to see Sakamoto at Worlds bc her LP is one of the best of the season.

 

[RafaelAstro]

Regarding not doing the quad, Kihira told NHK that it was because her triple axel was very bad during the morning practice, so she took extra time focusing on fixing that instead of practicing the quad.

Nice move! she impress me everytime

 

[Greengemmonster]

Nice move! she impress me everytime

Rolling with it seems to be her strength. I remember laughing when she tried to turn a step out at least year's Nationals into a euler.