2021-22 Japanese figure skating - pairs and ice dance

[cohkaix]

Cathy Reed announced in her blog that there will be a 'Chris Reed Trophy' of Ice Dance competition in Sept 23rd, 2022.

【クリス・リード杯】9/23軽井沢にて開催いたします | Icedance rocks

「日本のアイスダンスを盛り上げていきたい」生前彼がいつも口にしていた想いを今回、キャシー・リードさん、ご家族の承認を得て、クリス・リード杯を実施することとなりました。クリス・リード杯　実行委員会【キャシー・リードさんからのコメント】今回、クリスの名前の大会ができる事は日本のダンスを愛する皆にとっても、そして、天国のクリス、そして、私達リード家にとって本当に嬉しくおもっています。 運営ボランティア募集開始（2022.2.1）

icedancerocks.com

This is great, as there's almost no other ice dance competition locally in Japan at the beginning of the season.

 

[elektra blue]

congratulations to Kana and Dai for their silver at 4cc

 

[Sai Bon]

congratulations to Kana and Dai for their silver at 4cc

I haven't watched the competition, but really surprised they beat Carreira & Ponomarenko.

 

[elektra blue]

I haven't watched the competition, but really surprised they beat Carreira & Ponomarenko.

to be honest C/P haven't been at their best this season

 

[cohkaix]

Kiria Hirayama and Aru Tateno made the announcement that they're retiring -

Kiria's IG:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CZQF7DdB5q1/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

 

[mikeko666]

Nao Kida / Masanao Morita earned minimum TES required for Jr. Worlds at Bavarian Open.
RD
FD

 

[cohkaix]

News on Oly team Japan members:

Riku and Ryuichi were already in Beijing, they flew from Canada. And they had their first practice in the arena earlier today.

三浦璃来、木原龍一組が日本勢の先陣初練習 深夜の到着…寝不足で氷上へ「ようやく来たね」【北京五輪フィギュアペア】（中日スポーツ） - Yahoo!ニュース

　フィギュアスケート北京五輪代のペア、三浦璃来（２０）、木原龍一（２９）組＝木下グループ＝が３０日、北京五輪試合会場の首都体育館で日本勢の先陣を切って初練習に臨んだ。 　２人は会話をしながら、氷の

news.yahoo.co.jp

Misato (and Tim) traveled with the other members (in addition to FS) from Team Japan earlier today. (I don't have the news link here, but I saw Misato in the news about Team Japan leaving for Beijing earlier today)

 

[cohkaix]

Since this thread is about pair and ice dance, I guess it should be okay to leave this news here:

浅田真央さん　スケート人生初のペアに挑戦!悪戦苦闘も充実の笑顔「過去の自分を乗り越えたい」 - スポニチ Sponichi Annex スポーツ

　フィギュアスケート女子の10年バンクーバー五輪銀メダリストでプロフィギュアスケーターの浅田真央さん（31）が19日放送のTBS「バース・デイ」（土曜後5・00）に出演。「常に進化していきたい」と次回のアイスショーへ向け新たなチャレンジをしていることを明かした。

www.sponichi.co.jp

According to the news, Mao Asada is currently preparing for her 2nd tour, after her 1st 'Thanks tour' finished last year. And to prepare for the new programs, she decided to challenge something new: so now she's practicing pair skating. (No, this is not a joke).

(For the purpose of the show, I think), also Mao's practicing throw jump. Right now she said she can land doubles.

The new programs of the show, and her partner, are still kept in secret (but I'm just curious who could be a suitable choice? it seemed someone said that her partner 'did have experience with pair skating'.)

Oh, and Mao said she's not thinking about returning to competitions..the possibility of that is 0% .

Mao and her partner use Riku/Ryuichi's videos as practice example.

 

[Dreamer57]

The new programs of the show, and her partner, are still kept in secret (but I'm just curious who could be a suitable choice? it seemed someone said that her partner 'did have experience with pair skating'.)

Oh, and Mao said she's not thinking about returning to competitions..the possibility of that is 0% .

Mao and her partner use Riku/Ryuichi's videos as practice example.

I was totally going to suggest Nobu otherwise

Don't want to get too excited but if the 2022 worlds entries stay as they are...Riku and Ryuichi would be the 3rd highest ranked pair competing with the 2nd highest SB this season!

Kana and Daisuke are also entered for ice dance

 

[figureskatingandrainbows]

NEW ICE DANCE TEAM! Shiori Iwanaga and Yoshimitsu Ikeda! They're very new (just paired up about a month ago)

 

[Sai Bon]

NEW ICE DANCE TEAM! Shiori Iwanaga and Yoshimitsu Ikeda! They're very new (just paired up about a month ago)

Yoshimitsu Ikeda rings a bell...did he compete with another partner before?

 

[cohkaix]

Yoshimitsu Ikeda rings a bell...did he compete with another partner before?

Ikeda's former partner was Haruno Yajima. The pair broke up prior to the JPN Nationals last year.

And before skating with Yajima, Ikeda's partner was Ayumi Takanami at Jr. level (Ayumi is now skating with Shingo Nishiyama)

There's not much info about Shiori Iwanaga though.

 

[synesthesia]

AyuShin just announced that they ended their partnership :

 

[el henry]

AyuShin just announced that they ended their partnership :

I'm still mourning UtaShin and now this.

And what is Shingo's household situation?

 

[surimi]

Very sad to hear of Shingo's partnership not working out once more. Fingers crossed for him, he's so talented.
How many ID couples does this leave Japan with?
I am hopeful to hear KanaDai intend to promote their category in Japan.

 

[figureskatingandrainbows]

I'm still mourning UtaShin and now this.

And what is Shingo's household situation?

Apparently he's stuck in Japan? And there's an issue with training too. At least he's not quitting ID... hopefully he finds another partner that sticks.

 

[Dreamer57]

Very sad to hear of Shingo's partnership not working out once more. Fingers crossed for him, he's so talented.
How many ID couples does this leave Japan with?
I am hopeful to hear KanaDai intend to promote their category in Japan.

I think there are now 5 senior ice dance teams:

1. Misato Komatsubara/Takeru Komatsubara
2. Kana Muramoto/Daisuke Takahashi
3. Rikako Fukase/Oliver Zhang
4. Nicole Takahashi/Shiloh Judd
5. Shiori Iwanaga/Yoshimitsu Ikeda

To my knowledge there are 4 junior ice dance teams (Sasaki/Tamura split after nationals - Ayano is currently on IPS) including Kida/Morita who are heading to junior worlds next month.

 

[Sai Bon]

Apparently he's stuck in Japan? And there's an issue with training too. At least he's not quitting ID... hopefully he finds another partner that sticks.

You mean his family can't fund his training any more?

 

[figureskatingandrainbows]

You mean his family can't fund his training any more?

No, I think it's rink space in Japan, since most skater train on public sessions which doesn't work for pairs/ice dance and renting out rinks privately is too expensive, so since Shingo can't get to Canada he's pretty stuck right now. At least that was my understanding.

 

[Sai Bon]

No, I think it's rink space in Japan, since most skater train on public sessions which doesn't work for pairs/ice dance and renting out rinks privately is too expensive, so since Shingo can't get to Canada he's pretty stuck right now. At least that was my understanding.

I did a quick media search in Japanese, but couldn't find much. He is clearly planning to continue in ice dance. Is he unable to enter Canada? It sounded more like a personal (or family) decision to stay in Japan. He is based in Tokyo, which is a disadvantage for skaters as you say in terms of limited rink availability. He would be better off in Kansai training with Cathy Reed's group, but he goes to uni in Tokyo (Waseda). Maybe he wants to experience campus life and skate with the university club in a less pressurized environment for a while?