2021-22 Japanese figure skating - pairs and ice dance

[mikeko666]

Riku and Ryuichi won Silver Medal at Skate America!

- Pairs

www.isuresults.com

https://twitter.com/goldenskate/status/1452108967056904197

I thought Bronze might be possible depending on how the American would do, but never expected Silver.
Riku had a hard fall on 3LzTh, but they didn't let it affect their performance. They are really strong, but also so adorable!

https://twitter.com/hueber_sydney/status/1452104312805642241

 

[RatedPG]

Riku and Ryuichi won Silver Medal at Skate America!

- Pairs

www.isuresults.com

https://twitter.com/goldenskate/status/1452108967056904197

I thought Bronze might be possible depending on how the American would do, but never expected Silver.
Riku had a hard fall on 3LzTh, but they didn't let it affect their performance. They are really strong, but also so adorable!

https://twitter.com/hueber_sydney/status/1452104312805642241

Loved them so much. So far, the highlight of the event for me. Bruno and Meagan really are building a dynamic duo from Japan in Pairs and with this duo, I think Japan should secure a bronze in the team event. Originally, when I saw their Grand Prix events they were scheduled for, against all the best three Russian Teams, I was hoping they would be able to win bronze at both events to solidly a top ten standing in this event. Now, with this surprise silver medal, they are making a case for a top 6 Grand Prix finals. I still see and predict 4 Russians, a Chinese pair and now I’m seeing Japan in the finals.

 

[Skater Boy]

I know bruno and megan are really working on this team. I am not sold on them but that doesn't matter because the judges love them. I kind of feel sorry for the Americans and Canadians because I think they deserve to be ahead of this team but so far this season you sense this is the new 3 to 6th place team in the world. dropping the Canadians and Americans. 2 to 4th was a crap shoot here. Not a great event for the very top teams but no quesiton T and M deserved gold despite their problems.

 

[Dreamer57]

So happy for Riku and Ryuichi!!

 

[nussnacker]

Riku and Ryuichi are getting stronger by day! So happy for a silver for them, they did so well!

 

[Sai Bon]

Sorry if this has been posted elsewhere, but a summary translation of Japanese sports media article on Riku and Ryuichi:
Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara placed second at Skate America, marking PBs in both segments. It is the first time in 10 years since a Japanese pair was on the podium in the GP series. Miura fell on her throw Lz, but regrouped and carried on. She was "extremely nervous", but kept her trust in Kihara, who also "firmly believed that Miura-san can get it back together, so I just focused on what I had to do." They both found the competition challenging, but shut out distractions and didn't give up.

Original article: https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2021/10/24/kiji/20211024s00079000287000c.html

I'm really excited about this pair! When Ryuichi first switched to pairs, I never imagined he would continue for so long and improve so much. I can only imagine how hard he's worked.

 

[Skater Boy]

They could win an olympic medal in pairs. Just saying. They are good, hungry, no pressure, gerat coaching and strategy and others are faltering. Most im portant they seem to be the chosen ones. At the very least the judges clearly have said they are willing to place them ahead of the Americans, Canadians who are trending downwars majorly and it appears the third Russian team which says a lot. This is an olympic year but no one's programs even without tech issues are really wowing so the door is open.

 

[Dreamer57]

Eastern section: Junior ice dance (Qualifier for junior nationals)
1. Nao Kida / Masaya Morita
2. Ayano Sasaki / Atsuhiko Tamura
3. Kaho Yamashita / Yuto Nagata
4. Midori Fujiki / Seiya Shimokawa
5. Haruhi Komatsu / Eisuki Kumano

https://twitter.com/KAHOkaho1210/status/1455497946070327296

https://twitter.com/Yutonagata1027/status/1454730384797626368

Are Utana and Seiji exempt because they train abroad?

 

[mikeko666]

Are Utana and Seiji exempt because they train abroad?

According to Kiria and Aru's monthly Instagram live last month, Utana is back in Okayama. Seiji seems to be in Japan, too. I'm afraid they might have split.
Entries of Junior Nationals will be announced next week after this weekend's Western Sectionals . We'll see if they are still skating together.

Ice-Dance.com posted photos from Eastern Sectionals.

2021 Eastern Japan Sectional Championships - Ice-Dance.com's Photography Section

October 23-24; Photos by Harumi Akabane

photos.ice-dance.com

 

[mikeko666]

A report of today's official practice by a local TV station of Okayama, Daisuke and Misato's home prefecture.

Kana and Daisuke

ＮＨＫ杯 高橋大輔選手と村元哉中選手本番リンクで最終調整｜NHK 岡山県のニュース

北京オリンピックの代表選考につながるフィギュアスケートの国際大会、ＮＨＫ杯が１２日開幕します。 アイスダンスに出場する倉敷市出身の高橋大輔…

www3.nhk.or.jp

Misato and Tim

ＮＨＫ杯 備前市出身の小松原美里選手が練習｜NHK 岡山県のニュース

備前市出身の小松原美里選手も本番のリンクで練習を行いました。 カップルを組む夫の尊選手とともに、白と水色の衣装で姿を見せ、練習の序盤には…

www3.nhk.or.jp

 

[zanadude]

Maybe Daisuke Takahashi won't become a world class ice dancer, but nobody can say that he's not taking this seriously. Just look at those guns he's got now! One look at those arms shows he's been putting in the work in the gym, and the NHK Trophy showed that he's been putting in the work on the ice as well.

It's incredibly impressive that's he's now got the highest international score of any Japanese ice dancing team in history in only his second year of competition.

 

[readernick]

Maybe Daisuke Takahashi won't become a world class ice dancer, but nobody can say that he's not taking this seriously. Just look at those guns he's got now! One look at those arms shows he's been putting in the work in the gym, and the NHK Trophy showed that he's been putting in the work on the ice as well.

It's incredibly impressive that's he's now got the highest international score of any Japanese ice dancing team in history in only his second year of competition.

I'm a bit conflicted about this. On one hand, Daisuke is one of my favorite figure skaters of all time. And, I think that his decision to go into ice dance has increased interest in this discipline in Japan which should have a lot of strong teams given how strong Japanese basic skating skills are. Also, there is no doubt he is working incredibly hard and has made huge progress as an ice dancer.

On the other hand, he is getting incredible favors from the judges and I'm not sure that is fair to Misato and Tim. The lifts in Kana/ Daisuke's programs are frankly a bit scary. There are issues, but the judges are trying to ignore them...

Is it good for Japanese ice dance yes.

Is it fair?

Something I'm not conflicted about is M/K. They did great again! I'm so proud of their progress!

 

[Dreamer57]

According to Kiria and Aru's monthly Instagram live last month, Utana is back in Okayama. Seiji seems to be in Japan, too. I'm afraid they might have split.
Entries of Junior Nationals will be announced next week after this weekend's Western Sectionals . We'll see if they are still skating together.

Ice-Dance.com posted photos from Eastern Sectionals.

2021 Eastern Japan Sectional Championships - Ice-Dance.com's Photography Section

October 23-24; Photos by Harumi Akabane

photos.ice-dance.com

I've just had a look at the entries for Junior nationals and I think you might be right. It's the same five entries from eastern sectionals. I hope we will see Utana again soon!

According to https://twitter.com/AnythingGOE/status/1459536744819351561?s=20
Misato & Tim are not going to be at the gala. Surely NHK could have made room for them? They have such fun programs!

 

[mikeko666]

According to https://twitter.com/AnythingGOE/status/1459536744819351561?s=20
Misato & Tim are not going to be at the gala. Surely NHK could have made room for them? They have such fun programs!

Misato said she injured a ligament of her left elbow. It's likely they will withdraw from Warsaw Cup. She said she will go back to the US next Monday. They haven't been able to enter Canada because the Canadian immigration rejects her visa without explaining why.

小松原美里、尊組「我慢できないことがあって…」夫婦で戦い抜き涙 - フィギュア : 日刊スポーツ

全日本選手権3連覇中の小松原美里（29）尊（ティム・コレト＝30）組（倉敷FSC）が、夫婦で戦い抜いた。そして涙した。フリー104・07点の合計172・20点… - 日刊スポーツ新聞社のニュースサイト、ニッカンスポーツ・コム（nikkansports.com）

www.nikkansports.com

 

[mikeko666]

I'm a bit conflicted about this. On one hand, Daisuke is one of my favorite figure skaters of all time. And, I think that his decision to go into ice dance has increased interest in this discipline in Japan which should have a lot of strong teams given how strong Japanese basic skating skills are. Also, there is no doubt he is working incredibly hard and has made huge progress as an ice dancer.

On the other hand, he is getting incredible favors from the judges and I'm not sure that is fair to Misato and Tim. The lifts in Kana/ Daisuke's programs are frankly a bit scary. There are issues, but the judges are trying to ignore them...

Is it good for Japanese ice dance yes.

Is it fair?

Something I'm not conflicted about is M/K. They did great again! I'm so proud of their progress!

I don't think Kana/Dai are getting much favors from the judges. They beat Mitato/Tim on TES. The judges were rather conservative with Kana/Dai in RD because they were the first to skate and the judges didn't know what to expect. Judge No.3 is a Japanese and he gave higher marks to Misato/Kana in PCS. I was in the arena yesterday for FD, and it was apparent that Kana/Dai had better skating skills with more speed and deeper edges. Misato/Tim have been skating together for more than 5 years, but their skating skills haven't improved much.

 

[Skater Boy]

I don't think Kana/Dai are getting much favors from the judges. They beat Mitato/Tim on TES. The judges were rather conservative with Kana/Dai in RD because they were the first to skate and the judges didn't know what to expect. Judge No.3 is a Japanese and he gave higher marks to Misato/Kana in PCS. I was in the arena yesterday for FD, and it was apparent that Kana/Dai had better skating skills with more speed and deeper edges. Misato/Tim have been skating together for more than 5 years, but their skating skills haven't improved much.

I know there is much conflict in dance. Having Dai in dance is really adding interest to ice dance in Japan. It just seems JSF and everyone is pulling for him to make it with his partner to olympics and win a team medal. Life isn't fair. Shade s of Diana Davis in some ways. I still think Dai is being gifted with points but that's me and the fact is it doesn't matter. He's going to Beijing and he's going to get another olympic medal and the fans will adore him and ice dance will gain popularity in Japan. And a certain ice dance team will not being going to Beijing and will be forgotten.

 

[Kitt]

If they can't get into Canada, how are they going to train with the Montreal group? Who would they train with?

 

[cohkaix]

If they can't get into Canada, how are they going to train with the Montreal group? Who would they train with?

In the previous post, it was mentioned that the couple plan to return to US to train (not sure where in US...Colorado?) I think they have to go with the online sessions with their coaches in Montreal.

On the other hand, in the post-compeition/pre-Gala interview of Kana/Dai, it is for sure that they will attend the up-coming Warsaw Cup (and return to US for training after that). Both Kana & Daisuke talked about the NHK results are giving them a boost in confidence and positivity about moving on.

 

[Weathergal]

In the previous post, it was mentioned that the couple plan to return to US to train (not sure where in US...Colorado?) I think they have to go with the online sessions with their coaches in Montreal.

On the other hand, in the post-compeition/pre-Gala interview of Kana/Dai, it is for sure that they will attend the up-coming Warsaw Cup (and return to US for training after that). Both Kana & Daisuke talked about the NHK results are giving them a boost in confidence and positivity about moving on.

Yes, Tim's family lives in Colorado (don't know what city though) so they've been training there.

 

[zanadude]

Yes, Tim's family lives in Colorado (don't know what city though) so they've been training there.

I don't see the point in leaving the country for a couple of weeks of training, only to have to return and likely endure quarantine again right before Nationals.