2021-22 Japanese Women's Figure Skating | Page 35 | Golden Skate

2021-22 Japanese Women's Figure Skating

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The discussion was already posted in Japanese men's thread. But I think it's also worthwhile to mention it here:

Coach Mihoko Higuchi is starting her own skating club: https://www.lys-figureskatingclub.com

Higuchi Sensei was assisting Coach Yamada at Grand Prix Skating Club in Aichi. Their former students included: Mao Asada, Shoma Uno, Kanako Murakami, and Midori Ito (adding: and now Rino Matsuike, Mako Yamashita, Nana Araki, and Chisato Uramatsu). So now Higuchi Sensei is leaving Grand Prix SC and establishing her own skating club (about time?) She will base her club at the rinks including Moricoro park and Howa Sports Land.

This won't change too much in terms of the nation-wise FS clubs allocation (as the new club by Higuchi is still in Aichi). It will be interesting to see which students will follow her to join the new club though. (Note: in the past couple of years when Higuchi Sensei worked with Coach Yamada, it was usually that Higuchi Sensei would take students overseas, as Yamada Sensei is too old to travel. But I think Yamada still remains influential given her coach status around the Chubu/Aichi area and even at National level.)
 
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cohkaix said:
The discussion was already posted in Japanese men's thread. But I think it's also worthwhile to mention it here:

Coach Mihoko Higuchi is starting her own skating club: https://www.lys-figureskatingclub.com

Higuchi Sensei was assisting Coach Yamada at Grand Prix Skating Club in Aichi. Their former students included: Mao Asada, Shoma Uno, Kanako Murakami, and Midori Ito (adding: and now Rino Matsuike, Mako Yamashita, Nana Araki, and Chisato Uramatsu). So now Higuchi Sensei is leaving Grand Prix SC and establishing her own skating club (about time?) She will base her club at the rinks including Moricoro park and Howa Sports Land.

This won't change too much in terms of the nation-wise FS clubs allocation (as the new club by Higuchi is still in Aichi). It will be interesting to see which students will follow her to join the new club though. (Note: in the past couple of years when Higuchi Sensei worked with Coach Yamada, it was usually that Higuchi Sensei would take students overseas, as Yamada Sensei is too old to travel. But I think Yamada still remains influential given her coach status around the Chubu/Aichi area and even at National level.)
Click to expand...

So in terms of political clout with JSF it could be better for students to stay with Yamada? Yikes. I hope both camps get equal opportunities. :pray:
Biting my nails here when it comes to student redistribution. 😬 The only one not needing an influential coach seems to be Rino.
Do we know which coach will accompany Yamada's students overseas now? This split had to be planned for months, so I bet both teams have enough staff by now.
 
surimi said:
So in terms of political clout with JSF it could be better for students to stay with Yamada? Yikes. I hope both camps get equal opportunities. :pray:
Biting my nails here when it comes to student redistribution. 😬 The only one not needing an influential coach seems to be Rino.
Do we know which coach will accompany Yamada's students overseas now? This split had to be planned for months, so I bet both teams have enough staff by now.
Click to expand...
My other thought is that, perhaps Coach Yamada is retiring?

In JPN men's discussion thread, someone mentioned the rink in Osu. That's where Yamada is based. And I think both Yamada and Higuchi's students belong to Chukyo U and they use the skate rinks at Chukyo a lot. So I can't help wondering if this also has to do with Yuma's moving to Chukyo (not that I'm suggesting Yuma will be working with Yamada. I did see someone made that claim when the news about Yuma's move was out in the Chinese forum. But I kind of doubt that, as Yuma is doing fine coaching by his father...)

As for staffs for both teams, obviously Coach Higuchi is recruiting assistants (as shown in the newly setup website).
 
cohkaix said:
My other thought is that, perhaps Coach Yamada is retiring?

In JPN men's discussion thread, someone mentioned the rink in Osu. That's where Yamada is based. And I think both Yamada and Higuchi's students belong to Chukyo U and they use the skate rinks at Chukyo a lot. So I can't help wondering if this also has to do with Yuma's moving to Chukyo (not that I'm suggesting Yuma will be working with Yamada. I did see someone made that claim when the news about Yuma's move was out in the Chinese forum. But I kind of doubt that, as Yuma is doing fine coaching by his father...)

As for staffs for both teams, obviously Coach Higuchi is recruiting assistants (as shown in the newly setup website).
Click to expand...

That's another possible explanation. But in that case, whoever takes over GP Tokai center possibly doesn't want Higuchi there, if she's relocating rather than staying. Just wondering.

lol, and I have read a rumor that Kagiyama may train at Howa Sportsland, so nobody knows at this point. ;)

Fingers crossed for Higuchi to recruit a good jump coach. Could this be an opportunity for Oda for instance? Or is he on his own?
 
Pretty sure Yuma's going to Chukyo because a). easily accessible rink b). Shoma is also training there part-time and c). it's close to his grandparents' house, I don't see him moving. My bigger question is what happens now with Rino especially. Will she stay with Yamada or move? Her moving on to uni next year might impact her decision.
 
Could anyone share which cities these centers are located in? The current one, Grand Prix Tokai (is that the same one as Osu?), and Moricoro Park that Higuchi is moving to? I know that Howa is in Nagoya, and that Chukyo University/Chukyo rink is in Toyota City, and apparently the commute isn't so bad between those. But I am getting lost in which of Osu and Moricoro Park would be the most convenient for Chukyo students. o_O
 
surimi said:
Could anyone share which cities these centers are located in? The current one, Grand Prix Tokai (is that the same one as Osu?), and Moricoro Park that Higuchi is moving to? I know that Howa is in Nagoya, and that Chukyo University/Chukyo rink is in Toyota City, and apparently the commute isn't so bad between those. But I am getting lost in which of Osu and Moricoro Park would be the most convenient for Chukyo students. o_O
Click to expand...

Osu, or known by its official name Nagoya Sports Center, is in Naka Ward, Nagoya. It's most famously known as Grand Prix Tokai's base and the childhood rink of Mao Asada and Shoma Uno, but it hosts several other clubs (Polaris Chubu, St. Hoshigaoka and Osu Bright) as well as the Chunichi Hockey Club. You can identify the rink by the four big banners of Midori Ito, Mao Asada, Kanako Murakami and Shoma Uno in the rink.

Official Website: http://nsc-osuskate.jp/
Official Twitter: https://twitter.com/osuskate1953



Moricoro Park is slightly outside Nagoya, it's in Nagakute City but still in the Aichi Prefecture. It's been used for hosting ice shows and local competitions.

Official Website: https://www.aichi-koen.com/moricoro/shisetsu/icerink/

Howa Sportsland is in Nagoya as you said, in Minato Ward. In my opinion, if the top skaters based in Nagoya are not practicing in the Chukyo University rink, it's most likely that you will find them here, chartering the rink for their private use, if they're currently staying in Nagoya. (The current National Training Center is located in Kanku Ice Arena, close to the Osaka airport). Currently has a display of costumes and skates of Shoma Uno, Akiko Suzuki and Yuma Kagiyama, with Olympic medal photos of Shoma (with Yoriko Naruse) and Yuma.

Official Website: https://www.howasportsland.com/index.html

 
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Yes, so pretty much that Nagoya Sports Center (@Osu) and Howa Sportsland are in Nagoya city. Moricoro Park is outside the city and a bit further. But Chukyo U ice rink(s) is further at the Toyota Campus in the Toyota City.
 
JSF seem to be really trying to compensate for not sending their skaters to competitions early in the season. Good. Hopefully JSF's repentance lasts well into the next season. I really want to see Rino skate live.
 
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