2022-23 Japanese Men's Figure Skating

[yesterday]

cross post with FFs but maybe also interesting for everybody

I had to leave during Sena's FS but managed to record the rest including interviews, ceremony, lots of backstage fluff etc.
So it's the last 9 FS in one piece.
Anyone interested, PM me and I'll send you the link.

 

[Dreamer57]

Congratulations to Kazuki for his 3rd place at Nationals!
But he's still looking for a sponsor. It's a disgrace!

【フィギュア】友野一希がスポンサー探しの現状明かす「巡り合えるように結果を出すことが一番」 - フィギュア : 日刊スポーツ

2位に入った友野一希（24＝上野芝スケートクラブ）が、スポンサーに関する現状を明かした。ショートプログラム（SP）2位で迎えたフリーは、4回転トーループ2本の… - 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

I didn't know that he was without one. Hopefully he can find one soon!
Congratulations on his first Senior nats medal!

 

[yesterday]

Found some general links for programs/galas/interviews from Japanese skaters from Nationals but also earlier this season and from before that.
(the more Nats focused ones are in the Recap and Gala thread)

The NagoyaTV News Channel had a FS playlist where they put new videos on top, currently there are 92 (set a VPN to Japan if you see less)

【山本草太ヒストリー後編】GPファイナル銀メダリストになるまで「トップで戦っている」　４回転ジャンプ必須の男子フィギュア界への挑戦【秘蔵映像】

2022年、グランプリファイナルで銀メダリストになったフィギュアスケートの山本草太選手（中京大学）。順風満帆だったジュニア時代、ケガからの復帰、五輪への想い、ハイレベルな男子フィギュア界での戦い、素顔など、これまでの軌跡をメ～テレの秘蔵映像でお届けします。初出し映像&インタビューも！後編では、2018年から202...

www.youtube.com

Don't let them fool you, they often start with an interview, but the performance comes after that.

And here's a nice playlist concerning the 2021-2022 season for some (re-)watching until January competitions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJs9dihZdpQ&list=PL-_vLaPY_60yWMKhhmN79IWX8OOxiFinj (85 videos)

(crosspost with Japanese Women's thread)

 

[Dreamer57]

Yuma withdrew from winter university games/Universiade and is replaced by Sota. So that team is now Shun, Tatsuya and Sota!

I think it is too much to hope for Yuma to be named to WTT 2023. Hope he rests well!

 

[rabidline]

New international assignments from JSF:

Challenge Cup (February 23-26, The Netherlands)
Senior Men: Shun Sato, Sota Yamamoto, Tatsuya Tsuboi
Senior Women: Kaori Sakamoto, Mai Mihara, Mana Kawabe
Senior Ice Dance: Misato Komatsubara/Takeru Komatsubara
Junior Men: Haruya Sasaki, Haru Kakiuchi
Junior Women: Ikura Kushida, Ayumi Shibayama, Yurina Okuno

Source: https://twitter.com/figure365/status/1618112834914910209

Coupe de Printemps (March 17-19, Luxembourg)
Senior Men: Koshiro Shimada, Takeru Amine Kataise (Alternate: Sena Miyake)
Senior Women: Mone Chiba, Rika Kihira
Junior Men: Tsudoi Suto, Seigo Tauchi
Junior Women: Ami Nakai, You Takagi

Source: https://twitter.com/figure365/status/1618114207022731266

No pre-Worlds assignment for Shoma Uno (Nationals 1st) and Kazuki Tomono (Nationals 3rd), while it's interesting to see Takeru Amine Kataise assigned for Challenge Cup senior category after finishing 19th at Senior Nationals- but I assume this is reward after finishing 2nd at Junior Nationals.

The rest of assignments follow the Senior National standings except for a few exceptions:
- Kao Miura, 6th (assigned to 4CC and Jr Worlds)
- Sumitada Moriguchi, 7th (will be competing for pairs at Jr Worlds)
- Yuma Kagiyama, 8th (injury)
- Nozomu Yoshioka, 10th (assigned to Jr Worlds)

The odd one out seems to be Shunsuke Nakamura... who was the highest Junior in Senior Nationals standings above Haruya Sasaki, Tsudoi Suto, Haru Kakiuchi, and Seigo Tauchi, and even above alternate Sena Miyake. Only Nozomu, Takeru and Haruya finished higher in Junior Nationals too.

 

[surimi]

Sena Miyake should absolutely have been picked instead of Koshiro, who hardly needs reputation and points *after* 4CC, and already has points from his Challenger, unlike all others but Kazuki. He's the only one among the Japanese men who got two smaller events, the only one who got the chance to fill in all of those 5 boxes in WS, and to me it reeks of trying to make a superstar out of him, and to push him mightily up the WS. That he's put up against weaker skaters whenever possible, is also very telling. No other Japanese man in his Challenger. No GP against Shoma. No Shun or Kao at CdP (especially since Shun could be tired from flying to Challenge Cup across many time zones after 4CC, so CdP, one month later, would make more sense for him)... I read that as favoritism, and it's off-turning for me.
Let's compare that treatment to Sena who only has his 8th place from GP, then got ill, and now he's just an alternate and he'll drop down the WS quite a bit. Yes, he underperformed at Nationals, but his 12th place is not that different from Koshiro's 10th last year - and yet, unlike him, Sena got no Challenger or smaller event when he was #6 at Nationals last year, and 4th in 4CC. Then we have LT Honda - without any CS and smaller events, he was thrown to the wolves in one GP and when he failed, no more competitions abroad are coming. Reminder that Kao, 4th at Nationals last year and 3rd at WC, only got his 2nd GP *after* Koshiro got his. No smaller events for Kao this season, no more chances for him to fill in those two 'other competitions' slots. Is this happening with USA's Malinin? Or with France's Fa? Or with Rizzo or Cha? No, they're sent to big and small events alike, to maximize their chances. This season, in Japan, only one got the chance, and I don't like that. I hope JSF acts way more fair next season.
At least Tatsuya, Sota and Shun now got an opportunity now to fill in one more box in their WS table.

 

[rabidline]

Reminder that Kao, 4th at Nationals last year and 3rd at WC, only got his 2nd GP *after* Koshiro got his.

Wrong. Kao was actually the first senior man from Japan to be sent out as a GP substitute and he didn't even replace a Japanese skater. He was reported to be added to his second event on September 1 when Brendan Kerry withdrew from Skate America.

Koshiro got his 2nd GP together with Sena, as they were both assigned on October 14, after Yuma Kagiyama announced his withdrawal from both his GP events.

Also on Koshiro's 2022 Lombardia Trophy spot, he actually earned that through the qualifying event for the 2022 NHK Trophy spot. From Angelo Dolfini's account when he went to Japan to accompany Koshiro for that event, Sota did land more quads and got the host spot, and it's implied that Koshiro was the next best and got Lombardia.

 

[surimi]

Wrong. Kao was actually the first senior man from Japan to be sent out as a GP substitute and he didn't even replace a Japanese skater. He was reported to be added to his second event on September 1 when Brendan Kerry withdrew from Skate America.

Koshiro got his 2nd GP together with Sena, as they were both assigned on October 14, after Yuma Kagiyama announced his withdrawal from both his GP events.

Also on Koshiro's 2022 Lombardia Trophy spot, he actually earned that through the qualifying event for the 2022 NHK Trophy spot. From Angelo Dolfini's account when he went to Japan to accompany Koshiro for that event, Sota did land more quads and got the host spot, and it's implied that Koshiro was the next best and got Lombardia.

Okay, I'll rephrase because I omitted some key words. Kao got his second GP only after a GP -and I didn't mean to imply second- was given to Koshiro (and I think also to Honda), neither of whom had particularly stellar results last season to merit that. That's very unfitting treatment for a skater as accomplished as Kao was, especially since, unless I'm mistaken, Shun already had two spots at that time, and Kao had to wait for his 2nd GP until he was chosen as a substitute.

I vastly preferred the CS assignment system that JSF had for years, until this season. Top 10 skaters (or the vast majority of them) all got their chances to earn points at CS and minor events, and weren't stressed out by only getting the more competitive GP. All other federations assign like this, just JSF turned picky this season, and only sent a select handful, using some new bizarre criteria. Considering the level of Challengers this year, high-quality Japanese skaters would have benefitted from being assigned, and would have had great opportunities for placement points and new SB. But that didn't happen, and only two men were sent to CS series. Surely more skaters than just those two had results meriting being assigned, GP being another level entirely. I call that lunacy and hampering skaters' careers, but if someone's cool with what JSF have been doing this season, that's surely your right.

 

[yesterday]

Okay, I'll rephrase because I omitted some key words. Kao got his second GP only after a GP -and I didn't mean to imply second- was given to Koshiro (and I think also to Honda), neither of whom had particularly stellar results last season to merit that. That's very unfitting treatment for a skater as accomplished as Kao was, especially since, unless I'm mistaken, Shun already had two spots at that time, and Kao had to wait for his 2nd GP until he was chosen as a substitute.

I vastly preferred the CS assignment system that JSF had for years, until this season. Top 10 skaters (or the vast majority of them) all got their chances to earn points at CS and minor events, and weren't stressed out by only getting the more competitive GP. All other federations assign like this, just JSF turned picky this season, and only sent a select handful, using some new bizarre criteria. Considering the level of Challengers this year, high-quality Japanese skaters would have benefitted from being assigned, and would have had great opportunities for placement points and new SB. But that didn't happen, and only two men were sent to CS series. Surely more skaters than just those two had results meriting being assigned, GP being another level entirely. I call that lunacy and hampering skaters' careers, but if someone's cool with what JSF have been doing this season, that's surely your right.

SkAm for Koshiro was iirc on a very short notice and as it took place on the east coast, people figured that Koshiro in Switzerland was kind of the closest not-maxed-out-on-GP-spots from their replacement list (and a Japanese as they maybe wanted to stay in the country if possible) and SkAm invited him. Because the GPs pay for everything, including travel costs. JSF did not send him there actively.

I think that was discussed a lot in the late summer with so many changes in the entries and WDs etc. And how to read the list and who would be on that list etc etc.

 

[surimi]

SkAm for Koshiro was iirc on a very short notice and as it took place on the east coast, people figured that Koshiro in Switzerland was kind of the closest not-maxed-out-on-GP-spots from their replacement list (and a Japanese as they maybe wanted to stay in the country if possible) and SkAm invited him. Because the GPs pay for everything, including travel costs. JSF did not send him there actively.

I think that was discussed a lot in the late summer with so many changes in the entries and WDs etc. And how to read the list and who would be on that list etc etc.

I suppose Feds still have to have some negotiations, and select from a pool. IIRC, upon checking up on skaters' statuses before the beginning of the season, Koshiro was way down the WS list, below 70th, maybe around 60th if we skip all the Russians, or around 50th if we skip the retired/on a break skaters. I think Honda's results were not stellar either. Yet they were chosen and invited by the hosting federations, which means others were skipped. It's hard for me to imagine the hosts randomly chose names from what appears to be a longish list that first time, leaving the reigning 4CC bronze medalist waiting for one more spot, without any contact with JSF; and the cynical me wonders to what extent Kinoshita co-sponsors overseas events and has a say. But believe what you want, far be it from me to try convince others to jump on my bandwagon.

 

[rabidline]

I suppose Feds still have to have some negotiations, and select from a pool. IIRC, upon checking up on skaters' statuses before the beginning of the season, Koshiro was way down the WS list, below 70th, maybe around 60th if we skip all the Russians, or around 50th if we skip the retired/on a break skaters. I think Honda's results were not stellar either. Yet they were chosen and invited by the hosting federations, which means others were skipped. It's hard for me to imagine the hosts randomly chose names from what appears to be a longish list that first time, leaving the reigning 4CC bronze medalist waiting for one more spot, without any contact with JSF; and the cynical me wonders to what extent Kinoshita co-sponsors overseas events and has a say. But believe what you want, far be it from me to try convince others to jump on my bandwagon.

If we want to talk about sponsors and connections and benefits, Kao literally gets the 2022 Japan Open spot when Yuma withdrew last minute because they belong to the same company (Oriental Bio), pretty good deal for Kao, since Japan Open pays a lot for the winning team regardless of their contribution, and back then, Kao was just coming back from an injury that took him out from Worlds and Jr Worlds performance-wise (and coincidentally, just lost to none other than Koshiro at Tokyo Regionals), while half of Team Japan was the reigning World Champions in both disciplines. Kao pulled his weight, but that was literally some easy money while other Japanese skaters are struggling for sponsors or have to get some funding from fans.

Also, yeah, Kao did win 4CC bronze, but do you think JSF was happy to see their first Worlds substitute withdraw last minute (thank God Kazuki is a super sub and was ready despite being called up when he was already on his way to CdP) and got himself injured so seriously? The injury not only prevented Kao to podium at Jr. Worlds which was VERY doable and will guarantee him 2 GP invitations, but worse, Kao (and Lucas, actually) also contributed to Japan losing a Jr. Worlds spot from 3 to 2. And you know in the last few years how JSF treats skaters who lost their spots- it takes years, and JSF losing other skaters until they have no other choice, to get some favor back. See: Mai Mihara and Wakaba Higuchi. So no, I don't think it's favoritism over Koshiro, I just think JSF does nothing to get opportunities for skaters who have costed them a tangible loss like that, unless they're cornered.

But yes, I agree, Koshiro is well-supported by Kinoshita Group (and Colantotte too!). A breath of fresh air, to be honest. Not many sponsors or coaching teams are willing to support skaters who have more artistic potential than scoring potential, so he's lucky to find that.

 

[KiraraChin]

If we want to talk about sponsors and connections and benefits, Kao literally gets the 2022 Japan Open spot when Yuma withdrew last minute because they belong to the same company (Oriental Bio), pretty good deal for Kao, since Japan Open pays a lot for the winning team regardless of their contribution, and back then, Kao was just coming back from an injury that took him out from Worlds and Jr Worlds performance-wise (and coincidentally, just lost to none other than Koshiro at Tokyo Regionals), while half of Team Japan was the reigning World Champions in both disciplines. Kao pulled his weight, but that was literally some easy money while other Japanese skaters are struggling for sponsors or have to get some funding from fans.

Also, yeah, Kao did win 4CC bronze, but do you think JSF was happy to see their first Worlds substitute withdraw last minute (thank God Kazuki is a super sub and was ready despite being called up when he was already on his way to CdP) and got himself injured so seriously? The injury not only prevented Kao to podium at Jr. Worlds which was VERY doable and will guarantee him 2 GP invitations, but worse, Kao (and Lucas, actually) also contributed to Japan losing a Jr. Worlds spot from 3 to 2. And you know in the last few years how JSF treats skaters who lost their spots- it takes years, and JSF losing other skaters until they have no other choice, to get some favor back. See: Mai Mihara and Wakaba Higuchi. So no, I don't think it's favoritism over Koshiro, I just think JSF does nothing to get opportunities for skaters who have costed them a tangible loss like that, unless they're cornered.

But yes, I agree, Koshiro is well-supported by Kinoshita Group (and Colantotte too!). A breath of fresh air, to be honest. Not many sponsors or coaching teams are willing to support skaters who have more artistic potential than scoring potential, so he's lucky to find that.

I think the two things are true and not mutually exclusive. I agree that Kao didn't win any favours with the fed by getting injured right before worlds and underperforming at junior worlds.

However, I don't think Koshiro having more opportunities and sponsors is a coincidence: his late dad (RIP) was a powerful CEO, one of the prominent figures of Japan Inc. I read that, after his death, his business associates vowed to continue supporting Koshiro. So while most skaters come from a more privileged background, I believe Koshiro is particularly lucky in terms of money and family connections, which I suspect helps a lot. LBR this is the way of the world...

 

[rabidline]

However, I don't think Koshiro having more opportunities and sponsors is a coincidence: his late dad (RIP) was a powerful CEO, one of the prominent figures of Japan Inc. I read that, after his death, his business associates vowed to continue supporting Koshiro. So while most skaters come from a more privileged background, I believe Koshiro is particularly lucky in terms of money and family connections, which I suspect helps a lot. LBR this is the way of the world...

As someone who also lost her father when young, the support around Koshiro is definitely something I am grateful for and very much appreciate. All the money in the world cannot bring a father back, no matter how rich he is. And I'm glad he grew up to be a great young man with a healthy mindset towards skating and found the right people for his team- it explains why Stephane particularly has a paternal relationship with Koshiro, too.

Last year, Kazuki and Sena who finished 5th and 6th respectively at Nationals 2021 got assigned to 4CC and one European competition: CdP for Kazuki, Egna Trophy for Sena. I didn't see outrage over those assignments even though both skaters already had 4CC with a diminished field. What Koshiro got as someone who finished 2nd at Nationals 2022 is pretty much the same, with likely a more difficult field at 4CC if the US decides to send their best and Boyang shows up.

As for how he "gets" the other assignments, I will just agree to disagree. It was just a few weeks ago that it was pointed out that maybe Koshiro would like to be assigned as a substitute for Universiade instead of Kosho Oshima and Kazuki Hasegawa, even "lowlier" skaters who seem to have be deemed unworthy of substitute spots, even. So I understand what kind of assignment is "okay" for Koshiro. I will just say that getting assignments can be both good and bad, and I hope everyone will be able to do their best and stay in good health.

 

[surimi]

Last year, Kazuki and Sena who finished 5th and 6th respectively at Nationals 2021 got assigned to 4CC and one European competition: CdP for Kazuki, Egna Trophy for Sena. I didn't see outrage over those assignments even though both skaters already had 4CC with a diminished field. What Koshiro got as someone who finished 2nd at Nationals 2022 is pretty much the same, with likely a more difficult field at 4CC if the US decides to send their best and Boyang shows up.

I can only speak of my 'outrage'. Yes, Sena was another that got both a Challenger and a B event last season. That wasn't fair toward other skaters. AFAIR, Kazuki didn't, CdP was his only smaller event. I wasn't 'outraged' because there was at least a sliver of interest from JSF in assigning to Challengers - and that was despite the pandemic restrictions, which were all but absent this season. Olympic hopefuls Shun and Yuma got Asian Open, Sena and Honda got Austria, Sota and Koshiro got Warsaw.
This year it wasn't six among the best, it was just two. Just when everyone's eager to test their programs to get judge feedback after a rule change. For most, GP 2022 was the first opportunity to learn how international -not Gensan or regionals- judges react to their programs. Super unfair of JSF, whatever prompted them to do that.
The fact remains that the only skater benefiting from two smaller assignments this season, with almost zero competition from fellow top Japanese so medal is almost a given, is Koshiro. So much other coincidence this season - apparent rule change that grants him CS but not to others, some prominent journalist, Wong IIRC, tweeting about Koshiro 'continuing to establish himself' before SA while omiting Sena and Kao entirely... Attribute all of that to his artistry and spectacular behind-closed-doors results if you wish, but it's fairly understandable if some others don't like special treatment for one skater only, and have their own guesses or mistrust.

This year's 4CC is less difficult than WC, especially now that the Russians might be back. Being sent to 4CC as opposed to WC is no punishment if I was a skater of Koshiro's caliber. On the contrary, it's a great opportunity with a bigger medaling (-> WS points) likelihood than WC, and the last missing box in his WS is likely to be filled with a nice number. He'll become the only one among the Japanese men to be able to tick all those boxes, like Camden, Fa, Egadze and others already have. Big events need to be earned through results, so of course not everyone among the top men will be able to tick the first box - but smaller competitions? Especially ones at the start of the season that allow one to set a new SB without the GP event pressure? No sane federation is denying those to their skaters, just JSF this year, and the Chinese.

Now, had all top Japanese skaters received the same opportunities this season in terms of smaller events, I wouldn't have said a word. I do hope JSF acts way more transparent and way more just next season.

 

[KiraraChin]

As someone who also lost her father when young, the support around Koshiro is definitely something I am grateful for and very much appreciate. All the money in the world cannot bring a father back, no matter how rich he is. And I'm glad he grew up to be a great young man with a healthy mindset towards skating and found the right people for his team- it explains why Stephane particularly has a paternal relationship with Koshiro, too.

I am absolutely not saying that Koshiro doesn't deserve support, or that I don't feel sorry for him. Full disclosure, I also lost my dad so I fully sympathise with him. I know what it's like to lose a parent.

What I'm saying is that family connections matter, in Japan and in the rest of world. I don't think it's unreasonable to think that perhaps the support he gets is not entirely because of his skating, considering his background. Does he deserve support? Of course, he's a nice skater who works very hard. But you can't deny he is privileged in certain aspects compared to other Japanese skaters; he has a type of backing that many others don't get. The privilege doesn't erase his personal loss, of course, but it's there and IMO needs to be acknowledged.

I'm also not saying that he ALWAYS get rewarded. Politics isn't black and white and he's just a piece in the fed's chess. But I agree with Surimi that he has been gifted an easier ride compared others in terms of assignments this season.

 

[Sai Bon]

Sooo happy that Kazuki Tomono has a sponsor! Colantotte, which sponsors several other figure skaters (Shoma Uno, Yuma Kagiyama, and Koshiro Shimada - gotta say the company has good taste! )

【フィギュア】友野一希がコラントッテとアドバイザリー契約「さらに成長したい」 - フィギュア : 日刊スポーツ

医療機器メーカーのコラントッテ（本社・大阪市）は2日、フィギュアスケート男子の友野一希（24＝上野芝スケートクラブ）とアドバイザリー契約を締結したと発表した。… - 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

 

[cohkaix]

The ICE 2023 has made the 1st round announcement of skaters:

Shoma Uno
Nathan Chen
JunHwan Cha
Keegan Messing (!!)
Kazuki Tomono
Jason Brown
Kevin Aymoz

Kaori Sakamoto
Mai Mihara

Riku Miura & Ryuichi Kihara

The tour is scheduled between Jul 22nd~ Aug 4th
Official website (Japanese)

 

[rabidline]

Triglav Trophy & Narcisa Cup (April 12-16, Slovenia)
Senior Men: Nozomu Yoshioka, Sumitada Moriguchi
Senior Women: Hana Yoshida, Yuna Aoki (!)
Junior Men: Shunsuke Nakamura, Rio Nakata
Junior Women: Mao Shimada, Haruna Murakami

Source: https://twitter.com/SponichiF/status/1635875763479265282

It's a mix of MF Academy skaters (Yuna Aoki, Rio Nakata) + Kinoshita Academy (everyone else) and Nozomu Yoshioka. Thank you for the correction @denise3lz !

 

[denise3lz]

Yoshioka belongs to neither Kinoshita nor MF.

 

[rabidline]

Japan's assignment for World Team Trophy, to be held on April 13-16, at Tokyo:

Men: Shoma Uno, Kazuki Tomono
Women: Kaori Sakamoto (Team Captain), Mai Mihara
Pairs: Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara
Ice Dance: Kana Muramoto and Daisuke Takahashi

Worlds top 2 finishers for both Men and Women.
Source: https://twitter.com/figure365/status/1640211396112814082