- Joined
- Mar 22, 2018
All I wanted was to see Rika happy and satisfied and that just happened, she's improving fast but taking care of her health which is the most important thing
2022-23 Japanese Women's Figure Skating
- Thread starter figureskatingandrainbows
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- Joined
- Mar 22, 2018
The juniors by far have been more interesting to me than the seniors
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2018
I'm really praying Mai gets her first gold medal at the grand prix this season 
That is cause their three juniors winners all have 3A. Also, Hana, in theory is a Senior
But, artistically, I just love and prefer Kaori, Rion, Rino (
), and MaiI too, am praying for Mai to do well here. This is a year where she could breakthrough after being overlooked for so many years. All her 3 events, domestically, she scored over 200. So, I’m hoping this consistency, will be rewarded when she competes at her two Grand Prix events and for Nationals.
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2013
JSF has made the decision yesterday that the following skaters will attend 23' FISU Winter World Universiade (Lake Placid, USA):
Kaori Sakamoto
Mai Mihara
Rion Sumiyoshi
(Sub skaters:
Rinka Watanabe
Maria Engawa
Mako Yamashita)
It's good that Kaori and Mai get to compete together!
Kaori Sakamoto
Mai Mihara
Rion Sumiyoshi
(Sub skaters:
Rinka Watanabe
Maria Engawa
Mako Yamashita)
It's good that Kaori and Mai get to compete together!
Kaori and Mai
With Rion joining in, this is an artistic dream team. This is my dream team for Worlds too!
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2018
Very strong team indeed
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2013
The only point of concern is that Winter Universiade is scheduled between Jan 12~22, and 4CC will be Feb 7~12. The schedule is tight, but luckily(?) both events will be in the US.
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2013
Haven't been able to watch much of GP Sheffield yet because of work and stinky time difference, but so so happy for Mai.So happy for Mai
She more than deserves it. Will binge-watch all the free skates after I nail this deadline...
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2018
Congratulations to Mihara for winning her first GP gold! I’ve never enjoyed Mihara’s skating - and I still don’t - but her SP is very good and she needed to be clean to beat Levito. I appreciate her strong competitive nerves. She does get nervous, but she doesn’t let that impact her performances.
I agree that the Japanese junior ladies are outshining the seniors, but I don’t think it’s because of the 3A. Chiba doesn’t have a 3A, for instance, and what I’ve seen from her is better than what Watanabe’s put out and Watanabe has a 3A. I think it’s because a) the juniors just have better overall programs and b) Outside of Sakamoto and Mihara, the seniors this year are either inexperienced newcomers, injured/recovering from injury, or are underperforming.That is cause their three juniors winners all have 3A. Also, Hana, in theory is a Senior
But, artistically, I just love and prefer Kaori, Rion, Rino (
I too, am praying for Mai to do well here. This is a year where she could breakthrough after being overlooked for so many years. All her 3 events, domestically, she scored over 200. So, I’m hoping this consistency, will be rewarded when she competes at her two Grand Prix events and for Nationals.
Hmm.. one could even just stay in the States if assigned to both? Could be an advantage being able to adjust earlier to 4CC not having jetlag and arriving late, risking lost luggage or something.
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2013
Well, good to see Rion and Mai chosen for Universiade after they were snubbed with Challengers. Can one get a SB and world standings points at Universiade? Rion for one could use them. I want a fair approach for both her and Rinka.
So far, the only ones without non-GP events are Rino and Yuhana. Heaven knows they need those points a lot. They (Rino especially) got snubbed again, in favor of Kaori who doesn't need any smaller events...
EDIT, Rino may not be old enough, no idea if she's in university or not as she turned 18 this autumn. But Yuhana is not even a second alternate after Rinka? In favor of Egawa and Mako? Sorry, I don't understand. I know she's graduating this season but...
IMO the juniors are more impressive because of their consistency and scores (junior Korean ladies got shafted, sorry), and because they're still healthy. We'll see who remains impressive two, three years from now on. With the exception of Hana who reminds me of Tomoe's big jumps, I'll watch Wakaba or Rino over the juniors any day. And of course Yuhana: way less TES, but way more personality and expression.
So far, the only ones without non-GP events are Rino and Yuhana. Heaven knows they need those points a lot. They (Rino especially) got snubbed again, in favor of Kaori who doesn't need any smaller events...
EDIT, Rino may not be old enough, no idea if she's in university or not as she turned 18 this autumn. But Yuhana is not even a second alternate after Rinka? In favor of Egawa and Mako? Sorry, I don't understand. I know she's graduating this season but...
IMO the juniors are more impressive because of their consistency and scores (junior Korean ladies got shafted, sorry), and because they're still healthy. We'll see who remains impressive two, three years from now on. With the exception of Hana who reminds me of Tomoe's big jumps, I'll watch Wakaba or Rino over the juniors any day. And of course Yuhana: way less TES, but way more personality and expression.
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If I remember rightly SBs are not obtainable at this competition because it's not open to all competitors (it restricts by age and also university enrolment).
Mai won in 2019 with 220+ points - the scoring was quite fair at that event!
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2014
Congratulations to Mai in her victory. Both her performances were wonderful, but her LP impressed me the most. She gave a truly beautiful and emotionally resonant performance culminating in a stunning change of edge spiral encompassing a vast expanse of the rink, and there was a wide variety of intricate edgework in her footwork and upper body movement with lovely extension, articulation and sophistication attuned to the music.
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2018
Rino's in Senior High School, so she's not an university student eligible for Universiade (so is Mana). You can see it on her ISU profile.
Knowing Yuhana, it's likely she gave the substitute opportunity to Mako as Mako came from the same university, is younger and has even less opportunity competing overseas. Maria Egawa has been performing really well in the National qualifying, she won both her Regionals (over Rion and Rinka) and Sectionals (over Yuna Aoki), so to me the substitute spot is well-earned.
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2013
Okay, thanks for the explanation. I hope you're right about Yuhana.
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2018
Congratulations to Sumiyoshi on winning two bronze medals in her debut Grand Prix! That half a point in GP France turned out to be of the utmost importance, but she should still be proud of winning a medal in that field. Hopefully she lands the 4T soon.
Watanabe also did a great job in holding on. She still has to wait to see what happens next week, but it’s very likely she made it.
Looking at the field in Espoo, the only three competitors that have non-zero chances to qualify for GPF is Gubanova, Rika, and Kawabe. The least unlikely scenario is a Mihara-Gubanova-Hendrickx or Hendrickx-Gubanova-Mihara podium, which will knock Watababe out of the Final.
I’ll be rooting for Mihara to win next week. Beating Hendrickx will make her the only one with two golds which will be a little ironic.
Watanabe also did a great job in holding on. She still has to wait to see what happens next week, but it’s very likely she made it.
Looking at the field in Espoo, the only three competitors that have non-zero chances to qualify for GPF is Gubanova, Rika, and Kawabe. The least unlikely scenario is a Mihara-Gubanova-Hendrickx or Hendrickx-Gubanova-Mihara podium, which will knock Watababe out of the Final.
I’ll be rooting for Mihara to win next week. Beating Hendrickx will make her the only one with two golds which will be a little ironic.
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2018
GP Espoo starts tomorrow and, surprisingly, I’m not nervous for Rika after all. The cartwheel has returned in her SP. She’s also landing 3Lz+2T. I wasn’t expecting these things at all, but I’m still keeping all expectations low. Like in Canada, I just hope she doesn’t hurt herself.
…And gets the SP minimums!
…And gets the SP minimums!
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2018
Her triple flip come back and her 3sal-3toe is getting consistent, she is improving fast
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