This is what i thought about first. But then i read the first sentence again and the other translations i found (as this https://mobile.twitter.com/shomagravity/status/1607055157774413824). Imo he wasn't talking about not being named for 4CC.
The fact that it literally could be any of these things is why his comment is absolutely nothing to be concerned about. Even if he straight out said, Koshiro should have been selected I wouldn’t have been concerned. We express our stupid opinions on public websites all the time, the Russian coaches make offensive comments about literally every event that occurs, skaters can state their more informed opinions anytime they want imho.
the horror) So, the bar for being offended by skaters that aren’t are favorites is pretty low. 
The selection is fine but so is objecting to it. (I don’t particularly object because honestly I’m not a particular fan of either Sota or Koshiro). It isn’t a particularly normal choice for JSF even if it’s not unprecedented. I think in the past , like 2019, the skaters who are passed over were completely inexperienced on the Senior level or were passed over for skaters with World or a Olympic medals. This is a departure for JSF because neither of those things is true in this case. I wonder if it signals they will start making more regular “strategic” decisions in the future. I’m fine with any selection process as long as skaters understand what the procedures are and those rules are followed consistently.
Good to refresh some memories. Especially for the surprised ones.
That's totally possible, and frankly I think the change in decision-making and politicking is for the best. I wonder if they were basically traumatised with what happened in Ladies last season, because they got a lot of backlash for not choosing Mai and sticking with Mana just to end up with disappointing performances and a real risk of losing a spot for their home worlds. No shade intended towards Mana, of course, she's young and it *was* a lot of pressure.
I myself misunderstood the 2nd/3rd place part of the criteria. I interpreted that as 2nd/3rd of eligible athletes, not necessarily podium placement. This is a perfectly reasonable misunderstanding, especially considering how JFed did things in the past. It also plays a significant part for the ladies’ field, but not the men. That exact same criteria is also for the Junior Worlds selection. Why? The other stuff is pretty cut and dried. It’s the weight of the certain criteria (i.e, world standings weighted more than season’s), and the narrow specification that’s a serious problem.
Oh, I didn’t forget. I mentioned Tanaka vs Kagiyama several times this year. I agreed with not sending Kawabata to Worlds. There’s no reason when she’s inconsistent, had little to no senior experience and only narrowly beat Miyahara, who is consistent and a reliable top 5 bet at Worlds at the time. But I sounded off big time when Tanaka was chosen over Kagiyama. Kagiyama may have had little senior experience, but he already surpassed many of the senior men at that point. And Tanaka’s international results - particularly those at Worlds - were mediocre. He also beat Tanaka by a large margin. Tanaka was not the safer choice and clearly not the best. They choose Tanaka because Kagiyama was a top junior at the time and favorite for the JW title. And thus, he would have to go to both Junior and Senior Worlds.
I have no issue with the men’s team. I’m surprised by the choice, but I don’t disagree. Yamamoto over Shimada is fine. Any other federation would have done the same thing, except for Japan until now and Korea. It’s when you start thinking too hard about the criteria and the idea that any combination of the top 6 could accompany Uno to Worlds is when the issues pop up.
I don't think it's a problem, per se. The National champion always qualifies. As for the 2nd and 3rd spot, they are included in a pool of eligible athletes, and the fed is free to choose the team they think is best.
I actually thought she wouldn't make the free when i saw how bad she bombed the SP.
I really don’t think JFed intended to shaft Kawabe by not naming her to 4CC. It looks bad because the men’s team is different, but I think it was more about Watanabe, not Kawabe. A few months ago on here, I said Watanabe won’t be selected for Worlds because she’s not among the top five ladies in Japan (and I didn’t include the juniors when I wrote that). I was wrong about her Worlds selection, but I was right about her standing in Japan.
This is incorrect. Keiji qualified for selection by being ranked in the Top 3 in ISU standings at the time.
figureskate.click
If they changed Ikura Kushida spot for Mone Chiba at junior grand prix selections because Mone scored better than Ikura then why they don't apply the same with nationals results, or apply the same with 4cc results, it's so stupid how they have rules but at the same time don't, what it's more important? Follow the rules you have that are not the best ones, or save spots and get medals at world events? Where is the common sense?
I do like Shoma a lot and yet I do not like his comment.The fact that it literally could be any of these things is why his comment is absolutely nothing to be concerned about. Even if he straight out said, Koshiro should I have been selected I wouldn’t have been concerned. We express our stupid opinions on public websites all the time, the Russian coaches make offensive comments about literally every event that occurs, skaters can state their more informed opinions anytime they want imho.
But, a few months ago people were upset when Alexia Knierim smiled after she won an event. (
In my opinion, inviting skater under 15 to senior Nationals is a big mistake, in every country. Senior Nationals is held primarily to determine senior international team spots, and people who are not eligible for those spots should not be there. It makes a mess and there's no point. It doesn't benefit the juniors in any real way and it sabotages the older girls. Mone could have made the podium here, and met the criteria for Worlds. Rinka should go to Worlds because she's the only one who qualified. But why was that the case? The federation could have given themselves the freedom to chose between her and whoever came third. But by inviting the juniors, they were risking third going to someone too young and not having another option, and that's what happened. It's an issue, as you say, but one with a very simple solution. Skaters go to junior nationals to be considered for junior teams, and to senior nationals for senior teams.
You're all over the place here. You argue that having open participation disadvantages both junior and seniors, then mention a junior (Mone) that was only invited to this competition by virtue of her status and performance as a junior being unfairly being passed over for senior worlds due to the placement of another junior.
Thank you for writing this, it's exactly how I feel too. I saw today that JSF announced it has held meetings separately with each of the skaters involved and their teams, in which they explained their criteria for selection. There is no change in the assignments so we can assume the meetings were successful and everyone understood.
