2024-25 Japanese Women's Figure Skating

[figureskatingandrainbows]

National Team
As of Strengthening Athletes page released July 1st and update on September 4th, athletes may be added or removed based on GP/international assignments
Special
Kaori Sakamoto (ISU, JSF, GS thread, seeded)
Rena Uezono** (ISU, JSF, GS thread)
Mao Shimada** (ISU, JSF, GS thread, seeded)
Mone Chiba (ISU, JSF, GS thread, seeded)
Rinka Watanabe (ISU, JSF, GS thread)
Hana Yoshida (ISU, JSF, GS thread)
A
Mai Mihara (ISU, JSF, GS thread)
Ikura Kushida** (ISU, JSF)
Rion Sumiyoshi (ISU, JSF, GS thread)
Mako Yamashita (ISU, JSF, GS thread)
Wakaba Higuchi (ISU, JSF, GS thread)
Yuna Aoki (ISU, JSF, GS thread)
Rino Matsuike (ISU, GS thread)
B
Ayumi Shibayama** (ISU, JSF, GS thread)
Yo Takagi** (ISU, JSF)
Haruna Murakami** (ISU, JSF, GS thread)
Riria Kono** (ISU, JSF)
Maria Egawa (JSF)
Kinayu Yokoi (ISU, JSF)
Ami Nakai** (ISU, GS thread)
Mei Okada** (ISU)
Kaoruko Wada** (ISU, GS thread)

Other Skaters thanks Jumping_Bean!
Sae Shimizu* (GS thread, JSF, also pairs skater)
Mana Kawabe (ISU, GS thread)
Rika Kihira (ISU, GS thread)
Yurina Okuno* (ISU)
Ayumi Nakao**
Kei Yamada**
Mayuko Oka**
Reina Kawakatsu**

*denotes likely junior
**denotes senior age-ineligible
--Seeded skaters are the top 3 finishers at Nationals. They automatically qualify for the next years' Nationals. Non-seeded skaters must compete at Regional and Sectional Championships in order to qualify, but may be exempted if an international competition overlaps with Regionals/Sectionals

Notable Jumps
Landed 3A
Rika Kihira
Wakaba Higuchi
Mana Kawabe
Ami Nakai
Hana Yoshida
Mao Shimada
Rinka Watanabe
Landed Quad
Rika Kihira*
Mao Shimada
Rion Sumiyoshi

*domestic / smaller international competition

 

[cohkaix]

Here's the schedule of the upcoming summer competitions (partial):

Aqua Cup Jun 29-30
Kanto Summer Trophy 2024 Aug 2~4
Gensan Summer Cup 2024 Aug 10~13
Kinoshita Trophy 2024 (date TBA)

I'll add the dates to other competitions when they are announced.

 

[tsuyoboogie]

As rumored, Mayuko Oka will now be training at Kinoshita Academy

 

[n1co]

As rumored, Mayuko Oka will now be training at Kinoshita Academy

I have no idea why they took her. She isn't particularly talented and they already have multiple other girls at similar age (Shimada, Murakami, Yamada, Kono, Kawakatsu).

 

[rabidline]

I have no idea why they took her. She isn't particularly talented and they already have multiple other girls at similar age (Shimada, Murakami, Yamada, Kono, Kawakatsu).

Pairs / ice dance prospect.

 

[Sai Bon]

Pairs / ice dance prospect.

Possible partner for Tomoki Kimura?

 

[Bluediamonds09]

Does anyone have a rika kihira update? Is her toe healed enough to do 3lutzes again (toe or foot? I think you have to sickle the foot to do a proper lutz so maybe that injured her toe along with practicing the 4toe?)

 

[soccerjc77]

Any news about Rika Kihira ? Don't have any news since so long.

I hope that she recover her injury well. Wish her the best and hope that she is still skating.

 

[RafaelAstro]

I think she is resting a lot for her injury to fully heal, plus I read while ago somewhere that she was going to stop sharing her injuries updates on social media

 

[Jumping_Bean]

Rika returned to training at TCC three weeks ago, so hopefully, that's a good sign

 

[RafaelAstro]

What's the best for Rika next season? She is not going to get international competitions being now so low at world ranking, she needs to place as high as possible at nationals if she wants to return internationally, she can fight for the nhk spot thou that can help her to get points

 

[n1co]

What's the best for Rika next season? She is not going to get international competitions being now so low at world ranking, she needs to place as high as possible at nationals if she wants to return internationally, she can fight for the nhk spot thou that can help her to get points

Absolute minimum for her next season should be top 8 at nats. It will give her a chance for NHK host spot in Olympic season.
Next option is nats medal. It will give her a chance for 4cc and ensure NHK host spot.

For both she will need all triples stable.

This season NHK host spot will most likely go to Yamashita. Or one of the ladies with 1 GP.

 

[Bluediamonds09]

How are people watching the summer shows in Japan where you sometimes catch glimpses of new programs for the season? Is there a specific youtube channel?

 

[TallyT]

How are people watching the summer shows in Japan where you sometimes catch glimpses of new programs for the season? Is there a specific youtube channel?

I don't know about others, but I keep an eye out for fans in Japan/China livestreaming, or clips shown on social media.

 

[cohkaix]

Here's the schedule of the upcoming summer competitions (partial):

Aqua Cup Jun 29-30
Kanto Summer Trophy 2024 Aug 2~4
Gensan Summer Cup 2024 Aug 10~13
Kinoshita Trophy 2024 (date TBA)

I'll add the dates to other competitions when they are announced.

Updating the schedules of summer competitions as follows:

Aqua Cup Jun 29-30 Result page (with entries published)
Prince Ice Cup Jul 13-15 *New competition, by Kanagawa Skating Federation
Kanto Summer Trophy 2024 Aug 2~4
Gensan Summer Cup 2024 Aug 10~13
Kinoshita Trophy 2024 (date TBA) Aug 3~4

 

[denise3lz]

Price Ice Cup Jul 13-15 *New competition, by Kanagawa Skating Federation

PRINCE

 

[RafaelAstro]

Mana Kawabe didn't get a GP assigment, pretty strange

 

[cohkaix]

24-25 Season GP assignments (as of Jun 10th), Japanese women's:

SA (Oct 18-20)
- Yuna Aoki
- Wakaba Higuchi
- Rinka Watanabe

SC (Oct 25-27)
- Rino Matsuike
- Kaori Sakamoto
- Hanna Yoshida

GP-France (Nov 1-3)
- Wakaba Higuchi
- Mai Mihara
- Rion Sumiyoshi

NHK (Nov 8-10)
- Mone Chiba
- Kaori Sakamoto
- TBD

Finlandia (Nov 15-17)
- Rino Matsuike
- Mai Mihara
- Hanna Yoshida

CoC (Nov 22-24)
- Mone Chiba
- Rion Sumiyoshi
- Rinka Watanabe

NB: the TBD spot (NHK) will be decided by the end of September (assuming via a closed-door trial)

 

[rabidline]

Mana Kawabe didn't get a GP assigment, pretty strange

My guess is Mana got edged out by all the other women assigned because of her lower placement at Japan Nationals (13th) and comparatively very low season's best in 2023-2024 (70th, compared to Rino's 14th, Rion's 15th, Wakaba's 24th, Yuna's 32th and Mai's 33th). Mana does have a decent World Standing (47th compared to Yuna's 76th and Rino's 101st), but I don't think she has enough leverage to be selected compared to the two of them. I think it's probably for the best for Mana to regroup and focus on local competitions this season.

Rino's bronze medal at Skate Canada likely got her 2 GP invitations, her season's best from last year was quite high.

Yuna only getting 1 spot (but not NHK!) is promising. That NHK Trophy selection event is going to be interesting...

 

[cohkaix]

So based on the results from the most recent Nationals, the following skaters may attempt to challenge the NHK spot:

Mako Yamashita (N8)
Yuna Aoki (N9, already has one GP assignment)
Maria Egawa (N11)
Mana Kawabe (N13)
Kinayu Yokoi (N14)

Any other candidate?