2024-25 Japanese Women's Figure Skating

[denise3lz]

Yuna Aoki's SB is 10th highest of Japanese women senior age eligible for next season.
I think she have to score at least more than 188.54 (9th highest Yo Takagi) at NHK to remain GPS.

 

[YuBluByMe]

Heh. So uh…who wants to tell her?

 

[RafaelAstro]

Congratulations to Kaori, Mone and Yuna for the second sweep at home as expected, congratulations especially to Kaori because I'm from those people that actually love Kaori's program as I actually love "all that jazz" and she has the expresion to interpret this, it's an energetic and fun program only she can pull it off right now

 

[YuBluByMe]

Jumping off on the above post:

And eight - out of nine - ladies on the GP medalled! They’re on fire this season.

 

[Joekaz]

Jumping off on the above post:

And eight - out of nine - ladies on the GP medalled! They’re on fire this season.

I believe Mihara is the only one that doesn't have one. But she isn't 100% back from injury, and I'm sure she didn't expect to medal.

 

[Anna K.]

Yuna Aoki's SB is 10th highest of Japanese women senior age eligible for next season.
I think she have to score at least more than 188.54 (9th highest Yo Takagi) at NHK to remain GPS.

She scored 195.07, actually. But the season isn't over yet.

Even though I am secretly expecting, uhm... expecting things to come from Yo Takagi, I am team Yuna Aoki this time. Her GP campaign has been such a fairy tale this and the previous season, I want it to continue.

 

[RafaelAstro]

I believe Mihara is the only one that doesn't have one. But she isn't 100% back from injury, and I'm sure she didn't expect to medal.

I'm still hoping she gets a medal in finland, if she feels better she may do it since Isabeau and Loena withdrew

 

[Jeanie19]

I'm still hoping she gets a medal in finland, if she feels better she may do it since Isabeau and Loena withdrew

I love Mai and it would be awesome if she gets a medal.

 

[YuBluByMe]

She scored 195.07, actually. But the season isn't over yet.

Even though I am secretly expecting, uhm... expecting things to come from Yo Takagi, I am team Yuna Aoki this time.

The season isn’t over, but Aoki should be fine next season.

But Takagi should stay junior. Not because she isn’t talented but because there isn’t a place for her right now in seniors. Literally. The GP spots were already maxed out this season (though if I recall, Aoki’s two spots were host + replacement) and next season Nakai’s going senior. She’s already getting at least one GP spot next season because of her SB, regardless of JGPF and JW results.

At the end of the day, only top 12 at Worlds are guaranteed two spots. Top 24 SB and top 24 WS are only guaranteed one, but it just so happens they get two, especially if the skater is on both lists. But next season there’s going to be too many ladies and not enough spots so someone with two spots this season is only getting one.

Takagi is not one of the nine Japanese ladies currently in the top 24 SB. And, being a junior, she’s not one of the five in the top 24 WS. The most she could hope for is a host spot, a Challenger or a senior B. Also, Takagi’s not a top three junior, not even nationally, so she’s going to struggle anyway going into seniors. Next season’s the Olympic season. She would do better just staying in juniors one more year and try to make the JW team. Then go senior post-Olympic year. A few skaters will be retired by then.

 

[Joekaz]

The season isn’t over, but Aoki should be fine next season.

But Takagi should stay junior. Not because she isn’t talented but because there isn’t a place for her right now in seniors. Literally. The GP spots were already maxed out this season (though if I recall, Aoki’s two spots were host + replacement) and next season Nakai’s going senior. She’s already getting at least one GP spot next season because of her SB, regardless of JGPF and JW results.

At the end of the day, only top 12 at Worlds are guaranteed two spots. Top 24 SB and top 24 WS are only guaranteed one, but it just so happens they get two, especially if the skater is on both lists. But next season there’s going to be too many ladies and not enough spots so someone with two spots this season is only getting one.

Takagi is not one of the nine Japanese ladies currently in the top 24 SB. And, being a junior, she’s not one of the five in the top 24 WS. The most she could hope for is a host spot, a Challenger or a senior B. Also, Takagi’s not a top three junior, not even nationally, so she’s going to struggle anyway going into seniors. Next season’s the Olympic season. She would do better just staying in juniors one more year and try to make the JW team. Then go senior post-Olympic year. A few skaters will be retired by then.

I think Mai Mihara will retire after this season. At this point she is just blocking other girls for no reason if she doesn't.

 

[Joekaz]

She scored 195.07, actually. But the season isn't over yet.

Even though I am secretly expecting, uhm... expecting things to come from Yo Takagi, I am team Yuna Aoki this time. Her GP campaign has been such a fairy tale this and the previous season, I want it to continue.

Aoki is a little like Satoko, beautiful to watch, but very dependent on a lenient tech caller.

 

[YuBluByMe]

I think Mai Mihara will retire after this season. At this point she is just blocking other girls for no reason if she doesn't.

If she returns to form, she has a realistic shot to make the Olympics team. I don’t think she’s taking opportunities away from anyone. Most of the Japanese women are set and they’re outscoring her. The second half of this season will determine a lot of things. She probably won’t make the Worlds team, but if she’s top 6 at Nationals, she’ll get 4CC.

If not, then I’m thinking that Mihara’s the one that will be on the chopping block next season. Meaning she’s the one getting one spot. She got two GP spots because of her WS (not SB), which will lower once 2022-23 results are removed. Things can change, but she needs to do well at Nationals so she’ll get late-season international opportunities to improve her WS.

 

[RafaelAstro]

I think we won't see skaters retire after this season but after olympic season and I can totally see Kaori Sakamoto, Wakaba Higuchi, Mai Mihara and Yuna Aoki to be the ones retiring

 

[Joekaz]

If she returns to form, she has a realistic shot to make the Olympics team. I don’t think she’s taking opportunities away from anyone. Most of the Japanese women are set and they’re outscoring her. The second half of this season will determine a lot of things. She probably won’t make the Worlds team, but if she’s top 6 at Nationals, she’ll get 4CC.

If not, then I’m thinking that Mihara’s the one that will be on the chopping block next season. Meaning she’s the one getting one spot. She got two GP spots because of her WS (not SB), which will lower once 2022-23 results are removed. Things can change, but she needs to do well at Nationals so she’ll get late-season international opportunities to improve her WS.

Even if she returns to form, if the seeming current crack down on under rotation continues, I doubt she will be a factor. But its up to her how long to stay

 

[cohkaix]

Aoki is a little like Satoko, beautiful to watch, but very dependent on a lenient tech caller.

That's not fair to say so, if you just watch one or two GP to make a judgement on that. Yuna was able to make it to the GP, and I think the main reason is her decision to change the coach team to MF Academy a couple years ago. Her jumps may not be as stable as other top level skaters (mostly because she can't do a 3T in combination). But throughout her domestic competitions, she's been getting higher PCS comparing to other skaters in the same competition, which says something about skating quality.

I never get the point of comparing Yuna with Satoko, for me, they're different styles of skaters.

 

[Joekaz]

That's not fair to say so, if you just watch one or two GP to make a judgement on that. Yuna was able to make it to the GP, and I think the main reason is her decision to change the coach team to MF Academy a couple years ago. Her jumps may not be as stable as other top level skaters (mostly because she can't do a 3T in combination). But throughout her domestic competitions, she's been getting higher PCS comparing to other skaters in the same competition, which says something about skating quality.

I never get the point of comparing Yuna with Satoko, for me, they're different styles of skaters.

Because PCS is both of their strength and rotating jumps is both of their weakness.

 

[readernick]

That's not fair to say so, if you just watch one or two GP to make a judgement on that. Yuna was able to make it to the GP, and I think the main reason is her decision to change the coach team to MF Academy a couple years ago. Her jumps may not be as stable as other top level skaters (mostly because she can't do a 3T in combination). But throughout her domestic competitions, she's been getting higher PCS comparing to other skaters in the same competition, which says something about skating quality.

I never get the point of comparing Yuna with Satoko, for me, they're different styles of skaters.

They are very different styles of skaters. I agree. Mone is more like Satoko, actually. Very feminine, very light, very classic. Although, for me, Mone's skating just leaves me cold while Satoko's skating moved me.

Yuna's style of skating is very different. Her SS are obviously wonderful, but it isn't just that. It is her incredible attention to each nuance of the music in every movement. No one else is hitting the musical accents like Yuna does in the women's field right now. Yes, her jump rotations are a problem (but it isn't an issue of lack of height in her jumps which was Satoko's problem), but she's incredible. Her intrepretation and performance at the best in the world imho.

 

[Joekaz]

They are very different styles of skaters. I agree. Mone is more like Satoko, actually. Very feminine, very light, very classic. Although, for me, Mone's skating just leaves me cold while Satoko's skating moved me.

Yuna's style of skating is very different. Her SS are obviously wonderful, but it isn't just that. It is her incredible attention to each nuance of the music in every movement. No one else is hitting the musical accents like Yuna does in the women's field right now. Yes, her jump rotations are a problem (but it isn't an issue of lack of height in her jumps which was Satoko's problem), but she's incredible. Her intrepretation and performance at the best in the world imho.

I could have swore I said Yuna was a little like Satoko because they are beautiful skaters, but need lenient callers. I don't know how that simple statement can get so misunderstood or be controversial at all. Lol

 

[CopyCat]

I think Mai Mihara will retire after this season. At this point she is just blocking other girls for no reason if she doesn't.

I think this is Mai's last season too. I hate to say it, but I don't see a future for her in this sport anymore. I don't think she's "blocking" anyone, though. It's not like she's taking assignments away from Japanese skaters who are better than her.

 

[RafaelAstro]

Let's remember Mai has to deal with a chronic disease, that's a factor that have been affecting her almost all her carrer, I seriously admire her for what she has done in this sport under such a bad condition it's amazing she's still skating and jumping triples-triples, she skates because she loves to and people loves to watch her, not for medals, so in the end it's to her the decision to continue as long as she wants, she is not blocking anyone since she got her grand prix assigments fairly based on world ranking, she will lost her international competitions when someone begins to score better than her domestically and internationally