2024-25 Team Japan announcement
- Thread starter cohkaix
- Start date
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2018
I’m not surprised by any of the selections. I was very confused on why Miura got selected for 4CC and not Sato, but I thought Miura was the one going to Asian Winter Games and apparently it’s Sato. Annoyed that Nakamura gets chosen over Nishino, but not surprised at all. Slightly amused at Yoshida getting named an alternate to Worlds over Watanabe. I’m confident that Yamashita will get an assignment later on. She’s also a very early contender for the NHK host spot next season. She’s on her way to returning to international ice.
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2018
I feel like JSF is losing trust on whether Kao can admit he's healthy or not, and if Kao's given the Worlds spot right away, he's not letting that go even if he should. I think that's coloring JSF judgement right now - we'll see if anything changes after 4CC but sending Tatsuya - Kao - Kazuki to 4CC was the right choice IMO. Get Tatsuya out there, and keep Kao and Kazuki at the top of mind of the judges.
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2018
Same, LOL. The one assignment I rolled my eyes at.
- Joined
- May 5, 2018
JSF explained their choice of Tatsuya over Kao: https://hochi.news/articles/20241222-OHT1T51251.html
Machine translation: The candidates for the third spot in the men's category were Tsuboi and Kao Miura (Oriental Bio, Meiji University), who was the third best in the world rankings and season bests among Japanese skaters but finished eighth at the All Japan Championships. Yosuke Takeuchi, figure skating training director at the Japan Skating Federation, explained the reason for Tsuboi's selection, saying, "It was discussed in the training committee and elsewhere. We evaluated him for his performance at this All Japan Championships, and also for his ability to consistently perform great performances, including at the NHK Trophy."
So it was consistency over scoring potential. I suspect Kao's ongoing injury also didn't help his case...
Machine translation: The candidates for the third spot in the men's category were Tsuboi and Kao Miura (Oriental Bio, Meiji University), who was the third best in the world rankings and season bests among Japanese skaters but finished eighth at the All Japan Championships. Yosuke Takeuchi, figure skating training director at the Japan Skating Federation, explained the reason for Tsuboi's selection, saying, "It was discussed in the training committee and elsewhere. We evaluated him for his performance at this All Japan Championships, and also for his ability to consistently perform great performances, including at the NHK Trophy."
So it was consistency over scoring potential. I suspect Kao's ongoing injury also didn't help his case...
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2018
Ah, now I also remembered - Tatsuya and Kao had 2 direct head-to-heads. Nationals of course, but I think NHK Trophy was the killer- it was supposed to be an easy podium for Kao and he lost that to Tatsuya. If it had been any other skater... but both times it's the same guy.
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2020
With this being an Olympic spot season, it makes sense to want consistency over potential bomb skates - Kao and Shun have had many a disaster skate and if Tatsuya and Yuma can be consistent at Worlds, Japan will almost certainly have 3 spots at the Olympics. In another season, they'd probably send Kao because he has a shot at a medal.
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2022
I just saw the Junior Worlds assignment and while I'm also pissed that Shunsuke got selected over Taiga, can't say I'm surprised 
My only silver lining is the fact that Taiga still has 2 more junior seasons, I really really hope he gets to go to JW those 2 times.
And Ami got selected over Ikura
Though it makes me wonder what Ikura will do next season, whether she'll stay junior or move up to senior.
My only silver lining is the fact that Taiga still has 2 more junior seasons, I really really hope he gets to go to JW those 2 times.
And Ami got selected over Ikura
Though it makes me wonder what Ikura will do next season, whether she'll stay junior or move up to senior.
- Joined
- May 4, 2014
I knew Kao was gonna get 4CC...but he really shouldn't~
That child should be left sitting his sorry butt at home to reflect upon his reckless and irresponsible actions
(says the pathetic person who started searching 4CC info immediately after the Men's FS
)
edit: to be fair to myself, I figured Kazuki would also be assigned to 4CC
ShunShun over Taiga...yeah, knew that would happen too
JSF is so predictable...
One more edit: Kao should WD from Universiade and Sota can go instead
That child should be left sitting his sorry butt at home to reflect upon his reckless and irresponsible actions
(says the pathetic person who started searching 4CC info immediately after the Men's FS
)edit: to be fair to myself, I figured Kazuki would also be assigned to 4CC
ShunShun over Taiga...yeah, knew that would happen too
JSF is so predictable...
One more edit: Kao should WD from Universiade and Sota can go instead
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- May 5, 2018
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2018
Full reasons for the selection and the Q&A afterwards as announced by Yosuke Takeuchi is here (you need to machine translate it):
worldfigureskating-web.jp
Yuma and Kaori both declined to be selected for 4CC.
They fully considered that Yuma, Shun and Kao can start the competition in the latter groups at Worlds when making the decision for the Worlds Team - the Kao vs. Tatsuya explanation was further provided in the Q&A session.
世界選手権ほか国際大会派遣選手発表 - WFS-Web ワールド・フィギュアスケートWeb
12月22日までに行われた全日本選手権の結果を受け、世界選手権を含むシーズン後半の国際大会への派遣選手が発表された。全競技が終了した22日夜、代表発表にあたり、日本スケート連盟の竹内洋輔強化部長がメディアへ向けて選考理由を説明した。
worldfigureskating-web.jp
Yuma and Kaori both declined to be selected for 4CC.
They fully considered that Yuma, Shun and Kao can start the competition in the latter groups at Worlds when making the decision for the Worlds Team - the Kao vs. Tatsuya explanation was further provided in the Q&A session.
- Joined
- May 4, 2014
Correct~
The fact that Kao went into the competition admitting his injury wasn't fully healed but said he was training well, in good condition and aiming for the win (which he always says
) but then needing to take painkillers before the SP was what took him outThere was no discussion or made up explanation needed
Tacchan was the easy, obvious choice for the third Men's WC spot as soon as he made the Nats podium
JSF is just trying to protect themselves since Kao has a lot of Japanese fans who attend events to see him and right now they need all the $$$ they can get
- Joined
- May 5, 2018
Yes, and it also explains why Kazuki was selected for 4CC/second alternate over Sota, who has a higher SB/WS.Correct~
The fact that Kao went into the competition admitting his injury wasn't fully healed but said he was training well, in good condition and aiming for the win (which he always says
They know that if something happens they might need the services of the 'pinch hitter god' since their first alternate Kao might not be in a position to step up.
I hope we don't see a repeat of early 2022, with Kao trying to push through assignments whilst visibly in pain... Which was the situation that originated the current, recurring injury right?
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2018
Kao needs to understand that competing with injury only works when a skater has sufficient experience and reputation, both of which he is still extremely lacking at. And I assume that's the message JSF wants to send to him.
To be fair, there were enough bad role models in Japan for this
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2015
I think the selections are fair and fine. It's just impossible to say for sure that one skater will be in better health in March and should deserve a spot over a medalist. At the same time, it's hard to blame anyone, if they know that the injury will not get worse (now do we really know or not) if they compete at Nationals, knowing that without competing, it's most likely they will NOT get assigned to anything.
Would have Kao gotten worlds without competing here ? Probably not. Perhaps 4CC. I have no idea about the medical reports in his case so if he was training well and the injury wasn't going to get any worse, why not ? Cruel sport isn't it ?
I only lifted a curious eyebrow with the junior pairs selection : I understand Japan has three spots for worlds and they should use them. But, their junior team could content at junior worlds and chasing CTES minimums for worlds (I assume they are not assigned to 4CC because they don't have the necessary scores and it's too late to get them ???) relies on competing at least once or twice... AND landing all their SBS passes. They lose a lot of GOE on their pair elements and even Base Value on their twist... so they have to be very clean. Will chasing the senior score tire them more than necessary ahead of junior worlds where they are contenders ?
Would have Kao gotten worlds without competing here ? Probably not. Perhaps 4CC. I have no idea about the medical reports in his case so if he was training well and the injury wasn't going to get any worse, why not ? Cruel sport isn't it ?
I only lifted a curious eyebrow with the junior pairs selection : I understand Japan has three spots for worlds and they should use them. But, their junior team could content at junior worlds and chasing CTES minimums for worlds (I assume they are not assigned to 4CC because they don't have the necessary scores and it's too late to get them ???) relies on competing at least once or twice... AND landing all their SBS passes. They lose a lot of GOE on their pair elements and even Base Value on their twist... so they have to be very clean. Will chasing the senior score tire them more than necessary ahead of junior worlds where they are contenders ?
- Joined
- May 4, 2014
Yes, and it also explains why Kazuki was selected for 4CC/second alternate over Sota, who has a higher SB/WS.
They know that if something happens they might need the services of the 'pinch hitter god' since their first alternate Kao might not be in a position to step up.
I hope we don't see a repeat of early 2022, with Kao trying to push through assignments whilst visibly in pain... Which was the situation that originated the current, recurring injury right?
Yeah, the injury that's currently nagging him was sustained during 2022 4CC after the SP
He skated the FS injured
Too be fair to him, he was 1st alternate to Worlds that year and when Yuzuru withdrew, Kao was supposed to go but ended up declining due to his injury
Then "pinch hitter god" stepped in and stepped up per usual
Declining Worlds that time was easy since he was still competing as a Junior and his main goals for that season was to win the Junior National title (he did) and make the podium at WJC (JSF decided against sending Juniors to compete in JGPs that season)
So instead of withdrawing from Jr Worlds he tried to convince himself (the same way he's trying to do now) that he was in good condition and capable of competing when he clearly wasn't
Bombed the SP, fought hard in the FS but wasn't able to perform nearly as well as expected and ended up 13th overall
Ironically, it was Tacchan who saved JGP spots for the following season by placing 3rd
However, partially due to Kao's stubbornness the boys lost a Jr Worlds spot (Lucas Tsuyoshi Honda placed 14th)
