2025-26 Japanese Pairs and Ice Dance

[Sai Bon]

Prince Mikasa Cup Ice Dancing Competition took place today at Kose Shin-Yokohama Skating Center. Some teams debuted their new programs, icluding Yamashita/Nagata and Shibayama/Kimura.
Here are some photos: https://mainichi.jp/graphs/20260607/mpj/00m/050/144000f/20260607mpj00m050129000p
I'm intrigued by AyuTomo bold costumes and wonder what's the theme of their new free dance. Edit: Apparently it's Black Swan.

Thanks for the adorable photos, cocteautwin!

 

[cocteautwin]

Rika posted a peak of her & Shingo's new programs (without revealing the music). There's also a snippet of their golden waltz.

 

[cocteautwin]

It seems that Atsuhiko Tamura found a new partner - Rikako Fukase. Rikako previously skated with Aru Tateno and Oliver Zhang for Japan and then switched to synchro as a member of Les Supremes of Canada (they even got gold medal at worlds).
I'm excited about this partneship, Atsuhiko is very expressive skater and Rikako certainly has great experience to bring. There's a bit of age difference (she's 28, he's 22) but it makes it even more interesting. She's been seen at IAM Montreal for some time (I saw her at some of Rika's photos and Ye Quan's). I haven't seen any announcement so far but they are entered at Championnats Québécois d'été. It is not cofirmed if they will represent Japan (maybe Canada? - I think it's less likely) but if they do, the field is getting even deeper.

 

[Anna K.]

When should we get a new thread for 2026-27 season?

I guess it's when we get full entry lists for 2026-27 sectionals but... when do we get them?

 

[cocteautwin]

When should we get a new thread for 2026-27 season?

I guess it's when we get full entry lists for 2026-27 sectionals but... when do we get them?

Good question. I think as we already discuss issues related to the news season we could get a new thread.

 

[cocteautwin]

Rika and Shingo are now also entered to Championnats québécois d'été.
https://patinage.qc.ca/wp-content/u...-Liste-des-participants-au-17-juin-14h-V2.pdf

 

[cocteautwin]

Rikako Fukase and Atsuhiko Tamura officially announced their new partnership.
They will represent Japan, as expected.
https://deepedgeplus.kyodonews.jp/news/179437/

 

[cocteautwin]

All my enthusiam for ice dance development in Japan after seeing so many new teams was cooled down when I saw JFS's competition schedule for upcoming season. Only three challenger series events are listed: Kinoshita Cup (Sept), Golden Spin of Zagreb (Dec), Challenge Cup (Feb).
These new teams will have very few chance to compete, increase their scores and get ranking points. Japan has only 3 spots in ice dance at Grand Prix series (all are host spots for domestic comp) and 1 spot at Worlds -this probably won't change anytime soon in the future with such a strategy.

https://www.skatingjapan.or.jp/figure/event/?event_year=2026

 

[DemTuppesSeine]

Challenge Cup is not even a real Challenger. So they won't send ANYONE to NHT? That would be a bummer.

 

[DemTuppesSeine]

We were so lucky with the Japanese entries these last two years...Hana, Mone, Kazuki, Sota, Tatsuya, RikuRyu, UtaMasa...

 

[cocteautwin]

ShoMarin announced they will make their debut at East Japan Sectional in late October so they probably don't intend to fight for one of NHK's spot.

ETA: After double checking, actually it was announced not by themselves but by Hochi News so I'm not sure if the author confirmed it directly with them or just assumed based on other information.

 

[cocteautwin]

Some good reports from today.
Yuna Nagaoka is back on ice, YunaSumi were added to RikuRyu's show lineup.
UtaMasa are in Canada, they took some photos at TCC with local skaters. Choreography? Or maybe visiting on their way to IAMO?
IkuKo potentially also have some special training arrangement planned as they had to give up one of their Destiny performances for that reason.