2025-26 Japanese Pairs and Ice Dance | Page 3 | Golden Skate

2025-26 Japanese Pairs and Ice Dance

Wow! That is not something I was expecting but it seems like the other posters here were.... Rika was my favorite women's skater of the last ten years. I always thought her biggest weakness was her projection to the audience which seems like a necessary skill for ice dance. However, people learn and grow. I wonder if her fabulous single's technique will translate to ice dance. Anyway, very happy for them. I hope this partnership is successful!
 
Speaking of which, does anyone know / remember where to find this JSF document where they state that they will consider sending skaters to Golden Spin to get their Olympic minimums this year based on East/West Sectional results, with the condition that they have to meet a certain score. I remember Men was 271, Women was 205. But I didn't remember whether they had any clause regarding Ice Dance, because I thought that won't end up as relevant.

Asking because I was reading the Shingo/Rika press conference where it was stated that they were not ruling out getting the 2026 Olympic team event spot.............
 
lileychristie said:
I know we usually call partnerships with the women's name first, but can we call this partnership ShinRika by any chance? 😆

"Shin" with a different kanji (新) means "new" in Japanese, which is very fitting - new Rika! :biggrin:
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Found an article with more remarks from Rika and Shingo during the press conference here:
mainichi.jp

紀平梨花がアイスダンス挑戦　西山真瑚と組み、愛称は「りかしん」 | 毎日新聞

フィギュアスケート女子で2018年グランプリファイナル覇者の紀平梨花選手（トヨタ自動車）がアイスダンスに挑戦し、西山真瑚選手（オリエンタルバイオ）とカップルを結成することになった。29日、2人がオンラインで記者会見し発表した。
mainichi.jp mainichi.jp

Regarding their nicknames, Kihira said, "RikaShin is the most comfortable name for me," and Nishiyama appealed to fans, "I hope you will support us with that name."
Click to expand...

Can't argue with the athletes themselves, so RikaShin it is 😄
 
rabidline said:
Speaking of which, does anyone know / remember where to find this JSF document where they state that they will consider sending skaters to Golden Spin to get their Olympic minimums this year based on East/West Sectional results, with the condition that they have to meet a certain score. I remember Men was 271, Women was 205. But I didn't remember whether they had any clause regarding Ice Dance, because I thought that won't end up as relevant.

Asking because I was reading the Shingo/Rika press conference where it was stated that they were not ruling out getting the 2026 Olympic team event spot.............
Click to expand...
If ice dancing does not win an individual Olympic slot TES 98
 
Just saw something on Facebook and came here to see if it was true - wow, I did not expect Shingo to team up with Rika. I wish them all the best - I've been a fan of Shingo since the AzuShin days. But he's gone through quite a few partners since then, which may not be anyone's fault, but a bit concerning. It's also a shame that there are no women ice dancers in Japan at his level. Has Rika been training ice dance in secret for a while? I think they have their work cut out for them if they want to beat UtaMasa to the Olympic team event spot, but who knows?
 
I am so excited for this team and happy Rika has found a way to continue competing (she was my favorite Japanese skater for many years). It's gonna be hard to get that 2026 spot but more ice dance competition in Japan is much needed and should be fun to follow this season and into the 2030 Olympic season.
 
Greatest and most feared rival of Russian women in last 10 years. I remember a poll amongst users of sports.ru before 2019 Worlds, which she overwhemingly won as a clear favourite. She was and still is respected here as genuine talent, that didn't need lenient judging to beat Russian girls. Wonderful, textbook triple axel and unforgettable "Storm". :love2:

Thanks for single-skating memories and good luck in the new sporting chapter, Rika! :)
 
Sai Bon said:
Just saw something on Facebook and came here to see if it was true - wow, I did not expect Shingo to team up with Rika. I wish them all the best - I've been a fan of Shingo since the AzuShin days. But he's gone through quite a few partners since then, which may not be anyone's fault, but a bit concerning. It's also a shame that there are no women ice dancers in Japan at his level. Has Rika been training ice dance in secret for a while? I think they have their work cut out for them if they want to beat UtaMasa to the Olympic team event spot, but who knows?
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I was a fan of his when he skated with Utana Yoshida, though he did have a tendency to fall in those days.
 
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Hochi reports that Shingo and Rika has been training together since late August:



It makes sense since Rika posted about returning to "Canada" in a late August Instagram post. Previously she would write about returning to "Toronto" when she goes to TCC and train there, but this was combined with her never posting anything about singles skating since then until the announcement.

 
According to ISU Communication No 2732, the combined TES minimums to participate in competitions are:

JWC 2026:
Combined minimum TES score for Ice Dance: 71
Combined minimum TES score for Pair Skating: 63

4CC and Olympic Winter Games 2026:
Combined minimum TES score for Ice Dance: 85
Combined minimum TES score for Pair Skating: 75

WC 2026:
Combined minimum TES score for Ice Dance: 98
Combined minimum TES score for Pair Skating: 91

According to the Communication, the required Combined Total Elements Score (SP/RD + FS/FD) to participate in Senior ISU Championships (ISU European Figure Skating Championships, ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships and ISU World Figure Skating Championships) can only be obtained in Senior International Competitions.

The new dancers have something to work on...
 
Anna K. said:
4CC and Olympic Winter Games 2026:
Combined minimum TES score for Ice Dance: 85
Combined minimum TES score for Pair Skating: 75
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JSF won't send any of the dance teams to get these minimums if they don't break 98 TES in the domestic Nationals qualifying in front of their own domestic judges....
 
rabidline said:
JSF won't send any of the dance teams to get these minimums if they don't break 98 TES in the domestic Nationals qualifying in front of their own domestic judges....
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I always wonder how much their domestic judges really know about ice dance tbh... Fingers crossed for both teams Ikuko and Rikashin to get a chance to compete internationally this season. Realistically, 4CC could be within reach if federation give them a chance (which I doubt).
 
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rabidline said:
JSF won't send any of the dance teams to get these minimums if they don't break 98 TES in the domestic Nationals qualifying in front of their own domestic judges....
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I kind of see the logic: UtaMasa have the minimum TES 98. There is only a reason to consider sending anybody else to Games or other big internationals if they are better or at least the same level.

cocteautwin said:
I always wonder how much their domestic judges really know about ice dance tbh... Fingers crossed for both teams Ikuko and Rikashin to get a chance to compete internationally this season. Realistically, 4CC could be within reach if federation give them a chance (which I doubt).
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The dance judges in Japan know the same that dance judges know everywhere. They all attend ISU seminars and are trained by the same ISU mentors (who actually developed ISU rules).
 
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