2025-26 Japanese Women's Figure Skating

[Anna K.]

...so the draft of the next year’s Supported Athletes List looks like (correct me if I miscalculated something):


Mao Shimada (Jr Champion)
Mone Chiba (Sr medalist)
Ami Nakai (Sr top 12, GP assignments)
Juna Aoki (Sr top 12)
Mayuko Oka (Jr medalist)
Rinka Watanabe (Sr top 12, GP assignments)
Saki Miyake (Sr top 12)
Rino Matsuike (Sr top 12, GP assignments)
Mana Kawabe (Sr top 12)
Mei Okada (Jr medalist)
Mako Yamashita (Sr top 12)
Sumika Kanazawa (Jr top 8)
Yo Takagi (Sr top 12)
Rion Sumiyoshi (Sr top 12, GP assignments)
Kaoruko Wada (Sr top 12)
Ikura Kushida (Jr top 8, Ice Dance)
Haruna Murakami (Jr top 8)
Kei Yamada (Jr top 8)

Not sure what happens to Hana Yoshida. Can a current A-group supported athlete drop out of everything based on bad results?
Then, there is the talented junior skater Rena Uezono. What happens to her?

 

[Arigato]

It was a strange decision by the JSF to leave Rinka out of the Olympic team. She was one of the only ones who could compete with <> quads.

She didn't even make the top 5 at Nationals. Hardly a strange decision. . .

 

[rabidline]

Not sure what happens to Hana Yoshida. Can a current A-group supported athlete drop out of everything based on bad results?
Then, there is the talented junior skater Rena Uezono. What happens to her?

Yes, a current A-group in development funding can drop out next season based on bad results. It's how it works and it's why Japanese Nationals is a very important competition for Japanese skaters.

For Hana, based on Nationals results, she won't be eligible for funding. But, if based on her World Standings she is invited for the GP series by other Feds (possible, Japanese skaters always a crowd favorite but at the same time if she doesn't have her jumps she wouldn't be much of a threat), or she isn't and she wins the NHK host spot, she will get upgraded by JSF to a suitable funding group (either A or B) after her GP invitation/spot is confirmed, I assume to cover her competition costs.

For Rena Uezono, it just means that she needs to climb her way up like other skaters do by qualifying to Japan Nationals through regionals and sectionals. If she places well at Nationals she'll get funding (confirmed as per the rules) and possible international assignments (not always confirmed). This season she did the qualifying competitions to qualify for Junior Nationals, where she finished 20th.

 

[rabidline]

You're right. It will be just much easier for Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn and Adelia Petrosian to make the podium at the Olympic.

I disagree. I think the opposite, both Russia and US would love to have Rinka at the Olympics because... well, she doesn't have the reputation to get all her jumps called clean and good components. Which makes it easier for their women to go over Rinka, meaning there's only 2 Japanese girls left to overcome. Meanwhile both Mone and Ami have beaten all of Amber and Alysa and Kaori individually.

 

[Arigato]

You're right. It will be just much easier for Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn and Adelia Petrosian to make the podium at the Olympic.

I couldn't care less what may be easier or more difficult for X,Y or Z. This is a sport. People make the Olympic team who deserve to be there based on objective criteria set forth by their respective organizations.

 

[cohkaix]

Then, there is the talented junior skater Rena Uezono. What happens to her?

Rena made a change of her coach team. She's now training in Kobe, under Coach Nakano and Graham (Kaori's coaching team). Undergoing the growing sprouts recently, Rena's still adjusting to everything. But hopefully she'll make a strong come back in the next couple of seasons!

 

[macy]

I guess this is the right thread to say a few words about the girls who did not make it to the J-Nats free skate. Normally it should have been "good job, come back stronger" to all of them... But then there is Hana Yoshida

Hana was having a bad season but now it's becoming just tragic. What's next? Will she lose next year's GP assignment? If so, it will be very hard to fight back.
I am not ready to lose her. She has such a cool personality and her programs are always interesting to watch

Sae Shimizu is... It's just heartache
For two years, she invested in pairs skating only to discover that it was not her thing. Now, this is another blow to her confidence.
At least, there is some light at the end of the tunnel because she has been cast for the next edition of Kassuoya. I really like it because imo she has a potential to become a great performer.

The third girl is Miai Mori. I never knew she existed. It was a nice surprise. What a body complexion, light and airy, like an elf on ice! I really liked her short program and I started looking forward to watching her long... Which just didn't happen because she screwed up her combo
I understand though that this is her All Japan debut. Hopefully, it will motivate her rather then upset her. I hope so because I really want to see more of her.

do we know what's going on with Hana? its really tough to see her struggle so much. she was doing so well before this season. i hope she takes some time to regroup, rest, and come back strong next season.

 

[YuBluByMe]

It is, and they should try to. I don't think it'll happen though.

Too early and all, but USA can go first in all disciplines but Pairs. Japan can really only definitely be first in Pairs.

If the US sends Ilia for both segments, that's likely the maximum points for Men there and then, and then ID with C/B too.

Women might be a fight and close, but Alysa and Amber likely won't finish lower than 3rd, and could even win whichever segment they're sent to. It's only Pairs that Japan will 100% win both segments on.

I just did the math and Japan is the only country that can challenge the US for gold but only if US uses the second switch for ice dance instead of women. If C/B don’t skate both segments, it’s actually going to be very close barring disasters in the SP for singles or pairs in Japan’s case.

I’m sure US did the math too and will be switching out the women instead. But I’m still hoping for a little stupidity on their part so Japan can strut through the open door and snatch an upset gold.

 

[yfan1]

I’m sure US did the math too and will be switching out the women instead. But I’m still hoping for a little stupidity on their part so Japan can strut through the open door and snatch an upset gold.

I think they ought to have, but if they're really sticking with Ilia dropping out after the SP, then they're going to lose for sure. It'll literally go Japan 1/1 in Pairs, lose out in ID, 1/2 or 2/1 in women, and then 2+1 in men - and that'll be enough because Jason won't place too high in men, and US Pairs will cancel out Japan's ID.

It's not really about which team I'm rooting for, as much as how dumb the TE tends to be and I don't wish for it to be. Or if teams continue being dumb about it, then hoping it gets dropped altogether, because it's just not fun to watch a fluff event at the Olympics.

Not the thread for this, I'm sure.

 

[Anna K.]

do we know what's going on with Hana? its really tough to see her struggle so much. she was doing so well before this season. i hope she takes some time to regroup, rest, and come back strong next season.

I don't know what she says about it but her body has visibly changed. So I guess it's that... the period of adjustment, you know.

 

[RafaelAstro]

Hana Yoshida is one of the skaters who has grown the most over the past few years, just look at her in the 2017–18 season with 14 years old. I’m actually impressed by how she managed to stay competitive in recent seasons with her technique. Yes, she had some meltdowns here and there, but she was consistent enough to reach the podium and even win gold medals. She may be dealing with injuries, growth spurts, and technical adjustments right now. I hope Mie can help her and that this doesn’t become another case of a wasted skater. She might consider changing coaches if there are no results next season. I just hope she doesn’t retire because I love her skating, and when she lands her triple Axel, it’s one of the most impressive and beautiful in the field.

 

[YuBluByMe]

Yoshida’s been struggling with her jumps for awhile now, not just this season. It’s just that she always managed to get good results despite that until now. I believe she’s injured right now so the already existing struggle got ten times worse. The way she fights against her jumps reminds me of Kawabe actually. I don’t feel as if she’s going to retire, though, but struggling like that at this point in her career is never a good thing.

I did get retirement vibes from both Watanabe and Sumiyoshi. The latter is currently my favorite ladies skater so a retirement announcement from her will sting. She did well enough early in the season for two GP assignments next year so I hope she continues.

It’s not just Sumiyoshi, though; I’m worried about retirements in general. More than half the top 10 at Nationals were 22-26 years old, which is retirement range for the ladies. That’s an awful lot of over-20s that have/could/would win medals at a GP or major championship. (Japan might be unique in that actually.) And I feel like there won’t be enough ladies coming in from seniors at the same level next year. Only Shimada I think.

 

[rabidline]

Yoshida’s been struggling with her jumps for awhile now, not just this season. It’s just that she always managed to get good results despite that until now. I believe she’s injured right now so the already existing struggle got ten times worse. The way she fights against her jumps reminds me of Kawabe actually. I don’t feel as if she’s going to retire, though, but struggling like that at this point in her career is never a good thing.

I was following discussions from Chinese fans and they speculated that Hana going to college starting this season may have had an impact on training and practicing effectively, hence the results. But also she does remind me of Mana Kawabe and I think we know what (or who) connects them both.

My speculations right now is that her training load to be able to maintain her jumps has always been a bit unsustainable and so having college on top of it was the straw the broke the camel's back. I just hope she doesn't go past the point of no return (like Rika Kihira) and be able to regroup like some of her peers did after a low period.

I did get retirement vibes from both Watanabe and Sumiyoshi. The latter is currently my favorite ladies skater so a retirement announcement from her will sting. She did well enough early in the season for two GP assignments next year so I hope she continues.

It’s not just Sumiyoshi, though; I’m worried about retirements in general. More than half the top 10 at Nationals were 22-26 years old, which is retirement range for the ladies. That’s an awful lot of over-20s that have/could/would win medals at a GP or major championship. (Japan might be unique in that actually.) And I feel like there won’t be enough ladies coming in from seniors at the same level next year. Only Shimada I think.

I really hope you're wrong about Rion Sumiyoshi. I perceive her Nationals results as being completely overwhelmed by the occasion- she's a pretty awful Nationals competitor and the tension probably didn't help. I hope she stays because she's an internationally known senior already, and I still think she can do more.

It's really Rinka that I think is close to her limit, because her weakness is skating skills and that's just not going to improve that much while competing on a senior level. But I do love her improved performance style, so I hope she stays for a couple more years.

 

[Anna K.]

But also she does remind me of Mana Kawabe and I think we know what (or who) connects them both.

Who?

 

[yfan1]

Hamada.

 

[RafaelAstro]

With the minimum age now set at 17, I can see ladies staying competitive until around 25, depending on how well their bodies hold up. However, this depends largely on each skater’s individual plans. I can also see federations trying to persuade some skaters to continue competing, since transitioning to the senior level has become more difficult.
Next season, Mao Shimada and Haruna Murakami will turn senior, but only Mao is a lock for Grand Prix assignments. The following season, Rena Uezono and Kaoruko Wada will also move up to seniors, but they are currently not at a strong level due to growth spurts and still need time to catch up.
Yo Takagi is already senior-eligible, as is Ikura Kushida, but neither is quite at the required level, and Ikura is now more focused on her ice dance team. Ayumi Shibayama, sadly, switched to ice dance due to injuries.

 

[Sai Bon]

The thing is, Mao Shimada is senior next season and nobody (junior or senior) can beat her at this point. I guess it might still be worth continuing if all you want is a chance to compete in the Grand Prix series. I just wish that girls (and boys too) are encouraged to try ice dance/pairs before they end up struggling in the middle of the pack in singles so that they have the basic skills down before doing junior and senior competitions. At the moment, with a few notable exceptions, singles skaters are switching disciplines relatively late in their careers, and although it's worked out incredibly well for some, just imagine how amazing they could be if they had started earlier. But it will take a generation or two before skaters see pairs/ice dance as a valid alternative, not just something you do because you're not a great jumper.

 

[4Lo+3A+SEQ]

With the minimum age now set at 17, I can see ladies staying competitive until around 25, depending on how well their bodies hold up. However, this depends largely on each skater’s individual plans. I can also see federations trying to persuade some skaters to continue competing, since transitioning to the senior level has become more difficult.
Next season, Mao Shimada and Haruna Murakami will turn senior, but only Mao is a lock for Grand Prix assignments. The following season, Rena Uezono and Kaoruko Wada will also move up to seniors, but they are currently not at a strong level due to growth spurts and still need time to catch up.
Yo Takagi is already senior-eligible, as is Ikura Kushida, but neither is quite at the required level, and Ikura is now more focused on her ice dance team. Ayumi Shibayama, sadly, switched to ice dance due to injuries.

Kaoruko will be senior eligible next season! My guess is she’ll stay junior though

 

[RafaelAstro]

The thing is, Mao Shimada is senior next season and nobody (junior or senior) can beat her at this point. I guess it might still be worth continuing if all you want is a chance to compete in the Grand Prix series. I just wish that girls (and boys too) are encouraged to try ice dance/pairs before they end up struggling in the middle of the pack in singles so that they have the basic skills down before doing junior and senior competitions. At the moment, with a few notable exceptions, singles skaters are switching disciplines relatively late in their careers, and although it's worked out incredibly well for some, just imagine how amazing they could be if they had started earlier. But it will take a generation or two before skaters see pairs/ice dance as a valid alternative, not just something you do because you're not a great jumper.

IMO Haruna should have stayed as a pair skater

 

[Anna K.]

IMO Haruna should have stayed as a pair skater

Pairs skating needs smaller girls. I'm afraid that there has been too much physical growing from Haruna. And she might grow even more. Visually, there is still a bit of chunkiness around so she might add a few centimeters in height as she grows into proportion.

I liked her as a pair skater though. If only she could find a really big guy to partner with... I would love her return to pairs discipline