2025-26 Japanese Women's Figure Skating

[YuBluByMe]

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.

I think Murakami should definitely stay junior. She has a lot of improving to do as she’s barely competitive even at the junior level. I agree with your comment further down about her in pairs. If I recall, she didn’t stick with Moriguchi because he was too old and she too young. This was probably a blessing in disguise as he fits better with Nagaoka as she’s a better skater. I think she would have stuck with pairs otherwise.

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.

Wada is age-eligible next season along with Shimada but there’s no reason for her to move up right now if she’s still struggling. If she’s healthy, then absolutely. She can be just as good as Chiba, to be honest. Her skating skills are so so good.

I think it’s probably too early to tell about Uezono. The growth spurt hit her hardest!

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.

Is Kushida more focused on ice dance, though? I could’ve sworn I read something from her after Nationals about competing as a singles skater next season. And her comments made it sound like ice dance was actually the secondary option.

My heart wants her to continue in singles. My brain tells me that she will be much more successful in ice dance. With Shimada, though. Both my heart and brain are already objecting to the idea of her skating with anyone else.

 

[rabidline]

Rinka Watanabe announces... she will continue competing for the next 4 years

 

[elektra blue]

you tell them, Rinka

 

[RafaelAstro]

If she stays healthy and consistent then next season could be a good one for her

Edit: I hope Yuna Aoki, Rion Sumiyoshi, Mako Yamashita and Rino Matsuike also stay trough the next cycle

 

[rabidline]

Edit: I hope Yuna Aoki, Rion Sumiyoshi, Mako Yamashita and Rino Matsuike also stay trough the next cycle

I hope so too. It's also why I really hoped Rinka would stay, because I think her style is quite different from the other Japanese women that will likely stay after the Olympics, and in my opinion she still has more potential as a performer and skater that hopefully she can continue working on, even beyond the 3A and quads. I thought her Yo Soy Maria FS last season fit her like a glove (and she really made the best out of that patchwork music cuts of Moonlight Sonata), and was very helpful in updating her performance of the Roxanne SP this season.

Rinka's also booked for Prince Ice World Tokyo! I think this is her first time doing this particular ice show, she has ties with the area as well. I think a lot of fans would probably love to express their well wishes for her after such a great fight at Nationals and her announcement to continue skating, so she's perfect for their greeting sessions

 

[rabidline]

Rion Sumiyoshi has also announced on Instagram that she will continue competing for the next 4 years. In the post is also a heartfelt post about the death of her father, who passed away from cancer in February 2025, just as Rion was preparing to compete at 2025 Challenge Cup.

Rion's SP this season was made in dedication of her memory of him.

 

[RafaelAstro]

Rion Sumiyoshi has also announced on Instagram that she will continue competing for the next 4 years. In the post is also a heartfelt post about the death of her father, who passed away from cancer in February 2025, just as Rion was preparing to compete at 2025 Challenge Cup.

Rion's SP this season was made in dedication of her memory of him.

I always knew that program carried something both beautiful and sad. Watching her was deeply emotional for me, I could truly feel her emotions through it. That’s why I love it so much: it made me feel that same pain of losing someone, even when you know you might see them again someday. I admit I cried more than once listening to her music, and seeing this now makes me even more emotional. What a strong woman she is. Today I saw her 4T in practice at Nationals on Instagram, and it was perfect.

 

[SmileHappy34]

I dont see if it's any if our business if they skate 4 years or not.
I am not the Japanese federation to be notified.

Alsov4 years , is it competition?
Or is it 4 years doing shows??

Their lives to do what they want?

Do I hope yes . Do I want them yes.

But not me to know.
It's their life to live not mine.

 

[Anna K.]

I dont see if it's any if our business if they skate 4 years or not.
I am not the Japanese federation to be notified.

Alsov4 years , is it competition?
Or is it 4 years doing shows??

Their lives to do what they want?

Do I hope yes . Do I want them yes.

But not me to know.
It's their life to live not mine.

When a skater states that he/she is staying for the next quad cycle, it means that they intend doing competitions with their main target being the next Olympic games. Of course, they are not obliged to inform the fans and skating community but I personally am grateful to them if they do. I wouldn't mind if more skaters did so. Why? Because I watch skating and I don't mind being informed about what I will see. If you are a client of a restaurant, don't you like an online notice about the menu? Or, are you like "why should this be my business, the chefs have their own life, I am not the chain owner to be informed, and what does that mean anyway"?

 

[SmileHappy34]

When a skater states that he/she is staying for the next quad cycle, it means that they intend doing competitions with their main target being the next Olympic games. Of course, they are not obliged to inform the fans and skating community but I personally am grateful to them if they do. I wouldn't mind if more skaters did so. Why? Because I watch skating and I don't mind being informed about what I will see. If you are a client of a restaurant, don't you like an online notice about the menu? Or, are you like "why should this be my business, the chefs have their own life, I am not the chain owner to be informed, and what does that mean anyway"?

When a skater states that he/she is staying for the next quad cycle, it means that they intend doing competitions with their main target being the next Olympic games. Of course, they are not obliged to inform the fans and skating community but I personally am grateful to them if they do. I wouldn't mind if more skaters did so. Why? Because I watch skating and I don't mind being informed about what I will see. If you are a client of a restaurant, don't you like an online notice about the menu? Or, are you like "why should this be my business, the chefs have their own life, I am not the chain owner to be informed, and what does that mean anyway"?

Thank you. I never look at it from your restaurant example.
I do care what on menu and how prepared.

Yes i do care and like their staying on to compete.
As I agree they are under no obligation to tell us.
We are grateful that they do.

 

[UmeYoSake]

Ayumi Shibayama, sadly, switched to ice dance due to injuries.

I like her dance partner and I really enjoyed their FD this season and I'm happy for her switch. (I made this account just to say this!)
Her Instagram photos show they had a great time at Nats, I think.

柴山歩　Ayumi Shibayama on Instagram: "全日本ジュニア選手権沢山の応援ありがとうございました！！ 素敵な舞台で滑らせていただけてとても嬉しかったです☺️ 沢山練習してもっと上手くなれるように頑張ります！ 会場でバナーを振ってくださった方やお手紙や素敵なプレゼントをくださった方ありがとうございました😊💕"

1,042 likes, 16 comments - ayumi__shibayama on December 22, 2025: "全日本ジュニア選手権沢山の応援ありがとうございました！！ 素敵な舞台で滑らせていただけてとても嬉しかったです☺️ 沢山練習してもっと上手くなれるように頑張ります！ 会場でバナーを振ってくださった方やお手紙や素敵なプレゼントをくださった方ありがとうございました😊💕".

www.instagram.com

FYI, many coaches in Japan have been encouraging young skaters to consider switching disciplines for some time now, but not many young skaters want to at young enough age for various reasons.

Is Kushida more focused on ice dance, though? I could’ve sworn I read something from her after Nationals about competing as a singles skater next season. And her comments made it sound like ice dance was actually the secondary option.

My heart wants her to continue in singles. My brain tells me that she will be much more successful in ice dance. With Shimada, though. Both my heart and brain are already objecting to the idea of her skating with anyone else.

Ikura is more focused on ice dance and I think her heart and brain agree with yours. She said in Fuji's 'Connect with Skaters' recording after her ice dance FD that she would love to learn ballroom dancing for ice dance with Koshiro, and she also said, after her single FD, that she could not declare/promise she would still be a two-way skater the next season, but she would try as much as she could. IkuKo's primary goal is 2030 Olympic according to their interview articles.

 

[soccerjc77]

I watched Mone Chiba's long program with the pink dress with flowers and the blue dress to compare which one looks more Olympic. Personally, I think the pink dress looks more Olympic; I could easily see her winning a gold medal in that one. I wonder why she changed her dress to a blue one; the pink one was already perfect.

 

[Anna K.]

I watched Mone Chiba's long program with the pink dress with flowers and the blue dress to compare which one looks more Olympic. Personally, I think the pink dress looks more Olympic; I could easily see her winning a gold medal in that one. I wonder why she changed her dress to a blue one; the pink one was already perfect.

Well, if she won't win that medal... Blame it on the dress!

 

[RafaelAstro]

So I think it’s very possible that Ami Nakai and Mone Chiba could end up 1st–2nd at Four Continents, although I don’t know in which order. Mone Chiba has more experience and consistency than Ami, but she sometimes struggles to fully rotate her jumps or gets edge calls, while Ami has cleaner jumps and a triple Axel in both the short and free programs, which increases her scoring potential. So far, both skaters have been performing fairly similarly in international competition, but Ami has the advantage in season-best scores. Which one finishes ahead of the other will probably determine which one will compete in the team event at the Olympics with Kaori Sakamoto.

 

[lileychristie]

I wonder if there's any chance at all Kaori will opt not to skate in the team event, thus (almost) guaranteeing medals for both Mone & Ami? Considering Kaori has bronze & silver olympic medals already

Mone's usually solid in her SP and can score 77 or more, so I don't think there's any risk of Japan not going to the final (unless I miss something here). Ami can skate the free as she's been scoring higher than Mone there even when she messed up her 3A.

Then Japan can use the switch for their men or pairs instead, spreading the medals to more participants...

 

[rabidline]

I wonder if there's any chance at all Kaori will opt not to skate in the team event, thus (almost) guaranteeing medals for both Mone & Ami? Considering Kaori has bronze & silver olympic medals already

Mone's usually solid in her SP and can score 77 or more, so I don't think there's any risk of Japan not going to the final (unless I miss something here). Ami can skate the free as she's been scoring higher than Mone there even when she messed up her 3A.

Then Japan can use the switch for their men and pairs instead, spreading the medals to more participants...

I think Japan will leave it to Kaori whether she wants to do the team event or not, but if she wants to, she'll be in the team (but it's not impossible that she doesn't want to do it). From the one time I heard about how the skaters decide who will skate what, when there's a National Champion in the team event, they get to choose what segment to skate.

I think it's also not impossible for Kaori to do both segments in the Team Event, depending on how Rikuryu is doing physically. Women is the last event, so there is time to rest. And then Rikuryu can split with Yunasumi while Yuma can split with Shun.

 

[RafaelAstro]

I wonder if there's any chance at all Kaori will opt not to skate in the team event, thus (almost) guaranteeing medals for both Mone & Ami? Considering Kaori has bronze & silver olympic medals already

Mone's usually solid in her SP and can score 77 or more, so I don't think there's any risk of Japan not going to the final (unless I miss something here). Ami can skate the free as she's been scoring higher than Mone there even when she messed up her 3A.

Then Japan can use the switch for their men and pairs instead, spreading the medals to more participants...

That would be a very wise decision, the three girls can end up with olympic medals whathever happens in the individual event, and both girls with less experience can practice in the team event for the maint event

 

[figureskatingandrainbows]

That would be a very wise decision, the three girls can end up with olympic medals whathever happens in the individual event, and both girls with less experience can practice in the team event for the maint event

I think Kaori will most likely do the Team Event SP, because Japan has a real shot at gold now with the US pairs situation but they need every point possible. I don't see how Mone could beat a clean Amber or Alysa because she doesn't have a backloaded combo or 3A, but Kaori and Ami easily could. That being said, Kaori is far more consistent than Ami and has prior Olympic experience. While I would love for all three girls to get Olympic medals, Japan really wants that team gold and Kaori in the SP gives them their best bet. I'm guessing the FS spot will be either Mone or Ami, and will be based on who skates better at 4CC. Both of them are capable of scoring high enough in the FS to win that segment.

 

[RatedPG]

If I was Kaori, I would do the Team event. I would also do the FP like at the last Olympics. Keep the routine the same. Team event is a guaranteed silver and a possibility of a gold medal with no Ilia. Imagine not winning a gold medal because you gave up the spot and then finishing 4th on the individual event. Kaori earned the right to have an opportunity for two attempts at a gold medal.

Also, my gut tells me 4CC is going to be used to determine who between Ami and Mone will skate the Team portion

 

[soccerjc77]

I would like to see Mone Chiba participate in the team event competition at the Olympic Games. I have nothing against Ami Nakai, but I think Mone Chiba deserves an Olympic medal for all the great work she's done in recent years. Ami has a bright future ahead of her and could be part of the team competition at the next Olympic Games.

My wish is that Mone Chiba did the SP and Kaori Sakamoto the FS.

And I take back what I said about the dress for the long program. Both are magnificent. Whether Mone chooses to wear the blue or the pink one, it doesn't bother me anymore. I want her to choose the one she likes best for the Olympics