2025-26 Japanese Women's Figure Skating

[Anna K.]

When is the deadline for skaters to inform the federation about retirement?

Yuna Aoki just smiled her charming smile in the newest Jackie Wong interview (I posted the link in her fanfest thread) and said that she had not decided yet. So... When is she supposed to?

 

[denise3lz]

When is the deadline for skaters to inform the federation about retirement?

Yuna Aoki just smiled her charming smile in the newest Jackie Wong interview (I posted the link in her fanfest thread) and said that she had not decided yet. So... When is she supposed to?

As she announced on her personal Instagram at the end of March both the year before last and last year,
I expect she will follow the same approach this time.

 

[RafaelAstro]

I think Yuna is at her best form, she should continue, just needs to do well all season not just at the end

 

[denise3lz]

Hana Yoshida retires.

Hanna Yoshida on Instagram: "皆さまへ 私、吉田陽菜は、今シーズンで、競技生活を卒業することをご報告いたします。 皆さまの温かい声援のおかげで、忘れられない、素敵な景色をたくさん見ることができました。 春から、一年間留学へ行ってきます。 今まで応援いただき、心から、ありがとうございました。 吉田陽菜 Dear everyone I would announce that I have decided to retire from my competit

6,148 likes, 218 comments - hanna.yoshida on March 31, 2026: "皆さまへ 私、吉田陽菜は、今シーズンで、競技生活を卒業することをご報告いたします。 皆さまの温かい声援のおかげで、忘れられない、素敵な景色をたくさん見ることができました。 春から、一年間留学へ行ってきます。 今まで応援いただき、心から、ありがとうございました。 吉田陽菜 Dear everyone I would announce that I have decided to retire from my competitive career at...

www.instagram.com

 

[Anna K.]

Hana Yoshida retires.

Hanna Yoshida on Instagram: "皆さまへ 私、吉田陽菜は、今シーズンで、競技生活を卒業することをご報告いたします。 皆さまの温かい声援のおかげで、忘れられない、素敵な景色をたくさん見ることができました。 春から、一年間留学へ行ってきます。 今まで応援いただき、心から、ありがとうございました。 吉田陽菜 Dear everyone I would announce that I have decided to retire from my competit

6,148 likes, 218 comments - hanna.yoshida on March 31, 2026: "皆さまへ 私、吉田陽菜は、今シーズンで、競技生活を卒業することをご報告いたします。 皆さまの温かい声援のおかげで、忘れられない、素敵な景色をたくさん見ることができました。 春から、一年間留学へ行ってきます。 今まで応援いただき、心から、ありがとうございました。 吉田陽菜 Dear everyone I would announce that I have decided to retire from my competitive career at...

www.instagram.com

If this is what I think it is (her body is changing) then this is a wise decision. Stubborn pushing on herself would give little results competitively and only increase serious injury risk.

If this is what @rabidline thinks it is (she has a problem to balance skating with her other duties) then this is also a wise decision. Achieving in neither this nor that is what she needs the least.

I have a bit of mixed emotions here because her personality, her interesting programs, and her fluent English will indeed be missed within both Japanese and international skating community. But of course, I want her to take the best decision especially given that she's young enough to return to competitive skating after a few years when the situation changes. I got from her Goldenskate interview that she's the one who enjoys "jumping and falling" as a process. So there is a great chance of the Alysa Liu case replayed with Hana looking for a hobby that can replace this thrill and coming to the conclusion: "Why not skating again?" Although it's not for sure. The life is life. We don't know what can happen and what new thrills and passions the future holds for Hana. Hana doesn't know it herself yet. But in either case I wish her all the best. It was great to see you skating, Hana!

 

[RafaelAstro]

This is NOT happening, please tell me this isn't real, Hana please I beg you, I will have a panic attack, this is so unexpected for me, she is one of my favorite skaters, this cannot end like this

 

[Anna K.]

This is NOT happening, please tell me this isn't real, Hana please I beg you, I will have a panic attack, this is so unexpected for me, she is one of my favorite skaters, this cannot end like this

Read the last line of her retirement post and tell yourself: "It must be a promise to return!"

 

[Nando]

I think Yuna is at her best form, she should continue, just needs to do well all season not just at the end

She just announced on instagram that she decided to compete next season! I am so happy!

 

[Anna K.]

^So, this is settled. There will be Yuna vs Mao next season

 

[elektra blue]

^So, this is settled. There will be Yuna vs Mao next season

vs Ami., Vs Mone

 

[Anna K.]

vs Ami., Vs Mone

Oh, sure and also Rinka, Saki, and more. But think about the crazy coincidence!

Mao Shimada has always been so much into Mao Asada and everything that Mao Asada did when she competed. Then, imagine what: Yuna Aoki, who has never been an item (except maybe at a very young age when she landed her 3Lz+3Lo as a novice) and who could retire, like, five times while Shimada was a junior, delivers her best results prior to the very season when Shimada goes senior... to compete with Yuna.
Cracks me up every time I think about it

 

[denise3lz]

【フィギュア】村上遥奈、今後は生まれのオーストラリア国籍で活動　日本連盟強化選手から外れる - フィギュア写真ニュース : 日刊スポーツ

日本スケート連盟は22日、都内で理事会を開き、26年度のフィギュアスケート強化選手を発表した。女子で昨年度の強化選手Bだった村上遥奈は外れた。昨年度の全日本ジ… - 日刊スポーツ新聞社のニュースサイト、ニッカンスポーツ・コム（nikkansports.com）

www.nikkansports.com

Haruna Murakami to compete under her Australian nationality going forward; removed from the Japan Skating Federation’s national team roster

 

[denise3lz]

Mei Okada moves to Kinoshita Academy.
And Happy 16th birthday!

木下スケートアカデミー on Instagram: "・ 木下アカデミーNew Face😊 岡田芽依 選手 愛知県出身 高校1年生🌸 🗣️素晴らしい環境で練習できることに感謝し、成長した姿をお見せできるように頑張ります。応援よろしくお願いします。by芽依　 🌷Bloom On Ice2026 にも出演予定！🌷 また、本日4月22日は岡田芽依選手 16歳のお誕生日🎂👏 これから新たな仲間と共に頑張ってください✨ 応援よろしくお願いします！❤️‍🔥 #岡田芽依 #MeiOkada #木下ア

221 likes, 0 comments - kinoshita_skate_academy on April 22, 2026: "・ 木下アカデミーNew Face😊 岡田芽依 選手 愛知県出身 高校1年生🌸 🗣️素晴らしい環境で練習できることに感謝し、成長した姿をお見せできるように頑張ります。応援よろしくお願いします。by芽依　 🌷Bloom On Ice2026 にも出演予定！🌷 また、本日4月22日は岡田芽依選手 16歳のお誕生日🎂👏 これから新たな仲間と共に頑張ってください✨ 応援よろしくお願いします！❤️‍🔥 #岡田芽依 #MeiOkada #木下アカデミー...

www.instagram.com

Yuna Aoki have sponsor now.

https://www.skatingjapan.or.jp/common/img/info/2026-27_FS_20260422.pdf

 

[cocteautwin]

【フィギュア】村上遥奈、今後は生まれのオーストラリア国籍で活動　日本連盟強化選手から外れる - フィギュア写真ニュース : 日刊スポーツ

日本スケート連盟は22日、都内で理事会を開き、26年度のフィギュアスケート強化選手を発表した。女子で昨年度の強化選手Bだった村上遥奈は外れた。昨年度の全日本ジ… - 日刊スポーツ新聞社のニュースサイト、ニッカンスポーツ・コム（nikkansports.com）

www.nikkansports.com

Haruna Murakami to compete under her Australian nationality going forward; removed from the Japan Skating Federation’s national team roster

Interesting. She probably has more chance to build a competetive senior career like that. I was hoping she still considers pairs but I guess she chose what's best for herself. Good luck to her. I wonder where she will train.

 

[lileychristie]

【フィギュア】村上遥奈、今後は生まれのオーストラリア国籍で活動　日本連盟強化選手から外れる - フィギュア写真ニュース : 日刊スポーツ

日本スケート連盟は22日、都内で理事会を開き、26年度のフィギュアスケート強化選手を発表した。女子で昨年度の強化選手Bだった村上遥奈は外れた。昨年度の全日本ジ… - 日刊スポーツ新聞社のニュースサイト、ニッカンスポーツ・コム（nikkansports.com）

www.nikkansports.com

Haruna Murakami to compete under her Australian nationality going forward; removed from the Japan Skating Federation’s national team roster

OMG this is great news for me, I love Haruna

And, since Australia is traditionally pretty strong in pairs, who knows she might end up finding an Australian partner and do pairs again

 

[Anna K.]

I wonder where she will train.

She could actually train in Japan along with Hana Bath.

 

[Anna K.]

So, what are the likely GP assignments?

2 assignments:
Mao Shimada
Mone Chiba
Yuna Aoki
Ami Nakai
Rinka Watanabe
Rion Sumiyoshi

Rino Matsuike, Saki Miyake, Mana Kawabe - ?

Anybody else - ?

 

[YuBluByMe]

So, what are the likely GP assignments?

2 assignments:
Mao Shimada
Mone Chiba
Yuna Aoki
Ami Nakai
Rinka Watanabe
Rion Sumiyoshi

Rino Matsuike, Saki Miyake, Mana Kawabe - ?

Anybody else - ?

Mako Yamashita over Kawabe. Kawabe will not get two spots. She hasn’t competed internationally in years and so she doesn’t have an SB and her world standing should be very low, as well. She may get the host spot, but that’s about it.

Yamashita shouldn’t get two spots either, but I can see her getting two if she gets the host and she’s chosen after a skater withdraws.

 

[Anna K.]

Mako Yamashita over Kawabe. Kawabe will not get two spots. She hasn’t competed internationally in years and so she doesn’t have an SB and her world standing should be very low, as well. She may get the host spot, but that’s about it.

Yamashita shouldn’t get two spots either, but I can see her getting two if she gets the host and she’s chosen after a skater withdraws.

Mana Kawabe competed internationally in Coupe du Printemps 2026, she scored 194.95

Would love to see Yamashita in the mix though.

 

[YuBluByMe]

Mana Kawabe competed internationally in Coupe du Printemps 2026, she scored 194.95

Would love to see Yamashita in the mix though.

Any competition that happens after Worlds doesn’t count for SB and Kawabe’s not among top 24 SB or WS.