2025 NHK Trophy: General Info and Pregame Chat

[labgoat]

Me too! The curve ball is the Italians who, on one hand, should get 'home Oly' bonus, but on the other hand had been held down like they've spent the night before RD spitting in the technical panel's coffee... Plus, will the Japanese ID geta boost for being Japanese in Japan? What is happening with G/P? Is keeping down younger Americans a thing this year and does it apply to W/Tz?

I need to see the composition of the technical and judging panel pronto!

When you look at all the teams, G/F placement is not too bad. A boost won't help JPN dance too much as the field is tight. G/P have a difficult RD and have made mistakes in it twice. If they go clean we should see them rise above T/T I think. It will be interesting to see who is in the K & C with them. Greg Z seems to be doing most of those duties for some reason. W/Tz are doing just fine - they need to develop their presence a bit more still. Shibutani's will tell us a lot - we will probably learn a lot about them. If they are working with Marina, then we should see a decent skate - I remember last Olympic cycle she had Daisuke & Kana who skated decently except for mistakes as newbies to ice dance.

 

[lariko]

When you look at all the teams, G/F placement is not too bad. A boost won't help JPN dance too much as the field is tight. G/P have a difficult RD and have made mistakes in it twice. If they go clean we should see them rise above T/T I think. It will be interesting to see who is in the K & C with them. Greg Z seems to be doing most of those duties for some reason. W/Tz are doing just fine - they need to develop their presence a bit more still. Shibutani's will tell us a lot - we will probably learn a lot about them. If they are working with Marina, then we should see a decent skate - I remember last Olympic cycle she had Daisuke & Kana who skated decently except for mistakes as newbies to ice dance.

I mean, I am also thinking, will they want G/F in the GPF?
Presumably, they definitely want C/B, G/P, FB/C.
R/A, Z/K and F/G so far did really well.
Maybe Sh/Sh skate really well???
Honestly, it's kind of exciting!

 

[labgoat]

I mean, I am also thinking, will they want G/F in the GPF?
Presumably, they definitely want C/B, G/P, FB/C.
R/A, Z/K and F/G so far did really well.
Maybe Sh/Sh skate really well???
Honestly, it's kind of exciting!

We will know this weekend!

 

[lariko]

We will know this weekend!

Biting my nails!!!

 

[Perkie1968]

Do we have the start orders yet? Please and thank you!

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Do we have the start orders yet? Please and thank you!

Here you go:

https://results.isu.org/results/season2526/gpjpn2025/

I've been waiting for the Entries / Results page to appear too, as I don't make out my Predictions any more until it does. The new style Entry List pages are far too hard to work with.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[DemTuppesSeine]

I just read that during ice dance practice Utana Yoshida and Charlene Guignard had a collision Charlene needed treatment, I even read that she was unconscious...

 

[Ivana]

I just read that during ice dance practice Utana Yoshida and Charlene Guignard had a collision Charlene needed treatment, I even read that she was unconscious...

Oh my, so far this really isn't a good season for the Italians...hopefully all will be well with Charlene.

 

[labgoat]

I just read that during ice dance practice Utana Yoshida and Charlene Guignard had a collision Charlene needed treatment, I even read that she was unconscious...

Oh how horrible. I hope both skaters are okay.
Wishes for a speedy recovery for Charlene - I sincerely want her to have a home Olympics!
Hope Utana is okay. Navigating the ice dance practice is an art form itself and sometimes very scary to watch.

Where did you read that btw?

 

[DemTuppesSeine]

There were a few links on X. Most was behind a paywall but there were pictures of Marco taking care of Charlene with UtaMasa being there as well.
https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2025/11/06/articles/20251106s00079000106000c.html
Her being unconscious I haven't actually seen confirmed anywhere, that was a post without source

 

[cocteautwin]

Charlene's just posted some pics form Osaka on her IG so I hope she's fine

 

[labgoat]

Charlene's just posted some pics form Osaka on her IG so I hope she's fine

That had to be a hard collision as both teams are very fast. Glad to see Charlene is posting.

 

[DemTuppesSeine]

Charlene's just posted some pics form Osaka on her IG so I hope she's fine

I saw that too. Fingers crossed that it's really not too bad. I want them to have a great competition here!

 

[Sai Bon]

There were a few links on X. Most was behind a paywall but there were pictures of Marco taking care of Charlene with UtaMasa being there as well.
https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2025/11/06/articles/20251106s00079000106000c.html
Her being unconscious I haven't actually seen confirmed anywhere, that was a post without source

The article says Charlene resumed practice after receiving medical treatment, so sounds like she's OK. Utana is OK too.

 

[labgoat]

Just looked at the skate orders - the Shibutani's are first to skate in the entire event. Nothing says show us you want to be in the final group like skating first. That goes for both US men who are in the first group - Andrew getting to see Jimmy & Boyang's scores. Curious that Loena & Samo are in the first group while the US girls are back to back in the final group. Not sure what I think of the pairs draw.

I also just calculated my time change and am happy to realize that I can see the first day events, but none of the second as I will be at work. Previously I thought I would miss it all.

 

[DemTuppesSeine]

Just looked at the skate orders - the Shibutani's are first to skate in the entire event. Nothing says show us you want to be in the final group like skating first.

Just like FBC skated first in France...
But is there even a draw? I thought they skated in order of world standings.

 

[labgoat]

Just like FBC skated first in France...
But is there even a draw? I thought they skated in order of world standings.

Yes it is by world rankings - but even that creates interesting situations. They are everybody's wild card and them starting first like FBC gets the suspense out of the way early. I like that they are first. to skate and set a standard for everyone else.

Also, the music for Shibutani's is listed in their ISU bio

Music Rhythm Dance as of season 2025/2026

C.R.E.A.M. by Wu-Tang Clan Let Me Clear My Throat by DJ Kool B-BOY by Rhymester Starting Race by Kenta Nagata Award Tour by A Tribe Called Quest Get Ready For This by 2 Unlimited Stomp To My Beat by JS16 The Rhythm of the Night by Corona

Music Free Skating / Free Dance as of season 2025/2026

Fix You by Coldplay

 

[cocteautwin]

Coldplay nachos, how inspiring..
Are they trying to top Bock with the number of songs used in the rythm dance? Or maybe that's a strategy to avoid copyright issues.

 

[labgoat]

Coldplay nachos, how inspiring..

I read it differently - reinterpreted after all Maia has been through so I am a bit more positive about it than the RD. I remember their mash-up from the hip-hop days...

 

[FlossieH]

I just read that during ice dance practice Utana Yoshida and Charlene Guignard had a collision Charlene needed treatment, I even read that she was unconscious...

The thing I read stated that they then practiced with the next group, so I think they decided she was okay. They would not have cleared her to go back onto the ice so quickly if they thought she might have concussion.

What I am slightly puzzled by is how there was a space for them to practice in the next group - or does the limit to the number of skaters in a group only apply during the competition?