2025 Summer Cup | Aug 9-12

[Jumping_Bean]

Exactly. It's a sport, not a charity show. There is a lot at stake. She doesn't want to be a singles skater. Giving her a spot is a waste.
JGP isn't only a fun competition. JGP and JWC (and YOG) are the only competitions that can give junior skater SB (that will later send them to senior GP) and experience of skating at international competition with a deep field.
Of course Kushida wants the best for herself. It's on JSF to manage their talent properly. It's their tunnel vision that pushes these girls into 3a and injuries. On top of my head Yamada, Matsunami, Kawakatsu (and Miyazaki) train 3a. Kono and Uezono used to, but now they are injured. That on top of Takagi, Oka, Okada and Kanazawa.
Yes, I know, deep field. But that's exactly why some decisions need to be made. Like not sending ice dancers to singles competitions.

Giving a spot to the skaters who are performing the best right now, regardless of how long they might plan to skate, is the only smart course of action a federation can take. Why? Because, for one, anyone could have to stop skating tomorrow and secondly, it sets objective standards, which is very important. You could even justify not giving skaters like Kaori or Wakaba assignments this season with this mindset, because they're retiring at the end of the season. Of course, that's completely ridiculous.

And if anything, Ikura is a skater who shows that you do not need a triple axel or quad, even in a field like Japan's. Same for Kaoruko and Yo. Japan is not Russia.

And, this is mean-spirited, but maybe you should ask yourself if skaters who get beaten easily by an "Ice Dancer" (she's literally not even competed in a single competition as an Ice Dancer) in Singles skating, who is "just here for fun", are ready for the JGP yet.

 

[tsuyoboogie]

8. Sora Tarumi
Romeo & Juliet (new)
3LzEu2S
3T2A+SEQ
1Lz
3F(2ft)
CCoSp
ChSq
3S(2ft)
2T
2A
FCCoSp
FSSp
StSq

Uber talented performers like Sora-kun and Yota-kun don't need fancy jumps
Tbh, he did look a bit unsteady during his StSq which is usually his strongest element
Maybe still adjusting to this new program?

92.78 / 147.32

 

[tsuyoboogie]

11. Nozomu Yoshioka
Mi Mancherai
4Lz!!!(fall)
4T2T
1T
3A
FSSp
3AEu2S
3Lz
3F2A+SEQ
ChSq
StSq
CCSp
CCoSp

Good skate for him!
Not a disaster, not even a slight mess!
Nice 4Lz attempt, nice job!

119.53 / 183.41 into 1st

 

[tsuyoboogie]

12. Ryoga Morimoto
Rach: Piano Concerto No. 2
3Lz
4Lz!!!?(fall)
3F
3Lo
CCoSp
3Lz2A(2ft)+SEQ
3S
CCSp
1F
ChSq
StSq
FSSp

105.75 / 170.10

 

[lileychristie]

Have we considered that maybe Ikura herself does not want a JGP?
She tends to perform better in domestic competitions, maybe she doesn't want to put herself under another pressure of international competition.

Maybe one reason she performed really well here is because she no longer puts so much pressure & expectations on herself as a single skater. And I reckon JSF also knows that she tends to fold under international pressure.

But, if she still wants a JGP, then I think she should get a chance. Who knows, if she manages to exorcise her international comp demons, she might even consider doing singles for longer It's also a good motivation for the other juniors.

 

[tsuyoboogie]

Senior Men standings after two groups

				SP	FS	Final
1	吉 岡 希	Nozomu Yoshioka	Hosei University	63.88	119.53	183.41
2	森 本 涼 雅	Ryoga Morimoto	Doshisha University	64.35	105.75	170.10
3	戸 田 晴 登	Haruto Toda	Toyo University	57.97	109.23	167.20
4	三 原 庸 汰	Yota Mihara	Neues Kanazawa FSC	54.19	105.36	159.55
5	樋 口 温 之	Haruyuki Higuchi	Kansai University	53.24	100.41	153.65
6	北 村 凌 大	Ryota Kitamura	Nihon University	58.32	94.68	153.00
7	垂 水 爽 空	Sora Tarumi	Kanku Skate	54.54	92.78	147.32
8	山 田 琉 伸	Ryushin Yamada	Waseda University	51.43	91.41	142.84
9	三 島 悠 生	Haruki Mishima	Hyogo Nishinomiya FSC	49.73	91.54	141.27
10	磯 和 大 智	Taichi Isowa	Meiji University	51.35	87.08	138.43
11	小田垣 櫻	Sakura Odagaki	Nihon University	48.98	89.30	138.28
12	誉 田 知 己	Haruki Honda	Chukyo University	49.34	83.75	133.09

 

[tsuyoboogie]

Looks like Sena Miyake withdrew from the FS

 

[rabidline]

Have we considered that maybe Ikura herself does not want a JGP?
She tends to perform better in domestic competitions, maybe she doesn't want to put herself under another pressure of international competition.

Maybe one reason she performed really well here is because she no longer puts so much pressure & expectations on herself as a single skater. And I reckon JSF also knows that she tends to fold under international pressure.

But, if she still wants a JGP, then I think she should get a chance. Who knows, if she manages to exorcise her international comp demons, she might even consider doing singles for longer It's also a good motivation for the other juniors.

I was just thinking about this. It's possible that Ikura is doing better and becoming more consistent in singles because she's progressing and growing in ice dance. There's more to figure skating for her than just landing her jumps right now, and for some skaters, that is exactly what they need to be less stressed and be happier about competing.

But I also think that to be able to train singles and ice dance at the same time, there must be a lot of funds and resources being pooled in right now. So if the ones supporting Koshiro and Ikura teaming up are advising Ikura to not pursue international assignments and stay in Japan to focus doing well in local competitions and growing better in ice dance with Koshiro, I'm sure Ikura will follow that advice.

 

[tsuyoboogie]

Now that I know Shun Shun has a Last Samurai FS, I think Kao will stick with his Benoit POTO v.3

...just rambling to myself bc I'm starting to freak out

 

[tsuyoboogie]

Senior Men FS Group 3 Skate Order
13. Kosho Oshima
14. Shuntaro Asaga
15, Haru Kakiuchi
16. Kao Miura
17. Kazuki Tomono
18. Takumi Sugiyama

Oh wow, Kao already has a proper costume ready for his FS (early for him)...and it's ugly

 

[tsuyoboogie]

Kazuki's costume looks nice tho...I can't stop shaking...

 

[KiraraChin]

Kazuki's costume looks nice tho...I can't stop shaking...

Ohhh new Halston costume!? Please do tell

 

[tsuyoboogie]

13. Kosho Oshima
Footloose
3Lz
3A(forward)
3A(hand)
3Lo
StSq
CSSp
3Lz3T
3FEu2S
3T(so)
FCCoSp
ChSq
CCoSp

117.65 / 185.13 into 1st

 

[lileychristie]

Finished my shower in time to watch Kosho PERFORMED! He didn't just skate, he ENTERTAINED

He's another skater I wish to compete as long as possible. And another good candidate for ice dance (or solo dance) if he no longer wants to jump

 

[tsuyoboogie]

14. Shuntaro Asaga
Turandot
4T!!!!!(fall)
3A!!!(fall)
StSq
CSSp
3F
3A(fall)
3LzEu3S
FCSp
CCoSp
3Lz2A+SEQ
3Lo
ChSq!!!!!

Nice 4T attempt!!! Thought he had it!
Actually landed the first 3A then slipped off his blade
As always, his ChSq

120.66 / 188.79 into 1st!

 

[lileychristie]

Shuntaro's facial expressions are just gold, especially during the chsq

Shame about that first axel, he almost, almost got it! Why did he have to slip after holding his landing

 

[tsuyoboogie]

15, Haru Kakiuchi
I Giorni
4T(fall)
2A(pop)
4T(fall)+REP
FCSp
3LzEu3S
3Lo(so)
3Lz3T
3F2A+SEQ
StSq
FCCoSp
CCoSp

I really like this program! Glad he kept it for his Senior debut

121.32 / 189.92 into 1st

 

[tsuyoboogie]

i'm gonna die...

 

[lileychristie]

Kao's costume, wow~ Phantom!

 

[Jumping_Bean]

Have we considered that maybe Ikura herself does not want a JGP?
She tends to perform better in domestic competitions, maybe she doesn't want to put herself under another pressure of international competition.

Maybe one reason she performed really well here is because she no longer puts so much pressure & expectations on herself as a single skater. And I reckon JSF also knows that she tends to fold under international pressure.

But, if she still wants a JGP, then I think she should get a chance. Who knows, if she manages to exorcise her international comp demons, she might even consider doing singles for longer It's also a good motivation for the other juniors.

I can't find it right now, but there was an interview during the off-season, in which Ikura said that she wants to make it to the JGPF this season. I think that's also where she talked about "still having things to prove in Singles", which to me sounds very much like the opposite of "just being there for fun" or putting less pressure on herself.

Of course, nobody but Ikura and her team knows what has happened since that interview. Maybe JSF is trying to push her into fully transitioning to Ice Dance with the abrupt split of Tanaka/Nishiyama, maybe she and her team are making the decision, who knows? Still does not change the fact that she isn't less deserving or even completely undeserving of getting a JGP just because she's doing both Singles and Ice Dance. Not if she's performing like this.

And while Ikura definitely has a history of underperforming at international competitions, we are still talking about a skater who never placed lower than 5th at any of her international assignments. Ikura's bad performances are still good performances when compared to most of the Junior field.