2026 Kinoshita Group Cup: General Info and Pregame Chat

[gsk8]

2026 Kinoshita Group Cup​

The 2026 Kinoshita Group Cup will take place September 4-6, 2026, in Tokyo, Japan. The competition is the second of 13 events in the 2026–27 ISU Challenger Series. It will feature all four disciplines.

The ISU Challenger Series is an annual series of senior international figure skating competitions organized by the International Skating Union (ISU). It provides athletes with additional opportunities to compete at the international level. Skaters can earn World Standing points and improve their international rankings.

All Challenger Series events are conducted under the ISU Judging System (IJS). Competitions follow the current season's ISU Special Regulations and Technical Rules.

Event Details​

• Dates: September 4–6, 2026
• Location: Tokyo, Japan
• Venue: Tokyo Tatsumi Ice Arena
• Level: Senior
• Disciplines: Singles, Ice Dance, and Pairs
• ISU Event Page
• Announcement

Schedule​

Day​	Event​
Friday, September 4, 2026	Men – Short Program
Friday, September 4, 2026	Women – Short Program
Saturday, September 5, 2026	Pairs – Short Program
Saturday, September 5, 2026	Ice Dance – Rhythm Dance
Saturday, September 5, 2026	Men – Free Skating
Sunday, September 6, 2026	Pairs – Free Skating
Sunday, September 6, 2026	Ice Dance – Free Dance
Sunday, September 6, 2026	Women – Free Skating

Please note: This schedule is subject to change.

 

[DemTuppesSeine]

I guess a lot of Japanese skaters will be there, as their fed currently only has this competition and Golden Spin as the only Challenger events in their competition calendar...but does that mean we will get a well-accessible stream this year....my money is on no.

 

[denise3lz]

ISUチャレンジャーシリーズフィギュアスケート木下グループ杯2026／辰巳

Men
Kao MIURA
Rio NAKATA
Shun SATO
Sota YAMAMOTO

Women
Yuna AOKI
Mone CHIBA
Ami NAKAI
Mao SHIMADA

Pairs
Yuna NAGAOKA and Sumitada MORIGUCHI

Ice Dance
Utana YOSHIDA and Masaya MORITA

The full list of participants will be announced in mid-August.

 

[cocteautwin]

Only one ice dance team? C'mon JSF...

 

[denise3lz]

Only one ice dance team? C'mon JSF...

https://www.skatingjapan.or.jp/common/img/info/2026-27_FS_Senkokijun_20260722.pdf

Selection Criteria for Athletes to Be Sent to Competitions

9. Challenger Series: Kinoshita Group Cup 2026

(3) Ice Dance:
• Selection of pairs that competed in the previous year’s World Figure Skating Championships
• Candidates will be selected from pairs with competition results from the previous year,
and final selection will be made at the selection trials to be held in August 2026,
based on a comprehensive evaluation of their performance on the selection program,
their routines, and their international competitive ability.

 

[cocteautwin]

https://www.skatingjapan.or.jp/common/img/info/2026-27_FS_Senkokijun_20260722.pdf

Selection Criteria for Athletes to Be Sent to Competitions

9. Challenger Series: Kinoshita Group Cup 2026

(3) Ice Dance:
• Selection of pairs that competed in the previous year’s World Figure Skating Championships
• Candidates will be selected from pairs with competition results from the previous year,
and final selection will be made at the selection trials to be held in August 2026,
based on a comprehensive evaluation of their performance on the selection program,
their routines, and their international competitive ability.

Does it mean they may add more teams later? I hope so.

 

[AlexBreeze]

Unofficial AIN2 entries from Russian media
https://tass.ru/sport/27981633

Petr Gumennik
Evgeni Semenenko
Mark Kondratiuk
Sub: Vladislav Dikidzhi

Alexandra Trusova
Kamila Valieva
Maria Zakharova
Sub: Anna Frolova

Vasilisa Kaganovskaia & Maxim Nekrasov
Elizaveta Pasechnik & Dario Cirisano
Ekaterina Mironova & Evgenii Ustenko

Anastasia Mishina & Aleksandr Galliamov
Aleksandra Boikova & Dmitrii Kozlovskii
Ekaterina Chikmareva & Matvei Ianchenkov

 

[Trusova4Ever]

Apparently Kamila Valieva's participation was not verified information.

Sokolovskaya disputed the report; says they have other plans for competitions: Article

 

[lariko]

Unofficial AIN2 entries from Russian media
https://tass.ru/sport/27981633

Petr Gumennik
Evgeni Semenenko
Mark Kondratiuk
Sub: Vladislav Dikidzhi

Alexandra Trusova
Kamila Valieva
Maria Zakharova
Sub: Anna Frolova

Vasilisa Kaganovskaia & Maxim Nekrasov
Elizaveta Pasechnik & Dario Cirisano
Ekaterina Mironova & Evgenii Ustenko

Anastasia Mishina & Aleksandr Galliamov
Aleksandra Boikova & Dmitrii Kozlovskii
Ekaterina Chikmareva & Matvei Ianchenkov

My gosh, if they could only drop Valieva for Frolova... I love Frolova! I hope that's how it will be in the official entries.

 

[frompolandwithlove]

ISUチャレンジャーシリーズフィギュアスケート木下グループ杯2026／辰巳

Men
Kao MIURA
Rio NAKATA
Shun SATO
Sota YAMAMOTO

Women
Yuna AOKI
Mone CHIBA
Ami NAKAI
Mao SHIMADA

Pairs
Yuna NAGAOKA and Sumitada MORIGUCHI

Ice Dance
Utana YOSHIDA and Masaya MORITA

The full list of participants will be announced in mid-August.

That's a wonderful line-up. Do we expect any livestreams? Or a secret competition not for our eyes?

 

[cocteautwin]

That's a wonderful line-up. Do we expect any livestreams? Or a secret competition not for our eyes?

I expect paid livestream or/and some TV broadcast in jpn - vpn needed

 

[Jontor]

Unofficial AIN2 entries from Russian media
https://tass.ru/sport/27981633

Petr Gumennik
Evgeni Semenenko
Mark Kondratiuk
Sub: Vladislav Dikidzhi

Alexandra Trusova
Kamila Valieva
Maria Zakharova
Sub: Anna Frolova

Vasilisa Kaganovskaia & Maxim Nekrasov
Elizaveta Pasechnik & Dario Cirisano
Ekaterina Mironova & Evgenii Ustenko

Anastasia Mishina & Aleksandr Galliamov
Aleksandra Boikova & Dmitrii Kozlovskii
Ekaterina Chikmareva & Matvei Ianchenkov

Yay! My two favourite Russian skaters - Gumennik & Zakharova.

And I have to admit that I am curious to see Trusova again. I don't expect much, but it will be fun.

Overall, it looks like these Challenger events will be stacked.

 

[AlexBreeze]

And I have to admit that I am curious to see Trusova again. I don't expect much, but it will be fun.

I saw her landing 4Lz & 3A in shows. But I'm worried for her stamina/non-jumping elements considering her old injuries.

 

[cocteautwin]

Mone is out.
She's out from other competition (Summer cup) - I posted in the wrong thread. Sorry for confusion.

 

[denise3lz]

Mone is out.

She announced her withdrawal from the domestic competition Summer Cup (Aug 9-12).
The Kinoshita Cup has not yet been decided.

 

[DemTuppesSeine]

Exactly, two different competitions, just similar names.

 

[cocteautwin]

She announced her withdrawal from the domestic competition Summer Cup (Aug 9-12).
The Kinoshita Cup has not yet been decided.

Thank you, I think I just got to the wrong thread, I was definitely not thinking about CS
Sorry for missinformation.

 

[Jelle307]

Kamila is out... or was never in in the first place Solovskaya said that they have planned other tournaments.

 

[elektra blue]

Yay! My two favourite Russian skaters - Gumennik & Zakharova.

And I have to admit that I am curious to see Trusova again. I don't expect much, but it will be fun.

Overall, it looks like these Challenger events will be stacked.

i saw videos of Sasha in training, she looked in shape

 

[denise3lz]

3 Japanese Ice Dance added

Rika KIHIRA / Shingo NISHIYAMA
Ikura KUSHIDA / Koshiro SHIMADA
Kaho YAMASHITA / Yuto NAGATA