Ami Nakai: What's Next?

[gsk8]

Ami Nakai has established herself as one of the most promising young skaters in Japan, and expectations continue to grow as she gains experience.

What do you think is her biggest strength? What are you hoping to see from her this season?

If you could create the perfect program for her, what music would you choose?

And now she has been assigned to Finlandia Trophy and Skate Canada for her GP debut!

 

[denise3lz]

I hope she competes in the Olympics two more times, just like Kaori Sakamoto, who also made her Olympic debut at age 17.
Nakai herself said so.

 

[DizzyFrenchie]

I really don't know which program I wish for her because I expect that she'll have grown so much that I won't recognise her?

What I wish for her otherwise, is to be scored how she deserves and not to be pushed away by her Federation, for someone with a lack of Components rather unique in the Japanese School and who's got scores that are hard to explain in Junior...
Well, I'm a warm partisan of fair scores for everybody so...

Very late edit, after gsk8's next post: Sorry, maybe I was unclear. Ami Nakai's Components, while not matching her elders' yet, are in a very good way I think, and already very good, quite what can be expected of one of the best skaters when they're her age, in the Japanese School. I hope that her scores will reflect this comparative superiority.

 

[gsk8]

 

[Sai Bon]

I find Ami far more engaging than Mao Shimada, who has better tech and a more powerful coach. Ami's team needs to be strategic and maximize her strengths. They will want to switch from the kawaii, fresh-faced programmes of the Olympic season to something more mature, but hey, she's only 18! I hope her choreographers come up with something genius that really suits her personality like Kaori Sakamoto's Amelie instead of packaging her into something predictable and princessy. I hope she can keep her 3A (she will need it) and improve her presentation and skating skills while remaining true to herself.

 

[noskates]

I think Ami is a breath of fresh air. This past year's free program was age appropriate in costume, choreography and music. They didn't try to turn her into some kind of sex kitten or dress her beyond her years. Having said that, this year's programs should show a little more maturity. She has a bubbly personality and I hope they don't stick her with something dark and dreary - or heaven help us - a tango!

 

[Anna K.]

Everybody: Ami Nakai is the next big thing

Me: Delayed Puberty is an Evil Witch

 

[denise3lz]

I think Ami is a breath of fresh air. This past year's free program was age appropriate in costume, choreography and music. They didn't try to turn her into some kind of sex kitten or dress her beyond her years. Having said that, this year's programs should show a little more maturity. She has a bubbly personality and I hope they don't stick her with something dark and dreary - or heaven help us - a tango!

Unfortunately it is tango.

【フィギュア】中井亜美「新しい挑戦」７月からの新シーズンは「やったことのないジャンルで」 - フィギュア : 日刊スポーツ

フィギュアスケート女子で2月のミラノ・コルティナ五輪（オリンピック）で日本最年少表彰台となる銅メダルを獲得した中井亜美（18＝TOKIOインカラミ）が、新たな… - 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

Work on the choreography is already underway, and for the short program (SP), she has teamed up with Korean choreographer Shin Ye-ji for the first time. She plans to perform to a tango-style piece, stating, “I’m taking on a genre that’s different from what I usually do—something I’ve never tried before.” Regarding the free skate, she noted that it “blends various musical styles” and revealed that she will be working with David Wilson, who created this season’s SP program, “The Road.” While choreographing in Toronto, Canada, she received advice to “make sure to fully express Ami-chan’s unique style,” and she expressed her determination, saying, “I want to make sure I can truly embody that.”

 

[dorispulaski]

Ugh

 

[noskates]

IMO tangoes should be banned. They're great on the dance floor but I just really dislike them on the ice. They'll have her in the requisite red dress with black lace somewhere and a red flower in her hair.

 

[DizzyFrenchie]

IMO tangoes should be banned. They're great on the dance floor but I just really dislike them on the ice. They'll have her in the requisite red dress with black lace somewhere and a red flower in her hair.

I had the worst apprehensions before Shun Sato's Libertango (and a warhorse, with that! I'm easier to irritate with a warhorse) and would have subscribed to your request in Single Skating until at least the age of 25 (mind you, I wouldn't trust even Yuzuru Hanyu to a Tango), yet to my utter surprise, he nailed it as well as someone so young could (not even 20!):

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

 

[Sai Bon]

I think Ami is a breath of fresh air. This past year's free program was age appropriate in costume, choreography and music. They didn't try to turn her into some kind of sex kitten or dress her beyond her years. Having said that, this year's programs should show a little more maturity. She has a bubbly personality and I hope they don't stick her with something dark and dreary - or heaven help us - a tango!

I am really worried about Tango. It seems to be something that all Japanese singles skaters have to go through.

 

[Skater Boy]

I am really worried about Tango. It seems to be something that all Japanese singles skaters have to go through.

I wouldn't worry at all. she will work on her choreo and a Tango oftne allows some very obvious character and personality and can even e somewhat funny or satirical or very serious and dramatic or sexy even.

 

[Skating91]

I find Ami far more engaging than Mao Shimada, who has better tech and a more powerful coach. Ami's team needs to be strategic and maximize her strengths. They will want to switch from the kawaii, fresh-faced programmes of the Olympic season to something more mature, but hey, she's only 18! I hope her choreographers come up with something genius that really suits her personality like Kaori Sakamoto's Amelie instead of packaging her into something predictable and princessy. I hope she can keep her 3A (she will need it) and improve her presentation and skating skills while remaining true to herself.

I think Ami is a more mature skater than Mao but they both rely on Shirly Temple-esque programs. I wonder for how long they can get away with such programs?

 

[Mathman]

To me, it all goes down to maintaining the triple Axel. If she can keep up her big jumps while continuing to improve choreography and consistency, she could be a dominant force.

On the other hand, Alysa Liu landed her first tripe Axel at age 12 and her last (fully rotated) triple Axel at age 14. In her comeback so far she has taken a different route and achieved recent spectacular success anyway.

And then again, Mirai Nagano was a delightful youthful performer st the 2010 Olympic at age 16 ( finishing 4th) and added the triple Axel to her arsenal at age 24. Go figure.

 

[noskates]

I think what Ami has is somewhat akin to Alysa. Both skate with such joy and seem to be having such fun that the observer can't help but smile during their programs. I'm not so thrilled that Ami is skating to a tango - would much rather see her skating to something light and whimsical. Let's face it - ALL the ladies need to have a triple Axel. That's where women's figure skating is heading. But I don't think that jump alone will win medals. It's just another jump.

 

[gsk8]

She has been assigned to Finlandia Trophy and Skate Canada for her GP debut, but I found it interesting she didn't get NHK Trophy. Nevertheless, her achievements during her Junior stint speak volumes and I'm looking forward to seeing how she stacks up to seniors!

Looking at the current competitors for both GP events, how do you think she will fare?

Skate Canada	Country	Finlandia Trophy	Country
Fee Ann Landry	CAN	Niina Petrokina	EST
Madeleine Schizas	CAN	Olivia Lisko	FIN
TBD	CAN	TBD	FIN
Niina Petrokina	EST	TBD	FIN
Iida Karhunen	FIN	Anna Pezzetta	ITA
Anna Pezzetta	ITA	Mao Shimada	JPN
Saki Miyake	JPN	Rion Sumiyoshi	JPN
Mao Shimada	JPN	Rinka Watanabe	JPN
Sofia Samodelkina	KAZ	Seoyoung Kim	KOR
Yujae Kim	KOR	Haein Lee	KOR
Jia Shin	KOR	Isabeau Levito	USA
Isabeau Levito	USA	Alysa Liu	USA

 

[denise3lz]

Mao Shimada deserves her own thread.

 

[frompolandwithlove]

Let's face it - ALL the ladies need to have a triple Axel. That's where women's figure skating is heading.

Why?
Neither Alysa nor Kaori had a triple axel and they both did... pretty ok without one??

(Sorry, I don't have anything to add about Ami, I just got intrigued by the comment)

 

[denise3lz]

4/5 skaters (Nakai, Glenn, Watanabe, Yoshida, Dupuis) landed (or at least being capable) 3A in 2025 GPS.
That number will be doubled as adding Shimada, Yujae/Yuseong Kim, Felten, Miyake, (minus retired Yoshida).