Japanese Nationals

[Tinymavy15]

look like everybody was overscored. mao popped the axel and still hit 200...miki got to 200 as well. conngrats to them both. the podium is just how i wanted it. did nukuri land the 3 axel? clean? Mao has to be happy with her experince. a beautiful SP (and NO that combo was NOT 2 footed. and fool can see that) and a very good LP. glad to see miki looking so well! i knew if she skated this program well it would be great!

 

[sorcerer]

...these fickle people at JSF changing their mind without any prior announcement and deciding to let Mao, Miki, and Suguri "do their work" for them.

With 4CC's original intent in mind, maybe the JSF isn't doing anything wrong this time.
But still....
I would have loved to see Akiko, Yukina, Nana in the 4CC.

 

[CalebsMom]

I'm happy for Miki that she's fixed her lip and won the LP. I think she showed true sportsmanship. Go girl, keep up your spirits!!!!

 

[Bennett]

I am glad that Yukina placed 7th, much higher than last season's 12th. Despite the lower level of jump contents, she managed to score high in spins and spirals. But I am still shocked that her interpretation and choreo scores can be lower than Miki, Yukari, Mao, and Fumie and comparable with Nana. Nana is a cute skater and has speed. But I do not see her interpretation comparable to Yukina at all. I don't like PCSs clustering, without discriminating one criterion from another.

 

[Mathman]

About Four Continents, I wonder if the ISU doesn't try to pressure National Federations to send their top skaters to try to build up this competition. As Sorcerer alludes, Four Continents was supposed to be "Europeans for the rest of the World."

 

[bekalc]

Congrats to all skaters who did well in this competition. I enjoyed all skaters' performances good or bad, and especially Takahito's SP (not to be confused with Takahiko), Fumie's SP, Miki's LP and Yukina's SP and LP. I wish Takahito and Fumie had kept the momentum they had in their SP also in their LP.

I totally understand that figureskating fans and especially Korean fans will be happy that participating countries will send top skaters to 4CC and therefore they can enjoy top skaters' performances on TV or in their home country and I'm happy for them. But at the same time, I feel very sorry for the skaters who placed 5th and 6th overall in the Japanese Nationals, who were expected to be selected for 4CC. I feel especially for Akiko, who, despite her placement at Nationals, now has to count only on invitation to NHK Trophy (the home GP event) for any GP assignment next season since she's a senior skater who has fallen out of the 'system' once already due to her suffering from anorexia at the ages when most skaters have their peaks during their competitive skating careers.

She overcame the disorder and has been working her butt off (and skated well in smaller competitions incl her wins at Universiad and Golden Spin) in order to grab this chance to earn some points internationally, but it has just fallen out of her hand because of these fickle people at JSF changing their mind without any prior announcement and deciding to let Mao, Miki, and Suguri "do their work" for them. Surely they saw less priority in taking her future competitive career seriously than doing a favor for the other federations (and/or ISU.)

To me, now that the Nobeyama summer camp is a thing of the past, and that JSF is trying to sell only the very few top skaters, it's become so clear that the federation in the current regime has no sense of giving chance to and helping/nurturing other promising skaters unless they are still in the junior/novice circuits.

Sure, of course Akiko or Nana could have outscored Fumie and placed 4th if they had skated better at Nationals, but they still deserve getting sent to 4CC and build up their experience and confidence. Actually if the fedration decided not to send the skaters who placed 4th, 5th and 6th, I don't understand why not then sending the top 3 instead of 1st, 2nd, and 4th. There has to be some reason for this. (Possibly Nanri and Nakano are busy with their school work and the fed tried to take that into account?)

Yes, but Four Continents is suppose to be Europeans for the rest of the world. The Europeans always send their best to Europeans (normally). One could argue that it's unfair to a lesser tier European skater, that someone like Akiko or Nana can got to Four Continents and get an easy win/ extra points, whereas Europeans isn't like that. Besides if I recall correctly after last year, there was talk about countries sending their best to Four Continents.

 

[ks777]

Congrats to all skaters who did well in this competition. I enjoyed all skaters' performances good or bad, and especially Takahito's SP (not to be confused with Takahiko), Fumie's SP, Miki's LP and Yukina's SP and LP. I wish Takahito and Fumie had kept the momentum they had in their SP also in their LP.

I totally understand that figureskating fans and especially Korean fans will be happy that participating countries will send top skaters to 4CC and therefore they can enjoy top skaters' performances on TV or in their home country and I'm happy for them. But at the same time, I feel very sorry for the skaters who placed 5th and 6th overall in the Japanese Nationals, who were expected to be selected for 4CC. I feel especially for Akiko, who, despite her placement at Nationals, now has to count only on invitation to NHK Trophy (the home GP event) for any GP assignment next season since she's a senior skater who has fallen out of the 'system' once already due to her suffering from anorexia at the ages when most skaters have their peaks during their competitive skating careers.

She overcame the disorder and has been working her butt off (and skated well in smaller competitions incl her wins at Universiad and Golden Spin) in order to grab this chance to earn some points internationally, but it has just fallen out of her hand because of these fickle people at JSF changing their mind without any prior announcement and deciding to let Mao, Miki, and Suguri "do their work" for them. Surely they saw less priority in taking her future competitive career seriously than doing a favor for the other federations (and/or ISU.)

To me, now that the Nobeyama summer camp is a thing of the past, and that JSF is trying to sell only the very few top skaters, it's become so clear that the federation in the current regime has no sense of giving chance to and helping/nurturing other promising skaters unless they are still in the junior/novice circuits.

Sure, of course Akiko or Nana could have outscored Fumie and placed 4th if they had skated better at Nationals, but they still deserve getting sent to 4CC and build up their experience and confidence. Actually if the fedration decided not to send the skaters who placed 4th, 5th and 6th, I don't understand why not then sending the top 3 instead of 1st, 2nd, and 4th. There has to be some reason for this. (Possibly Nanri and Nakano are busy with their school work and the fed tried to take that into account?)

I totally agree with you. Suzuki's goal this season was to make the 4cc team. It's very unfurtunate that she wasn't picked. However, I don't expect both Mao and Miki going to 4CCs. Someone usually gets sick or withraw from it and hopefully Suzuki will get to go then.

 

[qazwsx]

Is the protocol in Japanese? it seems that way for me..:scratch:

Does anyone know if Mao recieved "e" on any of her 3L?

 

[bethissoawesome]

Is the protocol in Japanese? it seems that way for me..:scratch:

Does anyone know if Mao recieved "e" on any of her 3L?

Mao did receive an "e" on her triple lutz. Maybe I wasn't looking carefully, but it looked clean"ish" to me this time.

Maybe this is a shallow comment, but I was pretty shocked that Mao and Miki got the same GOE's for their spirals and that Miki had positive GOE's on her final spins... although her performance overall was AMAZING.

 

[Bennett]

Maybe this is a shallow comment, but I was pretty shocked that Mao and Miki got the same GOE's for their spirals

Wow, I don't understand, either....

 

[Bennett]

Congrats to all skaters who did well in this competition. I enjoyed all skaters' performances good or bad, and especially Takahito's SP (not to be confused with Takahiko), Fumie's SP, Miki's LP and Yukina's SP and LP. I wish Takahito and Fumie had kept the momentum they had in their SP also in their LP.

I totally understand that figureskating fans and especially Korean fans will be happy that participating countries will send top skaters to 4CC and therefore they can enjoy top skaters' performances on TV or in their home country and I'm happy for them. But at the same time, I feel very sorry for the skaters who placed 5th and 6th overall in the Japanese Nationals, who were expected to be selected for 4CC. I feel especially for Akiko, who, despite her placement at Nationals, now has to count only on invitation to NHK Trophy (the home GP event) for any GP assignment next season since she's a senior skater who has fallen out of the 'system' once already due to her suffering from anorexia at the ages when most skaters have their peaks during their competitive skating careers.

She overcame the disorder and has been working her butt off (and skated well in smaller competitions incl her wins at Universiad and Golden Spin) in order to grab this chance to earn some points internationally, but it has just fallen out of her hand because of these fickle people at JSF changing their mind without any prior announcement and deciding to let Mao, Miki, and Suguri "do their work" for them. Surely they saw less priority in taking her future competitive career seriously than doing a favor for the other federations (and/or ISU.)

To me, now that the Nobeyama summer camp is a thing of the past, and that JSF is trying to sell only the very few top skaters, it's become so clear that the federation in the current regime has no sense of giving chance to and helping/nurturing other promising skaters unless they are still in the junior/novice circuits.

Sure, of course Akiko or Nana could have outscored Fumie and placed 4th if they had skated better at Nationals, but they still deserve getting sent to 4CC and build up their experience and confidence. Actually if the fedration decided not to send the skaters who placed 4th, 5th and 6th, I don't understand why not then sending the top 3 instead of 1st, 2nd, and 4th. There has to be some reason for this. (Possibly Nanri and Nakano are busy with their school work and the fed tried to take that into account?)

I agree. I am glad that Mao, Miki, Daisuke, and Kozuka get another chance to practice in a competition setting before the Worlds. Especially, young Kozuka and Mao both seem to need more practice at competitions. So I am glad for them.

But I do feel very sorry for those who missed 4CC.

We don't know the rationale for this selection. We could only speculate for the reasons (e.g., Nanri & Nakano having busy school schedule? strategy to ensure 3 spots at next worlds? ISU's pressure to send top skaters? etc etc). But we will never really know why. Perhaps it would be good if JSF can announce the selection criteria in advance next season.

 

[Bennett]

Mai

Does anyone know what happened to Mai? She seems to have been struggling so much this season. To my surprise, she had 3S combo in SP instead of lutz-toe to get rid of edge deduction and changed her LP to the previous one. These are major changes. I wonder if combo starting with flip, loop, or toe may be difficult for her. Also I liked her LP music this season and am sorry that she didn't use it.

But I was somehow thinking that Mai also may not be good at Salcow because Asada sisters are so similar in their techniques and Mao doesn't do it in competitions. But Mai used this jump a lot in her LP.

 

[TCTC84]

I don't understand what the big deal is with sending the best skaters to 4CC, The US and Canada sent their top skaters last year, and I'm REALLY glad the 4CC is slowly becoming as important and prestigeous as the Europeans, cuz that's what it's supposed to be. And as a fan, I'm glad it's gonna be an intense and suspensful event!

I think the JSF got the formula right... send the top 2 skaters to both events, and send the 3rd to worlds and 4th to 4CC.

 

[Bennett]

I don't understand what the big deal is with sending the best skaters to 4CC, The US and Canada sent their top skaters last year, and I'm REALLY glad the 4CC is slowly becoming as important and prestigeous as the Europeans, cuz that's what it's supposed to be. And as a fan, I'm glad it's gonna be an intense and suspensful event!

I think the JSF got the formula right... send the top 2 skaters to both events, and send the 3rd to worlds and 4th to 4CC.

I think that the reason why people are a bit shocked by their decision is that they changed their practices without notice. Neither skaters nor fans knew that they would send 2 top skaters and 4th to 4CC this season (AFAIK).

 

[Jaana]

I think that Ando skated really well and the choreography is awesome, but she does not have "a Carmen personality" to fit the music, in my opinion.

 

[bibi]

Does anyone know when is the exhibition?

 

[Sylvia]

Link to the official results/protocols in English

 

[sorcerer]

I think the judges were a bit too generous to both Mao and Miki, while a bit too stingy to Nana or Akiko or Aki or Mai. the placements were right though, IMO.

Reading the heap of posts in the Miki-fans' thread over here, I'm pretty sure all of us fans are rejoiced just to know that Miki has come back strong and that she herself is happy with her own performance!
Should the COP have been a little lower, that's perfectly okay, because we know she skated really good.

In the K&C, Miki found her shoulder start aching. She says she didn't notice it while performing. (We saw the big tapings under her Carmen costume, as is usual this season...One newspaper reported that there's a small amount of blood swelling inside her joint.)
But most probably she'll show up today in the Gala, she did so even in that NHK!

Aside from that, she ended the entire game in that dome - as well as the year '07 - in a very pleasant way; and so far marked a brilliant start for her twenties, didn't she?

Does anyone know when is the exhibition?

Two same gala shows, one probably already done by this hour and another about 3 hours from now.
The broadcast starts in about 2 and a half hours.

Miki's program may be Hurt, La Boheme, or the new one said to be in preparation.

PS: Hurray for Mao for not being affected by her popping the 3A. She's become mentally so strong!

 

[champs]

Yes, but Four Continents is suppose to be Europeans for the rest of the world.

Supposed to be, I don't know, but why does it matter NOW, when Japan didn't necessarily send their best skaters to 4CC in the past, such as last year, so in your words 4CC wasn't like EC anyway and that was what it was. And why should the decisions by the federations in the European nations somehow force the feds non-European nations to comply? After all each European country has their own process of selecting which of their skaters they want to send to EC, or am I wrong.

One could argue that it's unfair to a lesser tier European skater, that someone like Akiko or Nana can got to Four Continents and get an easy win/ extra points, whereas Europeans isn't like that.

4CC-participating countries have 4CC and WC, whereas European nations have EC and WC. Take any European nation, pick any skater in that country who is "someone like Akiko and Nana" as you say, and the federation of this country can make the decision to send this skater to EC. I don't know why you think it's easy for Akiko or Nana to earn points at 4CC if they compete there, but if it is from your viewpoint, then why not easy for this particular European skater.
You don't think so because the rest of the European nations "will" send top skaters? Well, then 4CC may be no different: all countries other than Japan may send their top skaters. Even in such a case, if you still think it's easy for Akiko or Nana to earn points, then that means you think they are quite competitive. and I think they deserve the points they earn.

Besides if I recall correctly after last year, there was talk about countries sending their best to Four Continents.

Possible. And possibly that urged JSF to change their selection criterion. But that has nothing to do with my point. My point is 1) that there was no announcement by JSF prior to Nationals on such a change (if not made at the last minute) hence a disappointment for the 5th and 6th ranked skaters when the JSF announced the selection after the nationals was over, 2) that nurturing a larger group of stronger skaters is not on JSF's priority list, and 3) that they decided NOT to send the top 3 in the Nationals anyway. Or more concisely put, what JSF does doesn't make sense to me.

Btw could you kindly direct me to a link that discusses such a talk with mention of 4CC participants being obliged to send their best skaters from this season? Thanks.

 

[sorcerer]

Two same gala shows, one probably already done by this hour and another about 3 hours from now.
The broadcast starts in about 2 and a half hours.

It says in the newspaper that they'll do it with LIVE orchestra!!

ETA: As for the 4CC, viewers of GS in general might be interested. Could bekalc or champs make a thread in the Edge folder? Or should we stay here?