Kana Muramoto & Daisuke Takahashi

[synesthesia]

Lots of Japanese skaters spreading positive vibes via Miki's ig account (even Shin Amano is here!) with a special appearance by KanaDai at 9:35 :hap93: :

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_NRx5oAc9b/


Translation kindly provided by DTRtS:

Long time no see, it’s Daisuke. (Kana is here.) Under such a difficult situation, it’s hard to have an ordinary life now, but I believe there’re things we can do even now. So let’s try to find them and overcome (this hard time) together!

https://twitter.com/DTRoadtoSochi/status/1252295680124690432


We're being spoilt, first with “Ue o Muite Arukō" ("Look up at the sky") and now with this sweet gesture by team Japan. This came just at the right time when I needed it. Hope it helps you too.

 

[deedee1]

Following synes' advice : at the end of the video, Kana & Dai practicing choktaw https://www.facebook.com/DaisukeTak...fSTEwMDQ0NTQ0ODE4NDM3NDoxNDQ1MjEzMTcxMTAxMjA/

Be safe and happy. We're together at home!

 

[synesthesia]

Thanks for bringing the video over, deedee. :agree:

So is it choctaw? I mean, which they had practiced for hours with Meryl and Charlie to prepare for Ice Explosion. Didn't know that. Anyway I will post it.

I hope you don't mind me answering this here instead of in Dai's ff.

Yes, they did choctaw turns in the beginning alternating between LFI and RBO twice, followed by a couple of backwards crossovers and a besti squat.

Dai said on Friends on ice +α that they practiced spins with Meryl and Charlie. I don't know if there was another source referencing more details of what they practiced together. :scratch3: You might remember that better than me!

A few nuggets from Dai's latest appearance on Shizuka's "Friends on ice + α" talkshow (27 February 2020):

https://www.facebook.com/MuramotoTakahashi/posts/126023462293239

Be safe and happy. We're together at home!

 

[deedee1]

I hope you don't mind me answering this here instead of in Dai's ff.

Yes, they did choctaw turns in the beginning alternating between LFI and RBO twice, followed by a couple of backwards crossovers and a besti squat.

Thanks a lot for clarifying steps n turns there, though among the above I can understand only backwards crossovers to tell the truth. : Can anyone believe I have been a fan of this sport for like 35, 40 years? The thing however is Dai for me and everything he does on ice is simply gorgeous! Steps, turns, smooth soft crossovers, etc., everthing. Had I ever a chance I probably could watch him doing crossovers all day. THAT's most important.

 

[synesthesia]

https://twitter.com/HertzArena_/status/1260676191645659141

Good news, even though I'm a little worried about the "max. 20 skaters on the ice at the same time" policy. That's still pretty crowded. I suppose we don't know, if Marina's students will be back on the ice this soon, but if they are Kana and Dai will have to wear masks, if they intend to resume skating in hold, which I imagine to be pretty exhausting. Plus they will have to start all over again with the RD since I think they already started practicing the Ravensburger pattern, which now has been replaced with last season's Finnstep.

Knowing how Dai loves a good challenge and how Kana is said to be a hard worker I have no doubts they'll sink their teeth into this one trying to make up for lost time. Kana-chan, Dai-chan, ganbatte ne!

 

[deedee1]

давай Kana! давай Dai!! давай Finnstep!!!

 

[mikeko666]

Hertz Arena opened yesterday as planned.

https://www.nbc-2.com/story/42160539/figure-skaters-make-their-anticipated-return-to-hertz-arena-ice

There is no Dai or Kana in the news, but it is nice to see the skaters are now back on ice.

 

[mikeko666]

Fuji TV just posted a video of unreleased footage from Dai's choreography sessions with David Wilson in the summer of 2018.
https://youtu.be/boTOwRtoF9g

Dai and Kana will appear on S-Park from Florida this Sunday, May 31, from 23:15 JST.
https://twitter.com/online_on_ice/status/1265916205195390980

Let's hope we'll get to see lots of their training.

P.S. Some more!
https://twitter.com/SPARK_fujitv/status/1265918024831266819

 

[deedee1]

Dai and Kana will appear on S-Park from Florida this Sunday, May 31, from 23:15 JST.
https://twitter.com/online_on_ice/status/1265916205195390980

Let's hope we'll get to see lots of their training.

P.S. Some more!
https://twitter.com/SPARK_fujitv/status/1265918024831266819

Thanks mikeko-san. It's tomorrow. Can't wait!

 

[synesthesia]

Uploaded the video of Kana & Dai on S-Park. It was a super cute appearance that made my day! :luv17: (Thanks for alerting us beforehand, mikeko!)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xXWBrUEdRfTQnF8IrTZhHoR3nd3tZowy/view?usp=sharing


ETA

alternative youtube link (thanks uni!):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=re8izuKQsEM




There were several glimpses of their on- and off-ice training in Florida with the Skating Academy's coaching team as well as with Meryl & Charlie at Kanku Ice Arena. Several failed (nobody was harmed) and successful off-ice lift attempts, which were exciting to see and also attempts at pair spins (camel and sit/upright). The sit/upright spin actually went pretty well! Charlie had very kind words for Kana and Dai. He said it's almost unfair how quickly they are progressing.

Furthermore it was revealed that Kana and Dai have returned to Japan temporarily due to the coronavirus situation. At the moment they are training without a coach:

https://www.facebook.com/DaisukeTakahashiRoadtoSochi/posts/1934722123332010



Unsurprisingly Kana is steering the ship :

https://twitter.com/kokomadekokomo/status/1267108074336120832

 

[mikeko666]

It was a surprise that they have been back in Japan, but it may be safer than in the U.S. now.
Dai's skating is so beautiful in the ice dance boots/blades.
The spin from 5:00 does not look bad either. :agree:

 

[demarinis5]

Thanks for the video, great to see Kana and Dai! So they are in Japan, probably they had to self isolate for 2 weeks upon their return.

 

[synesthesia]

Thanks for the video, great to see Kana and Dai! So they are in Japan, probably they had to self isolate for 2 weeks upon their return.

Time for some detective work. They likely came back after mid April and definitely before 1 May. In Miki's video, published 20 April, Kana and Dai were together outside. Could have been in front of the Hertz Arena.

Dai's message for Blue Impulse's stay home project was published on 1 May. There's the same curtain in the background as in his most recent appearances:

https://www.ntv.co.jp/news_covid19/static/20200501-n01.html


Since they've been back for at least a month their self isolation should have ended almost 3 weeks ago at the latest.

 

[demarinis5]

From Od's blog Dai, Kana and Oda at the new Kanku Ice Arena!

https://ameblo.jp/oda-nobunari/image-12601339366-14768061608.html


Good detective work synes!

 

[mikeko666]

So, they have been training in Japan at least for a few weeks in a couple of different rinks. And no one leaked the info until they appeared on TV.

 

[deedee1]

Uploaded the video of Kana & Dai on S-Park. It was a super cute appearance that made my day! :luv17: (Thanks for alerting us beforehand, mikeko!)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xXWBrUEdRfTQnF8IrTZhHoR3nd3tZowy/view?usp=sharing


ETA

alternative youtube link (thanks uni!):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=re8izuKQsEM


There were several glimpses of their on- and off-ice training in Florida with the Skating Academy's coaching team as well as with Meryl & Charlie at Kanku Ice Arena. Several failed (nobody was harmed) and successful off-ice lift attempts, which were exciting to see and also attempts at pair spins (camel and sit/upright). The sit/upright spin actually went pretty well! Charlie had very kind words for Kana and Dai. He said it's almost unfair how quickly they are progressing.

awwww Thank you! Made my day too! :luv17:

It was a surprise that they have been back in Japan, but it may be safer than in the U.S. now.
Dai's skating is so beautiful in the ice dance boots/blades.
The spin from 5:00 does not look bad either. :agree:

Yes yes and yes. So beautiful. :luv17: Who else, besides me, feeling a bit jealous of Kana now? And the spin! Not bad at all, is it?! Amazing to see just how quickly Dai is adjusting himself to ice dance blades.

From Od's blog Dai, Kana and Oda at the new Kanku Ice Arena!

https://ameblo.jp/oda-nobunari/image-12601339366-14768061608.html

Is it just me. When I see Nobu and Dai together, it looks like they never have aged. Forever stay the same brats from, say, kindergarten!
Very very nice to see Nobu smiling. Smiles suit Nobu the best methink. :yes:

 

[demarinis5]

Dai/Kana at a restaurant with Kana's parents. Scroll to the right arrow and see the cute photos of Dai with the kids.

No social distancing or masks. Seems like life is back to normal in some respects in Japan.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBV9nBgJMOL/

 

[synesthesia]

Wow, such happy pictures! Thanks, demarinis! For the pic at Kanku Arena from Nobu's blog too.

Kana's family seems so fun and warm, it looks like they've already "adopted" Dai-chan. Aah, and I can never get enough of Dai interacting with babies and kids, he's such a natural.


[edited because ig pictures have been taken down]


__________________________________

NHK's twitter account posted Dai's home-recorded message (feat. the omnipresent curtain again! ) for the channel's re-run of his performances at the NHK Trophy throughout the years. He recalls his memories from watching the competition on TV as a boy to competing there many times himself. As always he is very humble talking about his reputation of being good at footwork (ever since he became the first skater to be awarded level4 for his stsq at the NHK Trophy in 2005 - the media subsequently used to call him "The Prince of Steps"). There's an endearing out-take at the end showing Dai clumsily falling off a chair/stool with someone laughing in the background. I wonder if that was maybe Kana (could be anybody though).

https://twitter.com/nhk_sports/status/1272511760377851906


[edited because translation has been taken down after a few days in accordance with the translator's advance notice to limit the tweet's availability]


__________________________________

Speaking of footwork: Ice dancer Lewis Gibson reiterated once again how much he adores Dai-chan's skating and that he would sometimes try to incorporate parts of his stsq into his own skating. He hopes that Lilah and him get to compete against Kana and Dai (maybe at the NHK Trophy). Lilah testified that Lewis is such a huge fan that she fears he'd be very distracted, if that happens.

https://youtu.be/KSaNMoJJIRE?list=UUj0Vi2KOhULmQ0YrcL17GKw&t=2895


__________________________________

Photo gallery from Prince Ice World in Hiroshima back in January (scroll down for three pictures of Kana and Dai together at the end of Kana's "Feeling good" performance):

https://www.pawanavi.com/entertainment/piw2020hiroshima/


__________________________________

ETA:

Kana just launched her personal official website:

https://kana-muramoto.com

It hardly comes as a surprise that she is backed by two of Dai's sponsors, Puma and Sky Court, since she's been sporting Puma gear and has been involved with Sky Court's PR campaigns lately. :thumbsup:

 

[mikeko666]

A physical training/therapy company called Realine posted pics and video of Dai and Kana training on their Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/ReaLineforEveryone/posts/3020467951324516

It seem they are going or have already gone back to Florida to train with Marina.

 

[synesthesia]

Seems the ReaLine vids were just a "preview" of what's to come. Kana and Dai are indeed back in Florida and will lead through a live workout tomorrow / 11 am EDT in celebration of Olympic Day, to be streamed on the ISU's instagram account. Can't wait!


https://www.instagram.com/p/CBu1LQVgzDS/

Keep Training on Olympic Day.

To celebrate Olympic Day we will be joining the world’s largest 24-hour digital Olympic workout. Three great skaters will join Olympians around the world on Instagram Live.

All three live workouts will be at 11 am local time in the athletes time zone except Italy.

Deniss Vasiljevs & Aljona Savchenko from Champery/Oberstdorf (11am CEST), Ondrej Hotarek & Nicole Della Monica from Bergamo (2pm CEST) and Daisuke Takahashi and Kana Muramoto from Florida (11am EDT).