Kana Muramoto & Daisuke Takahashi

[synesthesia]

Do they still have a chance to go to Olympics if they lose Nats?

Probably not , in terms of the 4 selection criteria (winner of Nationals, highest world ranking over the last 3 seasons, highest season's world ranking and highest season's score), the tally would be 2:2. I can imagine that winning the national championships would tip the scales in Team KoKo's favour.

 

[yugra]

They're only in their 2nd season and have such huge potential that I would love to see fully realised.

The same is true for me too.
I believe they will be better positioned. They have the skills and strength of character to fight.
Why wouldn’t they be?

 

[Znowflake]

Probably not , in terms of the 4 selection criteria (winner of Nationals, highest world ranking over the last 3 seasons, highest season's world ranking and highest season's score), the tally would be 2:2. I can imagine that winning the national championships would tip the scales in Team KoKo's favour.

Well then I will send positive vibes there way and hopefully they kill the FD

 

[synesthesia]

The Polish Figure Skating Association's 100th anniversary gala was shown on Polish tv on the 24th and is now available online (timestamp for KanaDai's performance is 1:08:35).

Łyżwiarstwo figurowe, Gala Stulecia PZŁF (Warszawa) [ZAPIS]

Relacja z gali poświęconej 100. rocznicy powstania Polskiego Związku Łyżwiarskiego. Do wydarzenia doszło w obiekcie COS Torwar Lodowisko w Warszawie. Wystąpili m.in. Dorota i Mariusz Siudkowie.

sport.tvp.pl

________________________________________

I echo Znowflakes's sentiments and send Kana and Dai tons of positive vibes!!!

(I'm too nervous to watch the FD live - will check the results later. )

 

[yugra]

Why wouldn’t they be?

Nearly succeeded.
I never doubted them for a second (they won FD). In any case they did it really nice and carefully.

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youtu.be

 

[mikeko666]

I just came home from the arena. I thought Kana and Dai won when Misato messed up the third set of the twizzles, but obviously JSF had another idea. If Kana and Dai want to continue, which I doubt, they should go to 4CC, score 200 and win a medal and close this season and prepare for next. There is no merit for them to go to Worlds.

 

[demarinis5]

Not the competition we all hoped for. Funny how some folks on other social platforms think that Kana/Dai will be sent to the Olympics
over K/K and these are not fans of KanaDai.

Dai looked emotional and exhausted after the FD. I really think Marina not being there for them played on their nerves especially
Dai. Oh well we have next season to look forward to whatever they decide to do.

Congrats to them for winning the FD!!!

 

[deedee1]

Yes yes, congrats to KanaDai for winning FD, that was great fight back from disappointing RD!

 

[Znowflake]

Looks like teams are announced and they aren’t going to Olympics . They are going to Worlds and 4CC though

 

[deedee1]

Hoping everyone here is okay and sending my HUGE love to each of you.

 

[elbkup]

Such joy from them and they have put Ice dance on the map.. it is here to stay!!. Look forward to Worlds and 4 CC but I cannot wait to see what creative things are in store for us in the months and years to come. Please.. continue to enchant us

 

[synesthesia]

Hoping everyone here is okay and sending my HUGE love to each of you.

Thank you, deedee. I really need this now. *hugging you back*

I'm extremely heartbroken for Kana and Dai. I hope they can look back with pride on their huge improvements this season once they get over the disappointment and wish them great redeeming skates at both 4CC and Worlds.


ETA:

That's the spirit - good to see them optimistically looking forward to their next competitions :

https://twitter.com/iguana012/status/1475164068482850821

Part 2 (c'mon Dai, you said you'd consider competing until 50 ):

https://twitter.com/iguana012/status/1475164962746208257

Thank you for the translation, iguana.

 

[yugra]

Such joy from them and they have put Ice dance on the map..

Maybe, this was their mission as a team. But I want to see that they have awards and many medals. They are worthy it.

 

[Dreamer57]

I'm a little devastated that Soran Bushi (my favourite RD of the whole season) won't be seen on Olympic ice, but I'm glad to see them going to Estonia and France. Will be cheering them on for 4CC podium and continuing to inspire new ice dancers!

 

[mikeko666]

I just came home from the arena. I thought Kana and Dai won when Misato messed up the third set of the twizzles, but obviously JSF had another idea. If Kana and Dai want to continue, which I doubt, they should go to 4CC, score 200 and win a medal and close this season and prepare for next. There is no merit for them to go to Worlds.

I finally watched the recording yesterday, and actually Misato botched both 2nd and 3rd sets of the twizzles, which should have given them level 1 with GOE-.

Anyway, it's good to see Kana and Dai look motivated to go to 4CC and Worlds. I hope they will score 200 and win a medal (hopefully gold) at 4CC and get two spots at Worlds. I am sure JSF knows Kana/Dai are better than the others, and that's why they are sending them to Worlds.

 

[Dreamer57]

Here's their performance at Medalists On Ice (You are the Reason):

- YouTube

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youtu.be

 

[Azikin]

I just got to watch the SP.. damn, I can't believe they didn't make it, such a lovely couple and programs...

 

[yugra]

You are the Reason

What a beautiful dance!
There are something charming about they.

 

[synesthesia]

Here's their performance at Medalists On Ice (You are the Reason):

- YouTube

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

youtu.be

This has to be my favourite rendition of “You are the reason” yet. Maybe I’m projecting, but it feels like, even though it’s a tender performance, there’s a lot of raw underlying emotion – a mix of regret, relief and a burning desire to fight back.


Some lovely pictures from the exhibition:
https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202112270000593.html


And here’s uncle Dai with Mao Shimada at the gala

https://twitter.com/nekotetoneko/status/1475374920452689922

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Video of the announcement of representatives for Olympics, Worlds etc. (love Kana's and Dai's reaction to being named to the Worlds team):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KoLJnqApe8

________________________

I finally watched the recording yesterday, and actually Misato botched both 2nd and 3rd sets of the twizzles, which should have given them level 1 with GOE-.

Anyway, it's good to see Kana and Dai look motivated to go to 4CC and Worlds. I hope they will score 200

and win a medal (hopefully gold) at 4CC and get two spots at Worlds. I am sure JSF knows Kana/Dai are better than the others, and that's why they are sending them to Worlds.

Imo KoKo were the better team at Nationals while KanaDai were the better team internationally by quite a bit this season and indeed are far more likely to earn two spots, especially with several top teams retiring or sitting out Worlds after the Olympics.

________________________

There’s been a slew of articles today with snippets from interviews Kana and Dai gave to the press after MOI. They are very gracious in defeat and strongly hinting at continuing for at least another season. Dai hopes to compete at Worlds in Saitama in 2023 (I’ve seen people on twitter say it’s because he still regrets he had to skip in 2014, but I can’t find the source). Afterwards they will take it step by step.

From https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202112270001316.html (DeepL/Google translations):

エキシビションを終えた村元は前を向いた。「結果は結果。素直に受け止めました。この悔しさをバネに4大陸ではメダル、世界選手権では2枠を持って帰ってきたいです」

After the exhibition, Muramoto looked ahead. "The result is the result. We took it honestly/in stride. We want to use this disappointment as a springboard for a medal at the Four Continents and two spots at the World Championships."

競い合ったライバルへ、高橋は言った。「これまでやってきた全てを北京で出してほしい。全力で応援したいと思います。世界選手権で2枠を持って帰ってこられたら（23年大会で）一緒に立てるかもしれない。僕たちも僕たちで、頑張っていきます」

To their rivals, Takahashi said: "I want you to put out everything you've done so far in Beijing. We'll do our best to support you. If we can come back with two spots for the world championships (at the 23rd year competition), we may stand together. We too will do our best."

I was shocked to hear that, it seems in the summer of either 2020 or 2021 (translators on twitter don’t seem to be sure?), Dai had a cracked rib and Kana suffered a concussion and therefore they lost even more practice time (in addition to the difficultues they faced due to the pandemic). I believe this was never reported before? I’m at a loss for words – it’s unbelievable how far they came under these circumstances.

昨季はコロナ禍に加え、夏場に高橋の肋骨（ろっこつ）にひびが入った。続けて村元も脳振とうとなり、想定通りの練習量をこなせなかった。

 

[demarinis5]

Thanks synes for all of the updates, much appreciated.

Here is a Russian interview with Marina regarding the results. She is not to happy.
You can google translate.

Зуева: отсутствие иностранцев сказалось на итогах чемпионата Японии по фигурному катанию

Марина Зуева, тренер Дайсукэ Такахаси и Каны Мурамото, рассказала, как отразилось на результатах чемпионата Японии по фигурному катанию отсутствие иностранных тренеров и спортсменов на соревнованиях.

russian.rt.com

I do have to agree with her about Kanadai being at a disadvantage because they were
coach-less at this competition.