Kazuki Tomono

[Ichatdelune]

HE FINALLY DID IT A CLEAN SP AND IT WAS MAGNIFICENT :yes2:

 

[surimi]

Fantastic Kazuki! Loved it!

 

[Giu]

I haven't seen his performance yet, I hope someone will upload the videos somewhere but anyway, Congrats to Kazuki!!! :clapper:
7th with a great score, he must be proud! And he is also quite close to the boys ahead of him so there's still hope to gain some positions at the end!!!

 

[AlimaAsh]

He did so amazing! Really proud of him. Good luck to him in the FS!!

 

[Ichatdelune]

Saw protocols, oh Kazuki spins got you again... But I'm just happy that I got to see that wonderful program skated cleanly

 

[KiraraChin]

I have such mixed feelings right now. I'm so, so happy for him, he did amazing!

However I'm extremely unhappy about the score, and particularly his PCS which once again we're extremely low.

Tsuyoboogie summed it up perfectly: https://twitter.com/tsuyoboogie/status/1225769202474029057?s=19

SIGH.

At least he *should* be able to get an SB and finish in the top 8, earning some WS points.

 

[Interspectator]

I'm pretty mad about this too. -He deserved better.

 

[KiraraChin]

LOWEST PCS OF THE TOP 10. I can't.
https://twitter.com/SkatingScores/status/1225774283848331264?s=19

 

[khtmyzr]

I was so happy when he finished skating, but was deflated seeing the PCS :S
His jumps were good, I thought that performance deserved at least a 90

 

[Tsurara]

Great performance!
Whether it was the sound quality of the venue or the broadcasting issue (FujiTV side), or Tomono-kun was moving way faster than he usually did and went one tempo ahead of the music note? or it was just me? ...something felt a bit off to me, especially in the latter half of the performance. And that combo-spin kinda messed the total flow of the clean and beautiful performance a bit. Tech-wise it was definitely his best performance, but artistry-wise, I actually enjoyed/liked the ones he did in GP series or Nats.

Still, I wanted his PCS be slightly higher than that, to give him 90+ in total. I guess that choreo was too hard for some uncles and aunts to understand its beauty to give proper points...? Mills-sensei perhaps needs to give him a little bit easier-to-understand-for-conservative-and-stubborn-old-peeps piece in the next season.

Anyways, his SP score isn't too low, he can still come back with his hottest ever free! Gamba!
(I won't be able to watch it real time on Sunday, I'll shut out all the internet news till the evening and watch the recorded show as if the TV broadcasting would be running live. Thank you everyone for all the updates and posts! I'll catch up with them soon!)

---

Not sure if these youtube links below work outside Japan, but in case they do:

Fuji's Interview after SP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGS9UL_T5n0
"Throughout the season, I hadn't been able to deliver a satisfying performance in SP. I'm really glad that I could deliver one in this place, 4CC."

"(Asked about his score 88+) To be honest, I wanted 90+. With 2 quads, I guess it's about the quality (degree of perfection/completion), that's what it is in my mind. Now looking back at it, losing a level on the spins, and those component scores weren't very high either. So I'll have to improve on those little details from now on. That said, it was good that I succeeded all the jumps."

"I didn't want to end this season the way things stood (in the first half of the season), so I took it on, thinking I'd show (what I could do)."

"(As for Free) I hope I can just go ahead and bring myself to deliver it.

Fuji's Official video but no sound (due to copyright)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAeiW9uBej4

Fuji's Official Ice-Stats chart
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2eYGVzJKqM

 

[AQFS]

Congrats to our boy for delivering such a performance today

Actually, I thought nothing will top my anxious feeling for the last nationals but it was worse this time, I was so worried about his performance today that I didn't really sleep except for a couple of hours!! So I was really relieved he did deliver today especially in this high-level competition and finally he updated his PB as well.

But yeah, I am also having mixed feelings. I really thought he would score 90 with landing all his jumps so that was quite disappointing

But I agree with Tsurara that I did find his artistic delivery here a bit lacking compared to other performances in the season. I guess he may have been focusing to land his jumps and lost a bit of his connection to the music and focus on the other elements in the program.

Still all in all, I am happy for him and I really hope he keeps his momentum in the FS and delivers a good performance there as well.

 

[Giu]

Still, I wanted his PCS be slightly higher than that, to give him 90+ in total. I guess that choreo was too hard for some uncles and aunts to understand its beauty to give proper points...? Mills-sensei perhaps needs to give him a little bit easier-to-understand-for-conservative-and-stubborn-old-peeps piece in the next season.

This is the key point. Kazuki with that choreo and that program took a huge risk that not even the most recognized skaters would take, he must be rewarded for this and one day surely it will pay off but it will take time.

Also, not my intention to discredit skaters who got more PCS than him but, I think that some of them had a PCS boost due to their most recent results. Baby Yuma (and I loooove Kagiyama) is benefiting from his third place at JNats and the Youth Olympic gold, on the other hand Kazuki is coming from a disappointing season but if he continues like this and shows consistency, judges and Japanese Fed will stop ignoring him and he will have recognition for his hard work and his talent.

GO Kazuki!!!

 

[KiraraChin]

First of all, welcome back Tsurara and AQFS! Missed you guys!

Someone uploaded his performance on Twitter, it's low quality but it has sound:
https://twitter.com/figureskate_bot/status/1225755644805824513
https://twitter.com/figureskate_bot/status/1225756277977964549

Here's his protocol for those who haven't seen it: https://twitter.com/mromron_58/status/1225770277558091776
I feel like his TES is about right - I'm not knowledgeable enough to know why he got steps level 3 and a Spin3V, so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.
He got the third highest 4T3T score, the third highest 4S score and the second highest 3A! https://twitter.com/bigfanofskating/status/1225786790373494784
Going clean with this SP is a such a huge personal victory for him, I'm extremely proud :luv17:

PCS, though, is the real problem. Even if he seemed more focused on the jumps and slightly off music - apparently there was terrible echo in the arena, BTW - I have no doubt it should be AT LEAST a couple of points higher.

Firstly, because a 'weak' performance from Kazuki is still very good! Secondly, as you guys pointed out, he should be rewarded for doing innovative choreography, especially considering he's doing a risky layout as well (actually, the same layout as Yuzuru, I think!). Thirdly, so many people, in both Men and Ladies, have a PCS boost simply for having high TES and going clean! But when Kazuki finally does it, he's not rewarded accordingly. It's extremely unfair! :gaah:

SIGH. The judges did him dirty today, but I hope he doesn't lose motivation and kill it in the free. He'll be the 16th to skate on Sunday (fourth in the 3rd group): https://twitter.com/Tomono_Infonet/status/1225775937263828992

I am concerned he'll go for the 3-quad layout, though... In this interview he says he wants to try? https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20200207-00000242-spnannex-spo
Please, Kazuki, don't do anything crazy...

 

[Arriba627]

I've enjoyed this SP of his since the very beginning of the season. Yes, it's quirky - but then, I guess that's why I like it! On his spin 3V, it could have to do with the number of revolutions, or sometimes they don't get low enough into a certain position. Congrats to him on his quads. Overall, a very enjoyable performance!

 

[surimi]

Kirara, Giu and others complaining about the PCS, I feel for you guys. It clearly shows he's not the federation's darling though people love him, otherwise I think they could think of ways to make judges see his artistry. Let's look at the silver lining, at least Kazuki got a chance to compete thanks to Shoma, and made the most of this opportunity. Others who were kicked aside by the fed were not so fortunate. I am keeping my fingers crossed for Kazuki tomorrow, and will be cheering him on in front of my stream.

 

[KiraraChin]

Did you guys see Misha's cute tweet after Kazuki's skate: https://twitter.com/mishageofficial/status/1225769236036894720 :luv17:

Here are some pics from his SP! His lines are so gorgeous
https://twitter.com/anya3Lz3Lo/status/1225931636891512833
https://twitter.com/anya3Lz3Lo/status/1225930613049266182
https://twitter.com/anya3Lz3Lo/status/1225930540366196736
https://twitter.com/anya3Lz3Lo/status/1225929951926292480
https://twitter.com/anya3Lz3Lo/status/1225929289268203520
https://twitter.com/AxelQuadruple/status/1225820562053709824
https://twitter.com/yaguchi_hochi/status/1225835082528616448
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8S4QnJp9sf/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8SRcxYJaxj/

Backstage bits from Japanese TV:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8RVOLapDSR/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8RWUq5JdDM/

Pic with Yuma backstage: https://www.instagram.com/p/B8RXhDPpJID/

Finally, some cute side-to-side pics...
First, Yuzuru, Kazuki and Yuma as a mother swan (?) and her two chicks: https://twitter.com/GifsYuzuru/status/1225796778232029185

Then, this one with Kazuki and an otter... You can really see why Japanese fans associate him with otters, it's super accurate: https://twitter.com/yukkiii_34517/status/1226133701731418113

Kazuki will skate at 5am my time, I will wake up to watch but probably won't be awake enough to write anything.
So just wanted to say GOOD LUCK, KAZUKI! You can do this!

 

[Imov]

You did well at the short Kazuki. Carry on until the free.

 

[KiraraChin]

Not a perfect skate, but Kazuki got a nice SB and finished in 7th, earning some WS points!
It's a shame he missed out on being 6th for such a small margin, but oh well.
He was also second in the StSq today, just behind Jason and tied with Jun! Great job, Kazuki!

 

[sk8ath]

Not a perfect skate, but Kazuki got a nice SB and finished in 7th, earning some WS points!
It's a shame he missed out on being 6th for such a small margin, but oh well.
He was also second in the StSq today, just behind Jason and tied with Jun! Great job, Kazuki!

I think this SB may enough for him to get GP again...

 

[KiraraChin]

I think this SB may enough for him to get GP again...

Yes, I think so too! Plus, he'll get some WS points which will hopefully keep him in the Top 24