Kazuki Tomono | Page 294 | Golden Skate

Kazuki Tomono

kwanette said:
BTW..Kazuki won the men's sp at Finlandia today..by a lot. :)
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I wish figure skating scores were that straightforward enough that we could compare them across competitions... But the reality is, we can't, because the differences in judging panel, field (politics) and even location can mean wildly different scoring. Also, as we know very well, winning the SP is not the same as winning the competition, alas... 😔

But, let me go back to the theme of Halston and Yuri Katsuki from Yuri on Ice. This was an interesting take:
Yuri is a skater who embodies all the bothersome and beautiful aspects of Japanese men (my interpretation being Machida's base with Takahashi's steps and Kozuka's grace).
In my mind, Tomono-kun is completely different from Yuri.
But this skate truly looks like Yuri.
Tomono-kun has become that kind of skater, hasn't he...

When Yuri on Ice was airing, Kazuki (a junior at the time) said he identified with Minami, a minor character. The fact that now people are getting main character vibes from him says a lot about how much he has grown and changed 🥹

Also, one of Yuri on Ice's main themes is rebirth and revival after adversity, which is something that it seems Machida-san himself identified in Halston as per this user:

"#Machida Tatsuki Special Commentary: Reviewing the First Half of the GP Series"
I watched it.

So Mr Machida also saw Tomono-kun's tearful interview after Skate America.
The expression on Mr Machida's face as he spoke about it reminded me of the look he himself wore during his own struggles as an active skater.

The theme is 'Revival'.
I hope Mr Machida's analysis of Tomono-kun's 'Halston' reaches the skater himself.
If he's struggling with his FS programme, I urge him to watch it.

Well, reviving a programme and continuing it are entirely different matters. And it's certainly not the same as bringing it back because this season's results haven't been satisfactory.

Incidentally, Tomono-kun's Halston routine is a revival, but he's altered the content significantly—it's 50% different. He's incorporated new elements before the jumps and added intricate transitions, resulting in a considerably more complex composition. He explained this thoroughly. It's not just a rehash.

So... yeah. Halston is not only breathtakingly beautiful, it's really deep, too. I hope we can see Halston's revival in all its glory before Kazuki retires 🥲

 
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KiraraChin said:
I wish figure skating scores were that straightforward enough that we could compare them across competitions... But the reality is, we can't, because the differences in judging panel, field (politics) and even location can mean wildly different scoring. Also, as we know very well, winning the SP is not the same as winning the competition, alas... 😔

But, let me go back to the theme of Halston and Yuri Katsuki from Yuri on Ice. This was an interesting take:
Yuri is a skater who embodies all the bothersome and beautiful aspects of Japanese men (my interpretation being Machida's base with Takahashi's steps and Kozuka's grace).
In my mind, Tomono-kun is completely different from Yuri.
But this skate truly looks like Yuri.
Tomono-kun has become that kind of skater, hasn't he...

When Yuri on Ice was airing, Kazuki (a junior at the time) said he identified with Minami, a minor character. The fact that now people are getting main character vibes from him says a lot about how much he has grown and changed 🥹

Also, one of Yuri on Ice's main themes is rebirth and revival after adversity, which is something that it seems Machida-san himself identified in Halston as per this user:

"#Machida Tatsuki Special Commentary: Reviewing the First Half of the GP Series"
I watched it.

So Mr Machida also saw Tomono-kun's tearful interview after Skate America.
The expression on Mr Machida's face as he spoke about it reminded me of the look he himself wore during his own struggles as an active skater.

The theme is 'Revival'.
I hope Mr Machida's analysis of Tomono-kun's 'Halston' reaches the skater himself.
If he's struggling with his FS programme, I urge him to watch it.

Well, reviving a programme and continuing it are entirely different matters. And it's certainly not the same as bringing it back because this season's results haven't been satisfactory.

Incidentally, Tomono-kun's Halston routine is a revival, but he's altered the content significantly—it's 50% different. He's incorporated new elements before the jumps and added intricate transitions, resulting in a considerably more complex composition. He explained this thoroughly. It's not just a rehash.

So... yeah. Halston is not only breathtakingly beautiful, it's really deep, too. I hope we can see Halston's revival in all its glory before Kazuki retires 🥲

Click to expand...

What did Machida say?..about Kazuki's crying?
 
kwanette said:
Kauki is the 1st alternate to GPF... Build that resume, Kazuki! Body of work...
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Interesting that Deep Edge Plus led the news with Kazuki missing out on GPF, instead of the guys who actually made it. Kazuki is giving main character vibes for real...


Still, it's such a shame he didn't make it 🥺 He still needs to deliver at Nationals, preferably medalling, in order to secure the Olympic spot.

kwanette said:
What did Machida say?..about Kazuki's crying?
Click to expand...
I don't know his words exactly, but everyone said he analysed the situation calmly (as expected from a professional commentator), but you could see that he was heartbroken for Kazuki like we all were (still are, in my case) 😭
 
KiraraChin said:
Interesting that Deep Edge Plus led the news with Kazuki missing out on GPF, instead of the guys who actually made it. Kazuki is giving main character vibes for real...


Still, it's such a shame he didn't make it 🥺 He still needs to deliver at Nationals, preferably medalling, in order to secure the Olympic spot.


I don't know his words exactly, but everyone said he analysed the situation calmly (as expected from a professional commentator), but you could see that he was heartbroken for Kazuki like we all were (still are, in my case) 😭
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In the case of one of these six having to withdraw (which of course I wouldn't wish), at least this year Kazuki Tomono wouldn't have visa or travel problems. I don't know if there's an official time limit for a change.
 
KiraraChin said:
Hiraike-sensei IG update:


The picture of Hiraike-sensei with the spring onions is because apparently Kazuki likes them in his noodles 🍜 It seems Hiraike-sensei bought them in Canada, too. Such an attentive coach 🥹
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I remember that Patrick Chan participated in a commercial for Spring onions (so it was in Canada) and Yuzuru Hanyu declared that he liked the negi ramen from a restaurant chain (which since then has been fourishing), so maybe it's something many skaters like? Or just, many people (I do)?
 
DizzyFrenchie said:
I remember that Patrick Chan participated in a commercial for Spring onions (so it was in Canada) and Yuzuru Hanyu declared that he liked the negi ramen from a restaurant chain (which since then has been fourishing), so maybe it's something many skaters like? Or just, many people (I do)?
Click to expand...
I like it too! Spring onions are great, especially with noodles. It's so cute that Hiraike-sensei would go out in the snow just to buy some!

Speaking of Hiraike-sensei, how cute is this 🥹
 
kwanette said:
https://number.bunshun.jp/articles/-/868282 a good read
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So, so good. Allow me to share the machine translation - the bit about PCS breaks my heart because his career would have been so, so different if PCS was scored properly.

"So I won't have any regrets..." Immediately after his performance, Kazuki Tomono (27), with tear stains still visible, showed reporters his resolve: "This isn't a sport where points come from being skilful." "What remains is the power to believe completely."​

On 14 November, Skate America, the fifth Grand Prix event, took place in Lake Placid, New York State. In the men's competition, Kazuki Tomono started in first place after the short programme, but made jump errors in the free skate the following day, finishing third overall. Veteran Kevin Aymoz (France) claimed his first Grand Prix title, with Mikhail Shaydorov (Kazakhstan) taking second place.

After the free skate concluded, Kazuki Tomono appeared in the mixed zone. Though traces of tears remained on his cheeks, he stood before the reporters with a refreshed expression, seemingly having regained his composure.

"I really poured everything I had into this Grand Prix, thinking this might be the last one... well, who knows. But overseas competitions and giving it my absolute all like this—this might have been the last time... who knows..."

Tomono, aged 27, had hinted at retiring from competition after this Olympic season. Whether to draw a line under things this season or continue a little longer – his words revealed he had yet to make a firm decision.

He concluded, "I think the greatest reward was being able to perform with the mindset of becoming the best skater, so I wouldn't have any regrets. That was really good."

Tomono's flawless short programme

The men's short programme at Skate America proved a more compelling contest than anticipated. It featured a line-up of veterans particularly adept at musical expression: 28-year-old Aymoz, 30-year-old Jason Brown (USA), and Tomono.

Brown performed his 'Riverdance' programme, which garnered four million views on YouTube during the Sochi Olympic season, in an upgraded choreography for his short programme this season. It drew a rapturous standing ovation from the audience. Aymoz, skating to a programme he choreographed himself, energised the crowd with his step sequence in the latter half. Despite the tension inherent in competition, the colourful performances continued, reminiscent of an exhibition, allowing us to savour anew the sheer joy of watching figure skating.

Tomono performed to 'That's It', choreographed by Shae-Lynn Bourne with music by Sofi Tucker. "Choreographer Shae-Lynn Bourne sent me numerous pieces, but from the very first time I heard this one, I had a clear image of skating to it. It really was pure intuition." He cleanly executed a 4+3 toe loop combination followed by a 4S, displaying sharp, crisp movements to the lively rhythm and completed the programme flawlessly without error.

The final free skate began with a challenging start.

At the press conference where he took the lead with a short programme score of 95.77, an American reporter pointed out that Skate America marked his sixteenth Grand Prix event. He responded with evident emotion: "I hadn't counted them, so hearing that now is quite a surprise... It makes me realise how hard I've been pushing..."

Having competed at senior level for nine seasons, he has garnered many fans with his rich musical expression and excellent sense of dance, yet he has repeatedly missed out on major championship titles. He must have felt this was the time to finally achieve it.

However, in hisfinal skate, the free programme "Halston", he suffered a tough start with two falls on the opening quadruple toe loop. He recovered to successfully land the quadruple Salchow and the triple Axel + Euler + double Salchow combination, but his free skate scored 149.80 points, placing him eighth. With a total score of 245.57 points, he finished third overall.

"Somehow, I think something just wasn't quite right. I felt I'd managed a fairly good rhythm within myself, but I realised it really is difficult after all," he reflected on his performance.

"I've reached the point where I can say third place is frustrating."

When asked at the press conference how much pressure he felt as the final competitor, and how he felt about still securing a podium place, Tomono replied:

"I did feel the pressure, but today was about redemption for my past self, I suppose. I've had many competitions before where I struggled in similar situations. I felt the difficulty of competing in the final run while aiming for the title, and that's also part of the joy of sport. I was truly frustrated, but I also realise that I've reached a point where I can say I'm frustrated with third place. Still, this was a place where I'd always aimed for first, so this kind of frustration is new to me and a very valuable experience. I hope I can take that positively and channel it into the All-Japan Championships."

During the press scrum after the press conference, he also shared these thoughts:

"I'd never experienced a third place that felt this bitter before. And somehow, well, it was third place, so it was okay... and I often end up leaving quite quickly. I tend to forget competitions pretty quickly, but I think I'll remember this one for the rest of my life."

Reasons why the components did not reach the 9-point range

From my impression watching at the venue, I felt the SP could have scored a little higher. He landed two quadruple jumps and a triple Axel cleanly, maintaining speed right through to the end of the programme. Among current male skaters, few possess a sense of rhythm comparable to Tomono's. I felt the SP components could easily have scored in the 9-point range, but I wonder what he himself thinks.

"Well," Tomono began, taking a breath. "I think my strengths as a skater are starting to show, but it is a sport, after all. I believe an athlete's strengths and weaknesses are reflected in the scores, so perhaps I'm still lacking in those areas." He paused again before continuing. "It's not a sport where you simply get points for being skilful. I suppose that's where my own weaknesses as a competitor are being exposed." He analysed it with stark honesty.

Originally, technical elements and components/performance composition were established as separate components to be judged independently. However, as Tomono points out, 'strong' skaters who consistently land jumps also see their components scores steadily rise. "During the period when Russia participated in competitions, I recall watching with a sense of unease as young female skaters who landed difficult jumps saw their components scores soar with each event."

Skating technique, in particular, is something built up over many years; it is not something that suddenly improves in two weeks or a month. Yet stable jumpers often find their skating technique score has crept up to the 9-point range before they realise it. I have sometimes questioned whether this truly fulfils the original role of the components. However, in Tomono's statement, "This isn't a sport where you just get points because you're good," I saw the resolve and integrity of an athlete who has dedicated their life to a judged sport.

With the six Grand Prix events concluded, Tomono narrowly missed out on reaching the Final. That said, given his reputation as the 'pinch hitter king' – a nickname earned through his frequent appearances as a substitute – Tomono's luck might just see him called upon for the Nagoya Final.

For now, however, the next major stage confirmed is the All Japan Championships. This event will determine the selection for the Milan-Cortina Olympics. Currently, Yuma Kagiyama and Shun Sato, who have secured their places in the Grand Prix Final, are strong favourites for Olympic selection. Yet, Tomono still has a significant chance for the third spot.

"Having spent much of my life in positions from second to sixth place, I was quite adept at chasing others. Yet my constant challenge has been to excel in that very position, to demonstrate overwhelming strength.

"I want to return properly and practise while constantly visualising this kind of situation. That aspect still... well, it's not exactly the courage to be number one, but I believe I have the ability to be number one. What's left is the power to believe completely."

Less than a month remains until the All-Japan Championships. We hope to see a performance true to him, one without regrets.
 
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kwanette said:
#4..at the moment..so good for Kazuki! https://isu-skating.com/figure-skating/world-standings/1554/
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He'll probably slip a bit after GPF but I really hope JSF takes it into consideration in their criteria...

Meanwhile, he was featured on a Fuji TV pre-nats show called 'Rivals' - apparently it was just old footage, but they included that iconic moment of Dai-chan saying he's a skater that never leaves the audience behind 🥹

Cute IG reel featuring Kazuki and Hiraike-sensei:
 
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