Shoma Uno: 2014-2024 | Page 186 | Golden Skate

Shoma Uno: 2014-2024

Status
Not open for further replies.
Yeah, I just watched the TSL men's recap and was really taken by the Elgar suggestion. I've always loved that piece and really agree that Shoma suits it.
 
I have been really emotional and melancholic since Mao's announcement she was retiring and I have been watching all her programs again while crying (as you do) which lead me to watch all of Daisuke's and finally all of Shoma's. I know they are all different and have their very own individuality as skaters with their own strengths and weaknesses but i really felt the filiation so much watching all those.

Regarding Shoma I think the reason why i find him so mesmerizing is he actually becomes his music, he becomes his theme. and it is not necessarily that he has a special spelled out theme for a lot of his programs but idk it's not only that he skates to his music but he literally embodies it, a bit like I felt Takahashi's music came from his soul. It's hard to explain but I feel with a lot of skaters even incredibly good and talented ones, I sometimes feel that they skate to their music and they execute their programs that they rehearsed and worked so hard on etc. but with Shoma i pretty much always feel like I am seeing a performance. It's a one time thing. Maybe that's what Lambiel was saying when he said Shoma "skated in the moment".

Anyways here is my personal favourite selection of Shoma's programs :
Tanguera https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErMi2_zAoe8 i am sorry that move at 2:25 SLAYS me every time
Blessed spirits https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL4JERSgM08 a more grown up version but I prefer the original choreo:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJP2dIBnLxg
Beethoven https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPRqoFcpVCA this step sequence makes me wanna cry. 2:15 to 2:18, :sad21: his arm at 2:37:sad21: the whole thing :sad4:
Don Shoma de Uno https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWD0wLvVSW0
Shoma in da club https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS4ymfjN9U4 that head flick at 2:21 :dbana:
Men in blue https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeQUf37dutQ
La vie en rose https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsJeb93BQug
This town https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noF67iPdhQE
and OF COURSE PIANTAO LOCO LOCO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFwZiA0YNEQ the beginning choreography before the 4Lo, singing during the piantao sections, at 4:08 the way he times exactly his crossovers to the slowing music with his arm as well, the whole 3Alo3F and 3S sections at the end when he is gaining speed... I just can't.

bonus : BAD BOY GOOD MAN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2P2QcRlKw4 i always liked that move at 2:32. pretty cool.
bonus 2 : Loco clean edit https://youtu.be/rNAle_HYH5E
also Shoma reacting to his figurine https://www.instagram.com/p/BS47igshU0M/?taken-by=tvasahi.figure

What are your favourite programs/moves of Shomita??
 
Shoma's LOCO LP at GPF 2016, Eurosport Deutschland. Petra Bindl, Hendrik Schamberger.

P(etra): Ja, auf ihn freuen wir uns natürlich ganz besonders, auf Shoma Uno. Erinnert uns auch so ein bisschen an Daisuke Takahashi, der auch so ein brillianter Eiskunstläufer war. Und was dieser junge Mann in schon wirklich jungen Jahren für eine Aura auf dem Eis mitbringt, das ist wirklich einmalig, deswegen sag ich jetzt einfach mal, genießen sie die nächsten vier Minuten, hoffentlich läuft es auch technisch so wie gewünscht bei ihm, bei Shoma Uno.

H(endrik): Vierfach Flip. Es ist wirklich interessant, er kommt da immer mit soviel Rotation in den Auslauf rein, ich habe noch keinen gesehen wo er dann von der Kante rutscht bei der Landung.

P: Ja.

P: Hach...na immerhin.

H: Ja, immerhin. Das nachdrehen ist nicht ganz so dramatisch. Fängt also seine Kür mit zwei fantastischen vierfachen an.

Shoma finishes:

P: Großartig!

H: Wow!

P:Shoma Uno, genau das haben wir uns von ihm gewünscht. Und liebe Zuschauer, also ich leg' mich jetzt schon mal fest, Hendrik. Für mich ist er der kommende Weltmeister, jetzt noch nicht in dieser und vielleicht nächster Saison aber er wird denke ich einmal ganz oben stehen und vielleicht sogar bei den übernächsten Olympischen Spielen auch ganz oben auf Gold, er hat auf jeden Fall das Potenzial und er bringt alles mit!

H: Ja. Also ich denke er hat schon nächstes Jahr, oder bei den nächsten Olympischen Spielen...

P: 'Ne Chance auf's Podium.

H: Hat ne Chance auf's Podium, je nachdem wie die anderen in Form sind, vielleicht...zugegeben das ist wirklich ein unglaubliches Potenzial was er noch hat.

P: Hach...

H: Es war ein Super Programm. Die Tango Musik hat er von Astor Piazolla perfekt irgendwo auf's Eis gebracht. Und trotz den ganzen Vierfachen war das irgendwo noch stimmig in sich.

P: Ja.

H: Es haben...

P:...entschuldigung, haha..sag du zuerst....

H: Wir haben es ja schon bei mehreren erlebt, dass wenn die vierfachen mehr werden dann sinkt die Qualität des Programmes. Bei ihm war es jetzt mit den dreien noch ausgeglichen, finde ich.

P: Ja, und vor allem dieser Flip, den hat er eigentlich immer gestanden, dieses Jahr in der Grand Prix Serie. Bei den Toeloops da war immer mal einer gewackelt oder auch mal ein Sturz dabei gewesen, aber was er auch am Ende des Programms, diese Kombination aus dreifach Axel, Toureen, dreifach Flip, da sind andere schon platt! Da springt der diese Kombination noch, und das ist natürlich wirklich enorm. Das war jetzt das einzige was nicht so wirklich ganz nach Plan war, da wollte er schon dreifach Axel - dreifach Toeloop, wenn man überhaupt davon sprechen kann das etwas nicht so funktioniert hat, wie er es sich vorgenommen hat. Aber es ist wirklich wunderbar ihm zuzuschauen. Er hat einfach diese Gabe, toll eiskunstlaufen zu können und das hatte er aber auch schon mit 16 gehabt. Also er bringt einfach alles mit, er musste es nicht lernen, er hat es in die Wiege gelegt bekommen.

H: Mmmh...

P: Fantastisch.

P: Ja, er und seine Trainerin. Die scheinen wirklich ein perfektes Gespann zu sein.
Das ist die Kombi, die wir gerade angesprochen haben.

H: Wahnsinn!

P: Einmalig!

H: Da braucht man eben sehr viel Schwung, in der Landung vom Axel um das noch irgendwie in den Flip rüberzuretten.

P: Andere springen da den Salchow noch.

H: Andere machen das mit dem Salchow, ist deutlich leichter, denn den Salchow kann man ohne Ende vordrehen. Mit dem Flip klappt das nicht so richtig. Aber man braucht Schwung, und den hat er unheimlich toll aus dem (in den?) Flip mitgebracht also...

P: Und er hat alles jetzt gemacht, damit er es auf's Podium schafft, vierter wie gesagt war er nach dem Kurzprogramm.
195, 69, das ist neue persönliche Bestscore für ihn, 5 Punkte mehr als was er bisher geschafft hat. Und das beim Finale - genau richtig!

H: Und wenn er jetzt nicht den Patzer im Kurzprogramm gehabt hätte, dann hätte er fast sogar die 300 Marke knacken können. Also, Wahnsinnskür heute von Shoma Uno! Bin gespannt ob er damit noch auf's Podium gehen kann.
Click to expand...

Funny to listen to this after his Success at Worlds.....Where he just pulverized the personal best score, haha.
 
daphenaxa said:
Regarding Shoma I think the reason why i find him so mesmerizing is he actually becomes his music, he becomes his theme. and it is not necessarily that he has a special spelled out theme for a lot of his programs but idk it's not only that he skates to his music but he literally embodies it, a bit like I felt Takahashi's music came from his soul. It's hard to explain but I feel with a lot of skaters even incredibly good and talented ones, I sometimes feel that they skate to their music and they execute their programs that they rehearsed and worked so hard on etc. but with Shoma i pretty much always feel like I am seeing a performance. It's a one time thing. Maybe that's what Lambiel was saying when he said Shoma "skated in the moment".
Click to expand...
Yess, yes-yes-yes! He just embraces the music completely, and I feel like he grows into it, in some cases, evolving throughout the season and feeling the music more and more (esp with Ladies in Lavender this season). I think that going to some additional competitions has been really good for him. (Remember how he said that he practiced too much last year and actually did less this year? Maybe this was part of the reason he was able to do so well: practicing a little less, performing in competitions a little more. Eh, just my guess.)

Thank you for all those links and moments, omg, I think I haven't watched some stuff here, off to do that after the comment. (OKAY I WATCHED TANGUERA this is amazing, omg, all his moves at the end are just phenomenal, aaaaaaaa.)

Also, I've been rewatching a lot as well – comparing the way he skated SP and FS throughout this season, and it's just lovely, noticing small moments and stuff he does just in this one skate (sometimes even little mistakes that he manages to turn prettily, like this spin here at the end of the AWG performance. I actually rewatched it and loved it – a lot of flaws, but I love how he expressed Loco there, and there's a lot of small moments and moves that I love (so I had to make gifs, lmao). Like this one – I don't think I've ever seen him do this elbow thing with clenching-unclenching his fist on the music beat, at least not this clearly. Just wonderful *________* And this sequence was done sooo well there. I love that little tap with his foot and the head roll.

And then his SP... I don't have words. Only, I waxed a lot already and I can actually gush a lot more. (Thank god for TAT, tbh, I live vicariously through her commenting, she has so many endearments for Shoma and she's so gushy and loving ;;; ) I love that all his movements there, every single one of them, look so natural, like the music is just begging for them and he delivers. And he floats on the ice, a bit like he's weightless – not in his jumps, but when he does little jump-turns instead of simply turning, and gliding here and there so beautifully, gah. I love his last spin, the way it looks in CDP and Worlds – that left leg thrown over his whole body, and then the speed of his final spin!

Also, tbh, I live for Shoma and Yuzuru's friendship/senpai-kouhai relationship and all the teasing. Like this and this and this ;;;

I wonder what do you all think would be good music for Shoma? Maybe for EXes, or not even necessarily next season. I wonder what else he can pull off (my heart is saying, "probably everything" :D). I would love to see some different stuff, even though I would also be glad to see something about as heartwrenching as Ladies in Lavender. It would be cool to see him skate to some classic rock. He pulls off strings really well because he's like a wound string himself. I don't know about next season, but something classical would suit him too. Something from Brahms or Saint-Saëns... like this one or this. Or maybe some instrumental music from Muse. :D
 
^ I agree with you re. the SP, for me it's Shoma's best program so far. And both SP and FP final spins are treats. Now, I can't say what I think the best music for Shoma would be, because he's shown such versatility that it would be easier to pick what *wouldn't* be good music for him (can't think of any at the moment though!). But now that you mentioned Saint-Saens, I'd love to see what Uno woud do with Danse Macabre; no doubt it would be a rendition to remember.
 
daphenaxa said:
Regarding Shoma I think the reason why i find him so mesmerizing is he actually becomes his music, he becomes his theme. and it is not necessarily that he has a special spelled out theme for a lot of his programs but idk it's not only that he skates to his music but he literally embodies it, a bit like I felt Takahashi's music came from his soul. It's hard to explain but I feel with a lot of skaters even incredibly good and talented ones, I sometimes feel that they skate to their music and they execute their programs that they rehearsed and worked so hard on etc. but with Shoma i pretty much always feel like I am seeing a performance. It's a one time thing. Maybe that's what Lambiel was saying when he said Shoma "skated in the moment".
Click to expand...
Thank you for this awesome post Daphenaxa and for all your efforts in posting the various links. It was a busy holiday weekend, so I have only been able to watch the videos one time but definitely want to look at them all again. There are so many wonderful little gestures and nuances that are just SO Shoma! And it is so evident that even when he was much younger, he already had the innate ability and gift to FEEL the music. So many other skaters look to me like their coaches say "Ok, right here, you need to emote". Shoma never looks like that! His expressiveness and musicality are awesome. I know they are much more subjective and harder to quantify, but I really think he is so talented.

I sometimes wonder if it was maybe a blessing in disguise that he had so much trouble getting his 3A. Because of that, I think he and his team really knew he had to focus on other elements to keep him in the running...My favorite programs of his for this season have to be the ones where he was really happy at the end of his skate -- the ones that come to mind are:
--his FS at Skate America (first time skating it at a big competition to big audience approval -- won gold)
--the SP at 4CC (where he first attempted the 4Lo and did a beauty and was so happy!)
--the FS at GPF (where he delivered under tremendous pressure after having blown the combination in the SP)
--both programs at Worlds (where he rose to the occasion).
--loved his modern program (SP) from last year, especially at the TEB competition in France where he executed it perfectly.
--Probably my favorite part is always the 3 jump combo, when well executed. Also it's a joy to see him in person, so I love anything I saw live!

Coach Fluffy has choreographed so many good programs for him that it's hard to choose. Tanguera and Blessed Spirits really are awesome. And I loved his modern program from last year...I can't help but wonder, at what point did his coaches talk to his parents and say "We think he can compete at high levels". I always think of Jeffrey Buttle's remark that talent will only take you so far, but hard work and determination take you to the next level (just paraphrasing here). Obviously he has always been a hard worker. And although Dai's influence is evident, I feel that he very much has his own style.

And last but not least - ok, I want one of these dolls! OMG -- the nose (both the real one and the one on the doll!)! :laugh2: :rofl: :dance2: "A big nose is indicative of a soul affable and kind". https://www.instagram.com/p/BSrsMFLhQTM/
 
Last edited:
NoNameFace said:
It was one of the few things I noticed immediately while watching Shoma's FS, along with him singing/mouthing words of Lady singing 'Piantao':love::drama::laugh:
Click to expand...
Someone did the funniest post - it was 2 side by side videos of him singing during his FS from 2015 SA singing "Nessun dorma" and also singing the word "Piantao" this year. That was the first time I ever saw him live was 2015, and I really had no idea who he was. I remember thinking "What's up with the singing with this guy?!" That and I thought he looked like he was about 12 years old. I like that they did such a great job with his overall packaging this year and got away from making him look like a little boy.
 
Last edited:
^^^Seems like we've heard from Shoma quite a few times that he cried everyday when he was little (with his skating) because he was afraid of his mom. And I remember hamaguri posted something about how he asked Coach Yamada to tell his mom to not scold him so much!...I think she does travel everywhere with him. She needs to keep an eye on her Olympian!:laugh: As far as I know, when he was here in Chicago, she was at the rink everyday from approximately 6:30 am to 4 pm with him. There is a "warming" room at the rink, and I could see her sitting in there watching everything. I'm glad someone from his family is with him, because I think he's a pretty young 19!

Thought I saw her in a Daily Motion You Tube, but when I double checked, it wasn't her. She ought to just let his manager take a picture of her and post it so everyone can stop wondering!
 
Last edited:
I was pretty impressed with his family, but this I find mildly disturbing. I guess, it comes with the territory that for a sport like figure skating at the highest level a parent must be the driving force behind all this. I think that probably most children wouldn't even think about this sport if it weren't for the parents bringing them to the rink when they are so little they can barely walk. Any later and you won't get far, so the credit must go to the parents. Shoma obviously loves what he does, but to imagine a scary mother in the background....is not the nicest thing. At some point one might like some freedom. I think 19 isn't that young, although Shoma fools us with his innocent eyes..... ;)
 
I tend to love all of Shoma's programs, some good old school ones include:

Tzigane by Ravel
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QApQhy_ytoE

Steps by Secret Garden
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=er96Fp6VNYQ

Shoma's star quality, musicality & amazing flow, spins & transitions were already apparent as a 13 year old who didn't clear the boards. Pretty incredible. I've been a fan since he was that young too, so glad he got the jumps down and is finally at the top! I often thought he was under marked in juniors.
 
silverlake22 said:
I tend to love all of Shoma's programs, some good old school ones include:

Tzigane by Ravel
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QApQhy_ytoE

Steps by Secret Garden
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=er96Fp6VNYQ

Shoma's star quality, musicality & amazing flow, spins & transitions were already apparent as a 13 year old who didn't clear the boards. Pretty incredible. I've been a fan since he was that young too, so glad he got the jumps down and is finally at the top! I often thought he was under marked in juniors.
Click to expand...

thank a lot for posting this:thank:

lately, when I think about a classical program for Shoma, Ravel or Faure's music comes to my mind...There's that sense of regal mystery, tension building about that music, there's something unspoken in it, and that 'unspoken' part could be perfectly expressed by Shoma I feel, as his musicality, being so 'organic' with music and that mystery aura around him while being on ice are so prominent. Anyway, regardless of his choices in the future, I'm excited to see how he will transform music in action as this is one of the greatest abilities of Shoma.
 
silverlake22 said:
I tend to love all of Shoma's programs, some good old school ones include:

Tzigane by Ravel
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QApQhy_ytoE

Steps by Secret Garden
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=er96Fp6VNYQ

Shoma's star quality, musicality & amazing flow, spins & transitions were already apparent as a 13 year old who didn't clear the boards. Pretty incredible. I've been a fan since he was that young too, so glad he got the jumps down and is finally at the top! I often thought he was under marked in juniors.
Click to expand...

I'm so jealous that you've been following Shoma for so long and have watched him grow up! He is so amazing. If you don't mind my asking, how exactly did you get interested in him? Did you follow juniors closely? Have you seen him live in any ice shows or competitions? He was already showing so many signs of being a special skater at 13. Pretty awesome.

The Tzigane program you posted above is really wonderful. And I can't help but notice that at the 3:00 mark, when Shoma falls, he almost has this cheeky little grin which really makes me laugh. But I think it's important to note that already at that young age, he was developing the trait that many American commentators have mentioned -- when he falls, he can't even be bothered by the mistake because he is so committed to his performances. He just keeps right on going as if nothing has happened, whereas some skaters let their programs fall apart. And that final spin is just -- WOW! Even at that age! It is really perfectly centered and beautiful.

Steps is also a gorgeous program, but I think my favorite of that has to be his 2013 Japanese Nationals version. Yes, I love the skating, but the Kiss and Cry is such a classic. He and the coaches are hilarious -- especially Yamada how she's so happy she can't stop (friendly) hitting him. Then when she makes him bow -- well, it's just too much! :laugh2: And he made it through the post-skate interview without passing out, but just barely. Absolutely has to be one of my all-time favorite videos of him. He looks so happy and the coaches are so proud of him. Nationals inflation? I don't know -- who cares!? Not this guy! https://youtu.be/IUFub6vvKOU?t=385

And as I look at him with Yamada and Fluffy, I can't help but wonder -- any chance that Coach Yamada would travel to the Olympics to be there with him? I know she doesn't do much traveling any more, but that would be so cool!
 
Arriba627 said:
I'm so jealous that you've been following Shoma for so long and have watched him grow up! He is so amazing. If you don't mind my asking, how exactly did you get interested in him? Did you follow juniors closely? Have you seen him live in any ice shows or competitions? He was already showing so many signs of being a special skater at 13. Pretty awesome.

The Tzigane program you posted above is really wonderful. And I can't help but notice that at the 3:00 mark, when Shoma falls, he almost has this cheeky little grin which really makes me laugh. But I think it's important to note that already at that young age, he was developing the trait that many American commentators have mentioned -- when he falls, he can't even be bothered by the mistake because he is so committed to his performances. He just keeps right on going as if nothing has happened, whereas some skaters let their programs fall apart. And that final spin is just -- WOW! Even at that age! It is really perfectly centered and beautiful.

Steps is also a gorgeous program, but I think my favorite of that has to be his 2013 Japanese Nationals version. Yes, I love the skating, but the Kiss and Cry is such a classic. He and the coaches are hilarious -- especially Yamada how she's so happy she can't stop (friendly) hitting him. Then when she makes him bow -- well, it's just too much! :laugh2: And he made it through the post-skate interview without passing out, but just barely. Absolutely has to be one of my all-time favorite videos of him. He looks so happy and the coaches are so proud of him. Nationals inflation? I don't know -- who cares!? Not this guy! https://youtu.be/IUFub6vvKOU?t=385
Click to expand...

I started following juniors closely around 2011 after seeing Josh Farris in an ice show lol. I really liked his skating and realized there were a lot of high quality skaters on the JGP. Shoma was one that caught my eye for sure. He always did pretty well at junior events even when he was one of the youngest skaters (who looked way younger than he even was) who didn't have the big jumps. I saw big potential in him though because that kind of presence is special. Also given his size at 13 I figured he'd always be very tiny and that the low center of gravity would help him in his jumps. He was always pretty consistent with his jumps despite the open landings. I was sooo happy when he got the 3a and quad in the 14-15 season and had that big breakthrough.

He is so special. And I love that he continues to pay attention to his performance and music despite all the quads he's doing. To me, he is the most "full package" of the top men right now. Patrick Chan can challenge him artistically but doesn't have the same tech arsenal and is nowhere near as consistent.

If Shoma can win gold at the next Olympics I will be so happy!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

GoneWithTheWind
Lucius Kazanecki
Replies
4
Views
2K
gsk8
gsk8
rabidline
Shoma Uno
105 106 107
Replies
2K
Views
40K
Figskater23
F
GoneWithTheWind
Taiga Nishino
Replies
10
Views
2K
Nafetaks
Nafetaks
Silevril Ilumire
Patrick Blackwell
Replies
1
Views
843
Silevril Ilumire
Silevril Ilumire
gsk8
  • Sticky
2026 NHK Trophy: General Info and Pregame Chat
Replies
0
Views
215
gsk8
gsk8
Back
Top