Shoma Uno: 2014-2024

[demarinis5]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZJs1BAn9vc/

Poor Shoma he looks perplexed so he bows and spins a little. lol
Sometimes he seems like a babe in the woods. Adorable! How can you not love this young man!

 

[Arriba627]

^^^When in doubt, bow! When he twirled, the costume twinkled! It almost looked like it had little lights on it. Pretty amazing!

 

[demarinis5]

Shona Uno can't hold a baby correctly, lol!

It is Shoma not Shona. No I don't think baby holding is in Shoma's repertoire, he is much to busy perfecting his 5 quad FS program. Maybe next season he can add baby holding
to his schedule

 

[Arriba627]

Boy, Sho is having a tough day. Just saw his name spelled Shomo in another thread. And how about a photo with a plant growing out of his head?! (And this photo calls him Shona) https://www.instagram.com/p/BZHpNqsAZqy/?taken-by=owi_aus

 

[hal]

Here is the updated interview translation after Shoma's freeskate. This is a very good read, and he really goes in depth about what he is thinking. Interesting that he starts smiling when he gets tired
http://shoma-uno.tumblr.com/post/165431213617/shoma-uno-lombardia-trophy-post-fs-interview

 

[4everchan]

Also am wondering if you would care to elaborate on whose "Winter" program you think is the best one you have seen so far? The music is so captivating, I can see why it's so popular.

#1! thank you all for the kind words and support

#2.. i am not so sure i wanted to debate whose winter's is the best.... but more about what the poster had said about shoma being the best at musical interpretation....as many others have mentioned, there are other skaters we look at when that label is mentioned... but I do agree that Shoma is getting himself into that category as well. My point was more in the sense of"yes!!! we love him!!! he is fabulous! but give him time to grow.. there is no point making such bold statements about him right now when he is still evolving... and wow!!!! don't we want to know which path he will take?? where he will get?


i loved the interview posted above...

what an intense weekend !

 

[Arriba627]

#2.. i am not so sure i wanted to debate whose winter's is the best.... but more about what the poster had said about shoma being the best at musical interpretation....as many others have mentioned, there are other skaters we look at when that label is mentioned... but I do agree that Shoma is getting himself into that category as well. My point was more in the sense of"yes!!! we love him!!! he is fabulous! but give him time to grow.. there is no point making such bold statements about him right now when he is still evolving... and wow!!!! don't we want to know which path he will take?? where he will get?

what an intense weekend !

I understand. I thought maybe there was a particular performance of Winter that stood out to you as a great one. I think we'll enjoy watching Shoma's program grow.

Quite a weekend with all the activity of Lombardia and US Classic. And ACI for you next weekend! The lineups for these events are so fantastic, what with everyone wanting to get an early start. Enjoy!

 

[Arriba627]

Is that Redbull? Ew....Shoma....well, his 'diet' seems to be working so who am I to judge?

Anyway, will Shoma have a new exhibition this season? Or use his old ones? He has so many.

Pretty sure when those photos came out of him in Chicago lying on the bed playing games, there was a can of Red Bull on the bed and on the night stand. Imagine how many naps he'd need without the Red Bull.

I think he mentioned that they're too busy to do a new EX. Maybe someone asked him that after a PIW show? Last year in December on the way home from Chicago, they went to see David Wilson in Canada and finished up the choreography for This Town (thank you David!). I can't imagine that he would want to do a new EX before the Olympics, but with this loco guy, we never know! He hasn't used La Vie en Rose much, and I thought Stephane did a great job with that choreo.

ETA -- Bel, a few pages back you were asking if Japan Open has a gala. There is a separate event called Carnival On Ice that is after J.O., where the competitors only skate their FS. Kanna said she is going to Carnival. Hopefully she'll give us one of her on-site reports. Wonder if Shoma will skate "Winter" there.

 

[Hronop]

At this point we cannot be sure. It could be. The question is if and if yes, when he will add it. We know it's his problem jump and we know he worked on it a lot in the last months....and it still remains his nemesis. The question is, will he go for it, if it is not stable? If it might make him fall? Does he need it? I guess we'll find out later. I'm almost sure this is not the final layout though. There is always a plan with Shoma's team.

I have another question. Why does Shoma jump 4T-2T in the FS and not 4T-3T? Or does the point difference not matter much, so it's like not important enough to have such a hard combination in the second half?

The answer is -- simply because he jumps 3T with 3A, so he cannot repeat this jump. He already has two 4T and two 3A.

 

[Hronop]

Just came to say how amazing Shoma was in his FS and in the SP earlier. "I have no words" (that's what Brian Orser once said about Hanyu's skating). It was breathtaking (literally). Don't know what to say really. I also observed him from a very close (too close) distance. One morning I had my breakfast and coffee in the buffet, and all of a sudden he appeared in front of me. I almost chocked on my breakfast. :shocked: He's so funny. He either tends to do some little physical exercises or fall asleep every time he is not on ice. He cannot stand still, that's for sure.

 

[NoNameFace]

Just doing a Fan Fest round post-competition weekend - want to congratulate Shoma on Lombardia win, successful debuting both programs and to thank him for all positive emotions he gave me by his skating. I allowed myself to re-post my opinions on both programs from Lombaria threads. And I want to add my apologies for anyone offended by my whole post in FS Lombardia thread (for those who read it in entirety), it is never my intention to pick up on anyone, to ridicule anyone to make a less on anyone and myself as a superior person. I should know better and not to mesh my review of performances and my observation/opinions on things I see there.

SP

Finally Shoma – and I'll use same opinion I used already about Carolina's SP. To take such 'big' music, theme and not let is overpower, overshadow you, your performance, choreography, effort, but make the contrary and let is empower you to make you and your skating take the lead and pop out is a rare skill and unique feature, which Shoma did for me by his SP performance. And I won't lie – I was crazy sceptical about this Vivaldi 'Winter' SP, but boy, Shoma did his magic again. The drama, tension building reflected by choreography and his movement ovrall is magnificent, spellbinding. The program just flows freely and is limited only by Shoma himself and his movement – I see even more 'ownership' and control from his this year than previously about whole performance. The musicality is great, both in choreography in general and in Shoma's movement (love particularly those movement by hands, probably hated by majority and as usual – spins and step sequence so in music, reflecting on tempo changes). Aside of any technicalities, point, comparisons etc. - this is totally Shoma program to kill, highlighting his best qualities, musical sensibility and ability to mold music into his very own way of expression. The music is classical, kind of severe, limited, defined, yet Shoma modernizes it for me, adding sensual, emotional touch to it, creating a space inside of it in not forceful, but natural way. Don't know if he deserved on 7, 8 or 9 PCS components – he moved my imagination by his performance and that's what matter to me right now.

FS

And Shoma's FS to finish – while I do see that the program is less busy with 'embellishments' and transitions that 2 seasons ago, I totally see and understand why (at the same me having a right to be disappointed a bit about that and in advance – I know, Shoma also does not owe me ANYTHING for the record). This season is totally different than a previous one with 'Turandot' FS and Shoma is now in different place, with different perspective, drive and purpose and this program, constructed in the way it is, reflects on that. To accommodate 5 quads, other technical elements and still have the performance it takes a lot of thought and effort. With such 'big' music, theme he could just get into fancy costume and focus on those quads, but similarly to his SP I do feel like Shoma let the music carry him and empower the performance he produced instead of being just a known background to feel confident with jumps (I am fully aware that by saying such things, I'm giving his non-enthusiast a weapon to use, but he and I will live with that). I do think that the program, the performance of it resonated very loudly and was impactful, but in a very different way that e.g. Jason's FS as their way of movement and expressing themselves are different, but equally impressive for me. One based on sublime and delicate cooperation, blending music and movement, another using 'big' music for equally big skating. And speaking of 'big skating' I'll get called on that one for sure) – the thing is for me with Shoma that I value the most, is his power of transformation on ice. He truly can 'magnify' his statue, his presence and impact by is skating, the way her performs. This 'Turandot' FS is for me not the most innovative one, like breaking new grounds in vertical perspective, but it sure is a powerful piece with more of 'horizontal' value as for accommodating Shoma's purposes and desires.

 

[Latremu]

Thanks for the comments, NoNameFace! You certainly thought it through. I do agree with many of your thoughts.

I'm not a fan of either of his music selections this season, although I do understand why they were chosen. For Turandot, I wasn't happy that they took out the playful fairy twinkle toes part in the middle (it makes me think of fairies or pixies dancing around lightly and playfully), and feel that some of the music cuts seem ponderous and repetitive, and much too slow. But it is what it is, and I'm glad to see that both programs have evolved so much since he first debuted them in ice shows. I know they'll only get better.

Hronop, so cool! I hope you got to take pictures with him! I did see people on both Tumblr and twitter saying that they saw him in the cafeteria.

Question: Why do the Japanese (media and his companions) keep taking pictures of him in bed? Do they do this with all the skaters or just Shoma? I'm genuinely curious.

 

[demarinis5]

Thanks for your well put together thoughts NoNameFace on Shomita's programs. No need to worry about offending anyone here in FF. We are not a bunch of blind fans
most of us are seasoned fans we know Shoma's strengths and weaknesses. So don't worry, the pitchforks will not come out in here. :noshake:

 

[Arriba627]

Just came to say how amazing Shoma was in his FS and in the SP earlier. "I have no words" (that's what Brian Orser once said about Hanyu's skating). It was breathtaking (literally). Don't know what to say really. I also observed him from a very close (too close) distance. One morning I had my breakfast and coffee in the buffet, and all of a sudden he appeared in front of me. I almost choked on my breakfast. :shocked: He's so funny. He either tends to do some little physical exercises or fall asleep every time he is not on ice. He cannot stand still, that's for sure.

So jealous! And glad you made it through the competition with your life! No choking allowed! I remember the first time I saw him up close I wanted to try to say something in Japanese, and nothing at all would come out in any language. I was surprised too to realize that I'm shorter than him. :sad4:...Hope that when you've had a chance to recover you can tell us a little about your experiences. I would be especially interested to know what the crowd noise was like. Some of us were really disappointed that the audience sound was muted -- couldn't hear crowd noise, clapping, cheering, etc. Occasionally I could faintly hear clapping for Jason, Matteo Rizzo, and Shoma. Did you take any photos?...So glad you enjoyed yourself!

 

[MaiKatze]

^Second that, tell us all the stories, Hronop!

And it seems like verit was also at Lombardia....maybe she will share her experience as well? : (MaiKatze - Not a stalker)

 

[OnlyUno]

Just doing a Fan Fest round post-competition weekend - want to congratulate Shoma on Lombardia win, successful debuting both programs and to thank him for all positive emotions he gave me by his skating. I allowed myself to re-post my opinions on both programs from Lombaria threads. And I want to add my apologies for anyone offended by my whole post in FS Lombardia thread (for those who read it in entirety), it is never my intention to pick up on anyone, to ridicule anyone to make a less on anyone and myself as a superior person. I should know better and not to mesh my review of performances and my observation/opinions on things I see there.

SP



FS

my goodness this is a first for me, yet another thoughtful essay? i wasn’t even going to check in today! thank you for posting.

you’ve caught on a significant aspect of shoma’s skating for me. how he embraces and gives life to the music. Even warhorse music. your words evoke and reminds exactly that power.

(ps to 4everchan:
i should add too, that what I really enjoyed personally in that essay you wrote yesterday, was the way you showed his development and further expressive potential which i too am inspired by. the worry over the program is one i happen to share. was also a truly great read with very thoughtful reflection.

 

[formersk8ter]

I should have asked the kind poster if I could post his/her quote (see below) from the Lombardia SP thread, so sorry about that. But this comment makes me so happy. I love that a trained musician values his musicality and interpretation...You know how this works.

If Uno does not deserve a 9.25 for interpretation, then who does? He is on equal footing, interpretively, with Patrick and Yuzuru, probably a bit better. As a professional violinist who has performed the Four Seasons more times than I can count, I think Shoma's interpretation of Winter is better than any skater I've ever seen.

That was my quote, and I am flattered that you would share it!

 

[Arriba627]

That was my quote, and I am flattered that you would share it!

Whew! I feel better now! I know several other people shared your thoughts too. Thank you for your kind words about our Winter Prince!

 

[Hronop]

So jealous! And glad you made it through the competition with your life! No choking allowed! I remember the first time I saw him up close I wanted to try to say something in Japanese, and nothing at all would come out in any language. I was surprised too to realize that I'm shorter than him. :sad4:...Hope that when you've had a chance to recover you can tell us a little about your experiences. I would be especially interested to know what the crowd noise was like. Some of us were really disappointed that the audience sound was muted -- couldn't hear crowd noise, clapping, cheering, etc. Occasionally I could faintly hear clapping for Jason, Matteo Rizzo, and Shoma. Did you take any photos?...So glad you enjoyed yourself!

The crowd went absolutely mad -- standing ovation for Sho. What a shame they did not show the audience. I do remember though that at some point they showed me in Sho's SP, and I was cheering up for Sho, looking way too excited and applauding like crazy.

 

[liv]

I have to say that at this point I am liking his Winter sp better than the Turandot remix. It is early yet, things will definitely change as he gets more used to it, but the first Turandot seemed like it built better, he was more into it.... is it because of higher difficulty, jump placement and therefore different build up into those jumps? Is it because I loved version 1.0? I hope my view changes as the season goes on. Maybe it is the music changes.... or maybe I miss Loco loco!!!

As for his Winter, it is spot on. Enjoyed very much, even this early.