Shoma Uno: 2014-2024

[rabidline]

Well now it is the off-season but he is not in a hurry to create anything for his channel ((

He had ice shows and worked on his new SP Unfortunately (or fortunately?) he is a very busy man this early in the off-season. Not to worry though, the off-season for Shoma usually last until around September/October!

 

[Arriba627]

So happy - I was just saying the other day, he ought to ask Coach Fluffy (Mihoko) to choreograph something for him. Truly, I was thinking of a competitive program more than an EX. I think what prompted me to say that was that I had re-watched his Stairway to Heaven program (from Shombardia!) and was SOOOO impressed again with that step sequence. She did make some amazing step sequences for him...I am excited to see what Kenji will create for him. Their first collaboration definitely turned out to be a winner...Here is a step sequence to savor (I started the video right at the step sequence). Ahhh, the turns, the knee slides! (And notice @Alexandra_P84, he's at Shombardia!)

 

[VeraS]

He had ice shows and worked on his new SP Unfortunately (or fortunately?) he is a very busy man this early in the off-season. Not to worry though, the off-season for Shoma usually last until around September/October!

Ofcourse it is fortunately that he is a busy man )) yes we weill see if he remembers about his channel, it is just taking sooo long

 

[Alexandra_P84]

So happy - I was just saying the other day, he ought to ask Coach Fluffy (Mihoko) to choreograph something for him. Truly, I was thinking of a competitive program more than an EX. I think what prompted me to say that was that I had re-watched his Stairway to Heaven program (from Shombardia!) and was SOOOO impressed again with that step sequence. She did make some amazing step sequences for him...I am excited to see what Kenji will create for him. Their first collaboration definitely turned out to be a winner...Here is a step sequence to savor (I started the video right at the step sequence). Ahhh, the turns, the knee slides! (And notice @Alexandra_P84, he's at Shombardia!)

Oh my, that step sequence was amazing!
And I didn't even know he was here Seeing him LIVE must be awsome

 

[VeraS]

Did anyone also hear that Mihoko is doing his EX?

Is it his ex- coach? But why asking her to choreograph anything? It seems that they parted not on a very good note back then or am I wrong?

 

[Louby]

We should be grateful that Shoma likes healthy food such as strawberries, considering how much he dislikes vegetables
I know strawberries in Japan are very expensive so those Shoberries are a marvellous gift indeed

 

[rabidline]

Is it his ex- coach? But why asking her to choreograph anything? It seems that they parted not on a very good note back then or am I wrong?

Yes, Mihoko Higuchi is Shoma's previous coach. They parted ways in June 2019 with mutual understanding from all sides, there is no concrete evidence of the split happening not on a very good note.

Mihoko has always been one of Shoma's biggest cheerleaders, she gave an interview after Beijing Olys that she is happy to see him grow. Japanese fans reported that Shoma interacts with both Mihoko and Machiko Yamada at competitions and they also meet each other when Shoma trains at Chukyo University rink. At the 2021 NHK Trophy, Shoma actually spent his gala practice with Mihoko and Sota Yamamoto (Mihoko's student) because Stephane already departed from Japan.

As for why Shoma asked Mihoko for choreography- Mihoko is one of the most talented choreographers in Japan who is also based in Nagoya (Shoma's hometown and his Japanese training base)- so honestly, the question is why not?

 

[rollerblade]

Stepen, Kenji and Fluffy - what an amazing combo! Omg can't wait!!

Love, love his message to kids- I think Shoma has said something similar in the past but it's a really touching and great advice. He's good with words, and he's gotten even more eloquent as he matures!

That entire segment with Matsumoto was fantastic. I'm nowhere near a kid's age, and that message is applicable to me. Maybe I should just go all-in.... Move to Champery, and hire Sho+Step to be my life coaches, while Deniss feed me Mountain Cave Carbonara all day.

 

[16Olympics]

Some of my favorite Shoma programs are Mihoko's choreography. I'm more interested in knowing if he has actually asked Kenji or Mihoko yet as is rumored that he has not but would like them to. He's a world champion-as if they wouldn't if they could. Never change, Shoma!

 

[VeraS]

Yes, Mihoko Higuchi is Shoma's previous coach. They parted ways in June 2019 with mutual understanding from all sides, there is no concrete evidence of the split happening not on a very good note.

Hmm it is kind of of naive way of thinking.... If things go well, coaches and students do not part, they do so if things dont go well, so the main evidence that things didn't go well between them is their split and as a result of it his depression hence a slump in form.

 

[Arriba627]

Read that article through an online translator of course and didnt believe a single word, well, I do believe they do not wish them harm but the following words make no sense whatsever! However, Machiko has been saying for several years," You should go out to aim for the top. " There were many things, and I finally decided to go out. "

You want you best student aim for top but leave him in a really bad shape and he stays coachless for 6 months and almost consider quitting figure skating? So does aiming for the top work that way? I dont think so!!!!!!

Sorry, you're wrong here. His coaches loved him enough to MAKE / LET him go. Coach Yamada told him he would stagnate if he stayed with them. This is not an unusual thing. They had taken him as far as they could, and it was time for him to move on. It was not their fault that he chose to remain without a coach. He sees Coach Yamada every time he is practicing at Chukyo, and there is no animosity.

Frankly, I'm a little puzzled. I think you're a fan of Shoma's -- so you've told us you're disappointed in his Oly bronze, the puppy videos are boring, you've told us at least 5 times he neglects his channel (ok we got the message), and now it's naive to think they split amicably. Of course Shoma had a fear of the unknown after being with the same coaches since he was 5. Who wouldn't? Fan Fests are for celebrating skaters. This hardly feels like celebrating.

 

[yuumagical]

Read that article through an online translator of course and didnt believe a single word, well, I do believe they do not wish them harm but the following words make no sense whatsever! However, Machiko has been saying for several years," You should go out to aim for the top. " There were many things, and I finally decided to go out. "

You want you best student aim for top but leave him in a really bad shape and he stays coachless for 6 months and almost consider quitting figure skating? So does aiming for the top work that way? I dont think so!!!!!!

From what I understand of the situation, Shoma had wanted to stay with his previous coaches for his entire career. (He has said this in interviews too.) But he reached a point where he couldn't learn anything more from them and they had nothing left to teach him. He left them in order to learn new things and challenge himself. He thought he could do this by becoming his own coach. We all know what happened to him when he did that. But for all we know, that was a result of his own mental state at the time, not because of anything his former coaches did. Regardless of what happened back then, what I'm proud of is the courage Shoma had to try and move forward. Too many people are scared of making mistakes in life to take risks like that (I feel this way sometimes too). That's why Shoma's story over the past few seasons has been so powerful for me; he has shown me that one mistake isn't the end of the world. It has inspired me to be bolder in my own life!

You're not the only one who thinks the puppy videos can get boring sometimes, though.

 

[VeraS]

From what I understand of the situation, Shoma had wanted to stay with his previous coaches for his entire career. (He has said this in interviews too.) But he reached a point where he couldn't learn anything more from them and they had nothing left to teach him.

Personally I think it all happened this way - he started having worse results in the season 2018-2019, obviously he grew dissatisfied with his coaches, any athlete would, and they decided to split. Shoma seems to be a very loyal student, he would have never left them without a strong reason. And yes, I admire him too that he was able to get out of the hole he fell into after their split.

 

[gftn]

I just want to add that we would never know the truth about the separation but both Shoma and Yamada's side has never indicated that there's bad blood. But let's entertain the idea that they were just being polite on record, the fact that Shoma asked Mihoko to choreographed for him again is a sign that they are now in good terms. People could get in conflicts and with time they settled their feelings and forgive each other. Isn't that a good thing? Anyone is free to believe that the separation is not amicable but we also can't deny that Shoma's statement indicate that they are now able to work together again and I suppose they are graceful people who doesn't hold grudges and I admire them for that.

 

[VeraS]

I just want to add that we would never know the truth about the separation but both Shoma and Yamada's side has never indicated that there's bad blood.

You are absolutely right, we would never know the truth, and even if there was bad blood, they chose to be civil about it by the look of it

 

[demarinis5]

Why are we rehashing Sho’s coaching change in his FF, it is old news. Stephane is his Coach now.

 

[rabidline]

Hmm it is kind of of naive way of thinking.... If things go well, coaches and students do not part, they do so if things dont go well, so the main evidence that things didn't go well between them is their split and as a result of it his depression hence a slump in form.

Hmm... how do I explain this. Shoma referred to their split back in 2019 as "Graduation" and I thought about it that way too. It's like when you study for your formal education, you study in high school and then you go study at college. When things go well in your high school, it doesn't mean that you'll stay in your high school, even though your high school is amazing and your high school teachers are great. You take the next step and go to college if you have the means. So I thought about Shoma's "Graduation" like that.

To be fair, you first asked whether he parted from them on a not very good note, and well, the answer is that there was nothing in public from them back then that indicated it was a not very good note. He thanked them publicly, they vocally supported his next endeavors. They never said anything except good and respectful things about each other whenever they're asked. Of course you can choose to believe otherwise, but in public it's what they have chosen to do, and I respect that.

Read that article through an online translator of course and didnt believe a single word, well, I do believe they do not wish them harm but the following words make no sense whatsever! However, Machiko has been saying for several years," You should go out to aim for the top. " There were many things, and I finally decided to go out. "

You want you best student aim for top but leave him in a really bad shape and he stays coachless for 6 months and almost consider quitting figure skating? So does aiming for the top work that way? I dont think so!!!!!!

Yeah, I don't think that particular thought process is easy to understand for fans. What Machiko meant was that she thought for almost two years before Shoma finally graduated, that Shoma staying with them may cause his growth to be stagnant. So she thought he should go beyond their coaching team and train with other coaches to aim for the top. The way it happened was pretty dramatic and at some parts, worrying, but I think Machiko knew Shoma well, and she knew he needed to experience everything himself (good, bad, and coachless) in order for him to be able to make a genuine decision on whether he wants to continue skating or not, and why he wants to continue. Only then he was able to understand what he wants from his next coach and he chose to go to Stephane.

It could have ended in a bigger disaster, but personally when I look back, if it didn't happen the way it did, Shoma may have decided to stop and wouldn't reach the heights he reached last season. And like @gftn said, even if you don't believe a single word, isn't it good that it's possible they will work together again? I also agree that it means that they're all mature people. A group of adults who are able to work together professionally after a coaching change probably sound weird in this sport, isn't it?

PS IAnd I dont like the word fan, I prefer the word admirer

Unfortunately, this is a Fan Fest, non-fan Shoma admirer You can read the rules here, it is a place for fans to celebrate and praise their favorite skaters. You can of course convey your thoughts, but the general mood here is pretty celebratory and positive about Shoma especially after his amazing season. So you will get an array of reactions from us fans to your thoughts! It's okay to not want to celebrate Shoma all the time, but doing it in his own Fan Fest is probably not the best place to do that.

 

[Arriba627]

Fairy has the best art. I just hope we're not celebrating a little too early. Please Sho, drop a few hints!

 

[dorispulaski]

2021-22 Japanese Men's Figure Skating

National Team Special Yuzuru Hanyu (ISU, JSF, GS thread) Shoma Uno (ISU, JSF, GS thread) Yuma Kagiyama (ISU, JSF, GS thread) A Keiji Tanaka (ISU, JSF, GS thread) Shun Sato (ISU, JSF, GS thread) Kazuki Tomono (ISU, JSF, GS thread) Kao Miura (J) (ISU, JSF) Koshiro Shimada (ISU, JSF, GS thread)...

www.goldenskate.com

There is always the Japanese Men's thread. It does not have fan fest rules.

 

[16Olympics]

Toyota Corp celebrating Shoma's Olympic success in a ceremony recently. Shoma looks particularly handsome and the medals from the Beijing Olympics are very impressive.

The technical term for this award is Toyota City Sports Honor Award.