Shoma Uno | Page 83 | Golden Skate

Shoma Uno

I agree with this tweet from a fan SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much. I have never felt sooo happy and fulfilled after watching an ice show and this is likely the reason why.



I’ve always had a strong desire to soak in as much of Shoma’s skating as possible, but I’m not a fan of shows where there’s a clear main star and everyone else feels like side characters. That’s why I was truly happy with this show — Shoma was at the center, but it felt like everyone had a starring role. Everyone’s charm really shone through, and I fell in love with all of them all over again. It was a warm and heartwarming show that made me feel happy. I can’t wait for part 2!


I wish Japan were our neighbor; then plane tickets would be cheaper. Actually, about fifteen years ago on social media there was a funny thread suggesting we relocate our country to the Atlantic Ocean—where there are no countries— so that we’d have no problems with other nations. And people were even planning the entire move as if it were a house, warning things like, “Be careful with this city; it’s on the edge and could break if it hits something hard". Now I can suggest to do the same thing to become Japan’s neighbor—so I could attend Shoma’s ice shows in Japan.
 
Have been reading other fans' tweets about Ice Brave on Twitter and this user tweeted a really long beautiful recap of her feelings when watching Ice Brave, I really enjoyed reading it (will put it on translation later):

Part 1:



Part 2:

 
I'm so surprised, that is A LOT of shows and cities being announced so soon! Kyoto, Tokyo, Yamanashi, Shimane, Miyagi... wow... total 14 shows. Most of it is during the Grand Prix- makes sense since Shoma is not working with TV Asahi (GP broadcast holder) and this may mean that he still works for Fuji TV.

Kyoto and Tokyo are very good though, many fans wanted to go watch the show but in Kansai (Kyoto) or Kanto (Tokyo) area, which the first round of shows did not travel to.
 


Ice Brave 2 cities, venues and schedules:

Kyoto - Kyoto Aquarena
November 1-2, 2025
Total 3 shows: 2 shows on Saturday, 1 show on Sunday

Tokyo - Edogawa Sportsland
November 14-16, 2025
Total 4 shows: 1 show on Friday, 2 shows on Saturday, 1 show on Sunday

Yamanashi - KOSE Sports Park Ice Arena
November 29-30, 2025
Total 3 shows: 2 shows on Saturday, 1 show on Sunday

Shimane - Koyukan - Lake Shinji Amusement Park
December 6-7, 2025
Show details coming soon

Miyagi - Xebio Arena Sendai
January 24-25, 2026
Show details coming soon

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Cast: Shoma Uno, Marin Honda, Kohei Yoshino (PIW), Rika Hongo, Yoji Nakano (PIW), Tsunehito Karakawa (PIW), Kazuki Kushida, Yoshiki Sato (PIW).
 
I just realized why I love the opening black outfit Shoma wore for Ice Brave sooooo much, it reminds me of his opening outfit for The Ice 2024 which he wore only for a super short time 😍 I always love him in short sleeved outfits but he rarely wore them.



 
That's another 10,000 followers for Shoma under 24 hours 😅 to be fair, his newest Tweet is very witty.



Meanwhile, I guess Shoma running on ice will never get old for people on Twitter 😂

 
Shoma at Yamanashi local radio to promote Ice Brave 2 today! He's still blonde :wink:



A kind Japanese fan on Twitter summarized Shoma's radio appearance (click for full recap):



@isora40

Guest Shoma on Bumpy – Summary

Have you been to Yamanashi before? The weather’s not great…

It’s my first time. It always seems to rain when I go on promotion trips.

Is there anything you want to try eating in Yamanashi?
According to the info I got beforehand, the fruit is delicious here. I love fruit, so I want to find time to eat some after work if I can.

What were your summer vacations like as a kid? Always practicing?
I just remember that the public skate time at Osu rink started at 10 AM instead of the usual 12 during summer, so practice time increased.
My only breaks were bathroom breaks.

What about as an adult?
I’m always gaming.
To be honest, what I do doesn’t change between summer and winter.

What kind of food do you like?
I love sweets. Especially ice cream.
The kinds of ice cream sold at convenience stores change with the seasons, so I try all of them. That’s how I feel the seasons changing.

How has your mindset on the rink changed?
In competitions, it's about how far you can polish your performance within the rules.

As a professional skater?
Now it’s about doing what I want while also entertaining everyone.
What I want to express hasn’t changed, but I have more freedom than when I was competing.
It’s a different kind of fun from competing.

What does the title “Ice Brave” mean?
It reflects mental strength.
My strengths are power and energy.

How was your first time producing a show?
At first, I had no idea what to do.
I learned by listening to and observing the experienced staff.
It was a valuable experience.
It felt like I was thrown into the adult world for the first time, like a first-year employee—but now I feel like I’ve grown a little.

Thoughts on “Ice Brave”?
It turned out even better than I imagined. I was moved.

How did you choose the members?
I chose people I have a connection with, based on skill and character.
They’re people who give their best even without being told—people I can truly call teammates.

Difference from “1” (the first show)?
The first one had the excitement of a new experience.
It’s hard to surpass that surprise, but I want to exceed it.

Final message
When I came to Yamanashi, I was welcomed with applause for the first time in a while, haha.
I’m really looking forward to performing for everyone here in Yamanashi.
I’ll do my best to make you glad you came.
I hope you feel the live energy.
I’ll do everything I can to entertain you, so please come!
 
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Shoma's likely to be one of the 5 million+ people in Japan who went to watch the new Demon Slayer movie last weekend, and of course he tweeted accordingly:



"After ending my career as a gamer, I thought I’d join the Demon Slayer Corps as a second career, but since I have a UV allergy, I’ll become a demon instead."



QRT: "If Shoma Uno became a demon and got slashed by Tanjiro, what kind of tragic backstory would be revealed?"

Shoma: "A past where he wanted to play games before an international competition but couldn’t because the Wi-Fi was too weak."

_________________________________


Bad overseas Wifi being Shoma's villain origin story seems fitting 😭
 
Kyodo Deep Edge has interviews with Kenji Miyamoto that focuses mostly on his work with Shoma, from the programs Kenji made during Shoma's competitive career (Oboe, Aria, Timelapse) and Kenji working with Shoma and Marin as Shoma learns ice dancing for Ice Brave. Alas, it is fully under paywall 😅

Part 1 (focusing on Shoma's competitive career): https://deepedgeplus.kyodonews.jp/feature/miyamoto-interview1/
Part 2 (focusing on Shoma's ice dancing for Ice Brave): https://deepedgeplus.kyodonews.jp/feature/miyamoto-interview2/

Kenji of course is an ice dancer himself back in the day, so it makes perfect sense that Shoma is learning from him and having the ice dance program choreographed by him as well.

____________________________________________________

Toyota Times released a full recap of the July 18 live interview and commentary Shoma did for ICE BRAVE (and the announcement for ICE BRAVE 2) here, Google Translate works well: https://toyotatimes.jp/toyotatimes_live/363.html

Shoma Uno Gives a Live Commentary on Himself: His Thoughts on His First Produced Show “Ice Brave” and Upcoming “Ice Brave 2”

On July 18, Toyota Times Sports featured Shoma Uno live in the studio, fresh off the successful run of his first self-produced ice show, Ice Brave. He reflected on four particularly memorable programs through video highlights, offering personal insights into the behind-the-scenes stories and artistic intentions. In his unique and candid style, Uno spoke passionately about the show, his fellow skaters, and his fans.

Details about Ice Brave 2, set to premiere in November, were also unveiled during the broadcast. Anticipation is building as fans wonder: How will Shoma Uno move Shoma Uno this time?




“I’ve Never Pushed My Body This Hard”​


Hosted by Kyosuke Morita, who also moderated Uno’s retirement press conference and the Ice Brave announcement, the studio segment saw Uno relaxed but reflective. After wrapping up nine performances across Aichi, Fukuoka, and Niigata from June to July, he looked back frankly: “I was completely exhausted.”

Uno: “When the audience is there and cheering loudly, I end up giving more than 100%. Even when I feel like I can't move another step, the excitement of the crowd drives me to push through again and again. I’ve never used this much physical energy before. In competitions, I train to finish at about 80% of my capacity so I don’t burn out. But for this show, I was fine with burning out as long as I could make that moment special. I did go overboard sometimes, but it was honestly a lot of fun.”




Breaking Through Nerves with Fans’ Cheers and Applause​

Just before the opening night (at 10:06), Uno had said in an interview, “I’m too overwhelmed to even feel emotional.” What helped him overcome the anxiety was the fans’ overwhelming support.

Uno: “There were so many thoughts—how would everything we built come together? But when we heard the crowd's loud cheer before it began, we all felt a sense of relief. It really hit us that people were looking forward to it, and that moment united us. It wasn’t about 'Can we do this or not?' anymore—it became, 'We want to entertain everyone.' That shift in mindset was huge.”




Lessons from Creating a Show​

Producing an entire ice show was a new experience, something he never faced during his competitive career. Through trial and error, he found new forms of self-expression.

Uno: “After actually skating through it, I felt things that were different from each individual number. So changes were made even during production. But since I’m directing Shoma Uno myself, it’s hard to stay objective. That’s why it was important to exchange feedback with the staff. I think we ended up with a strong program.

To me, this feels like I’ve finally arrived at the starting line. Aside from delivering a good performance, as someone bringing entertainment to an audience, I feel there’s so much more I can do. It’s important to turn your weaknesses into strengths—but also to recognize your strengths and learn how to showcase them. That might sound like a competitive mindset, but that’s honestly how I feel.”




Self-Critique of His Own Performances​


At 24:30, Uno reviewed and commented on four selected programs: “Great Spirit,” “Narco,” “Wild Side,” and “Boléro IV.”

Uno
: “When I watch footage of myself, I start thinking, ‘I wish I did that part differently,’ and I go into critique mode.”
Still, watching his own joyful performance, he smiled and said, “That’s a good expression,” and “Not bad at all.”




About “Great Spirit,” which opened the show, Uno said: “When I think about what my strength is as a pro skater, I feel it’s my energetic side. That’s why I chose a program that would best convey that energy.”

In “Narco”, he tried street dance for the first time, fully immersing himself in training.

Uno: “In figure skating, you kind of know which foot is coming next, but that didn’t apply here. The usual assumptions didn’t hold. But taking on things I couldn’t do was fun—I skated more than I ever have in my life. During my competitive career, I’d rest after 40–50 minutes, but during the show period, I skated so much my feet were wrinkled like I’d been in a bath too long—sometimes 6 or 7 hours in my boots.”




An Emotional Pair Performance with Coach Stéphane Lambiel​


In “Wild Side,” Uno also ventured into ice dance. The change in axis during pair spins and the different body mechanics added layers of difficulty. Still, in typical Uno fashion, he laughed it off.

Uno: “It’s lame to explain, ‘This is hard but I’m doing my best.’ Saying it myself isn’t cool. But I do feel I should learn from ice dancers’ strength.”

When asked by Morita if he’d commit to building that strength, he quickly responded, “Nope,” in a comedy-style exchange.




The final piece was “Boléro IV”, a program that led him to global success. Originally scheduled for only the latter half of the show due to physical fatigue, he chose to perform from the beginning.

Uno: “Skating with everyone was so much fun, I decided to join in from the start.”
His joint performance with his coach Stéphane Lambiel had fans emotional.

Uno: “Watching Stéphane perform is amazing. Even when I was competing, I’d think, ‘I wish he were the one skating instead of me.’ I felt now was the time to make that a reality. He really pulls it off—I mean, he’s 40! I could never skate like that at 40.”




Ice Brave 2


The announcement of “Ice Brave 2” came during the final performance in Niigata, and its key visual was revealed at 55:01 in the program. During a “screenshot time,” viewers in the chat requested a “2 pose,” prompting Uno to reluctantly hold up two fingers, prompting laughter from Morita.

Uno scolded himself jokingly: “Not great… I need to be more professional.”

Ice Brave 2 starts November 1 in Kyoto and will also visit Tokyo, Yamanashi, Shimane, and Miyagi. Some venues have already opened early ticket lotteries—details are available on the official website.

When asked whether he’d perform his Olympic medal-winning “Turandot” from the PyeongChang Games, Uno replied:

Uno: “I’ve done it quite a lot already, so honestly, I’m really torn.”

The setlist is still undecided.


Uno: “The cast is changing, and while it’s called ‘2,’ the name ‘Ice Brave’ is staying the same. That’s why I want to take it to the next level without making it a completely different show. I want to include new challenges that set it apart from 1, but also preserve what made 1 special. That balance is something I’m currently struggling with.”




The Words of Shoma Uno Continue​

From the flood of viewer questions, here are some of Uno’s candid responses. True to himself, he earnestly responded to fan requests and promises to show an evolved version of himself in Ice Brave 2.

Uno: “I don’t think I’ll ever push my body this hard again in my life. I definitely miscalculated how I used my energy. It’s not good to run out of steam before the end—but I think that just shows how badly I wanted to give my best performance. Really, I should have thought about energy balance during the production phase. (laughs)”

Uno: “If I started aiming to skate until 40, my approach would completely change—I’d start thinking about energy conservation. But Stéphane being able to skate at 40 is proof of what’s possible. Even when I was competing, I never thought about the future. What mattered was doing my best today, right now. Who knows what lies ahead.”

Uno: “I feel like I’ve finally blended into society. After retiring, I wasn’t an athlete anymore, but I also wasn’t part of regular society—I wasn’t doing anything. After putting on this show, I finally felt like I could stand proudly as a creator. I’ve truly transitioned from athlete to professional.”

Uno: “Do I personally want an acrylic stand of myself? I don’t know. But fans who like me probably do. It’s tricky—that tension between what I want and what fans want. I wanted to find a middle ground between those two.”

Uno: “As a skater, I always tried to go as far as possible from a starting point of 1. But now, I’m in a position where I have to create that starting point from zero. It’s tough, but it’s also where the real joy lies. I want to keep working hard on that ‘zero to one’ creation process going forward.”
 
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