Sota Yamamoto

[surimi]

YAMAMOTO Sōta (Kana: やまもと　そうた; Kanji: 山本 草太) is a Men’s Singles skater who represents Japan. He was born on 10th January 2000 in Kishiwada, Ōsaka, Japan.

He is a two-time Junior Grand Prix Final medalist (silver in 2014, bronze in 2015), 2015 Junior World Championships bronze medalist, 2016 Youth Olympic Games gold medalist, 2018 CS Asian Open Trophy + 2021 CS Warsaw Cup + 2024 CS Nebelhorn Trophy gold medalist, and 2019 CS US Classic and 2019 CS Finlandia Trophy silver medalist. He has three silver medals from 2022 Grand Prix series - from GP France, NHK Trophy, and GP Final. He won the 2023 Winter Universiade, and the 2023 GP Skate Canada. His best Japan Championships placement so far is 3rd in 2023.

He's coached by Machiko Yamada and Yuko Hongō, and trains at Chukyo University rink and Osu/Tokai Club. In the past he was coached by Yoshinori Ōnishi (pre-2012, and first half of 2020-21 season), Hiroshi Nagakubo (2012-2016), Yoriko Naruse and Miho Kawaume (2012-2020). In early 2020 he was briefly coached by Yūsuke Hayashi, and in 2021-22 season his coaching team was Machiko Yamada and Mihoko Higuchi.

Biographical Info​

ISU Bio:
http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00013831.htm

Federation Bio:
https://www.skatingjapan.or.jp/figure/player/detail.php?id=kFttigayOgY=

Rink Results Bio:
http://www.rinkresults.com/skater?skater_id=724

Tracings Bio:
http://tracings.net/yama-sota.html

Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sōta_Yamamoto

Social Media​

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/sota0110/

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/so_ta0110

Personal Best Scores

ISU Personal Best Scores for Sota Yamamoto:
http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs_pb_00013831.htm​

Type​	Score​	Event​
Personal Best Total Score	274.35	Grand Prix Final 2022
Personal Best Score Short Program	96.49	GP NHK Trophy 2022
Personal Best Score Free Skating	183.72	Nebelhorn Trophy 2024

Competition History and Videos
2024-2025​

SP: Split / Postcards from Far Away by Ezio Bosso; choreo by Benoit Richaud
FS: Melting by Nico Cartosio, Sogno di Volare (The Dream Of Flight) by Christopher Tin; choreo by Lori Nichol
Gala: Beat It by Michael Jackson / Teeth by 5 Seconds of Summer; choreo by Misao Sato

​

Upcoming competitions:
GP Finland (November)

Competition	SP score	SP rank	FS score	FS rank	Overall score	Overall rank
2024 GP Finlandia Trophy						4
2024 Nebelhorn Trophy	79.00	3	183.72	1	262.72	1 , gala
2024 GP Canada	92.16	3	164.84	3	257.00	4
2024 GP Finland	82.43	4	147.68	3	249.91	4

2023-2024
​

SP: Chameleon by Maynard Ferguson, choreo by David Wilson
FS: Exogenesis Part III by Muse, choreo by Kenji Miyamoto
Gala: Teeth by 5 Seconds of Summer, choreo by Misao Sato

Competition	SP score	SP rank	FS score	FS rank	Overall score	Overall rank
2023 Gensan Summer Cup	91.98	1	145.42	3	237.40	3
2023 CS Autumn Classic	70.39	7	160.84	3	231.23	4
2023 Chubu regionals	95.28	1	177.86	1	273.14	1
2023 GP Skate Canada	89.56	1	168.86	3	258.42	1 , gala
2023 GP Cup of China	75.48	8	170.10	5	245.58	6 , gala
2023 Japanese Nationals	94.58	2	192.42	3	287.00	3 , gala
2023 Four Continents Championships	94.44	4	168.99	4	263.43	4 , gala

2022-2023
​

SP: Yesterday by The Beatles, performed by Michael Bolton (keeps his last season's program). Choreo by Mihoko Higuchi
FS: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18 by Sergei Rachmaninoff. Choreo by Akiko Suzuki
Gala: Poeta by Vicente Amigo (Sota's 2015/16 SP). Choreo by Kenji Miyamoto

Competition	SP score	SP rank	FS score	FS rank	Overall score	Overall rank
2022 Minato Trophy	89.68	1	181.73	1	271.41	1
2022 Gensan Summer Cup	95.15	1	168.69	1	263.84	1
2022 Chubu regionals	94.12	1	159.68	1	253.80	1
2022 Grand Prix de France	92.42	1	165.48	3	257.90	2 , gala
2022 GP NHK Trophy	96.49	1	161.36	6	257.85	2 , gala
2022 Grand Prix Final	94.86	2	179.49	2	274.35	2 , gala
2022 Japanese Nationals	86.89	3	158.52	7	245.41	5 , gala
2023 Winter Universiade	101.32	1	173.54	1	274.86	1 , gala
2023 Kokutai	82.12	2	152.08	3	234.20	2
2023 Challenge Cup	84.72	2	160.89	2	245.61	2
2023 World Championships	75.48	17	156.91	15	232.39	15

2021-2022
​

SP: Yesterday by Michael Bolton, choreo by Mihoko Higuchi.
FS: Io Ci Saro, choreo by Mihoko Higuchi
Gala: You're Beautiful by James Blunt

​

Competition	SP score	SP rank	FS score	FS rank	Overall score	Overall rank
2021 Chubu regionals	81.71	1	150.02	1	231.73	1
2021 Japan Open	-	-	156.13	4	156.13	4, gala, ceremony
2021 GP Skate Canada	78.78	7	146.96	8	225.74	7 , gala
2021 GP NHK Trophy	86.05	5	152.85	8	238.90	7
2021 Warsaw Cup	91.75	1	155.90	3	247.65	1 , ceremony
2021 Japanese Nationals	93.79	4	146.39	12	240.18	8
2022 Intercollege championship	-	-	153.10	1	153.10	1
2022 Kokutai	89.34	1	152.25	1	241.59	1
2022 Challenge Cup	90.25	1	147.51	3	237.76	3

2020-21​

SP: Dark Eyes. Choreo by Kenji Miyamoto
LP: Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story by Randy Edelman. Choreo by Kenji Miyamoto

Competition	SP score	SP rank	FS score	FS rank	Overall score	Overall rank
2020 Chubu regionals	80.77	1	139.35	1	220.12	1
2020 Japan Open (FS-only event)	-	-	137.97	2	-	-
2020 West Japan sectionals	77.07	2	144.15	1	221.22	1
2020 GP NHK Trophy	62.38	9	127.81	7	190.19	8
2020 Japanese Nationals	82.60	6	134.74	9	217.34	9
2021 Kokutai (Japan Athletic Meet)	43.38	18	127.10	2	170.48	8

2019-2020
​

SP: East of Eden by Lee Holdridge. Choreo by Pasquale Camerlengo
FS: In This Shirt by The Irrepressibles. Choreo by Pasquale Camerlengo
Gala: You're Beautiful by James Blunt

Competition	SP score	SP rank	FS score	FS rank	Total score	Total rank
2019 Gensan Summer Cup	67.50	2	140.18	2	207.68	2
2019 US Classic	82.88	3	157.23	2	240.11	2
2019 Finlandia Trophy	92.81	1	130.43	6	223.24	2, victory ceremony
2019 GP NHK Trophy	74.88	7	151.39	5	226.27	6, gala
2019 Japanese Nationals	68.16, interview	13	152.33, interview	7	220.49	7

2018-2019​

SP: Air on the G-string by J.S. Bach. Choreo by Kenji Miyamoto
FS: Nobunaga Concerto by Taku Takahashi. Choreo by Kenji Miyamoto
Gala: Anthem from 'Chess' performed by Josh Groban

Competition	SP score	SP rank	FS score	FS rank	Total score	Total rank
2018 Asian Open Trophy	57.92	6	141.00	1	198.92	1, medal ceremony , warmup
2018 Finlandia Trophy	72.16	8	133.63	10	205.79	9
2018 NHK Trophy	74.98	6	138.42	5	213.40	6, gala
2018 Japanese Nationals	71.95	10	140.74	8	212.69	9
2019 Challenge Cup	82.24	1	171.63	1	253.87	1, gala, medal ceremony

-3/+3 GOE system:

2017-2018
​

SP: Anthem from 'Chess' performed by Josh Groban
FS: Jekyll and Hyde
Gala: Love Theme by Joseph Calleja (from New Cinema Paradiso)

​

Competition	SP score	SP rank	FS score	FS rank	Total score	Total rank
2017 Chubu regionals	33.05	4	76.01	4	109.06	4
2017 West Japan sectionals	62.24	4	132.94	5	195.18	5
2017 Japanese Nationals	72.88	8	135.39	10	208.27	9
2018 Coupe du Printemps	69.04	6	128.77	5	197.81	5 , gala

2015-2016​

SP: Poeta by Vicente Amigo. Choreo by Kenji Miyamoto
FS: Piano Concerto No. 1 by P.I. Tchaikovsky. Choreo by Kenji Miyamoto
Gala: Love Theme by Joseph Calleja (from New Cinema Paradiso)

Competition	SP score	SP rank	FS score	FS rank	Total score	Total rank
2015 JGP Colorado Springs	65.11	2	138.57	3	203.68	3
2015 JGP Copernicus Stars	75.16	1	157.26	1	232.42	1
2015 West Japan Junior sectionals	63.77	1	139.82	1	203.59	1
2015 Japanese Junior Nationals	70.42	1	142.98	1	213.40	1
2015 JGP Final	72.85	3	132.46	4	205.31	3
2015 Japanese Nationals	62.92	11	152.23	5	215.15	6 , gala
2016 Youth Olympic Games	73.07	1	142.45	3	215.52	1

2014-2015​

SP: Piano Concerto by Sergei Rachmaninov. Choreo by Yuko Hongo
FS: Lorelei by Raul di Blasio. Choreo by Yuko Hongo

Competition	SP score	SP rank	FS score	FS rank	Total score	Total rank
2014 JGP Courchevel	65.66	3	130.14	2	195.80	2
2014 JGP Tallinn	66.42	2	136.28	2	202.70	2
2014 West Japan Junior sectionals	66.51	1	124.59	2	191.10	1
2014 Japanese Junior Nationals	67.81	2	134.69	1	210.72	2
2014 JGP Final	76.14	1	136.98	3	213.12	3
2014 Japanese Nationals	67.19	7	139.61	6	206.80	6
2015 World Junior Championships	69.99	7	145.46	3	215.45	3 , victory ceremony, gala

2013-2014​

SP: Tenchijin by Michiru Oshima. Choreo by Yuko Hongo
FS: Lorelei by Raul di Blasio. Choreo by Yuko Hongo

Competition	SP score	SP rank	FS score	FS rank	Total score	Total rank
2013 JGP Riga Cup	56.15	11	100.08	12	156.23	11
2013 Chubu Junior regionals	59.11	2	111.58	2	170.69	2
2013 West Japan Junior sectionals	53.61	5	119.92	3	173.53	3
2013 Japanese Junior Championships	62.28	3	103.82	10	166.10	5
2013 Japanese Championships	65.90	11	104.72	19	170.62	14
2014 Coupe du Printemps (junior)	65.24	1	112.71	1	177.95	1

2012-2013​

FS: 'Dragon - The Bruce Lee Story' soundtrack by Randy Edelman

Competition	SP score	SP rank	FS score	FS rank	Total score	Total rank
2012 Asian FS Trophy (advanced novice)	39.78 , photos	1	72.04	2	111.82	2 , interview
2012 Kinki regionals (advanced novice)	-	-	76.06	2	76.06	2
2012 Japanese Novice Championships	-	-	95.51	1	95.51	1
2012 Japanese Junior Championships	47.32	11	112.29	4	159.61	4
2013 Triglav Trophy (advanced novice)	45.20	1	76.49	1	121.69	1

2011-2012​

Competition	SP score	SP rank	FS score	FS rank	Total score	Total rank
2011 Asian FS Trophy (advanced novice)	39.48	1	44.20	3	83.68	2
2011 Kinki regionals (advanced novice)	-	-	90.28	2	90.28	2
2011 Japanese Novice Championships	-	-	90.88	2	90.88	2
2011 Japanese Junior Championships	41.62	14	90.98	10	132.60	11
2012 Triglav Trophy (novice)	42.00	1	69.41	1	111.41	1 , podium , photos

Ice Show Videos​

Event	Program
Stars On Ice 2021	Anthem
Prince Ice World 2019	You're Beautiful by James Blunt
Nagoya Figure Skating Festival 2016	Poeta by Vincente Amigo
Dreams on Ice 2015	Poeta by Vincente Amigo
The ICE 2014	Piano Concerto by Sergei Rachmaninov
World Team Trophy Gala 2013	Thunderbirds by Barry Gray

Videos of other competitions​

2017 Chubu Regionals
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x64kmbu

2014 Junior High School Championships
SP highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dS7wSRT5Ng&t=39s
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi2C0ZvWnrM

Articles and Interviews​

Mi-Mollet interview (August 2022) - about Sota's evolution from Nationals 2021 to his hopes for Milan OG (in Japanese)

【フィギュア山本草太選手】痛恨の全日本から新シーズンへ。飛躍を懸けた4回転ジャンプ改良計画 | インタビュー　人生、おしゃれ、そしてこれから | mi-mollet（ミモレ） | 明日の私へ、小さな一歩！（1/4）

フィギュア山本草太選手インタビュー

mi-mollet.com

Interview collection on Sota’s recovery - December 18, 2017
https://www.walkerplus.com/article/131458/
(in Japanese)

Yamamoto chosen as JOC's "Next Symbol Athlete" - March 29, 2016
http://www.joc.or.jp/news/detail.html?id=7334
Translation

Sota Yamamoto: broken ankle - March 14, 2016
https://web.archive.org/web/20160313003924/http://jwc2016debrecen.hu/en/sota-yamamoto-broken-ankle/

Interview after JGP Colorado Springs - October 15/16, 2015
Part 1: http://sports.yahoo.co.jp/column/detail/201510130004-spnavi
Translation
Part 2: http://sports.yahoo.co.jp/column/detail/201510130006-spnavi
Translation

Sota Yamamoto sets sights on Junior World title - August 29, 2015
http://www.goldenskate.com/2015/08/sota-yamamoto/

Pigeon Post - Team Nagakubo interview after 2015 Summer Cup - August 9/10, 2015
http://pigeon-post.net/interviews/2015SummerCup_teamNAGAKUBO.html
Translation

Costume designer for Poeta and Piano Concerto (2015-2016)
http://www.mu-costume.com/profile-mucostume.html

Shoma and Sota on the cover of World Figure Skating Magazine NEXT (Special Edition) - April 2015
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71ISohQt5XL.jpg

Other miscellaneous info. & videos
​

Sota's graduation ceremony:

- YouTube

Auf YouTube findest du die angesagtesten Videos und Tracks. Außerdem kannst du eigene Inhalte hochladen und mit Freunden oder gleich der ganzen Welt teilen.

youtu.be

Rinkai Sports Center competition event (fall 2020) - 'Dark Eyes' in old Poeta costume

- YouTube

Auf YouTube findest du die angesagtesten Videos und Tracks. Außerdem kannst du eigene Inhalte hochladen und mit Freunden oder gleich der ganzen Welt teilen.

www.youtube.com

The only known video where we see a glimpse of Sota's high school life and baby pics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtCHOwq8Ayo

NHK 2019 press conference, Sota forgets what the question was (what he admires about Yuzuru), is helped by Koshiro and Yuzuru
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0IGIojO-SA

Sota getting choreography in the US (in Japanese)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=577qF0W-ZCc

Talkshow with Shizuka Arakawa (spring 2019), about school and skating (with English subtitles!):
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Sota's post-injury comeback story in Japanese:
https://www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/x6xdk2h (translated on the bottom of p.20 of this fanfest)

'High Five on Ice' program (in Japanese, up to Nationals 2018)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf-T2IE5d6Y

'Midori's Room' - fun question/answer segment after NHK 2018, starring Sota, Shoma and Hiroaki
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Wx_WX2S-Og

'Kenji's Room' talkshow (pre-2018/19 season. All 3 in Japanese, translations are on p.19 of this fanfest)
part 1 - https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6tgpmq
part 2 - https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6tt265
part 3 - https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6u8uzi

Sota getting lessons from Nobunari Oda (2011)
Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSqW2erO5lY
Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlQYLm17XyA

Sota's journey up to Grand Prix Final 2022 (in Japanese, by Nagoya TV):
Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQEvCGbRE6w&t=11s
Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15Ik7JMSLdI&t=6s

 

[Maria Victoria]

Are there any Sota fan here?

Sota Yamamoto 2015 Worlds Jr Bronze medalist. Congrats!

I am. I think Sota has a large upside and showed at Jr. Worlds that he could be steady when others had faltered. He also appears to have quite a personality; there is so much "boy" in him. He has been often compared to his idol Yuzuru, and it is not hard for me to see why. And from a video I saw, the link of which I had posted in the TJ fanfest thread, he has already landed a quad in practice. Just turned 15 btw two months ago.

 

[Interspectator]

I like him.
Following his progress with interest.

 

[Caustica]

I like him too! First noticed him on the JGP circuit this season. He and Shoma are so adorable together.

 

[Caustica]

I thought his EX today was very nice! Link The spread-eagle bit was just like Yuzuru's SP hahah.

 

[juuryokunashi]

Just when I thought my stanning of Team Japan junior men would (and should) stop with Shoma, Sota comes along. ~_~ I love the kid.

I however can't wait for the time when he gets out of the 'he's just like Yuzuru' comparisons because I believe he'll be able to develop his own skating style and technique, especially now that he's getting more media attention, and, more than likely, better funding from the JSF due to his showing this season.

 

[Interspectator]

Just when I thought my stanning of Team Japan junior men would (and should) stop with Shoma, Sota comes along. ~_~ I love the kid.

I do however can't wait for the time when he gets out of the 'he's just like Yuzuru' comparisons because I believe he'll be able to develop his own skating style and technique, especially now that he's getting more media attention, and, more than likely, better funding from the JSF due to his showing this season.

He gets the comparison (as Shoma does with Daisuke) because of he is such fan-boy. Which is very cute.
But yes, I actually see him going along a different path in his skating. I like his cheeriness. I like his speed. :yes:

 

[Interspectator]

Here is Sota, encouraging Shoma. What nice kids. https://twitter.com/you_he_bar/status/574802479075848192

 

[HanDomi]

Kurt in CBC said that Sota jumped to Yuzuru's closet and took one of his costumes

I really , really enjoyed Sota exhibition program. I see a lot potential in him. Let's wait and see when he will get quad in competition.

 

[Becki]

Sota does remind me of Yuzuru! I see a future World Champion in him too, along with Shoma

 

[chasingpolaris]

Here is Sota, encouraging Shoma. What nice kids. https://twitter.com/you_he_bar/status/574802479075848192

Sota is like a Shoma fan boy sometimes.

Now I can't wait to watch Sota improve. So much potential. I especially like his jumps.

 

[Rissa]

I think he needs to project more and also some better choreography (and costumes)

I like his costumes. This sort of costumes is why I love watching figure skating. Normal rules don't apply, and he does look good in them.

He's so very young but enjoyable to watch. I hope he'll keep improving and realize all that potential.

 

[Crossover]

While I hardly regard myself as a fan of Sota yet, I think you would ejony this gif which I think is one of the funniest moments in the Junior World Championships 2015.

Sota can join to a boy band

 

[Rissa]

Sota can join to a boy band

Well, he's got the attitude!

 

[firal]

That moment came at Japan Nationals too so I was waiting for it .

 

[juuryokunashi]

I remember Machiko Yamada did the commentary for Nagoya fs festival last year which Sota was part of, and she said that he actually has more potential than Yuzuru at the same age.

I actually agree--not putting Yuzuru down, but he won gold at Jr Worlds when he was 15, but only after 2 tries. This is Sota's first Jr Worlds outing, and he got bronze. Also considering the depth and progression of figure skating these days, it's easy to see that the younger generations will more than likely exceed the achievements of their predecessors.

Back to Sota, though: from an interview/special feature on TV I gleaned that he wants to 'perfect' his 3A first before putting quads in his programs? Suffice to say I just want all the best for Sota (and Shoma) considering the hype that's been built up around them by the Japanese media.

 

[matmuh]

I actually agree--not putting Yuzuru down, but he won gold at Jr Worlds when he was 15, but only after 2 tries. This is Sota's first Jr Worlds outing, and he got bronze. Also considering the depth and progression of figure skating these days, it's easy to see that the younger generations will more than likely exceed the achievements of their predecessors.

Back to Sota, though: from an interview/special feature on TV I gleaned that he wants to 'perfect' his 3A first before putting quads in his programs? Suffice to say I just want all the best for Sota (and Shoma) considering the hype that's been built up around them by the Japanese media.

to be fair, when yuzuru attended his 1st junior worlds he was just 14 (just turned 14 at december) and when he won he was same age as Sota now and he was much more expressive than sota . successes of older generations encourages younger generations to raise the bar set before them. not saying this to put sota down, i enjoy him even though he has many weaknesses aside from jump good luck to him for the next season and for the rest of his career

 

[Rissa]

Sota seems eligible for senior circuit now. With all the comparisons to Yuzuru, it makes me wonder if he'll switch to adult so soon as well. Probably not, though, since there are still junior titles for him to be won, although Jin Boyang is not going to make winning them easy.

 

[Plumededragon]

Sota seems eligible for senior circuit now. With all the comparisons to Yuzuru, it makes me wonder if he'll switch to adult so soon as well. Probably not, though, since there are still junior titles for him to be won, although Jin Boyang is not going to make winning them easy.

According to the info, unlike Shoma, Sota is staying in the Junior circuit for one more year. A right choice, I think. And you're right, Jin will not make things easy for him, and thanks goodness for that. To have high-skilled rivals is one of the best ways to motivate yourself and make progress. :yes:

 

[matmuh]

boyang is 17 already, i would be surprised if he doesnt turn senior next year :scratch: but you never know but regardless of boyang sota is gonna have enough rivals