Sota Yamamoto

[surimi]

Sota timeline - coming up:
- June 7th - an event at the Uno Cafe
- June 26-28th - Dreams On Ice
- NEW - July 17-18th - Prince Ice World. He's been newly added as a guest, along with Wakaba and Yuna A:


I'm glad Sota has been chosen! ^ ^

 

[surimi]

One more Sota event coming up, on June 21 An online talkshow for 400 lucky participants, with Sota, Kazuki and Koshiro attending. According to the organizer, Figure Skating Life, they'll chat mostly about next season and Kassouya.



Sota's comment: 'I'm excited!'

 

[Noxia]

I’m not sure how much I’m allowed to say without spoiling anything, but I really recommend buying the record of Onsen friends fanmeeting. I also hope the revenue can help support Sota.

In the part where Sota shared recent updates about himself, he showed some videos from his training, an episode from the Kassouya rehearsal and mentioned a new habit he has recently started. He also talked about his new work and plans for the future.

Also, Sota did an impromptu livestream on Fsuke on June 1st and it was really fun as well.

 

[surimi]

Sota's Uno Cafe event was today, and here we have a cute photo that I assume is from it- Sota cuddling Shoma's dog, Emma:



More photos from teh event:



It's good to see updates here. I'll try to buy the Onsen archive if I can as (free of charge) Sota news is currently scarce. I'm dying to learn what new job Sota has taken on. I hope he's a coaching apprentice but won't know for sure until I hear the meeting, provided I understand enough.

 

[Noxia]

Sota's Uno Cafe event was today, and here we have a cute photo that I assume is from it- Sota cuddling Shoma's dog, Emma:



More photos from teh event:



It's good to see updates here. I'll try to buy the Onsen archive if I can as (free of charge) Sota news is currently scarce. I'm dying to learn what new job Sota has taken on. I hope he's a coaching apprentice but won't know for sure until I hear the meeting, provided I understand enough.

You are right. He now worked a bit as coach of young kids.

 

[KiraraChin]

Sota's pics with Emma are so cute! It seems he had a lot of fun

 

[surimi]

Yes, there are many adorable photos on Twitter. Some show Sota handing out desserts and putting on an apron with a bit of help, many of them feature Emma, and there was naturally also an opportunity to take photos with Sota and get autographs. The fans had a great time, and Sota's one-day manager adventure also made it to the Nikkan Sports website:

【フィギュア】山本草太がカフェの一日店長「とても楽しい一日」緑のエプロン姿披露 - フィギュア : 日刊スポーツ

フィギュアスケート男子の山本草太（26＝MIXI）が、9日までに自身のインスタグラムを更新。先月アイスダンスでの競技復帰を表明した宇野昌磨の弟、宇野樹さんが手… - 日刊スポーツ新聞社のニュースサイト、ニッカンスポーツ・コム（nikkansports.com）

www.nikkansports.com

Sota Yamamoto becomes a one-day cafe manager: "It was a very fun day," he says, showing off his green apron​

Figure skater Sota Yamamoto (26, MIXI) updated his Instagram on the 9th, reporting that he served as a one-day manager at "UNO CAFE," a dog cafe and sports bar run by Itsuki Uno, the younger brother of Shoma Uno, who announced his return to competitive ice dancing last month.

Yamamoto posted a selfie of herself wearing a green apron and holding a small dog. She wrote, "Thank you to everyone who came to be the one-day manager at UNO Cafe! It was a very fun day!"

Many followers also attended the event, and the post received comments such as, "The apron looked great on you," "Thank you so much for today, you must be exhausted, it's a memory I'll cherish forever," and "It was such a fun and dreamlike time, I was so happy."

In the Milan-Cortina Olympic year, Yamamoto won a bronze medal at the Four Continents Championships in January, marking her first podium finish at an International Skating Union (ISU) championship. She had announced that she would continue competing in the 2026-27 season.

*****

There is just so much content from this event, it's hard to pick stuff to share... so, for instance, how sweet is this? Sota shaking hands with the attendees



Translation:
During the second merchandise purchase (with proceeds going to the store manager), there was also a handshake session where each person was greeted carefully and with a smile. I was so flustered that I nearly forgot to shake hands, and ended up having a staff member ask me, "Is that okay?" (Thank you so much ), but the gaze from Kusata-kun and the sensation of his large, warm hand is a precious memory

 

[rRainbow]

@surimi sent me the link to Sota's X post announcing the streaming of the Kassouya documentary series.
Translation of Sota's short video:
Hello, everyone! This is Sota Yamamoto from Kassouya. Did you enjoy the first episode of the Kassouya documentary? I think it gave you a glimpse into how Daisuke-san, Kana-san, and Yuma-san (choreographer Yuma Suzuki) built “Kassouya” 2 from scratch, and the determination everyone poured into the auditions. I absolutely love Kosho’s audition performance. I still watch it over and over, and it never fails to make me smile. The first episode is available until Sunday, and episode two starts streaming tonight. There was plenty of drama during our training camp in Matsuyama, and we captured it all. I'd love it if you checked it out! I’m looking forward to seeing you all again soon. We are Kassouya!

This documentary is a close-up video work that follows the production process over approximately 10 months, from last summer's auditions to choreography on the floor, a training camp in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture, and the behind-the-scenes performance of the show. The documentary is available on the following dates:
#1 (First Night): Friday, June 5, 2026, at 8:00 PM. 〜
#2 (Second Night): June 12, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. 〜
#3 (Third Night): June 19, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. 〜
A special ticket is required to watch, priced at 4,000 yen each. For more details, please check the Eplus purchase page.

 

[Noxia]

If you want to know full story and making process of Kassouya It's good to buy it but if you just want to see some specific skaters like sota kazuki wakaba Then i don't really suggest

 

[synesthesia]

If you want to know full story and making process of Kassouya It's good to buy it but if you just want to see some specific skaters like sota kazuki wakaba Then i don't really suggest

I would love to watch the documentary, but it should be noted that it is not accessible to overseas fans, since to create an ePlus account, a Japanese address as well as telephone number are required (I've been mourning this for years as ePlus streams a lot of exclusive content I'm interested in). Maybe it would work with a proxy ticket service (which I haven't tried)?

 

[Noxia]

Has anyone downloaded Sota's Instagram post photos of UnoCafe? He posted 6 photos but now there are only 3.

 

[Noxia]

Has anyone downloaded Sota's Instagram post photos of UnoCafe? He posted 6 photos but now there are only 3.

OK I have checked it with other fans. The white puppy showed up in those 2 photos and 1 video is a pet of one of his fans. So maybe that person doesn't want those photos be posted public so

 

[surimi]

There's recently been another interview with Sota regarding his new programs, his favorite programs by other skaters, and his love for skating
:

山本草太「新プログラムの選曲は、高橋大輔さん」 - WFS-Web ワールド・フィギュアスケートWeb

2026-2027シーズンの競技続行を表明した山本草太選手が5月9日、「コラントッテ×フィギュアスケーターズ応援キャンペーン2026～夢をつなぐ～特別トークイベント」に登場しました。イベント終了後、単独インタビューで来季のプログラムについて語りました。

worldfigureskating-web.jp

The website works well with autotranslate tools, but doesn't allow copying text. So, since I'm technology-challenged, I'll just share a few hand-typed Sota quotes here for those who don't want to click the link.

- Sota: 'For the past few years, I've had a lot of programs with pretty melodies or grandiose structure, but for both the short and free programs, I'll be challenging myself with new programs that aren't really my usual style. I really wanted to do a program like that from the bottom of my heart, and for the first time, I've been able to choose the music all by myself. Well, for the short program, there was a skating event, and afterwards, when we went out for dinner, Daisuke Takahashi said to me, 'I'll choose the music for next season for you.' I thought, 'Is he kidding?', and since Daisuke is busy, I thought he'd probably forget about it as time went on, and that he was too busy to actually do it. But then I asked Kana Muramoto to choreograph the short program, and Kana-san said to Daisuke-san again, 'Let's have Dai-chan choose the music'. Dai-chan brought the short program to me this time. So I said, 'Okay, I'll go with that.' I was incredibly happy, and it's a really cool song, so I want to make sure I can fully express Kana-san's cool choreography. The free program is choreographed by Kenji [Miyamoto] sensei, and I hope to express a cool side of myself that I've never shown before. The choreography for both programs is still being worked out, so I don't know what kind of world it will be, but I hope to show a side of Sota Yamamoto that has never been seen before, through the world of choreography and music.

- If you had to choose a program to recommend to people who will be coming to see your performances in the future, what would it be?
- Sota: Hmm... I probably won't be performing them much anymore, but the short program 'Anthem' and the free program 'Jekyll and Hyde' from the season I returned after my injury are very memorable, and I think they're programs that many skaters have told me they like. And then, something unexpected, but when I was in my second year of junior high school, when I was a novice, I performed a program called 'Thunderbirds', which was the first exhibition number I've ever done. I wore a full blue suit. I've never seen it myself, but it was an exhibition number using the music from that movie, and it was a comical performance that I can't imagine doing now - something I couldn't do now. At the time, I wasn't old enough to appear on TV yet, but it was a performance that a lot of people said they liked. Even now, people ask me, 'Aren't you going to do it?', but I don't think I could wear that full blue suit now...
- How about trying a slightly different version?
- Sota: I've actually been told that some people quite like that too, and also the 2018 free program 'Nobunaga Concerto'. What else would I like.... 'Exogenesis', perhaps.


*********

Apologies for any typos.

Thoughts? The announced departure from Sota's 'usual style' makes me nervous, but then, all bets are off for the upcoming season. After the events of the first half of this year, Sota could well be an entirely different competitor with a different mindset. He could pull off what he found challenging in the previous season. Who knows? At least I can hope his music is not jazz. No more jazz and suave stuff in competition, please. Extroverted relaxed jazzman is something I truly do not see Sota becoming, ever The MJ gala was borderline credible, but still, IMO, it can't hold a candle to Teeth, where Sota was absolutely in his element
Perhaps KanaDai picked dark music and an evil character (if there's one) for him? That would be cool indeed, and something Sota hasn't done yet.

I'm definitely in the camp that he mentions that loves Nobunaga and the 2018 programs. They were pure genius, and perfect matches for him.

 

[DizzyFrenchie]

There's recently been another interview with Sota regarding his new programs, his favorite programs by other skaters, and his love for skating
:

山本草太「新プログラムの選曲は、高橋大輔さん」 - WFS-Web ワールド・フィギュアスケートWeb

2026-2027シーズンの競技続行を表明した山本草太選手が5月9日、「コラントッテ×フィギュアスケーターズ応援キャンペーン2026～夢をつなぐ～特別トークイベント」に登場しました。イベント終了後、単独インタビューで来季のプログラムについて語りました。

worldfigureskating-web.jp

The website works well with autotranslate tools, but doesn't allow copying text. So, since I'm technology-challenged, I'll just share a few hand-typed Sota quotes here for those who don't want to click the link.

- Sota: 'For the past few years, I've had a lot of programs with pretty melodies or grandiose structure, but for both the short and free programs, I'll be challenging myself with new programs that aren't really my usual style. I really wanted to do a program like that from the bottom of my heart, and for the first time, I've been able to choose the music all by myself. Well, for the short program, there was a skating event, and afterwards, when we went out for dinner, Daisuke Takahashi said to me, 'I'll choose the music for next season for you.' I thought, 'Is he kidding?', and since Daisuke is busy, I thought he'd probably forget about it as time went on, and that he was too busy to actually do it. But then I asked Kana Muramoto to choreograph the short program, and Kana-san said to Daisuke-san again, 'Let's have Dai-chan choose the music'. Dai-chan brought the short program to me this time. So I said, 'Okay, I'll go with that.' I was incredibly happy, and it's a really cool song, so I want to make sure I can fully express Kana-san's cool choreography. The free program is choreographed by Kenji [Miyamoto] sensei, and I hope to express a cool side of myself that I've never shown before. The choreography for both programs is still being worked out, so I don't know what kind of world it will be, but I hope to show a side of Sota Yamamoto that has never been seen before, through the world of choreography and music.

- If you had to choose a program to recommend to people who will be coming to see your performances in the future, what would it be?
- Sota: Hmm... I probably won't be performing them much anymore, but the short program 'Anthem' and the free program 'Jekyll and Hyde' from the season I returned after my injury are very memorable, and I think they're programs that many skaters have told me they like. And then, something unexpected, but when I was in my second year of junior high school, when I was a novice, I performed a program called 'Thunderbirds', which was the first exhibition number I've ever done. I wore a full blue suit. I've never seen it myself, but it was an exhibition number using the music from that movie, and it was a comical performance that I can't imagine doing now - something I couldn't do now. At the time, I wasn't old enough to appear on TV yet, but it was a performance that a lot of people said they liked. Even now, people ask me, 'Aren't you going to do it?', but I don't think I could wear that full blue suit now...
- How about trying a slightly different version?
- Sota: I've actually been told that some people quite like that too, and also the 2018 free program 'Nobunaga Concerto'. What else would I like.... 'Exogenesis', perhaps.


*********

Apologies for any typos.

Thoughts? The announced departure from Sota's 'usual style' makes me nervous, but then, all bets are off for the upcoming season. After the events of the first half of this year, Sota could well be an entirely different competitor with a different mindset. He could pull off what he found challenging in the previous season. Who knows? At least I can hope his music is not jazz. No more jazz and suave stuff in competition, please. Extroverted relaxed jazzman is something I truly do not see Sota becoming, ever The MJ gala was borderline credible, but still, IMO, it can't hold a candle to Teeth, where Sota was absolutely in his element
Perhaps KanaDai picked dark music and an evil character (if there's one) for him? That would be cool indeed, and something Sota hasn't done yet.

I'm definitely in the camp that he mentions that loves Nobunaga and the 2018 programs. They were pure genius, and perfect matches for him.

Post-Olympic seasons are made for that sort of experiment, which often enlarge a skater's comfort zone, and Daisuke Takahashi certainly has an idea of his possibilities and a vision of what he could do? So I think that while it will be a hit-or-miss with maybe an interpretation not completely ready at the beginning of the season, it looks exciting!

 

[surimi]

Sota's allocated GP spots are France and USA. Not super easy fields, but not super difficult, either, if one doesn't count Malinin in the US and Shaidorov in France. In France, he'll face also Kao, A. Selevko and Fa, among the really difficult rivals, and in the US, there'll be Grassl, Britshgi, and Selevko again. Not sure how much of a threat Jason is at this point, and not sure about the young newcomers like Sanchez, who may be a threat if rewarded with good PCS. Or Memola, who is at both of Sota's GP, if he's back to his former shape. We'll see. Good luck, Sota!
I'm sad Sota is not traveling to any GP with Kazuki. He's alone for Team Japan men in the US , and accompanied by Kao in France. But it's good not to see him pitted against Shun or Cha for once.

On a selfish note, I'm anxious ATM, and hoping with all my might that Sota gets Nebelhorn at least so I could see him skate again, especially after I missed out on Finland last season. I knew there'd be a day when Sota doesn't get assigned to Finland, and it finally happened for the upcoming season. I consider myself lucky I was able to see him there about 3 times! Not sure at all I'll be going to Angers; most likely not. Hoping for Challengers then, but if it's Georgia, or Denis Ten Memorial, or only Kinoshita, then I'm toast. Please skating gods, send Sota to Germany for CS, please and thank you.