Sota Yamamoto | Page 48 | Golden Skate

Sota Yamamoto

I think I have just seen in a fan blog that Aichi is indeed a pre-requisite for Kokutai. It would be cool if Kazuki and Sota could compete there together. I don't recall when they last met there. Though it would be even better if they both had nice results at Nationals, and qualified for spring competitions... and the situation mysteriously got better after the new year, and we could see them... I can dream. :coffee:

Anyhow, I'll join the queue for explanations from our friend Rainbow ^ ^ Here are my questions - what did Sota say about 'Jackson family' in his Instastory post (from Komichi's previous blog entry), and what did he mean? The newest entry features some praise by Japanese commentators(?), likening Sota to Abbott... I can't say I am too happy about that particular comparison because Abbott was a headcase whose skating I didn't paricularly enjoy, and I'd hate for Sota to turn into a headcase. But it's very nice of them to praise Sota and liken him to a renowned skater.

Good luck tomorrow, Sota! It's a SP-only event, so he'll only skate to Dark Eyes. He'll want to win so I hope he does. ✌️
 
According to a fan's report, Sota was struggling with jumps in practice again. I'm seriously having a deja vu, because he's been there before - left Onishi years back because jumps started failing him. And I wonder why it is that despite the unstable jumps, he apparently still goes ahead with the 2-quad layout for the SP. Is it just Sota's stubbornness? I'm quite worried...
 
It seems that Sota won the event, but he did struggle with jumps I'm afraid 😟
He did 3T3T 4Sfall 1A, total score of 63.88. It seems that despite the issues with the jumps, his spins and StSq were beautiful.

Hoping this is just tiredness post-NHK, and he will have time to rest and regroup for Nationals 🙏
I really hope he competes at Kokutai, it's a fun event. The fact that Ryuju is skating today too, suggests to me that the Aichi team could be Sota and Ryuju, which would be super cool.

ETA: This fan said the awards ceremony was fun, and Sota managed to land a 3A on the second try! https://twitter.com/mion_kakera16/status/1335532375875309568
 
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surimi said:
Here are my questions - what did Sota say about 'Jackson family' in his Instastory post (from Komichi's previous blog entry), and what did he mean? The newest entry features some praise by Japanese commentators(?), likening Sota to Abbott...
Click to expand...
I didn't get to see the Instastory about Jackson family, so I was puzzled at first. Now I'm guessing that Jackson family refers to skaters who use Jackson brand skating boots and they are:
高橋大輔（兄）Daisuke (oldest son)
山本草太（次男坊） Sota (second son)
佐藤駿（末っ子） Shun (youngest son)
小松原美里、深瀬理香子（姉たち） (older daughters)
坂本花織、樋口新葉、三原舞依、河辺愛菜、本田真凜、荒木菜那、浦松千聖（妹たち）(younger daughters)

In the video shown on the blog, two skating fans, former skaters, comment on the NHK Trophy. After praising Wakaba, Kaori, Yuhana, Kao, and Yuma, they talked about So-chan for 3 minutes.
⑥ Summary: M=Kanata Mori (left), K=Kento Kajita (right)
M&K: So-chan’s costumes by Orihara are cool.
M: I like SP. So-chan was dancing his heart out and he was so cool. He has a beautiful back line.
K: He has a good posture and he is graceful.
M: His gliding is smooth and he gives off a cool aura.
K: His skating is moving. He is classy, elegant. He can dance and his skating is expressive. He doesn’t just dance. His jumps were not good this time, but he touches people’s heart.
M: After he came back, I’ve been moved by his skate every time. If he skates clean, it will be awesome.
K: The dynamic music helps skaters even when they don’t’ do a good job, but So-chan’s strength is that he can make it his own and give his all.
M: He is like Abbott in that he skates to dramatic music and it suits him. Dragon is such music. He knows who he is. Good! Good fit!
K: I would like him to pursue this direction. I want him to reach the level where no one can rival him in that area.
M: Yeah! …From the perspective of a fan (lol).
K: Just a fan! (lol). I love So-chan’s smooth skating.

** The rest is a talk about ice dance.
 
Thank you, Rainbow! I think the names of the two commenting skaters ring a bell with me. Weren't they participants of Nats just a few seasons ago?
I agree with them that some of the mesmerizing things about Sota's skating are his glide, and his straight back, and the way he can move people who watch him. Even Kawaume sensei said as much, I believe.
Anyhow, for now the jumps are all over the place, so weird... The main two Sota blogs mention he landed some quads, even quad combos, in practice, yet you wouldn't recognize that from his last two competitions. :shrug: I love his skating and i like Sota, but this year especially, I am very glad I won't be able to watch Nationals, because it might cause my hair to turn grey.

For something light now - look what I stumbled upon today! https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Eooaq0nU8AETusf.jpg It looks like novice nationals 2012? And since the boys flanking Sota look suspiciously like mini-Taichiro and mini-Mitsuki, are we looking at the beginnings of the onsen club? :giggle: aww.
 
He says in that tweet that his goal is victory :slink: He said the same before NHK. His recent results don't match that confidence, so I am quite worried. His skills are there IMO, and if he skates lights out he could approach the podium, but it's been a while since he skated clean. The scary thought is that the last time he skated both programs without a mistake, was in 2017. :unsure: The boy is an utter mystery. I think what I would like for him is to be among the sponsored 10 again. That is my dream. That alone will be a big enough test of his resilience, if his results in Aichi are a sign of his condition.
 
I feel like the SP will be the key for Sota at Nats - as the Western Sectionals winner, he'll be skating in the last group so hopefully the judges won't hold his scores too much. I think if he does well in the SP, he'll have a good chance of finishing in the Top 10 :pray:
 
Right you are, Kirara. And I hope he heeds the signals the judges are giving him - be clean, or else. I hope he finally relents re. lowering difficulty, especially when it comes to the 4S which he's been struggling with this season. Nats is not a good place to test an unstable jump. In terms of results and starting position before FS, it's way better to just perform his beautiful 3F instead of a messed-up 4S, and get +GOE on it. Provided he's not practicing 4F which would mess it up, which he really can't afford, or course...

Anyhow, thanks for pointing me towards the Fuji TV profiles. Here's Sota's: https://www.fujitv.co.jp/sports/skate/figure/skater/SotaYAMAMOTO.html
We knew he likes taking hot showers before competitions, but what's that about him abstaining from nail cutting for a week before the comp? Really? :biggrin: I thought lucky days for nail and hair cutting were a thing of the past for Japan, but Sota is a warrior from the past reborn, so why not :pray: ^ ^ Even his favorite photo selection proves that!

I'm more than happy to provide links for Sota and Keiji for the new Media section, naturally ;) I just hope the video will be easy to follow.
 
Just putting this blog entry link here because it features a bit about Sota's past and a festival in his birthplace, Kishiwada, which apparently has some relevance to Sota? I can't understand what it says, though. https://ameblo.jp/kmn-psn/entry-12644090835.html (middle part of the page, below the nikkansports tweet)
- The blog entry also says that both Kazuki Kushida and Mitsuki picked photos where there's Sota as their favorite collection photos ^ ^ Kazuki K doesn't even mind that Sota is trying to wring his head off in the pic, lol.
- It also shows two very interesting videos where two guys (Shu Nakamura and Hidetsugu Kamata?) comment on Sota's jumps before and after his injury. I can't understand them, but it's great they picked Sota <3
@ Rainbow, when you come this way, I'd love your input! :coffee:

Sota and his coach Onishi are going to have a joint interview in the new Quadruple magazine. I can't say I am pleased with the recent developments in Sota's jump stability, and can't decide if it's the new coach's fault or not. I admit I still hope Howa magically hires a jump coach and Sota will return there. But okay, this is a weird season altogether, so I'll wait for Nationals to form an opinion.
 
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About the blog entry:
- This article on Dec. 12 talks about what happened on that day in past years.
Quote
In 2014, at JGPF in Spain Sota jumped 3A and landed it for the first time in competition. He started training it the previous season and he jumped up to 60 times a day.

Sota grew up in Kishiwada city which holds the famous Danjiri Festival in autumn. He said, “My grandpa likes it and before I knew it I was pulling the float. Until he moved to Nagoya at 11, he took part in the annual festival surrounded by excited men. He wore a happi coat and was happy to be given candies. He loved festival, and said “It was so wild that sometimes a power pole toppled… I love a big stage.”

In Nagoya where he lived with his mother, Kanako, he was coached by Nagakubo who had coached Akiko Suzuki. Looking at Sota’s 165cm, 48kg body, Nagakobo commented, “He reminds me of Yuzuru. He is skinny and looks fragile but he can jump. He is talented.” He added, “(Like Yuzuru), he doesn’t like practice either...” Nagakubo used to coach Yuzuru for six years until he was a six grader. Sota said, “He often tells me that and I’m very glad,” thinking of the skater he looked up to.

Sota is naturally a free spirit. At this competition he was sometimes late for departure and breakfast. The coach said with a bitter smile, “He is really something, I guess.”
Unquote

- Fuji TV figure skater profile pages have been updated. Sota says his pre-competition rituals are 1) One week before the event, he stops clipping his nails until the event is over. 2) Take a hot shower. 3) Write down his goals for the competition on a memo pad in his hotel room.
- Each skater shows his/her most favorite photo on the profile page. Mitsuki's favorite photo was taken on last new year's eve with onsen club members on onsen trip. Mitsuki says he had such a great time after a long time. Kazuki Kushida's favorite photo is the one with Sota and Leo Ishizuka and Kazuki K. make this photo his phone's lock screen wallpaper.
 
Thanks a bunch! Lots of details from young Sota's life in this short piece, I like it!
A preview of the Sota/Onishi interview from the new Quadruple (should be published in two days - lucky Japan, lol): https://twitter.com/AxelQuadruple/status/1340523931929698311/photo/1
Onishi had better show at Nats he can stabilize Sota's jumps... :devilish: 1A and 4S<<Fall is not to my liking, he could have that in Howa as well. The 3T3T in Aichi was a much better idea if there's an issue...
 
I can't watch, but all the best at Nats, Sota. Please be in the top 10 if possible :pray: He skates in the last group before Yuzuru and after Shoma :eek2: I hope he survives the competition intact...
 
On this video about men's competition at JNats, in alphabetical order each skater speaks of his enthusiasm for the event. Sota's clip is the last one and starts at 10:40. https://youtu.be/69LjYkuf01s?t=640
"On such a big stage, I only hope to skate my best. It is a luxury for me to compete at the Nationals, and I am happy being here. I would like to fully appreciate this big stage and I want to focus on doing what I need do at this competition."
 
Congrats Sota for skating a clean SP! :clap:
Really pleased he changed his strategy and went for lower difficulty but cleaner performance.
Hope he keeps this up for the free!
 
And here's Sota's FS (no sound): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t58AejKNWTc

He still struggles with jump landings, and I want him to find a good jump coach if possible. Sorry but even considering the specifics of the pandemic year, I see no progress under Onishi's guidance, except for spin levels. Mitsuki leaving Onishi didn't help Mitsuki, and Sota leaving Howa didn't help Sota. Let's see if he can make the full cycle again, and after trying out Hayashi and Onishi, settle somewhere where he can achieve greatness in no time. He has it all, and can still easily be among the world's top if he fixes his landings and feels more sure of himself.

He really went ahead and focused on his tech content in the SP, ditching smiles and expressions - and despite the quad stumble, it worked, and was rewarded! That's the way to go -to be clean at any cost- and the judges are making it obvious IMO. With more speed and projecting, and without that stumble, Dark Eyes could be even better program. We'll see if he presents the full package at Kokutai. But it's still not a Sota classic: it expands his range but doesn't play to his strengths. Same for the FS. I hope he goes back to classics next season because the overlap of content pushing Sota's limits, and new challenges re. expressing to bawdy or subdued music, can't have contributed to his peace of mind this season. I hope he ditches both programs, and goes back to genres that worked best for him. He still has years ahead of him to bring new stuff, I hope.
Sota's speed picked up in Dragon, pity there were the stumbles and falls (the one after the 3-jump combo looked so painful!). But I appreciate the simplified content, and this is where he is on the right track. If his conditioning regressed because he couldn't train properly or maybe had health issues, then there's no shame in reverting back to the Challenge Cup content which worked miraculously.
Sota looked absolutely out of breath/choking after the FS and in the interview, that's a bit worrying. Could he have developed asthma? I sure hope not!
 
From Twitter:
Asahi Shinbun: https://twitter.com/asahi_winter/status/1342798552326492160
Sota: “In terms of skating age, I have almost reached halfway through, and I wonder whether I can make any more progress and I ask myself about future prospects for me. Part of me wants to continue skating, but if so, I will have to make diligent efforts.”

Nikkan Sports: https://twitter.com/figure365/status/1342800294359388160
Sota: “Every time I skated terrible at the Nationals. Part of me wants to continue skating, but if so, I feel that I’ll have to make diligent efforts.”
 
Original video was deleted but a fan saved it and shares it on twitter:
Q: Can you share your thoughts?
“Ummm…Let me see… Although my skate was disappointing, many fans tried so hard to find something good about my performance [laughter]. I really feel that a lot of their support has been helping me quite a lot, and I have long wanted to return their favor by delivering good performance so that they will feel pleased about supporting me. But so far I have been unable to skate well, and I feel apologetic [wipe his eyes with his sleeve].”

Q: Please give a few words to your fans.

[pause] "I really feel that, among so many better skaters than me, you have watched me and enjoyed my skate, and root for me and that makes me really happy indeed. As I said just before, I have to do my best so that I can deliver good performance to give back to you."
 
Thank you for the translations! Sota sounds really unhappy and seems to feel he's stagnating. I wish there was something we, his fans, could do for him... but the only thing we can do is keep supporting him. Poor boy, he already has all he needs to have, now if he could only somehow string together performances like Finlandia 19 SP, and Challenge Cup 19 LP, that would be marvellous and land him safely 4th at Nats. Growing technically is not the way to go, now he needs to grow mentally and achieve victory over himself. Nats will always be the biggest obstacle for him, so he should make it his exercise in self-restraint and mind discipline. If he can skate with such tranquility he had in 2017, he'll succeed. But it's a tough challenge, and so many boys struggle - look at his onsen friends Taichiro, Kazuki and Mitsuki... But no two skaters are alike, so it's worth a try for Sota to drill some mental resilience in the meantime. Tormenting his ankles with 4F is not the way to go, hopefully he sees it now. The judges gave the boys a clear signal of what they want when Kazuki with 4-3 but one bigger mistake was 7th, and Sota managed to land in top 6 for the FS with 3-3. Same for the Kagiyama-Sato rivalry: even the hardest jumps are to no avail when one makes mistakes. Any spring events will be useful practice ground for Sota now.
 
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