Sota Yamamoto | Page 85 | Golden Skate

Sota Yamamoto

Cross-posting this from Kazuki's Fan Fest:

TV Asahi will broadcast a special edition of FaOI Makuhari, including backstage footage:


Pics of Sota at the summer training camp:
sportiva.shueisha.co.jp

坂本花織、鍵山優真、樋口新葉、友野一希...フィギュアスケート全日本強化合宿フォトギャラリー｜フォトギャラリー｜集英社 スポルティーバ 公式サイト web Sportiva

集英社のスポーツ総合雑誌、スポルティーバ公式サイト「web Sportiva」。本誌記事の他、野球、サッカー、モータースポーツなど国内外のスポーツ最新情報を掲載｡
sportiva.shueisha.co.jp sportiva.shueisha.co.jp
sportiva.shueisha.co.jp

坂本花織、鍵山優真、樋口新葉、友野一希...フィギュアスケート全日本強化合宿フォトギャラリー｜フォトギャラリー｜集英社 スポルティーバ 公式サイト web Sportiva

集英社のスポーツ総合雑誌、スポルティーバ公式サイト「web Sportiva」。本誌記事の他、野球、サッカー、モータースポーツなど国内外のスポーツ最新情報を掲載｡
sportiva.shueisha.co.jp sportiva.shueisha.co.jp
 
Thanks for posting all the articles! It's good to read Sota finds practicing his new SP fun. But I'm really really hoping for him to get a Challenger to see how much of his fresh and 'multicolored' program he'll be able to show when under pressure. I've checked out a number of photos from the camp, but none screamed 'jazz' to me, so I wonder if he was practising it there, or just doing exercises along with the others. I don't really know if skaters get to practise their own programs regularly at the training camp. Probably there's not enough time for that.

Hanyu's R&J by Wilson is of course iconic, as Sota says, but that's another genre, so not really comparable with getting assigned 'Chameleon'. Also, Hanyu and a multitude of JPN skaters, from Yuma to Shingo and Tatsuya, would have no issues with jazz or mainstream US music, but I just don't think that's the case for Sota (and perhaps for Kao and Shun curently). At least not in competition.

Does anyone know who 'Zachary sensei' is? Zachary Donohue from ice dance?
Here's a nice photo of Sota having fun at the camp:


I miss seeing Sota skate, even if it were to -grumble- Chameleon... Hopefully some content from the camp or Gensan will eventually appear on YT.
 
I saw quite a lot of the special and yes, the coverage of Sota and Kazuki was good (well, visually, no subtitles of course). Maybe bilibili will have a copy of the whole thing up.
 
Some more Sota (and Yuzuru and Kazuki) footage from FaOI practices:




Sota mentions how his Teeth choreo was challenging and he felt like quitting at the beginning, but I don't think he mentions the new programs (I might be mistaken, I didn't really understand much).
 
surimi said:
Some more Sota (and Yuzuru and Kazuki) footage from FaOI practices:




Sota mentions how his Teeth choreo was challenging and he felt like quitting at the beginning, but I don't think he mentions the new programs (I might be mistaken, I didn't really understand much).
Click to expand...

I had the impression that the ice wasn't very good, to the point that there were puddles (as a French, I'm a bit ashamed of evoking such a problem, several French Grand Prix having been affected by this problem).
 
I'm glad Sota got a Challenger, and not against another top Japanese skater. He'll still have to be at the top of his game as Malinin could well be there, or JunHwan, and the Canadian guys (as well as Camden) can be really good if they're having a good day. Yay for Sota having a chance to get points, and it's quite possible that he'll perform well (despite his music choices) as he tends to do well in the early autumn.
It could also be good for him to get a 'feel' of Canada before his first GP, and test his new SP. I hoped he'd get a Challenger to see how the programs are received by judges.
I hope he makes the most of this opportunity. 💪

That said, my hopes of seeing Sota this season are basically in shambles, unless the stars align and he gets CdP or CC in the spring. If he's very successful and gets to 4CC or WC, I'll be very happy for him, but that'll be it for me. I guess my Sota sighting luck ran out when the pandemic ended. I should just be glad he's healthy and competing, but I hope to see him in person yet.
I'm considering going to Nebelhorn at least to see Kazuki, my other top favorite, but my usual companion is starchly against it. Not quite how I hoped the season would start for me personally.
 
To add to my previous post, I found out that back in 2016, Mizuno signed a business cooperation agreement with Umemura Gakuen, which manages Chukyo University. Currently Chukyo has similar business cooperation agreement with 6 other cooperations with the aim of supporting Chukyo's six reinforcement designated sports: baseball, soccer, track and field, swimming, American football, and skating

Therefore, I believe there are many Chukyo athletes who have received similar gifts from Mizuno as well, but it's nice of Sota to show his appreciation to Mizuno for their support.
 
Sota held his monthly Unlim online talkshow this Monday. The topics covered included, per tweets, the summer training camp, how he's been practising, the advice he got from Yuzuru during Dreams On Ice, and his music/choreo. He also showed a costume which I think is the Exogenesis costume, but I can't be sure:


Sota says his programs for this season show 'a new Sota' and 'The Sota'. Good luck!
Sota was in a very good mood during the meeting, as can be seen here ;) :


His first competition, Gensan Cup, starts in 9 days! The SP is on Aug 11, and the FS on Aug 13. Here's a timeline.
 
Fuji TV is airing a program where previously not broadcast Sota footage is featured, specifically his World Championship journey:


And Gensan Summer Cup is coming up the day after tomorrow! I can't wait to see Sota on the ice again. Here's the start list:

｜Japan Skating Federation Official Results & Data Site｜

www.jsfresults.com www.jsfresults.com
Sota's biggest rival is Kao, who is entered in both Kinoshita Trophy and Gensan. There are also Nozomu, Tatsuya, LT Honda and Kosho Oshima, and also Sota's friend Kazuki Kushida. Sota's starting number is 9. I hope it brings him good luck!
 
Congrats Sota on delivering a clean SP and finishing in first at the Gensan Summer Cup SP, with a score of 91.98 :clap:
Here's today's SP, I gotta say I still don't think this music matches his style/energy 🙃 BUT to be fair he delivered the elements so kudos to him. I hope as the season progresses he gets to be more relaxed with the choreography, and also getting a colourful costume would help.


I love this pic, what a great way to start the season!
 
Congratulations to Sota on a clean SP! The photo of him fistpumping and rejoicing makes me smile. There are never enough joyful Sota photos :) Sota's jumps were nice and light (considering he's had an issue with his foot recently, it's especially amazing), and I don't know why two of his spins were marked lv3 because they were really nice and fast. The StSq was really energetic, and got a deserved level 4! Like Kirara, I can't say I'm sold on the music, and don't feel the jazziness in the program yet. But that's okay, it's very early in the season, and it's a completely new genre for Sota (and one he's definitely not a natural at).
Here are two articles about Sota at Gensan:
https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2023/08/11/kiji/20230811s00079000269000c.html
www.nikkansports.com

【フィギュア】山本草太“ニュー草太”に「新しい自分に気付けた」今季初戦でSP・91.98点 - フィギュア : 日刊スポーツ

山本草太（23＝中京大）が“ニュー草太”に手応えをつかんだ。昨季のグランプリ（GP）ファイナル銀メダリストは、今季初戦となるショートプログラム（SP）で91・… - 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 www.nikkansports.com
He says he enjoyed the program although he was nervous as it's the first time he's showing it in public. He's keen on showing the 'new Sota', and acknowledges that one of his biggest strengths is the fluidity of his skating. Spot on!
Good luck to Sota in the FS the day after tomorrow! 🍀
 
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