Sota Yamamoto | Page 86 | Golden Skate

Sota Yamamoto

Good job, Sota! He's a fighter 💪 He came up third in Gensan due to jump mistakes that came after his beautiful initial 4S. He did the best he could, all things considering. He's recently had an issue with his foot (hopefully healed by now, or at least still on the mend), and had to decrease his practice load because of that. Here's an article about him at Gensan, and it says he was also nervous/anxious and lost concentration while performing his FS. I'm just glad he finished the competition with a decent score, and great spin levels -all 4s- for his FS.
I hope he's able to practice at his usual pace soon, without rushing, and can work on stabilizing his jump confidence! I'm very glad, and a very proud fan, that he puts his health first! ☺️
Here's nice footage of Sota waving at his fans at Gensan:


Sota's next competition is Autumn Classics in a month.
 
Congrats to Sota for his bronze medal at Gensan 🥉It seems his preparation for this competition wasn't ideal, so managing a clean SP + highest PCS in the FS is no mean feat. Hope he can rest and heal now so he can prepare for Autumn Classic with no issues:pray:

Meanwhile, here's his FS from yesterday:
 
To be honest, I think the mistake on the second jump pass, 4T2T, made him doubt his readiness and jumping skills, considering the limited practice time. He seemed to have snapped out of it by the time he was setting up for the 3Lz, when 'all was lost' to speak figuratively. But it was too late by then. It wouldn't be the first time Sota makes multiple jump mistakes because - and I'm pretty sure of it - he doesn't trust himself and his practice. In this case, he really didn't have enough practice so his doubts were partly justified, but he tends to doubt himself especially at big important events when big scores are expected of him - Nationals, WC. I hope more practice time helps him before Autumn Classic. It's IMO mostly in his head, and him being so intense and passionate about skating doesn't help much. When not stressed out from competition, he can jump all of those elements (though he'll likely always struggle with axels, and wouldn't be the first or the last super talented skater to do so). He needs to learn to trust himself more.

ETA, here's Sota with his friend Kazuki Kushida :)
 
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Nagoya TV broadcast some footage of Gensan Cup in their 'Dou Desu Ka' show, but I haven't seen anything online to share:

Any unblocked/non-paywalled footage is so rare to find these days...
But we may be luckier with this one!

Chukyo University did an interview with Sota, and IIRC, they don't geoblock, so there's hope for me! :)
 
Also, I don't want to make the previous post even longer, so adding this here - Autumn Classic field:

A really tough one to win, with Aymoz and Malinin there! I will be happy if Sota gets bronze, and I imagine Memola and Ma and Boyang won't be easy to defeat, either. This will be good pre-GP preparation for Sota, and I hope he takes it easy and is not rattled if he doesn't win or get silver (and I hope JPN media don't snub him as is their ridiculous tendency when someone finished 3rd or lower, as we've once again seen in Gensan articles).
 
^ Enjoy!
Looks like this season, Sota's fans in China and Canada will be happy. Fair enough I guess, he's been to Europe multiple times so far. I hope he returns to us next year though :]

Here's a Hochi news article from today, for the most part about Gensan Cup it seems: https://hochi.news/articles/20230816-OHT1T51161.html
It requires one to log in to be able to read... The headline says (I guess) 'These are my skills at the moment. I must respond to it/face it properly.'

And here he's chilling with Kazuki at a sauna-

...which was perhaps located in Hyogo where they went:
 
There was an event for young first-time skaters at Chukyo University from August 24 to August 26. Sota and othe Chukyo skaters worked with little kids there. This photo makes my heart warm because Sota looks like a very gentle future coach:


I'm pretty positive that if Sota becomes a coach in the future (and I hope he does!), the kids will absolutely adore him ☺️

In other news, we can look forward to a new Unlim online talk show soon - on August 31 to be exact:



Sota doesn't tease any topics, so I'm curious what it's going to be about. I'm guessing his preparation for Autumn Classic and the JGP, and what he looks forward to about Canada! :)
 
According to the current JSF rule skaters are exempt from regionals or sectionals only if their international assignments fall on the same week. Therefore, Sota is not exempt from Chubu, but exempt from Western sectionals (Oct. 26-29) due to his entry at Skate Canada to be held during the same period.

Sota's costumes at fitting session by Orihara-san:
Chameleon: https://imgur.com/P1dasOp
Exogenesis: https://imgur.com/Ya7Xbr0
 
Sota's interview by nagoyatv.com. Interiew took place in June, 2023 at Chukyo University.
www.nagoyatv.com

フィギュア山本草太が語る 世界的振付師と初タッグのプログラム「すごく独創的でかっこいい、NEW草太」

まもなく本格的にシーズンが始まるフィギュアスケート。昨シーズンのグランプリファイナル銀メダリスト・山本草太選手(23)は、数々のトップスケーターの振り付けを手掛けた名振付師とタッグを組みました。「NEW草太を見て」という新プログラムとは。
www.nagoyatv.com
Translation 1 of 2

Figure Skater Sota Yamamoto Talks About His Program, His First Collaboration With a World-Class Choreographer: “Very Original and Cool, the NEW Sota”

This time, for the first time, he has teamed up with world-renowned choreographer David Wilson. In the past he has worked closely with Grand Prix Tokai coach Machiko Yamada, and choreographed for Midori Ito and other skaters in Osu, Nagoya.

We interviewed Yamamoto senshu, who says he is having a "wonderful time" with coach Machiko Yamada as well, about this year's program and his encounter with David-san.

New Short Program Is “Different From My Style
Q. Please tell us about your new short program.
"This season's short program is called 'chameleon,' and I think of a chameleon as changing into various different colors, and I hope to express many aspects of me in the 2.5 minutes of the program.”

"David sensei brought me a song that I would never have chosen myself, and I left all the editing and song suggestions to him, and when I listened to the song, I was a little worried at first because it didn't fit my style, and I was worried about whether it would be okay, but I still thought it would create a more interesting program than if I had chosen a song that fit my style."

"When it comes to songs, I usually listen to a lot of songs myself and decide on a program, but this time I think it will be a new challenge and I hope you will see a program different from my usual style and a new me, 'NEW Sota'."

Choreography by World-Renowned Choreographer David Wilson: “It’s Fun to See All the Fresh Choreography.”
The day of the interview was already the third day of choreography. The choreography was being brushed up, including detailed arm movements and the use of feet.

Q. What kind of guidance did you get?
"The basic choreography for this short program was completed on the second day or so, and then he gave me lessons to refine it, adding more choreography, complicating the steps, and so on."

"Even in one pose, even though I felt it was done, David sensei still gave me various ideas, like 'this choreography' or 'oh, let's go back to the original,' through trial-and-error for 10 to 20 minutes. Every single choreography move that David gave me was different from the past, fresh and new, and I enjoyed being choreographed, too, and I think that this song is such a program that I can enjoy skating, even though it is very demanding.

Yamamoto also said, "Because David sensei is having fun with me, I am really enjoying the choreography, even though it is demanding."

First Time Teaming Up With David Wilson, It All Started With “Fantasy on Ice”
What led him to work with David Wilson this time was "Fantasy on Ice," an ice show featuring Yuzuru Hanyu, many Olympians, and top skaters from all over the world.

Q. How did you come to ask David to choreograph for you?
"As for the choreography for this season, the free skate was completed by Kenji Miyamoto sensei, but the song and choreographer for the short program were still pending when I performed in Fantasy on Ice, and David sensei was in charge of the choreography for the opening and finale."

“Because of my hard work last season, I was able to perform in Fantasy on Ice, and I think the short program was made possible by a combination of various coincidences and timing, and normally, I would have gone abroad to have the choreography done, but this time, I was so lucky to have David sensei choreograph the program for me at Chukyo University, and I hope to take this opportunity to find a new me.”

- to be cont'd to part 2 -
 
Translation 2 of 2

David Wilson, “I Want Sota to Skate to This Song.”
Q. David, did you suggest one song instead of several?
'Yes, David sensei said to me in a long message, 'I want Sota to skate to this song.' I had a chance to spend the same time with him for the first time in Fantasy on Ice, and we communicated, and he saw my exhibition number this season, "Teeth," and he said, 'It's super cool'."

"At that time, I was not planning to ask David sensei to choreograph for me, but through various coincidences, I decided to ask him this time, so he made me a program for the first time.”

“Next year, the World Championships will be held in Canada, and last season, I competed in the World Championships for the first time, and it was a season in which I was able to experience many things. At the Worlds, I was very disappointed in myself, so I would like to make that (WC) one of my goals this season, and I would like to take on a new challenge as a new me, in the form of making a comeback."

“Every Single Idea Is So Original and Cool.”
Q. What do you think are the differences between David-san's choreography and other choreographers?
"When it came to overseas choreographers, at one time I had Pasquale Camerlengo-san choreograph for me about three years ago, but other than that, I had been working with Japanese choreographers for a long time."

‘Of course, every choreographer has their own uniqueness and has created wonderful choreography, but David sensei has worked with so many different skaters that his ideas are so original that I wouldn't have been able to come up with any of them, and every single one of them is so cool, and every pose is fantastic. So I think that if I leave it to sensei, it will be a very good program.’

"After reviewing the recorded video, I feel that I haven't quite achieved what David sensei is expecting me to do, so I'm hoping that I will be able to incorporate the movements and emotions that David sensei is looking for into this short program, and make it even better during the season."

I Want to Live Up to the Expectations of a Master Choreographer Who Also Created Yuzuru Hanyu’s Programs!
David-san has also created famous programs such as Yuzuru Hanyu's "Notre Dame de Paris," "Notte Stellata," and "Haru yo Koi."

Q. About being instructed by the same choreographer as his idol Yuzuru Hanyu-san.
"He is a world-class choreographer, and I never thought that I would have the opportunity to be choreographed by him, and after Fantasy on Ice was over, David sensei was supposed to go back home right away, but he extended his stay for a few days so that I could be choreographed by him. He even rescheduled his flight to make time for me."

"David sensei brought this program to me with much higher expectations than I imagined, and I feel strongly that he has put a lot of effort into the choreography, so I hope to live up to his expectations."

New Quadruple Jump Training for the New Season
Q. What are you working on in the off-season?
Last season, I used "Yesterday" and "Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No.2," but "Yesterday" was a short program for two seasons in a row, so I practiced the free program throughout the season, trying to get better with each practice."

"This time, I changed both the short program and the free skate, so I knew I had to skate both programs well, so I am prepared for that, and I want to make them my own programs all through the season."

"I have landed the quad flip and quad Lutz for the first time this season, and I feel that I have made progress in my jumps, too. So, if I have to put them in the free skate this season, it will be quad flip, but for now, I think it's more important to perform with stable quad Salchow and quad toeloop."

"Before anything else, I will practice hard to make the new programs my own, and then I would like to work on the quad flip, quad Lutz, and quad loop, to make them my weapons someday."

- end of translation -
 
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- I'm not too worried about Sota having to do Chubu, although it must be tiring, so soon after Autumn Classic (I guess he's leaving this weekend, and hope he has a safe flight). Each and every opportunity to test his programs before the vital competition is a bonus.

- I'm a bit let down by the Chameleon costume, I have to say. The cut is good, but the colors are boring. So many guys out there wear black & white... And if one's face looks focused to jazz music, as I am sure Sota's will because of the jumps, at all major competitions, it would be nice to have a vibrant color add some lively touch to the program to accompany the admittedly good choreo. My vote would go to a plain light green shirt.
- Thank you so much for the translations, Rainbow! :thank: I have already posted my feelings on the choice of Chameleon (I wholeheartedly agree with Sota's initial impression), new quads, and 'new Sota', so I'll skip those. Hanyu's 'Swan' was a gem, and one of my absolute favorites in FS ever. It was music that fit Hanyu's flowy, extroverted style to a T, though, and I kind of hope Sota isn't subconsciously comparing himself to Hanyu, who is a vastly different type of skater. I am pleased that stabilizing the current quads is Sota's priority. I am privately hoping for an entire season of stable performances, though that's a tall order for practically any skater. ;)

- I hope Sota's banner towel can be shipped abroad when purchase info is made public. :pray: I wonder if the money from buying this merchandise goes directly to Sota? If so, that would be great, and I'd want to get one. It's a very tasteful-looking towel.
 
surimi said:
- I'm not too worried about Sota having to do Chubu, although it must be tiring, so soon after Autumn Classic (I guess he's leaving this weekend, and hope he has a safe flight). Each and every opportunity to test his programs before the vital competition is a bonus.

- I'm a bit let down by the Chameleon costume, I have to say. The cut is good, but the colors are boring. So many guys out there wear black & white... And if one's face looks focused to jazz music, as I am sure Sota's will because of the jumps, at all major competitions, it would be nice to have a vibrant color add some lively touch to the program to accompany the admittedly good choreo. My vote would go to a plain light green shirt.
- Thank you so much for the translations, Rainbow! :thank: I have already posted my feelings on the choice of Chameleon (I wholeheartedly agree with Sota's initial impression), new quads, and 'new Sota', so I'll skip those. Hanyu's 'Swan' was a gem, and one of my absolute favorites in FS ever. It was music that fit Hanyu's flowy, extroverted style to a T, though, and I kind of hope Sota isn't subconsciously comparing himself to Hanyu, who is a vastly different type of skater. I am pleased that stabilizing the current quads is Sota's priority. I am privately hoping for an entire season of stable performances, though that's a tall order for practically any skater. ;)

- I hope Sota's banner towel can be shipped abroad when purchase info is made public. :pray: I wonder if the money from buying this merchandise goes directly to Sota? If so, that would be great, and I'd want to get one. It's a very tasteful-looking towel.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much for the translation!
I'm sure that Sota Yamamoto saw at Fantasy on Ice how David Wilson, when "high" with the possibilities offered by Yuzuru Hanyu's skating skills, choreographed an insane opening collective program which only him could pull down, not even the best Ice Dancers (at the second stop the steps were watered down) and he might rather have been afraid of something similar in his new program, but I don't think he needed to worry, and in fact, though I don't read Japanese, I got the impression that he was just very polite with David Wilson and wanted to honour him.

About the banner, the general experience with different proxies for items bought in Japan, is that books are rather hassle-free, but for all other items one has to pay the shipping to the proxy + the shipping to the customer + the custom taxes, and the final amount is a surprise. Of all this, very little goes to the skater himself, and that's such a pity! A few years ago it wasn't the same.
 
DizzyFrenchie said:
About the banner, the general experience with different proxies for items bought in Japan, is that books are rather hassle-free, but for all other items one has to pay the shipping to the proxy + the shipping to the customer + the custom taxes, and the final amount is a surprise. Of all this, very little goes to the skater himself, and that's such a pity! A few years ago it wasn't the same.
Click to expand...

Oh, that sucks :[ I guess I'll stick to my own banner for now, then. Thumbs up to everyone who's willing to jump through hoops and pay more than double the price for fan merchandize shipped from Japan. If one didn't have to use that proxy at least... Well, I hope many Sota fans in Japan and neighboring countries can buy that banner.

Autumn Classic is starting in 3 days, so I guess it's safe to say Sota is on his way now. Good luck! 🍀 He's up against Malinin, Boyang and Aymoz, so he's going to need it. I don't think I can think of a harder CS assignment at the moment, although Finlandia's Shun + Kao are impressive as well. 🤞 for Sota to hopefully get a medal.
 
Sota's banner towels are now selling, https://www.fairynet.co.jp/SOTA/
Foreign issued credit cards are not accepted. No overseas delivery
Price: 2,800yen (+shipping 800yen: free shipping on orders 11,000yen and over)

@surimi Keep your current Sota banner. Or you may try design your own banner and get it printed at a local print shop. This official banner towel design is quite simple anyway. For what it's worth, it doesn't need to be a towel banner. If you get your personally designed banner printed on a large size stock paper, the color printing cost should be very reasonable.
 
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