- Joined
- May 5, 2018
Another cross-post!
Sota Yamamoto
- Thread starter surimi
- Start date
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2013
The boys look happy :]
And I'm just happy that Sota's back on social media. I was sad when he didn't post for several days, which usually means that either he doesn't have time, or was too dejected by the result (and I suspect it was the latter in this case).
In 3 days, Sota is holding his Unlim meeting with fans. I hope it lifts his mood too see again how his fans care for him.
Here's a video by Nagoya TV about Mana, Shoma and Sota (in that order), and Sota's part starts at 3:35:
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Wilson... I am still not happy with what the guy gave Sota, and wish Sota would use a different SP for Nationals. It really feels to me like Wilson was pushing a 'one shoe fits all' program on Sota, probably something that he had been planning for someone else and that went unused. The 'expanding one's artistic horizons' doesn't work in each single music direction, all skaters have certain music limitations, and for some, like the Japanese, a lot is at stake if their program is a miss. No doubt Wilson is a great choreographer, but I think he can be tone-deaf when it comes to the compatibility of his ideas with exceptional skaters that don't fit the generic North American style mold.
I hope Sota starts choosing his own music again. He picked Dark Eyes, which didn't suit him either, but at least he said he'd never come up with jazz himself, which makes me think his feel for suitable music has sharpened since the Dark Eyes days.
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- Joined
- Nov 12, 2013
Sota's Unlim meeting with fans took place yesterday. I cannot tell what all he spoke of - some tweets mention an 'accident' before/during Cup of China, but there's no telling whether it was something funny or a mishap. Sota also showed his medal from Canada to fans, as well as his costumes and his Colantotte necklace. Here are some pictures from the meeting:
He also gave an interview to Chukyo University magazine a few days ago, which is a really good thing as the Chukyo articles are free and not geoblocked
Looking forward to that interview published!
Sota still looks somewhat sad to me in the photos, but he says he feels a lot of support from his team and fans. I hope he's not taking it too hard, and just keeps going as normal until Nationals. Last year it was Fa who narrowly missed GPF by placing 1st and 5th, now it's Sota with almost the same placements. I know their competition opportunities are a world apart, but that's on ISU and JSF, nothing that Sota can do anything about. All he can do is work on building his confidence and mind discipline to minimize inconsistency, which tends to hit at inopportune moments. But there's always a next chance!
He also gave an interview to Chukyo University magazine a few days ago, which is a really good thing as the Chukyo articles are free and not geoblocked
Looking forward to that interview published!Sota still looks somewhat sad to me in the photos, but he says he feels a lot of support from his team and fans. I hope he's not taking it too hard, and just keeps going as normal until Nationals. Last year it was Fa who narrowly missed GPF by placing 1st and 5th, now it's Sota with almost the same placements. I know their competition opportunities are a world apart, but that's on ISU and JSF, nothing that Sota can do anything about. All he can do is work on building his confidence and mind discipline to minimize inconsistency, which tends to hit at inopportune moments. But there's always a next chance!
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2013
Long time no Sota news! So, here's a teaser for a paid article by Asahi: https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASRCW42YQRCJUTQP01P.html
Sota says he's feeling noting but frustration because of Cup of China. It seems he's after stability, which is a good direction for him. A mental coach would do him much good, as would any techniques that teach people to clear and focus their minds. Worth a try if he hasn't yet. I hope skaters in Japan have access to both of those.
I wasn't able to find any other leaked info, so here's at least a nice photo of a determined Sota during CoC practice:
Sota says he's feeling noting but frustration because of Cup of China. It seems he's after stability, which is a good direction for him. A mental coach would do him much good, as would any techniques that teach people to clear and focus their minds. Worth a try if he hasn't yet. I hope skaters in Japan have access to both of those.
I wasn't able to find any other leaked info, so here's at least a nice photo of a determined Sota during CoC practice:
- Joined
- May 5, 2018
Cross-posting from Kazuki's fan fest - love this picture 
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2013
Cross-posting from Kazuki's fan fest - love this picture
Thanks for sharing! And have you seen this follow-up post, featuring tiny Sota and a few seconds of a tiny Kazuki?
One of Sota's first competitions, if I'm not mistaken 
- Joined
- May 5, 2018
Awww this is super cute! They've really been together since the beginningThanks for sharing! And have you seen this follow-up post, featuring tiny Sota and a few seconds of a tiny Kazuki?
- Joined
- May 5, 2018
More pictures from Skate Canada:
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2013
I'm still waiting patiently for the Chukyo Uni interview, but in the meantime, this article will do very nicely:
www.fnn.jp
Translation of the most interesting points TBA.
山本草太「山あり谷あり」でも「笑顔で終わりたい」“ニュー草太”を掲げて挑む7年連続10回目の全日本への思い｜FNNプライムオンライン
昨シーズン、GPファイナルで2位、世界選手権にも出場した山本草太（23）。12月21日から開幕する全日本フィギュアスケート選手権に向けて、山本は「気持ちよく終われたことがないので、笑顔で終わりたい」と意気込む。今シーズンは、GPシリーズに2戦出場するも「昨シーズンに比べると山あり谷あり」と語る山本。7年連続10回目となる全日本に向けて抱く思いを聞いた。昨シーズン、山本草太の快進撃はすさまじかった。GPシリーズ2戦で自身初の2位表彰台にのぼり、GPファイナルでも2位と成績を残した。全日本選手権で…
www.fnn.jp
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2013
Okay, here are the most interesting quotes from the interview above, Google-translated:
Sota's goals:
- "I've been working on a lot of things this season. I didn't finish the World Championship with a good result, so I'm in a difficult situation. Even if I get on the podium at the All Japan this year, I don't know if I'll be selected. But this season, my goal is to get on the podium at the All-Japan stage, so I want to do everything I can and work hard to achieve that goal."
- ``My goal is to be on the podium [at Nationals], but if I always focus on the result, I end up running in vain.'' I concentrate on my own performance, and when the scores are announced, I just think, ``Are they going to score now?'' and surprisingly, I feel like I'm doing better that way. Because I will too. It's not about how many points I want to get in advance or what rank I want to get, I just do what I've been doing in practice and what I want to do in the actual race. It's not a game where you get points, but a place to express what you've been practicing. I will take on the challenge of All Japan with that feeling.”
Looking back at last season and the first half of this season:
- “Last season, I was able to start the season in really good shape, and I was in great shape in the beginning and middle of the season, including the GP Series and GP Final, and I was able to get solid results. I think they had high expectations for me based on the results and selected me for the World Championship, but I was very disappointed that I couldn't live up to their expectations.''
- "I felt very disappointed at the China tournament. It was difficult to change my mind after that, but I took the time to reconsider and reflect on myself. From then on, I was able to start practicing more positively. I'm getting better and my confidence is starting to grow little by little."
- “Compared to last season, there have been some peaks and valleys. There are good times and bad times, but I feel that I am able to grow little by little while facing my own challenges. I want to do my best at All Japan, and I want to believe in what I've been doing and give it my all at the tournament.''
About Japanese Nationals and his strategy:
- Looking ahead to the All Japan Figure Skating Championships, which begin on December 21st, Yamamoto is enthusiastic, saying, ``I've never finished feeling good, so I want to finish with a smile.''
- Back in the summer, Yamamoto said, ``Just being asked the All-Japan question makes me nervous.'' Still, with less than a month until Japan Nationals, I asked him again, ``Right now, I'm calmly working on what I need to do day by day, and I'm aware that I get nervous, and it's impossible not to be nervous. I practice every day so that I can perform what I've practiced even if I'm nervous."
- ``I really don't have many memories of performing well at the All-Japan tournament. Since I moved up to the senior ranks, I've never had a good experience at the end. I've never spent the year-end and New Year holidays feeling cheerful, so I hope this year I can do everything I've done at All Japan and end with a smile on my face. I think if you focus on your performance, you will be ranked as a result, so I want to focus on my performance first.”
- ``Yamamoto says, ``I don't have any good memories until now,'' but he says, ``The barriers to creating good memories are high,'' and he reiterates the importance of daily practice in order to overcome those barriers. "It's not like I'm being pushed, I'm already in a good condition, so I just do what I've been practicing. That's really all. I'm not feeling too bad and I'm a little confident, so I want to do my best to make people think, ``Oh, I'm going to do it!'' at All Japan.''
About Chameleon:
- ``This is a program full of new expressions within me. A variety of new ideas and expressions are on display, and I will improve my level of perfection one game at a time, getting closer to my ideal stage. I think that by doing the short program ``Chameleon,'' I will be able to try out various programs in the future.'' When doing so, he is conscious of ``having fun first,'' and wants the audience to feel that Yamamoto himself is having fun.
******************
Nationals starts exactly a week from now. Lots of luck to Sota! 
I like this interview. He's openly acknowledging his anxiety regarding Nationals, and that's a big step forward in overcoming that barrier I'd say. I also like how he says he'll focus on his own performance. I have a feeling that surroundings with electrifying competitive atmosphere make Sota especially nervous, so the more closed he is in his own bubble, the better for him. Practising as usual, not more, also sounds like a good strategy to me, and Sota himself sounds healthily frustrated with his season so far. He deserves a breakthrough from frustrating Nationals, so may his wish about 'finishing with a smile' come true! I'm sure all Sota fans wish that for him as their Christmas gift 
Sota's goals:
- "I've been working on a lot of things this season. I didn't finish the World Championship with a good result, so I'm in a difficult situation. Even if I get on the podium at the All Japan this year, I don't know if I'll be selected. But this season, my goal is to get on the podium at the All-Japan stage, so I want to do everything I can and work hard to achieve that goal."
- ``My goal is to be on the podium [at Nationals], but if I always focus on the result, I end up running in vain.'' I concentrate on my own performance, and when the scores are announced, I just think, ``Are they going to score now?'' and surprisingly, I feel like I'm doing better that way. Because I will too. It's not about how many points I want to get in advance or what rank I want to get, I just do what I've been doing in practice and what I want to do in the actual race. It's not a game where you get points, but a place to express what you've been practicing. I will take on the challenge of All Japan with that feeling.”
Looking back at last season and the first half of this season:
- “Last season, I was able to start the season in really good shape, and I was in great shape in the beginning and middle of the season, including the GP Series and GP Final, and I was able to get solid results. I think they had high expectations for me based on the results and selected me for the World Championship, but I was very disappointed that I couldn't live up to their expectations.''
- "I felt very disappointed at the China tournament. It was difficult to change my mind after that, but I took the time to reconsider and reflect on myself. From then on, I was able to start practicing more positively. I'm getting better and my confidence is starting to grow little by little."
- “Compared to last season, there have been some peaks and valleys. There are good times and bad times, but I feel that I am able to grow little by little while facing my own challenges. I want to do my best at All Japan, and I want to believe in what I've been doing and give it my all at the tournament.''
About Japanese Nationals and his strategy:
- Looking ahead to the All Japan Figure Skating Championships, which begin on December 21st, Yamamoto is enthusiastic, saying, ``I've never finished feeling good, so I want to finish with a smile.''
- Back in the summer, Yamamoto said, ``Just being asked the All-Japan question makes me nervous.'' Still, with less than a month until Japan Nationals, I asked him again, ``Right now, I'm calmly working on what I need to do day by day, and I'm aware that I get nervous, and it's impossible not to be nervous. I practice every day so that I can perform what I've practiced even if I'm nervous."
- ``I really don't have many memories of performing well at the All-Japan tournament. Since I moved up to the senior ranks, I've never had a good experience at the end. I've never spent the year-end and New Year holidays feeling cheerful, so I hope this year I can do everything I've done at All Japan and end with a smile on my face. I think if you focus on your performance, you will be ranked as a result, so I want to focus on my performance first.”
- ``Yamamoto says, ``I don't have any good memories until now,'' but he says, ``The barriers to creating good memories are high,'' and he reiterates the importance of daily practice in order to overcome those barriers. "It's not like I'm being pushed, I'm already in a good condition, so I just do what I've been practicing. That's really all. I'm not feeling too bad and I'm a little confident, so I want to do my best to make people think, ``Oh, I'm going to do it!'' at All Japan.''
About Chameleon:
- ``This is a program full of new expressions within me. A variety of new ideas and expressions are on display, and I will improve my level of perfection one game at a time, getting closer to my ideal stage. I think that by doing the short program ``Chameleon,'' I will be able to try out various programs in the future.'' When doing so, he is conscious of ``having fun first,'' and wants the audience to feel that Yamamoto himself is having fun.
******************
Nationals starts exactly a week from now. Lots of luck to Sota!
I like this interview. He's openly acknowledging his anxiety regarding Nationals, and that's a big step forward in overcoming that barrier I'd say. I also like how he says he'll focus on his own performance. I have a feeling that surroundings with electrifying competitive atmosphere make Sota especially nervous, so the more closed he is in his own bubble, the better for him. Practising as usual, not more, also sounds like a good strategy to me, and Sota himself sounds healthily frustrated with his season so far. He deserves a breakthrough from frustrating Nationals, so may his wish about 'finishing with a smile' come true! I'm sure all Sota fans wish that for him as their Christmas gift 
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2019
He must know, like Kazuki Tomono, Shun Sato, Kao Miura... that they won't be let to win, so they're a group of top skaters fighting for Bronze, which wouldn't even grant them a spot at Worlds... In Women, I remember that Wakaba Higuchi's "hit or miss" results were held against her in such circumstances. The Japanese Men's field is so deep!
- Joined
- May 5, 2018
'Introducing two promising rising stars'
- Joined
- May 5, 2018
Sota was featured on a TV segment about Kazuki yesterday: https://www.fnn.jp/articles/FNN/632119
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2013
I saw that yesterday ^ ^ The sauna pictures are cute! Here's also a new article by Mainichi, but the opening paragraph doesn't really say much that's new, and the rest is paid, as usual: https://mainichi.jp/articles/20231220/k00/00m/050/126000c Sota says he's been in low places, I guess he's speaking both about placements and about his mindset, and I really hope his revenge mode brings him the results he longs for this Nationals.
I'd normally be here much more often, but this year's December & Christmas is being way more hectic than what I'm used to, and I haven't even been on Twitter for a week :/ The only good thing is that I don't have time to be nervous about JNats. I'm just hoping Sota's preparation is just what he needed, that he manages a satisfying Nationals result, and that it'll be enough to grant him a competition in the spring, preferably 4CC if I can make a wish. 
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2013
For the SP, Sota skates in the penultimate group, between Tatsuya and Kao. Good luck, Sota!
Here's new info about/from Sota re. Nationals:
He vowed to get off to a good start in the short program (SP).
On this day, he made sure to get a feel for the links by jumping four and three consecutive toe loops (they mean the 4T-3T combo), and said, ``I was able to stay calm and practice what I was supposed to do,'' with a satisfied look on his face. After the fourth round of the GP series and the Cup of China, there were days when he struggled to maintain his motivation, but he recovered by doing what was in front of him one step at a time.
His goal for this tournament is to get on the podium, and he commented, ``I think a lot of people will be able to see New Sota at this venue, so I'm looking forward to it.'' He considers the SP to be the key, and said enthusiastically, ``If I can put everything I've practiced into practice, I think the results will naturally follow.''
Source - this article.
I'm pleased he's focusing on the SP, which is really super important. I hope to see Sota satisfied after this JNats.
ETA:
Sota and Kazuki during the draw
:
ETA 2: Sota looks so very young here, aww! & that hairstyle is not bad at all
Here's new info about/from Sota re. Nationals:
He vowed to get off to a good start in the short program (SP).
On this day, he made sure to get a feel for the links by jumping four and three consecutive toe loops (they mean the 4T-3T combo), and said, ``I was able to stay calm and practice what I was supposed to do,'' with a satisfied look on his face. After the fourth round of the GP series and the Cup of China, there were days when he struggled to maintain his motivation, but he recovered by doing what was in front of him one step at a time.
His goal for this tournament is to get on the podium, and he commented, ``I think a lot of people will be able to see New Sota at this venue, so I'm looking forward to it.'' He considers the SP to be the key, and said enthusiastically, ``If I can put everything I've practiced into practice, I think the results will naturally follow.''
Source - this article.
I'm pleased he's focusing on the SP, which is really super important. I hope to see Sota satisfied after this JNats.
ETA:
Sota and Kazuki during the draw
:ETA 2: Sota looks so very young here, aww! & that hairstyle is not bad at all
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- Joined
- Nov 12, 2013
Well done, Sota, well done! 
Please keep fighting in the FS also. It's a huge accomplishment to skate such a challenging program clean, and it will be even more stressful to keep that concentration and iron will in the FS, squished between the two stars duking it out for silver and gold, with all the distracting venue noise. Rest well, Sota, and good luck on Saturday!
Here are the results so far. I'm very disappoined by the unfair PCS. I get that he's not a natural at jazz, so I'm more or less okay with the presentation (well, less rather than more, seeing Kao and Shun getting higher presentations). But getting such low Skating Skills, that's just ridiculous and nonsensical. IMO Sota's being punished for being inconsistent, and if he manages to skate clean-ish a couple more times, his marks should go up. I hope he sees the scores, and gets healthily annoyed for the FS.
Please keep fighting in the FS also. It's a huge accomplishment to skate such a challenging program clean, and it will be even more stressful to keep that concentration and iron will in the FS, squished between the two stars duking it out for silver and gold, with all the distracting venue noise. Rest well, Sota, and good luck on Saturday!Here are the results so far. I'm very disappoined by the unfair PCS. I get that he's not a natural at jazz, so I'm more or less okay with the presentation (well, less rather than more, seeing Kao and Shun getting higher presentations). But getting such low Skating Skills, that's just ridiculous and nonsensical. IMO Sota's being punished for being inconsistent, and if he manages to skate clean-ish a couple more times, his marks should go up. I hope he sees the scores, and gets healthily annoyed for the FS.
Interview with Sota after the SP: The video is geo-blocked outside Japan. Google drive video:
drive.google.com
Translation:
–This is Sota Yamamoto senshu. Thank you for your hard work.
S: Thank you very much.
–Your performance today was so great that you even made a fist clenching gesture. First of all, please look back at your short program.
S: I have been practicing this short program very hard, and this season, in international competitions, no, in Japan, I had a clean performance, but on the big stage, I have not had such a clean performance yet. So I think all the hard training was not in vain. For the free skate, I can approach it with more confidence than the short program, so I will try to fine-tune my performance tomorrow and on the day of the competition, and I hope I can finish with a smile like today.
–Today the audience was really excited and I think it was a performance that showed the "NEW Sota" of Yamamoto senshu. How do you feel about it?
S: After all the jumps, I was able to make eye contact with the audience in the last step sequence, and I was able to connect with the audience on the short side of the link, and I could see their smiling faces, so I had a lot of fun. I hope I can do my best in FS as well so that I can finish the competition with a good feeling like I did today.
–You mentioned that your goal is to excel in both the short program and the long program. What kind of performance do you want to show in the free skate?
S: I think if I can show everything I've been practicing in the free program, it would be great. I want to give it my all like today, so I hope to do my best as usual, believe in myself and not get too worked up.
–I am also looking forward to your free program.
S: Thank you very much.
ETA: Link to the google drive video added.
2023 All-Japan Sota Interview after SP.mp4
drive.google.com
Translation:
–This is Sota Yamamoto senshu. Thank you for your hard work.
S: Thank you very much.
–Your performance today was so great that you even made a fist clenching gesture. First of all, please look back at your short program.
S: I have been practicing this short program very hard, and this season, in international competitions, no, in Japan, I had a clean performance, but on the big stage, I have not had such a clean performance yet. So I think all the hard training was not in vain. For the free skate, I can approach it with more confidence than the short program, so I will try to fine-tune my performance tomorrow and on the day of the competition, and I hope I can finish with a smile like today.
–Today the audience was really excited and I think it was a performance that showed the "NEW Sota" of Yamamoto senshu. How do you feel about it?
S: After all the jumps, I was able to make eye contact with the audience in the last step sequence, and I was able to connect with the audience on the short side of the link, and I could see their smiling faces, so I had a lot of fun. I hope I can do my best in FS as well so that I can finish the competition with a good feeling like I did today.
–You mentioned that your goal is to excel in both the short program and the long program. What kind of performance do you want to show in the free skate?
S: I think if I can show everything I've been practicing in the free program, it would be great. I want to give it my all like today, so I hope to do my best as usual, believe in myself and not get too worked up.
–I am also looking forward to your free program.
S: Thank you very much.
ETA: Link to the google drive video added.
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- Joined
- Nov 12, 2013
Well done indeed, Sota, fantastic job! 
This season is like a roller coaster for him. First GP victory, first podium at Nationals, and interspersed among those achievements, struggles in China and CS Canada. What a thriller!
Not going to lie, I'd prefer seeing Sota at 4CC rather than WC. I know he likely wants WC to improve his scores and placement from last year, but... Perhaps Sota is finding his much-needed (and much JSF-expected, I warrant) consistency. But perhaps he's not ready yet, because having a Nats medal is going to weigh heavily on him, and there'll be more attention from journalists, more expectations, and more pressure. Not as much as the two bigger stars, but still. Also, less competition due to no European skaters, meaning a much higher placement even if he didn't have a good day.
Rest well and congratulations, Sota! It will be a merry onsen/sauna visit this year.
Now we're going to see another Teeth performance in Medalists On Ice, & I'm happy...
Sota's FS: https://youtu.be/TVQ8gfdwDA4?si=ZzKw0qLnccs8vJla
This season is like a roller coaster for him. First GP victory, first podium at Nationals, and interspersed among those achievements, struggles in China and CS Canada. What a thriller!
Not going to lie, I'd prefer seeing Sota at 4CC rather than WC. I know he likely wants WC to improve his scores and placement from last year, but... Perhaps Sota is finding his much-needed (and much JSF-expected, I warrant) consistency. But perhaps he's not ready yet, because having a Nats medal is going to weigh heavily on him, and there'll be more attention from journalists, more expectations, and more pressure. Not as much as the two bigger stars, but still. Also, less competition due to no European skaters, meaning a much higher placement even if he didn't have a good day.
Rest well and congratulations, Sota! It will be a merry onsen/sauna visit this year.
Now we're going to see another Teeth performance in Medalists On Ice, & I'm happy...
Sota's FS: https://youtu.be/TVQ8gfdwDA4?si=ZzKw0qLnccs8vJla
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