Sota Yamamoto

[surimi]

Yay, now I can go ahead and book the train tickets. ^ ^

Sota has a really favorable field, too, for the most part! JunHwan is the biggest favorite obviously, but if Sota doesn't try to include the 4F, he can be a more than decent rival for him. They have known each other since novice competitions (as early as 2012 Asian Open, IIRC).
I wish he'd play it safe to maximize his medal chances, because although he's a top level skater, Frangipani, Sadovsky, Torgashev and Naumov are not exactly minced meat, either. Sota has a chance to pay back for the defeat from GP China and CS Canada from last season (respectively Frangipani and Gogolev). I hope he makes the most of the opportunity! And if bigger favorites make mistakes, the consistent Gorodnitsky and Deniss V will be ready

I'm sad that Sota won't have his best buddy Kazuki at Nebelhorn. Hopefully his result will make Kazuki proud! At least he can talk to Shingo and Masaya, and to his JPN fans, who I'm sure will be flocking to Oberstdorf, train disruption or not. I've been training Japanese pronunciation and intonation diligently with my sensei this last year (my vocab is still rubbish though, lol), so hopefully I'll get a chance to say a few words to Sota, too.

 

[surimi]

I'm sorry to bring bad news. Sota Yamamoto is, with Junhwan Cha, one of the two Men skaters who are assigned to both Grand Prix trophies whose organisers have cancelled the Gala. Both were likely medallists too. His photo from last year's Skate Canada is on the poster:

All-Event Tickets: 2024 Skate Canada International

All-event tickets for the 2024 Skate Canada International will be [...]

skatecanada.ca

And good news: Nebelhorn has a gala. If Sota gets invited, his Michael Jackson program will see the light of the overseas world, too

 

[KiraraChin]

Kurawasa-san and Haga-san talked about the interview they did with Sota on Mainichi's BluePost podcast:

ポッドキャスト：友野カレー「開封の儀」を挙行　山本草太肉声メッセージ情報も公開 | 毎日新聞

毎日新聞運動部記者がお送りするポッドキャスト「ブルーポストリンク」は、リスナーの皆さんの生活とリンクする番組です。フィギュアスケートの話題を中心に、リンク内外の話題をお届けします。パーソナリティーは運動部の芳賀竜也デスクと、倉沢仁志記者の「りゅうじんペア」が務めます。30日放送の第44回は、友野一

mainichi.jp

 

[surimi]

I haven't listened to the podcast, but I hope to listen to his archived Unlim interview from this Thursday:


Sota was talking about the training camp and show in Italy (and the food there, I gather ), his forgotten costume (it seems it hadn't arrived in Japan yet at the time of the interview), , his new IPod for recording his performances/practices, about Nebelhorn, and about his plan to eat shaved ice... According to this tweet, he likes Indian curry and naan? I approve, yum ^ ^
And most importantly, he got asked about WD'ing from Kinoshita Cup, and he said it was just a precaution. It didn't have anything in common with his ankle, thankfully.

Sota has also recently received a lot of clothes from Mizuno, and happily shared them on IG:

I hope they bring him good luck this season!

 

[KiraraChin]

The first part of Sota's interview with Kurasawa-san has been published (as usual, it's a paid article)

 

[surimi]

Sota's costume has finally arrived from Italy, hooray! With some funny remarks below Sota's post from Yuhana and Ryuju

 

[DizzyFrenchie]

Sota's costume has finally arrived from Italy, hooray! With some funny remarks below Sota's post from Yuhana and Ryuju

Phew! Now I can confess I had fears, with all the parcel mishaps between Asia and Europe. I hope that he didn't worry too much.

 

[surimi]

New part of the Mainichi article about Sota:

山本草太に芽生えた思い　「五輪が夢から目標に変わった」 | 毎日新聞

フィギュアスケート男子の山本草太選手（中京大）によるインタビュー。後半は同世代としてしのぎを削った宇野昌磨さんの現役引退について、また今季中に25歳を迎える自身の立場や1年半後に迫る2026年ミラノ・コルティナダンペッツォ冬季オリンピックへの思いを口にした。【倉沢仁志】

mainichi.jp

It's a paid article, but in what I can see of the text, he talks about how Shoma inspired him, and how the Olympics became his goal rather than a distant dream.
Here's a nice photo set that goes with this installment:

Fun！フィギュア　山本草太インタビュー　後編 ［写真特集1/7］ | 毎日新聞

リンクでポーズをとる山本草太選手＝愛知県豊田市の中京大アイスアリーナリンクで2024年8月24日、兵藤公治撮影

mainichi.jp

It's nice to see him regain his confidence. I hope he's practicing safely, and that with the body of work already behind him, he won't get ruffled by any potential competition setback anymore. Just like when he rebounded from his GP China disappointment at Nationals so splendidly last season. Tenacity is one of Sota's great qualities - if healthy, every time there's a bump in the road, he always rebounds

 

[surimi]

Sota must be on his way to Germany now, but no official information on him so far, so here are at least some more nice photos from the Mainichi article:

 

[KiraraChin]

Hope Sota has a safe trip and you too @surimi

 

[surimi]

Thanks, @KiraraChin ! I hope so.
Any Sota sightings, all you folk already in Oberstdorf? I'm on my way tomorrow, and will arrive at the venue on the first competition day, so I'm not sure how many chances to see a not competing Sota there will be for me

Here's a new follow-up of the Mainichi article about Sota and his Olympic aspirations, again, with colorful photos:

Ｆｕｎ！フィギュア：五輪、夢から目標に　山本草太、代表争い「楽しい」 | 毎日新聞

貪欲に、もっと上へ――。3年連続で毎日新聞のインタビューに応じたフィギュアスケート男子の山本草太選手（中京大）の言葉には、これまで以上に力強さが備わっていた。目標とする2026年ミラノ・コルティナダンペッツォ冬季オリンピックのプレシーズンとなる今季に向け、胸に秘めた思いを明かした。【倉沢仁志】

mainichi.jp

I hope he has safe practice and a safe competition!

 

[KiraraChin]

I'm on my way tomorrow, and will arrive at the venue on the first competition day, so I'm not sure how many chances to see a not competing Sota there will be for me

Safe travels, I hope you have a great experience - and Sota too, of course!

 

[surimi]

So, I'm in Oberstdorf, but cannot provide any report on Sota just yet. I arrived in the late afternoon, and Google Maps and me were apparently not on the same page today because I managed to get super lost in Oberstdorf. So, going to the rink was out of the question. No sighting of Sota or any Japanese skater as I was bent on locating road signs rather than skater faces, but I recognized Deniss V passing us downtown. A few steps after, I met a Japanese Sota fan I sometimes meet at competitions, and she told me Sota was looking good, happy and relaxed in today's practice, so there's at least that.
My night owl self is done in after getting up at 5AM today, so there won't be men's SP practice for me tomorrow, sadly, because it ends at 8.30, and I need to sleep in to function properly tomorrow. :/ I hope other fans are there for him early enough
May he have a good skate tomorrow! Good luck, Sota

 

[DizzyFrenchie]

So, I'm in Oberstdorf, but cannot provide any report on Sota just yet. I arrived in the late afternoon, and Google Maps and me were apparently not on the same page today because I managed to get super lost in Oberstdorf. So, going to the rink was out of the question. No sighting of Sota or any Japanese skater as I was bent on locating road signs rather than skater faces, but I recognized Deniss V passing us downtown. A few steps after, I met a Japanese Sota fan I sometimes meet at competitions, and she told me Sota was looking good, happy and relaxed in today's practice, so there's at least that.
My night owl self is done in after getting up at 5AM today, so there won't be men's SP practice for me tomorrow, sadly, because it ends at 8.30, and I need to sleep in to function properly tomorrow. :/ I hope other fans are there for him early enough
May he have a good skate tomorrow! Good luck, Sota

And good luck, Surimi! Having missed Mone Chiba's Free by half an hour because of traffic, I can relate so much!

 

[KiraraChin]

Just wanted to say, good luck to Sota at Nebelhorn Trophy today
According to the schedule, he'll be skating at 2:22pm local time

56. Nebelhorn Trophy 2024

Event results for 56. Nebelhorn Trophy 2024

www.deu-event.de

 

[surimi]

Well, Sota had a rough skate, for his high standards. A 79-something score is better than at WC, but definitely not what he hoped for. The 4-3 combo was so nice though. Sota's jumps are so nice to look at when he lands them, with lovely exits and posture.
I managed to give him my little present, hooray, and want to come see him tomorrow morning for FS practice.
Sota is really beloved, and it makes me so happy! I saw several non-Asian girls with his green towel banner, and there were other banners specifically for him. He and coach Hongo came to sit in the sector opposite the judges' side for the last 2 groups, and a number of women flocked to him after the men's short programs had finished, for autographs and photos, and to tell him they liked his skating. That must have made him happy.

Fingers crossed that Sota deals with the FS to his satisfaction, and gets invited to the gala!

 

[KiraraChin]

Sota's SP, for those who missed it:


Such a shame about the popped Sal, and great fight on the 3A. The programme is too B E N O I T for me, but I loved his energy and commitment to the choreo. He currently sits in 3rd place, and still in a good position to fight for the podium/title. Good luck, Sota!

 

[surimi]

I was at the morning FS practice today, and Sota did some jumps really well, others with mistakes, so nothing special there. I managed to get his and Hongo sensei's autographs in my new Japanese notebook, but didn't ask for a photo because he seemed in a hurry. So that there's no misunderatanding like the year before last: I had expressly asked him the day before, in Japanese, if there would be an opportunity to take a photo and get an autograph after the morning practice finishes, and he said yes.
He seemed nervous in the practice though; I hope his coach can calm him down. He went for the 4F once or twice, but didn't succeed. I hope he doesn't try it in competition. The podium is much more valuable IMHO. May he step on it today.

 

[surimi]

Like my companion said during the grand finale of Sota's program: 'Kingly music fit for a king'. That's seconded. Sota's our skating king.
The eagles and drama hands and expression and everything was so splendid. His glide is divine, as far as I am concerned. He emoted towards the non-judge side as well!
I attended the press conference along with other fans. He said he was sorry about the pop yesterday, and spoke about the 4F attempts and the Lori FS. We congratulated him as he passed.
Congrats again!

 

[KiraraChin]

Congratulations to Sota on his very well-deserved Nebelhorn Trophy victory

Here's Sota's phenomenal free skate for those who missed it:


I gotta say, I don't particularly vibe with the music But the programme is well constructed and he did a fantastic job with it. I'm super impressed by how pristine all his elements look, and that mental game! Can he rub some of that on Kazuki, please

What an amazing start of the season, I'm so happy for him and @surimi I'm so happy you got to see this live

Now, looking forward to the exhbition!