Sota Yamamoto

[surimi]

I'm sorry you had to cancel your trip @surimi but totally understandable. For me, Sota is a big at the moment, and the radio silence is not helping.

Is he healthy? Has he been able to train? God only knows - it could go either way. We know he's prepared to fight from the way he skated in the Cup of China SP, and if the injury is somewhat better, he might be able to do it IMO. But it's a long flight to Finland and we might have a re-run of Trialet Trophy... That's why I don't count him out, but at the same time I totally understand and feel the anxiety. Sorry I know this doesn't help

I know you mean to encourage Sota fans and have faith in Sota's abilities, don't worry. But it cannot be denied a lot is at stake for him, and at this stage, the OG seems like a pipe dream unfortunately. Three competitions have rolled by, and the best overall score he has got is his 4th place from Kinoshita Trophy. There's just Finlandia remaining at this point to improve his overall SB from 233.
Due to his injury, he has neither the results nor the SB to show the 'body of work' JSF wants to see in their Olympic team decision making. We know what his Nationals usually looks like; he's at his most nervous there, and the Olympic year won't be much different, I suspect. He doesn't have a reputation of being a consistent or reliable skater, especially at big competitions.
It just doesn't look good at all for him, hence nothing short of a miracle would be needed at Finlandia, and even Kao's chances to be selected are much higher - and he has big medals, reputation and youth on his side.
Sota knows all this, as do his fans. He does the best he currently can, but he can only do so much so as to avoid aggravating his injury, and I don't know if he can revamp his long-term mindset yet re. Nationals and big competitions, the way Amber has done.
Furthermore, the two competitions that await Sota now are two that will more or less determine what's going to happen to Sota next season. Remember Sena Miyake? He skated very well at Nationals 2021. He got 4CC 2022 as reward, and his 4th place finish earned him two GP the following season. Well, he got ill/injured at an inopportune time: he WD halfway through his second GP, and only completed the first one, with a not-so-great result (8th, so barely enough to get WS points). He got a senior B after that, which was surprisingly generous of JSF considering he ended up 12th. He didn't medal at his spring senior B. Since then, he's been competing domestically (ETA: except for the recent Challenge Cup in response to his 6th place finish at Nationals 2024).
I'd hate for that scenario to happen to Sota. But if Finlandia and Nationals don't go well for him, I'm not at all sure he'll be eligible for even one GP next year. That is my fear: that, forget the Olympics, his international career is at stake here.

***

The only info I know re. Sota and Finlandia is that he will likely be travelling first class, so his back should not be subjected to having to sit straight for hours. But he'd said he'd fly first class to Trialeti, and it didn't help. I can only hope the time off has helped him mostly heal in the meantime.
He has given no updates, other than a merch notification on his Twitter two days ago.
I'm just keeping my fingers crossed for him, but I'm an anxious mess right now.

 

[KiraraChin]

Sota's injury is very unfortunate for sure, both in terms of the nature of the injury and the timing

I do agree that securing the Olympic qualification is going to be very hard, basically he needs to be stellar both in Finland and at Nationals, and that's something incredibly difficult to do in regular circumstances, let alone coming out of injury.

However, when it comes to international career, I'm not as pessimistic. He's currently 18th in the world standings, I think if he could get some points in Finland and do well enough at Nationals to secure a spring challenger, he can still be close enough to the top 24 to get GP assignments for next season. Yes, that's a big IF, but not out of the realms of the possibility, even with injury.

Furthermore, for me the comparison with Sena doesn't quite work because objectively speaking Sota is a better skater than Sena (sorry, Sena!), so even if he starts off the season without international assignments, he is totally capable of having a Yuna Aoki-style late career revival.

HOWEVER, all this depends on health, so... It's extremely anxiety-inducing. At least he seems fully committed to treatment and recovery, so that's a start

 

[surimi]

@rRainbow , ^ it was the Cloudflare issue, wasn't it? I couln't access GS for a few hours today, but it's working now, fortunately.

So, Sota is in Finland, and here is the photo gallery of Team Japan at the Helsinki airport (sans Yuma, who might have taken a different flight):

フィギュアGPフィンランド大会　千葉百音らが現地入り ［写真特集1/10］ | 毎日新聞

フィンランドのヘルシンキ国際空港に到着した山本草太（右端）ら選手たち＝フィンランド・バンターで2025年11月18日午後3時45分、吉田航太撮影

mainichi.jp

There's also a Sota-centric Mainichi article:

フィギュア山本草太　もがきながらも前へ　中国で見えた強さと誇り | 毎日新聞

フィギュアスケートのグランプリ（GP）シリーズ第6戦フィンランド大会に、山本草太選手（MIXI）が出場する。第2戦中国杯は腰のけがの影響で思うような演技ができず、9位に終わった。大会を通じて、もがき続けていた山本選手。苦闘の中で、アスリートとしての強さと矜持（きょうじ）を見た気がした。

mainichi.jp

What isn't geoblocked focuses on GP China, unfortunately. So, for those who kind of forgot what China aftermath was like for him (I rather wish Sota could forget ASAP), here's a machine-translated recap from the new article.

Figure skater Sota Yamamoto struggles but moves forward: strength and pride seen in China​

Sota Yamamoto (MIXI) will be competing in the sixth Grand Prix (GP) series in Finland. At the second event, the Cup of China, he was unable to perform as well as he wanted due to a back injury, finishing in ninth place. Yamamoto struggled throughout the tournament. Amid his struggles, I felt he displayed his strength and pride as an athlete.

"I don't want to be in public..."

The morning after the free skate at the Cup of China, an interview was scheduled to follow the Japanese athletes the next day behind the scenes of their exhibition practice.

The people involved kept in contact with the athletes, and at the start of the interview they would tell us things like, "Athlete X will probably arrive around X o'clock," but there was one athlete who we had difficulty getting in touch with: Yamamoto.

It's only been a day, and he probably hasn't sorted out his feelings yet. In that situation, it would be difficult for him to speak her mind to a reporter, rather than to him close skating friends or people involved. Just as I was thinking, "There probably won't be any interviews after the day has passed...", Yamamoto appeared at the venue after the interviews with several other skaters had finished.

His expression was bright, but I couldn't see what was going on inside his heart. As a reporter, I wondered how much I should dig into. I asked him about his current state of mind with some trepidation, and Yamamoto began to speak.

"I was told today (in the morning) that there would be a rehearsal, but when I woke up I was in despair, it felt like I'd had a nightmare. I spent the whole morning in bed thinking, 'I hope this is just a dream.' To be honest, I didn't want to appear in front of people, and I thought this was what it meant to [want to] 'crawl into a hole,' but I think it was a performance that was meant to happen. I really hadn't had much practice, so I just let it go and thought, 'That was terrible, do your best next time,' and I hope everyone can laugh at it."

His sincere response eased the reporter's anxiety, but at the same time, his frank words seemed to be a self-reflection.

Two days of continuous attacks
[*hard to tell what they mean without seeing the rest - either Sota tackling the programs, or perhaps a two-day intense practice before CoC, but the former is IMO more likely]

Due to a back injury sustained in September, she withdrew from the Challenger Series (CS) Trialeti Cup, which took place just before the Cup of China. Even after that, he was not able to practice enough, and until the Cup of China, he was not able to practice all the elements in both her short program and free program.

The pain had subsided somewhat at the Cup of China, but he was still worried about when and what movement might cause it to worsen, so he was not able to skate at full speed during the tournament.

Coach Yuko Hongo, who accompanied the team, also observed the situation calmly.

[the rest is paid, and the blue highlight is just mine since I consider that part important]

*****

Thursday is the first day of practice, but I hope we get some news earlier than that I hope Sota rests well, and wishing him firm health in Finland!

 

[rRainbow]

he will likely be travelling first class, so his back should not be subjected to having to sit straight for hours.

For some reason, my previous post disappeared. I saw the preview before posting, and it looked okay. Anyway, here's the text that vanished previously. Hopefully, it will work this time.

For what it's worth, Sota said he was planning to fly business class. I checked flights between Nagoya and Helsinki, and the only nonstop option is with Finnair, which does not offer first class. This route's aircraft has business, premium economy, and economy sections. The business class has lay-flat beds. The flight time is about 13 hours one way. Regarding LINE, foreigners can create a new account. Here's how:

LINE Help Center

Official LINE Help: Support for app issues, including details on account transfers, notifications, settings, and how to contact us.

help.line.me

 

[DizzyFrenchie]

For some reason, my previous post disappeared. I saw the preview before posting, and it looked okay. Anyway, here's the text that vanished previously. Hopefully, it will work this time.

For what it's worth, Sota said he was planning to fly business class. I checked flights between Nagoya and Helsinki, and the only nonstop option is with Finnair, which does not offer first class. This route's aircraft has business, premium economy, and economy sections. The business class has lay-flat beds. The flight time is about 13 hours one way. Regarding LINE, foreigners can create a new account. Here's how:

LINE Help Center

Official LINE Help: Support for app issues, including details on account transfers, notifications, settings, and how to contact us.

help.line.me

Regarding Finnair Business Class, days before 2021 World Championships a strong earthquake hit the North of Japan and trains were blocked. ANA rescheduled Yuzuru Hanyu's travel plan with Finnair, and the overall appreciation of their Business Class which I read, was positive. A number of airlines still have a few planes with those angled flat Business Class beds, where passengers can't sleep, and these same planes don't even have Premium Economy seats where most passengers can sleep a bit; but it's becoming a rarity, in spite of the new plane delivery delays in the latest year, and I'm sure that Finnair have real flat seat-beds. With such seats, particularly for people who aren't very tall or big, the added value of First Class appears lower than the added price, which is why most companies don't have a First Class anymore, or have it only on some flights to some destinations. At the airport, Business Class passengers also have a fast track to check in, and access to a lounge. There again, the added value of a First Class lounge (if there's any) may not seem worth the price to most passengers, in comparison with Business Class services.
I'm sure that he'll be fine.

 

[KiraraChin]

Glad to know Sota is in Finland! Looking forward to some practice updates, hopefully we will have some good news

 

[surimi]

The Japanese skaters made their way to the arena today, and the photo collection features Sota in several pictures:

フィギュアGPフィンランド大会　日本勢が現地調整 ［写真特集5/20］ | 毎日新聞

調整を終え、バナナを食べる山本草太＝フィンランド・ヘルシンキで2025年11月19日午後0時18分、吉田航太撮影

mainichi.jp

Hopefully Sota has a good practice tomorrow. There are bound to be reports because multiple fans will be cheering for him there.

Just briefly returning to the previous discussion with me moaning about Sota's chances this/next season:

However, when it comes to international career, I'm not as pessimistic. He's currently 18th in the world standings, I think if he could get some points in Finland and do well enough at Nationals to secure a spring challenger, he can still be close enough to the top 24 to get GP assignments for next season. Yes, that's a big IF, but not out of the realms of the possibility, even with injury.

It really depends on what is going to be in the WS when next season's GP list is being put together. Two things are for certain - last season's scores become 70%, and 2023/4 season scores disappear, all of which got Sota where he is in WS right now. The placements can change dramatically, so unless he secures a major event, I wouldn't say he's out of the woods. Some skaters will drop out of the WS due to retirements, but if Russians are admitted back, they'll take up some spots.
Winning a spring event can get Sota 250 points max IIRC, and remember, no SB because the senior B's don't count for SB and there are no spring Challengers. Finlandia could be his last chance at a new SB, hence me freaking out.

Furthermore, for me the comparison with Sena doesn't quite work because objectively speaking Sota is a better skater than Sena (sorry, Sena!), so even if he starts off the season without international assignments, he is totally capable of having a Yuna Aoki-style late career revival.

While it's true that Sena is not a skater of Sota's caliber, he is 2 years Sota's junior, and he was 21 when his bigger assignments stopped. And we know how youth is preferred by JSF... However, I cannot claim to be some sort of oracle that knows why exactly Sena stopped getting GP. Perhaps he peaks later in the season, and underperforms in the summer when the NHK host spot competition is held. Or perhaps he's not interested anymore, and doesn't participate in the summer skate-off; we'll probably never know since it all takes place behind closed doors.

 

[surimi]

The first Sota practice reports are here. This one fills me with hope that maybe his back is slowly healing (the 美 kanji means 'beautiful'):


Edit, there's also this, which doesn't make me super happy. I hope Sota can compete in Finland without breathing difficulties; the spine issues were/are quite enough, don't you think, skating gods?

山本草太「おはらい行った方がいいのかな」　ＧＰフィンランディア杯公式練習 - フィギュアスケート専門情報サイトDeep Edge Plus　最新ニュース・充実のコラムをお届け

【ヘルシンキ共同】フィギュアスケートのグランプリ（ＧＰ）シリーズ最終第６戦、フィンランディア杯は２１日にヘルシンキで開幕する。２０日は公式練習が始まり、日本勢が調整。ミラノ・コルティナ冬季五輪の代表選考で重要な位置付け […]

deepedgeplus.kyodonews.jp

'Yamamoto Sota (MIXI) reportedly experienced asthma-like symptoms a few days before leaving Japan. After skating to music in his free program, he looked a little distressed and said with a wry smile, "This season started with a back injury, so maybe I should go for a healing treatment."'

And an important paragraph from Sponichi:
He landed a quadruple toe loop and a salchow, and said he "doesn't feel any pain" in his lower back. He expressed his determination to "do what I can now to step up" in the Olympic trials and All Japan Championships in December.

...

 

[rRainbow]

Here's an article about Sota at Finlandia on YouTube. It's photos and narration only. There is no video footage..

The sixth and final event of the Grand Prix of Figure Skating, the Finland Cup, will begin on November 21, 2025, at the Helsinki Ice Hall. This competition marks the finale of the GP Series this season, bringing together top skaters from around the world for intense competition. With a significant impact on selection for the upcoming Milan-Cortina Olympics, which are scheduled for February of next year, the skaters are more determined than ever. Representing Japan is 25-year-old Sota Yamamoto of MIXI. Ahead of the opening, he practiced at the competition venue on November 20. Despite his frustration over his ninth-place finish at the Cup of China, Yamamoto has trained diligently while managing a lower back injury. For this competition in Finland, he has been preparing by reliably landing his 4T and 3A jumps in his free skate run-throughs. Yamamoto expressed his strong determination for the competition, stating that he wants to give it his all and do everything he can right now.

Yamamoto reflects on the China Cup, where a back injury prevented him from performing to his satisfaction, resulting in an unsatisfactory outcome. He admits that it was a frustrating performance. Yet, despite the lingering pain and anxiety, he continued to train. Managing his physical condition was difficult, and before leaving Japan, he had unfortunate experiences such as asthma-like symptoms. Faced with these challenges, he joked, "Maybe I should get a purification ritual." Despite this, Yamamoto remained positive, saying that he pushed himself hard in practice and managed to practice as he wanted. He emphasized that, compared to the Cup of China, he is approaching this competition with sufficient preparation.

The competition in Finland is not just another event; it's also a crucial step toward the All Japan Championships, which will take place from December 19-21 at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo. The Olympic team will be selected at this event. Yamamoto stated his goal clearly: to focus not just on the competition in Finland, but also on the All Japan Championships, keeping in mind what he can accomplish each day. The competition in Finland takes place at the Helsinki Ice Hall, a world-class sporting venue. Many skaters gain confidence through their performances here while preparing for the Olympics and World Championships. For Yamamoto, the Helsinki Ice Hall is an excellent stage on which to test his skills and mental fortitude. Furthermore, this final Grand Prix Series event marks the culmination of the mid-to-late season for many skaters. It is essential for skaters to overcome accumulated fatigue and fluctuations in form from previous competitions in order to deliver their best performances, making each skater's condition management and mental strength key factors in the outcome.

Through this competition, Yamamoto aims to overcome his technical challenges and improve his expressiveness. He is focused on increasing the success rate of his quadruple jumps, as well as on the overall flow of his program and the details of his performance. His skating exudes fluidity and suppleness, qualities he strives daily to maximize. Despite facing adversity such as a lower back injury and poor physical condition, Yamamoto remains steadfastly focused on moving forward and overcoming these challenges. His performance at the competition in Finland is a testament to his personal growth and has significant implications for Japanese figure skating. The upcoming competition schedule is packed, making mental and physical health even more crucial for skaters. Yamamoto continues to prepare while monitoring his condition, demonstrating his commitment to doing his best to secure a spot on the Olympic team. This competition in Finland is drawing significant attention from fans and stakeholders alike. Reports from the venue and live broadcasts are expected to showcase the skaters' performances widely. Yamamoto and the other Japanese representatives are expected to inspire many with their efforts, bringing excitement and courage to viewers.

Approximately one month later, the All Japan Championships, the pinnacle of domestic competition, will be held in Tokyo. As the battle for Olympic selection intensifies, Yamamoto plans to use this final Grand Prix Series event as a stepping stone to reach even greater heights. The figure skating season has only just begun, with many more competitions scheduled. Yamamoto and his fellow skaters are committed to maintaining a balanced rhythm of training and rest to ensure they are in peak condition for the next stage. Thus, the competition in Finland serves as a final test of each skater's technical skill, mental fortitude, and dedication. Yamamoto's challenge will be a great source of encouragement for many, and his growth story will surely be recounted within the figure skating community for years to come.

 

[KiraraChin]

As a fellow asthmatic, I feel sorry for Sota... It must be so hard to be an athlete with asthma, because the condition is often triggered by exercise not to mention anxiety and variations in weather/humidity/pollen count Hope it's just a phase for him and not a chronic condition.

Wishing him the best at Finlandia! It's great to know he manage to have enough practice this time.

 

[surimi]

Yup, let's wish Sota success together He's been through a lot already.
I have a feeling that 'I pushed myself to the limits in practice and managed to practice the way I wanted' (paraphrasing) and 'I had asthma-like symptoms' are likely related. It's not at all hard to imagine that Sota was so crushed by his placement in China that he's been practising more than he usually does. And after having had medical limits for weeks on the amount of practice, I can imagine his body didn't like the sudden change too much, and let him know he's overtraining. Just my speculation.

Asahi TV interview with Sota before the SP start this afternoon:

He's comparing the practice ice today (main rink I guess), yesterday and the day before yesterday (practice rink*), and saying he's practised both at a very cold rink with hard ice, and a warmer rink with softer ice, and prefers the current, warmer rink with softer ice as it's easier to skate on. He couldn't accummulate enough training due to his injury, but after Cup of China, he gradually could train to his satisfaction (basically what Rainbow translated above), and will approach this competition with all he has. I didn't catch the last part about the SP- he'll approach the elements one by one... or something along those lines.
* - or perhaps the same rink, which just wasn't as heated yesterday since there was just practice and no competitions. The practice photos from yesterday definitely show the main rink.

Sota skates second in the second group, after Deniss. I think it's a very convenient starting spot. Some strong skaters like Gogolev will have skated already, but the big stars with big PCS like Jason or Matteo will skate after Sota, which is good.

Good luck today, Sota!

Sota's mighty eagle from the morning practice:

Does this look like a guy who's almost 26 to you? Not to me. He looks and skates so youthful, and I'm hoping to see him around as long as his health allows him to.

 

[surimi]

Okay, after the SP, Sota is 7th, with 81.09. Good thing he landed the 4T3T combo, and now I hope he can somehow increase his 4S and 3A success rate. These jumps have been haunting him for a long time, but unfortunately, at least the 3A, Sota's nemesis, is an absolute necessity. One can skate on elite level with just one quad, and even win competitions - if one gets good GoE and PCS for everything else- but not without the axels.
Good luck then in the FS to Sota! Compared to China, this is definitely an improvement, and as a fan, if his health keeps improving, it's also a good development. But for him as a recent Olympic hopeful, the 3a success rate will need to improve. I hope Sota can do it! Go, Sota!

*********

From Nikkan, autotranslated:

Sota Yamamoto (25, MIXI), who placed 9th at the Cup of China in the second competition, started in 7th place with 81.09 points. Although he successfully completed the opening quadruple-triple toe loop combination, the planned quadruple salchow became a triple. He also had a rough landing on his triple axel (3 1/2 rotations), which hindered his score, and he reflected, "It was a frustrating performance."

Yamamoto developed back pain in September. Despite being restricted in his training, he has been pushing himself to the limit with the ultimate goal of competing in the Milan-Cortina Olympics in February of next year, but on this day he was not able to perform to his satisfaction. "If I make a mistake on the Axel, I'll tell myself that I shouldn't be aiming for anything," he said sternly, before changing his mindset and saying, "First of all, I want to make sure I address the issues I felt today in the free skate and give it my all."

********
(you know, I wouldn't be surprised at all if I read eventually that Sota mostly practiced the FS to make sure he has enough stamina throughout, and practised the SP less. We'll see)

 

[surimi]

From Deep Edge (almost all of it is geoblocked but at least it comes with a KnC picture):

山本草太、オリンピックに向けて本気で戦うんだ　今日の演技をしているようじゃ、言える立場ではない【GP第6戦フィンランディア杯男子SP】 - フィギュアスケート専門情報サイトDeep Edge Plus　最新ニュース・充実のコラムをお届け

【ヘルシンキ共同】フィギュアスケートのグランプリ（GP）シリーズ最終第6戦、フィンランディア杯第1日は21日、ヘルシンキで行われ、男子ショートプログラム（SP）で山本草太（MIXI）は81･09点で7位と出遅れた。 　 […]

deepedgeplus.kyodonews.jp

Sota Yamamoto is serious about competing for the Olympics. He's in no position to say that with the way he performed today.​

The first day of the Finlandia Trophy, the sixth and final event of the figure skating Grand Prix (GP) series, took place in Helsinki on the 21st, and in the men's short program (SP) , Sota Yamamoto (MIXI) got off to a slow start with 81.09 points, placing him in 7th place.

Details of Yamamoto's performance and full comments are below.

- Based on the score, what were your thoughts on the SP?
- I really think I was on track. But I feel like it was a disappointing performance. This season, I haven't been able to get the level right with my spins and steps. Even when I made a mistake, I didn't lose focus. My goal was to give it my all until the end with my spins and steps. This time, I was able to get level 4 for all of my spins for the first time in a while, so I think that shows what I've been working on.

[that's all that's visible of the interview]

**********

Well done on getting levels 4 for spins!
About the headline: I believe this is a paraphrase of Sota's own quote (I saw a similar one elsewhere yesterday), not the journalist's opinion.
As much as it makes me sad, I concur. It's futile to seriously consider fighting for an Olympic spot when this season's results look the way they do now. He was injured in the previous competitions, but unless we read about a lack of preparation for the SP, this SP is just another case of Sota headcasing. That's not exactly the kind of skating JSF will want to see at the Olympics or world championships. I hope Sota manages to sort out his head for the FS, or he can wave a new SB bye this season (unless he has a much much better Nationals).
I only have one heart and one set of nerves, so I will not be watching the FS live. Someone please nudge me when it's over.
ETA, men's FS starts in 30 minutes. Go, Sota, fight!

 

[KiraraChin]

Well, well, well, I was right in not counting Sota out He did a great job in the FS all things considered, securing 6th place and those coveted WS points! He is now 17th in the world standings, and hopefully more confident now going into Nationals. Great job, Sota

 

[surimi]

I cannot comment on his FS at the moment as I haven't seen the full segment yet, having been quite busy all day today. It's definitely an upgrade from the SP, and considering he's had difficulties with breathing and his back is still not fully back in shape, it was a good job. Like you said, @KiraraChin , he considers the FS a confidence booster before Nationals. The whole situation sort of reminds me of Kokutai 2021 when the fairly successful FS became a catalyst after which Sota's results rebounded over the summer. The next competition here is Nationals though, which is not exactly Sota's lucky competition, so, well, fingers crossed for the best result possible.

Good to see lv4 for spins, and a solid 4T3T combo, and good call on removing the 4S temporarily. He also improved his SB by a few points. Sota was sufficiently low after the SP so we didn't have to witness any sh*tty PCS in 6-somethings, though there were 7's for him and Sadovsky in SS among other categories, which is ridiculous in both cases.
Those axels need work though. I hope coach Tanaka drills them with Sota, within reasonable limits. I am now seeing some proclamations of 'I'll work twice as hard as others before nationals' in interviews, but please don't. The back and the ankle don't deserve it, and one grave injury was enough.

About Sota being back in the game (meaning OG), I'm not so sure about that. Body of work gives a clear edge to Kao and Kazuki (no grudge there, to be clear), so although miracles are always possible, I can rather see Sota and Tatsuya duking it out for 4CC, or at best, WC. I'd love nothing more than for Sota to be on the Olympic team, which is his huge dream, but realistically, unless he wins Nationals or maybe places second, I don't see that happening. Even his and Tatsuya's standings this season are in Tatsuya's favor due to the unfortunate injury - Tatsuya got points from both of his Challengers, and has more points from the GP - 7th and 8th vs Sota's 6th and 9th, the average of which is the same, but, there are no points at all for 9th place; so two full missing competitions on Sota's part, which might play a role once the 2023/4 results get wiped clean in June. Compared to Tatsuya and Sena, Sota is definitely the bigger star with higher potential, but who knows what JSF will do and who they'll push. So no, I'm not currently rejoicing about anything but Sota's hopefully improving health. If Sota is back on track health-wise and skates very well at Nationals, by which I mean a 250+ score, he could have a chance at 4CC at least... if Nakata is still in juniors.

I'll post some articles tomorrow, just this one today (autotranslated, underline mine):

【山本草太の言葉】「全ての行動を全日本で正解に」ミラノへは「自分が必ず行くんだ」 - フィギュア : 日刊スポーツ・プレミアム

【ヘルシンキ＝松本航】第2戦中国杯9位の山本草太（25＝MIXI）は、今季GP2戦目を6位で終えました。9月に発症した腰痛と付き合いながらの日々にもどかしさを覚えつつも、照準を合わせてきた全日本選手権（12月18～21日、東京・代々木第一体育館）へ着実にステップアップしてきました。来年2月のミラノ・コルティナ五輪に懸ける思いがあふれた現地取材メディア限定の一夜明け取材の様子を、フリー後のインタビューと合わせて「山本草太の言葉」としてお届けします。 - 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

[Yamamoto Sota's words] "I will make every move I make right in All Japan" and "I will definitely go to Milan"​

Sota Yamamoto (25, MIXI), who placed 9th in the second round of the Cup of China, finished 6th in his second Grand Prix of the season. Despite feeling frustrated by the back pain he developed in September, he has steadily progressed towards his goal of competing in the All Japan Championships (December 18-21, Yoyogi National Gymnasium, Tokyo).

We will be presenting the results of an exclusive interview with local media the day after the race, in which Yamamoto shared his thoughts about the Milan-Cortina Olympics in February next year, along with an interview after the free skate, in "Yamamoto Sota's Words."

Response after the first day of the 23rd​

- In the interview the day after the Cup of China, you said that you felt like you didn't want to appear in front of people. How did you feel waking up this morning?

That's right. It's far from what I was aiming for, but I was able to clearly see what I had practiced and what wasn't so good in practice, and what I had gained confidence in, and I felt like I was able to bring that out exactly in the competition. It's not really a check on the answers, but in a sense, even though it wasn't exactly the performance I was aiming for, I felt like I was able to perform exactly what I had practiced, so today was better than the Cup of China. At the Cup of China, I wasn't able to accumulate as much practice, so of course, my performance turned out that way, and I did feel like I couldn't really perform in front of people. But today, I made some mistakes, and there were definitely performances that I was aiming for, but I think it was a good step up for me heading into the All Japan Championships.

[everything else is paywalled]
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Okay, so this one isn't super informative, but the headline caught my eye, and I brought it to class today: 'I will definitely go to Milan' sounded somewhat preposterous to me, and I don't know about others' experience, but I never see athletes speaking with such certainty where I'm from. However, sensei clarified to me that this kind of talk is normal for Japanese athletes, as a means of encouraging oneself. Sharing just in case anyone sees the headline and is wondering what made Sota say that, just like I did.

 

[KiraraChin]

@surimi I agree with your analysis, although to quote Matteo Rizzo: 'in Men skating, everything is possible'

But yes, Sota will need to have a really good Nationals in order to make his case for the Olympic team, and when I read that he said he feels he's fallen behind compared to his rivals so he will need to practice 4 or 5 times as much... That got me worried, because although the injury seems to be getting better, I don't think he's out of the woods yet

As for 4CC, that's a realistic expectation especially considering Rio Nakata is not age-eligible to compete in seniors this season, so even if he medals he won't have any senior assignments.

 

[surimi]

^ He needs not to lose his focus in terms of keeping his body injury-free. Yes, he needs to have enough stamina for 2-3 quads and both axels (I think we can wave bye to the 4F for the rest of the season, fortunately). I think he'll want the 3-quad layout if possible to maximize his difficulty.
But it's not just his back that needs extra caution, it's his ankle as well. IIRC, he mentioned in one of his Unlims or interviews that his doctors warned him his ankle is at risk of another fracture =_= Overtraining could be devastating, and I hope Sota doesn't risk literally years of his remaining career to rush the OG preparation.

Another article about Finlandia (this one contains the FS protocol if anyone's interested):

山本草太、座り込んで動けず「体力はちょっと大変で、やれることはやり切ったかなと、ほっとした」【GP第6戦フィンランディア杯男子フリー】 - フィギュアスケート専門情報サイトDeep Edge Plus　最新ニュース・充実のコラムをお届け

【ヘルシンキ共同】フィギュアスケートのグランプリ（GP）シリーズ最終第6戦、フィンランディア杯最終日は22日、ヘルシンキで行われ、男子でショートプログラム（SP）7位の山本草太（MIXI）はフリー5位となり、合計238 […]

deepedgeplus.kyodonews.jp

Sota Yamamoto sits down and is unable to move. "It's a bit tough on my stamina, but I'm relieved that I've done everything I could."​

The final day of the Finlandia Trophy, the sixth and final event of the figure skating Grand Prix (GP) series, took place in Helsinki on the 22nd. Sota Yamamoto (MIXI), who placed 7th in the men's short program (SP), placed 5th in the free program, finishing in 6th place with a total score of 238.45 points.

Details of Yamamoto's performance and full comments are as follows:

- (Yamamoto coughs) Are you OK?

"Thank you."

- After your performance, you sat down for a bit.
"That's right. (Coughing) I'm sorry. Well, it's been a really difficult start to the season, even before I came here. This second competition has been another difficult situation. It's been really difficult to stay calm and build up my skills day by day. This tournament was also difficult, but I think my free program really gave me some hope. I've cut back on my jump composition, so I've done it within the limits of what I can do now."

[end of free content]

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The word used for the coughing in this article refers to a coughing fit, so it sounds like he's got lingering asthma-like symptoms. I hope it gets better for him. AFAIK, he'd never mentioned it before, so either he trains too much (as rinks are known to cause and worsen respiratory issues), or he's developing this condition (I hope not). One more reason I don't want him to overtrain...

 

[surimi]

More sotos (Sota photos) from Finlandia:


I hear that Mark, who was doing the ISU stream commentary (I haven't seen that one yet, just the one from our national TV), was amazed to see so many banners, and said he'd like to see Sota at the Olympics Thank you, Mark. Well, count me in for the 'get Sota to the OG' campaign! Anyhow, the number of banners is really astonishing considering Sota is not a megastar of Shoma's or Yuzuru's caliber. It makes me happy to see him so loved.

Sota and his interesting pose with his banner/towel for the press:


Now sharing @rRainbow 's expert translation of this free Mainichi segment , posted with her permission. Thank you!

I really wanted to try an authentic sauna, but...

Q: You mentioned feeling reluctant to attend interviews the day after the China Cup. How did you feel when you woke up this morning?
S: Well, my performances were far from what I was aiming for. However, I felt that I could clearly show in the competition what I hadn't been doing well in practice and what I had been building my confidence on. It's not exactly like checking answers or anything, but in that sense, even though it's definitely not the performance I was aiming for, I did feel that today, compared to the China Cup, I was able to deliver better what I'd been practicing.
At the Cup of China, I hadn't been able to practice enough, so it ended up being that kind of performance—it couldn't be helped, but I really felt like I couldn't show my face in public. Today, there were mistakes, and I still have a performance to aim for, but first and foremost, I think this was a solid step up towards the All Japan Championships.

Q: Do you have any thoughts now about how you could have performed differently in the Grand Prix Finals qualifiers?
S: Honestly, with the Grand Prix, the All-Japan Championships, and the Olympics coming up, I'd been practicing really hard during the off-season. But then I got a back injury and couldn't show any of what I'd worked on during the Grand Prix series. It's extremely frustrating. I sometimes thought, "Why now?" I often get injured, so during this Grand Prix Series, there were moments when I thought, "Is this really my skating life?"
Still, I didn’t give up. I gave it my all, doing everything I could at the time. Of course, there were probably other ways to prepare, but competing in these two events was the right choice. It was precisely because I chose to fight in spite of this situation...

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I think Sota will be too busy in the end for both saunas and Unlim talk until Christmas. He's committed to practising extra hard for Nationals, and just like in November, he'll likely want to utilize every moment he has. I hope he doesn't aggravate any of his conditions.

 

[surimi]

I put some new content in the OP - two Chubu regionals videos (I'm really grateful to Me-Tere for providing them for free, and without geoblocks - they're the only ones this season so far -_- ), a video interview from before this season, and lastly, this video of Sota and Tatsuya having fun from before the pre-GP conference:


It's been a while since we saw Sota getting his spectacular look done by pros backstage The video above was shot before Sota got injured.

A nice photo from Finlandia of Sota after his SP high kick:


ETA, wow, I was wrong about no Unlim until Nationals! Sota is holding one on November 30. Considering how little time he has until Nationals, and how diligently he wants to train, that's a BIG sacrifice. I'd better send my support words ASAP... anyone else here who would like to send some words to Sota? I could perhaps attach it to my question/brief support message.

 

[KiraraChin]

ETA, wow, I was wrong about no Unlim until Nationals! Sota is holding one on November 30. Considering how little time he has until Nationals, and how diligently he wants to train, that's a BIG sacrifice. I'd better send my support words ASAP... anyone else here who would like to send some words to Sota? I could perhaps attach it to my question/brief support message.

If you can please tell him that many people are also supporting him from overseas I feel like Japanese skaters sometimes don't know how much they're loved worldwide, not only in Japan