Wakaba Higuchi | Golden Skate

Wakaba Higuchi

solar

I got cat class and I got cat style
Medalist
Joined
Feb 10, 2014
Country
United-States
Wakaba Higuchi (Japanese: 樋口新葉) is a Ladies Singles Slater who represents Japan. She was born January 2, 2001, in Tokyo, Japan.

Wakaba is 1.53 m (5 ft 0 in) tall and trains in Tokyo. She began skating in 2004 and is coached by
Koji Okajima and Noriko Sato.

She is the 2022 Winter Olympic bronze medalist in the Team Event, the 2024 Skate America champion, the 2019 Japanese National silver medalist the 2020 NHK Trophy silver medalist, and the 2021 IdF bronze medalist.

Biography
ISU Biography
Ice Network (archived June 2018) Biography
Wikipedia Page
JSF Biography (in Japanese)
Rinkresults
Tracings Page

Social Media
Twitter Account
Instagram Account (Private)
Instagram Account (Public)
Snapchat Username: wakabahiguchi


Personal Bests since 2018-19 season
http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs_pb_00014149.htm


Type
Score
Event
Personal Best Total Score207.46ISU Four Continents Championships 2020
Personal Best Score Short Program79.73ISU CS Cup of Austria by IceChallenge 2021
Personal Best Score Free Skating141.04ISU GP Internationaux de France 2021


Historical Personal Bests
Prior to Season 2018-19

TypeScoreCompetition
Personal Best Total Score217.63ISU CS Lombardia Trophy 2017
Personal Best Score Short Program74.26ISU CS Lombardia Trophy 2017
Personal Best Score Free Skating145.30ISU World Team Trophy 2017



Competitive Programs and Videos

2024-2024 Season
SP: Dune: Part Two soundtrack, by Hans Zimmer
FS:

2023-2024 Season
SP: Never Tear Us Apart by Bishop Briggs, Andrew Farriss, Michael Hutchence
FS: "Fix You" and "Paradise" by Coldplay

2022-2023 Season
SP: "Never Tear Us Apart" by INXS; choreo by Shae Lynn Bourne
FS: '"Talk to Her" (and another selection); choreo by Shae Lynn Bourne

2021-2022 Season
SP: "Your Song" by Ellie Goulding, Elton John
FS: "Spirit" (from "The Lion King") by Beyoncé; "Grasslands Chant" (from "The Lion King"); "Stampede" (from "The Lion King") by Hans Zimmer; "Remember" (from "The Lion King") by Hans Zimmer; choreo by Shae-Lynn Bourne

2021-22 Japanese Nationals
SP: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_rFu53ii19g
FS: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=c4L9SkGppEQ

2021 Internationaux de France
SP: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NbprrossKm4
FS: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4OlOOiKANyc

2021 Cup of Austria
SP: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Hp9ma-w0gho
FS: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4gvSlj3iBD4

2021 Skate Canada
SP: (partial) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jEs5ZcpF_jc
FS: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ds4FktOkvRk

2021 Japan Open
FS: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PT-Mu0nSfGc

2020-2021 Season
SO: "Bird Set Free" by Sia
FS: "Poeta" by Vicente Amigo; "Flamenco Passion & Soul" by Gino D'Auri; choreo by Shae-Lynn Bourne, Massimo Scali

2021 Japanese Winter Sports Festival
SP: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9pUouob4wN4
FS: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=76zfT-lasJk

2020 NHK Trophy
FS: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LHiEW8Y9Ruo


2019-20 Season
SP: "Bird Set Free" by Sia; choreo. by Shae-Lynn Bourne
FS: "Poeta En El Puerto" by Vicente Amigo; "Nada Puede Dormir" by Vicente Amigo; "Poeta En El Mar" by Vicente Amigo; "Poeta En El Viento" by Vicente Amigo; "Barrio San Miguel" by Gino D’Auri; choreo. by Massimo Scali
EX: "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going"by Tom Eyen, Henry Krieger, performed by Jennifer Hudson, choreo. by Jeffrey Buttle

2020 Four Continents
SP: no video found
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mm6GF9OzA9o
Gala: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shyBml5UV2A

2019 Japanese Championships
SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Glo6p8lHnM
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kv-DxKcRE0w

2019 Internationaux de France
SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tP6q4otdsQ
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwuZ-3C0vnQ
EX: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMIlyE34Vs0

2019 Skate America
SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQwFTpY_JlY
FS:

2019 Lombardia Trophy
SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQwFTpY_JlY
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxbyQ-v0gOQ

2018-19 Season
SP: "Energia" by Sofi Tukker; choreo. by Shae-Lynn Bourne
FS: "The Four Seasons" by Antonio Vivaldi; choreo. by Shae-Lynn Bourne
EX: "Hallelujah" performed by Pentatonix; choreo. by Risa Mochizuki

2019 Challenge Cup
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eva2nAhn-I
EX: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q49eNkGuoMQ

2018 Japanese Nationals
SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tAWBGJHr0M
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJj9x6nidyo

2018 Skate Canada
SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9i-QJiUo6CA
EX: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5NHrqYE0Sk

2018 Autumn Classic
SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6FI9J41xXc

2017-2018 Season
SP: "Gypsy Dance" (from Don Quixote) by Ludwig Minkus; choreo. by Massimo Scali
FS: "Skyfall" by Adele; choreo. by Shae-Lynn Bourne
EX: "Hallelujah," performed by Pentatonix

2018 World Championships
SP:
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9z487TH77AE

2017 Japanese National Championships
SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_ZNSzqwgg4
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPMjeYtLdqA

2017 Grand Prix Final
SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbLUyuJZhXQ
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xl8txwXxeQs
EX: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dj_d3xN8pRo

2017 Rostelecom Cup
SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B40eJnqJx8
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV0BBYTN8qg
EX: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaTzI5NvWDM

2017 Cup of China
SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Cvo4VZ4fXw
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zx9gAs1lgrQ
EX: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpHB0_EXtMk

2017 Lombardia Trophy
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpPPJLV-i7s

2016-2017 Season
SP: "La Cena" (La Califfa) by Ennio Morricone; choreo. by Shae-Lynn Bourne
FS: Scheherazade by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov; choreo. by Massimo Scali
EX: "Byakuyako" by Stin Kono; choreo. by Nanami Abe

2017 World Team Trophy
SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytzyFAcy7q4
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W90Hol1EbQg

2017 World Championships
SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyHjF-IM6r0
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qALlzoGOmX4

2016 Japanese National.Championships
SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UT_iV5axurc

2016 NHK Trophy
SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ft9Gwza8Rs
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U82z5_sZrIs

2016 Trophee de France
SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v71VJsjhGJY
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxYaEZrlnr8

2016 Japan Open
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4iK5TKlR34

2015-2016 Season
SP: "Mambo Fantasy" by Aldemaro Romero, choreo. by Noriko Sato, Nanami Abe
FS: "The Mask of Zorro" by James Horner, choreo. by Noriko Sato, Nanami Abe
EX: "You Can't Stop the Beat" (from Hairspray), All About That Bass performed by Meghan Trainor

2016 World Junior Championships
SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vf7IWm1Ihf0
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Uk5YtG2Vqc
EX: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_W7vBCUJlZA

2015 JGP Linz
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnGpPG4AhKM

2015 JGP Zagreb
SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jByfkkKVmlk
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFVDnlvLZig

2014-2015 Season
SP: "Beloved Czardas" by Vittorio Monti, choreo. by Noriko Sato, Nanami Abe
LP: "Piano Concerto in F" by George Gershwin, choreo. by Noriko Sato, Nanami Abe
EX: "Somewhere Only We Know" performed by Lily Allen

2015 World Junior Championships
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AZW-bO04L4

2014 JGPF
SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TenHRZ-Hu9I
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C40Gkyag06k

2014 JGP Dresden
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwiYwZzovZc

2014 JGP Ostrava
SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiG4-HdJSt8
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcJzQoFXZVI

2013-2014 Season
SP: "Beloved Czardas" by Vittorio Monti, choreo. by Noriko Sato, Nanami Abe
LP: Don Quixote by Ludwig Minkus, choreo. by Noriko Sato, Nanami Abe
EX: "Beloved Czardas" by Vittorio Monti, choreo. by Noriko Sato, Nanami Abe

2012-2013 Season
SP: "City Lights," "The Reel Chaplin: A Symphonic Adventure Part 2" by Charlie Chaplin, choreo. by Noriko Sato, Nanami Abe
LP: Don Quixote by Ludwig Minkus, choreo. by Noriko Sato, Nanami Abe

2013 Challenge Cup Novice
SP;: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNaA4G2qtZk
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81D3rqT6UAg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utrD8WRJPKs

2011-2012 Season

2012 Val Gardena Spring Trophy
SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_V0kiDriF0Y
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5IYwTLvSZQ

2012 Debs Challenge Cup
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5e4x7tcwP0s



Competitive History


COMPETITIONFINAL
2024-2025
2024 Grand Prix de France2
2024 Skate America1
2023-2024
2023 Japanese Nationals12
2023 NHK Trophy9
2023 Grand Prix de France5
2023 Tokyo Regional2
2022-2023
9 (150.20)
2021-2022
2022 World Championships11 (188.15)
2022 Winter Olympics (Individual Event)5 (214.44)
2022 Winter Olympics (Team Event)3 (team)
2021-22 Japanese Nationals2 (221.78)
2021 Internationaux de France3 (204.91)
2021 CS Cup of Austria3 (189.43)
2021 Skate Canada6 (205.27)
2021 Japan Open1 (136.27)
2020-2021
2020 Japanese Nationals7 (195.04)
2020 NHK Trophy2 (200.98)
2020 Eastern Sectionals1 (203.24)
2020 Japan Open2 (123.01)
2019-2020​
2020 Four Continents4 (207.46)
2019 Japanese Nationals2 (206.61)
2019 Internationaux de France6 (174.12)
2019 Skate America6 (181.32)
2019 CS Lombardia Trophy8 (164.37)
2018-2019​
2019 Challenge Cup3 (186.24)
2018 Japanese Nationals 5 (197.63)
2018 Skate Canada6 (181.29)
2018 Autumn Classic International2 (167.01)
2017-2018​
2018 World Championships2 (210.9)
2017 Japanese Nationals4 (206.96)
2017 Grand Prix Final6 (202.11)
2017 Cup of China2 (212.52)
2017 Rostelecom Cup3 (207.17)
2017 Lombardia Trophy2 (217.63)
2016-2017​
2017 World Team Trophy1 (team) (216.71)
2017 World Championships11 (188.05)
2016 Four Continents Championships9 (172.05)
2016 Japanese Nationals2 (199.49)
2016 NHK Trophy4 (185.39)
2016 Trophée de France3 (194.48)
2016 Japan Open1 (team)
2016 Lombardia Trophy1 (178.86)
2015-2016​
2016 World Junior Championships3 (183.73)
2015 Japanese National Championships2 (195.35)
2015 Japanese Junior National Championships1 (189.23)
2015 Junior Croatia Cup2 (175.06)
2015 Junior Cup of Austria5 (156.79)
2014-2015​
2015 World Junior Championships3 (185.27)
2015 Japanese National Championships3 (181.82)
2014 Junior Grand Prix Final3 (178.09)
2014 Japanese Junior National Championships1 (187.95)
2014 Junior Pokal der Blauen Schwerter1 (176.14)
2014 Junior Czech Skate2 (169.68)
2014 Asian Trophy1 (166.90)
2013-2014​
2014 International Challenge Cup1 (131.09)
2013 Japanese Junior National Championships8 (142.81)
2013 Asian Trophy1 (104.30)
2012-2013​
2013 International Challenge Cup1 (116.43)
2012 Japanese Junior National Championships7 (143.08)
2012 Asian Trophy2 (107.55)
2011-2012​
2012 Gardena Spring Trophy1 (109.07)




Original Post by solar on March 10, 2015

I think Wakaba's had a FANTASTIC Junior debut season, and I'm so excited to see where she develops in the future! Her speed across the ice and powerful jumps are simply outstanding, and I hope she goes for the 3A sometime in the future!
Also this is my first post in the forum after lurking for quite a while! :laugh: I'm glad I can start her fan-fest page!


 
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Meoima

Match Penalty
Joined
Feb 13, 2014
I like this girl's huge jumps and speed. I hope she will get better chorography next season.
 

yyyskate

Record Breaker
Joined
Aug 1, 2013
I am waiting for this thread for soooo long... thank you, I used to try to find Team Japan fan thread to post my appreciation of wakababy.:eek::
wakababy is very cute:yes:
 

yyyskate

Record Breaker
Joined
Aug 1, 2013
also, I have read across figure skating boards that, general perception of wakababy's performance is that it make people feels good. perhaps not the best choreo. but it make people feels good!
another thing is that, I started to detect some facial expression range of wakababy, her LP and ex, she makes some really dramatic faces in LP, but ex, it just really feels music face, nothing cheesy.
 

solar

I got cat class and I got cat style
Medalist
Joined
Feb 10, 2014
Country
United-States
I agree with the better choreography for next season. I think with this season, we've been able to know more about her skating style and what music choices/choreography would work for her. It would be cool if she skated to some really powerful or dramatic music! I think she could pull it off.
 

Interspectator

Record Breaker
Joined
Dec 25, 2012
I agree with the better choreography for next season. I think with this season, we've been able to know more about her skating style and what music choices/choreography would work for her. It would be cool if she skated to some really powerful or dramatic music! I think she could pull it off.

By the way, welcome to Golden Skate!
 

solar

I got cat class and I got cat style
Medalist
Joined
Feb 10, 2014
Country
United-States
Thank you! I've been lurking on the forums for about a year haha :) probably too intimidated to post anything until now!
 

Interspectator

Record Breaker
Joined
Dec 25, 2012
Thank you! I've been lurking on the forums for about a year haha :) probably too intimidated to post anything until now!

Post often and long! Don't worry, our bark is worse than our bite. :biggrin:
And back to Wakaba, I loved her reaction to her FS score in the kiss and cry.

Happy at the high score, and then, Oh NO! I'm not first. She's got a very transparent personality.
 

solar

I got cat class and I got cat style
Medalist
Joined
Feb 10, 2014
Country
United-States
Post often and long! Don't worry, our bark is worse than our bite. :biggrin:
And back to Wakaba, I loved her reaction to her FS score in the kiss and cry.

Happy at the high score, and then, Oh NO! I'm not first. She's got a very transparent personality.

Thank you! I'm excited to meet new people :)

And I completely agree! When she doesn't nail her programs you can see that she's visibly upset. I felt kind of bad for her when she saw her placement after the free skate.
 

matmuh

what are levels anyway
Record Breaker
Joined
May 2, 2014
thanks for starting the thread and welcome, great 1st post!! i like her a lot too, she is so daring when skating, she looks at you (judges) and dare them not to like her, she needs to control her emotions after she make mistakes during the program but at the same time that what makes her breath of fresh air, wishing good luck to her for next season ans hoping for better programs :cheer:
 

cohkaix

FS data keeper
Medalist
Joined
Mar 9, 2013
I wonder...who will be the most suitable choreographer to bring out Wakaba's artistic side?
 

YesWay

四年もかけて&#
Record Breaker
Joined
Sep 28, 2013
I'm not usually one to call myself a "fan" of someone so young, and with such a short career so far.
But Wakaba is pretty exceptional...

Her technical skating skills are spectacular by any standards, not just "for a junior" - especially her speed and attack, and huge jumps. She is already getting level 4's on her steps and spins. Her exhibition routine shows that she is also very capable of skating with grace and elegance too.

But it takes "something more" than just good skating to make me a fan. There are many skaters who I admire for their skill, yet they don't really interest me enough to be a "fan". And some who are frankly lacking in skill, yet they have what it takes to me make me a fan!

I think Wakaba has both the skating skills and that extra "something". It's hard to define what that something is, but part of it is her personality - she seems ambitious, determined, fiercely competitive, and quite self-confident (amazing for someone so young, and born into Japanese culture). She seems cheerful and outgoing, and I like what I've seen of her attitude. I also find her skating fun and enjoyable to watch, she makes me smile and laugh and go "wow".

It's way too early to predict how her career will go - but it looks very promising so far! Great results this year - Junior National champion... bronze medals at the Junior Grand Prix Final, Japan Nationals, and the Junior World Championships - and really, I think she deserved the silver at World's.

I saw her free skate at the GPF in Barcelona, you can see some of my photos --> HERE
She is a such a dynamo! Shame we didn't arrive in time for the junior short programs... :-/

I'm looking forward to seeing how she does next season - especially after reading this:
"I haven't been able to train any quads because I've had so many competitions, but I'm really working hard on the triple Axel. At the moment, I'm about a quarter of a rotation short." (source)

PS. Loved the banners for Wakaba at Worlds: "Super Sonic Girl" :-D
 
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Crossover

All Hail the Queen
Record Breaker
Joined
Oct 31, 2014
She has been certainly on my watch list since the JGPF in Barcelona. :cheer:
 

cohkaix

FS data keeper
Medalist
Joined
Mar 9, 2013
Tom Dickson?

Tom Dickson's program for Satoko this season is wonderful and I think it's one of the best programmes of the season. AFAIK, Coach Mie Hamada's students (including Satoko and Marin Honda) work with Tom Dickson regularly. But I'm less familiar with Wakaba's coach and if he has the connection.

Jeff Buttle as the choreographer will be interesting!
 

cohkaix

FS data keeper
Medalist
Joined
Mar 9, 2013
It is reported from twitter that Wakaba is attending a local/regional competition this weekend. It was rumored that she might be debuting her new SP, as in the entry list, her SP music number was not indicated. It is now reported by local audiences that her new SP is (possibly) to a mambo, latino style of music. She starts the program with Stsq, followed by 2 spins, and it seems all jump passes are arranged in the 2nd half of the program. The unofficial score is 61.77.

Adding: links to the news
http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20150404/fgr15040419490001-n1.html

From the news, it is confirmed that the number is indeed her new SP. It also says Wakaba is considering including 2 types of 3-3 jumping passes (out of 3Lz/3T/3L) in her FS, and possibly if she could, adding 3A to the free in the 2nd half of the new season.
 
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