Yuka Nagai

[DaPurpleDino]

Japanese figure skater Yuka Nagai (永井 優香 Nagai Yūka) was born on November 30, 1998, in Tokyo, Japan.

She is the 2015 Skate Canada International bronze medalist and 2016 Bavarian Open champion. She has finished in the top ten at two ISU Championships.

Her skating is lovely, and although she is prone to popping her jumps, when she lands them they are beautiful!

Biographical Information

ISU bio : http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00013843.htm

Icenetwork bio (archived June 2018): https://web.archive.org/web/20180630084025/http://web.icenetwork.com/skaters/profile/yuka_nagai

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuka_Nagai

Rinkresults: http://www.rinkresults.com/skater?skater_id=702

Tracings entry: http://tracings.net/naga-yuka.html

Updated 27 February 2020​

ISU Personal Bests under +/- 3 GOE Scoring
Nagai has not competed internationally under +/-5 GOE Scoring​

Personal Best Total Score	172.92​	Skate Canada 2015​
Personal Best Score Short Program	63.35​	Skate Canada 2015​
Personal Best Score Free Skating	111.15​	ISU Four Continents Championships 2015​

Programs and Videos​

2019-2020
SP: 河野 伸 白夜を行く "Go White Night" by Shin Kono
FS: "Adíos Nonino" (Tango Rapsodia) - orchestrated by Luis Enriques Bacalov

2019 Japanese Championships
SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7ej-JzaUsU
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtlrlwm-FX0

2018-2019
SP: Riverdance by Bill Whelan
FS: Cinderella Suite by Prokofiev

2018 Japanese Championships
SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ghEO8wbaSM
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwjzcqFsbY4

2017-2018
SP: "On My Own" from the Les Miserables soundtrack
FS: Phantom of the Opera

2017 Japanese Championships
SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SN8z9r5Hpc
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUUr_PYW4_o

2016-2017
SP: "Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra" from the Ladies in Lavender soundtrack by Nigel Hess
FS: "The Ludlows" from the Legends of the Fall soundtrack by James Horner

2016 Trophée de France
SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R36WU9LdXGU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMdSgoYZFo0
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5AL3tIkTSo

2016 Japanese Championships
SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nizAkduNLns
FS: no video found

2015-2016
SP: "Un bel di" from Madame Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini
SP1: Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3 In D Minor, Op. 30: III. Finale (choreographed by Kenji Miyamoto)
FS: August's Rhapsody in C Major (from the August Rush soundtrack) by Mark Mancina

Test Skate
SP: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBKCjOwQs_Y

2015 Ondrej Nepela Trophy
SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydz720RnCMA&ab_channel=WinterForever2009
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a6g9TRf_4I

2015 Skate Canada
SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3usN3f-l3Sk
https://youtu.be/NN-8nIKqYwA
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmBGuuXRq3k
EX: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWxtKVV8rzY

2015 Rostelecom Cup
SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfIj_C9J1ZU
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JS4BCbbs9Qs

2015 Japanese Nationals
SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nE-yeEZFas
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oX9Vp-Y6Zoc

2016 Bavarian Open
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbs8O1XcN90 (fancam)

2014-15
SP: East of Eden soundtrack by Lee Holdridge
FS: "Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso" by Camille Saint-Saëns

Junior Grand Prix in Aichi 2014:
SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7gaMFvBEb4&list=PLuB703eaMDlKwB8o3t043KE0Xu7IjhGza&index=6
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_F5Ybt2yw2c&ab_channel=ISUJuniorGrandPrix

Junior Grand Prix in Ljubljana 2014:
SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1iy-XpEz3k&ab_channel=ISUJuniorGrandPrix
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNwf-dQB5M0&ab_channel=ISUJuniorGrandPrix

Junior Grand Prix Final 2014:
SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96IqxuYkQI4&ab_channel=benasas292
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDp15_quuzU

Japanese Nationals 2014:
No video found

4CC 2015:
SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3uI4BJdQu8
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zy2SG2Kd9B8

Junior Worlds 2015:
SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiAxtg-oT2I
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aPORrJsei4

2013-14
SP: Violin concerto by Tchaikovsky
FS: "Violin Muse" by Ikuko Kawai, based on "Two Chaconnes" by Johann Sebastian Bach

Junior Grand Prix in Riga 2013:
SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSon1a8DrbU&ab_channel=ISUJuniorGrandPrix
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeQ-JwTa3b4&ab_channel=ISUJuniorGrandPrix

2012-13
SP: "Liebesträume" by Franz Liszt
FS: "Polovtsian Dances" from Prince Igor by Alexander Borodin

Junior Asian Figure Skating Trophy 2012
SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzYIOvoPtYc
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpDTyteXnWg

Junior Grand Prix in Austria 2012:
SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTCfTnIjWSs&ab_channel=ISUJuniorGrandPrix
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nr5vvq3zGU0&ab_channel=ISUJuniorGrandPrix

Competition History​

Competition	SP	FS	Total
2019-2020
Japan Championships 2019	8 (64.78)	12 (109.10)	9 (173.88)
Eastern Section Championships 2019	3 (51.62)	1 (110.81)	1 (162.43)
Tokyo Regional Championships 2019	1 (57.07)	1 (98.08)	1 (155.15)
2018-2019
Japan Championships 2018	24 (49.59)	24 (78.88)	24 (128.47)
Eastern Section Championships 2018	5 (47.31)	1 (99.50)	3 (146.81)
Tokyo Regional Championships 2018	5 (44.66)	3 (92.64)	4 (137.30)
2017-2018
Japan Championships 2017	20 (55.25)	24 (97.01)	22 (152.26)
Eastern Section Championships 2017	1 (58.55)	1 (102.84)	1 (161.39)
Tokyo Regional Championships 2017	2 (49.16)	3 (88.70)	2 (137.86)
2016-2017
Japan Championships 2016-17	19 (53.23)	24 (78.17)	24 (131.40)
Trophee de France 2016	12 (52.41)	9 (107.08)	10 (159.49)
Skate Canada 2016	11 (40.39)	7 (107.17)	11 (147.56)
Tokyo Regional Championships 2016	2 (51.87)	2 (95.27)	2 (147.14)
2015-2016
Bavarian Open 2016	1 (65.42)	1 (120.51)	1 (185.93)
Japan Championships 2015	7 (60.42)	6 (118.44)	7 (178.86)
Cup of Russia 2015	9 (53.19)	6 (106.43)	8 (159.62)
Skate Canada 2015	2 (63.35)	7 (109.57)	3 (172.92)
23rd Ondrej Nepela Trophy	6 (56.74)	5 (108.43)	6 (165.17)
Tokyo Regional Championships 2015	2 (53.16)	2 (93.80)	2 (146.96)
2014-2015
2015 World Junior Championships	6 (56.93)	7 (107.00)	7 (163.93)
2015 Four Continents Championships	7 (56.94)	8 (111.15	6 (168.09)
2015 Japanese Championships	6 (58.00)	5 (110.55)	4 ( 168.55)
2014 Junior Grand Prix Final	5 (62.99)	3 (109.35)	5 (172.34)
2015 Japanese Junior Championships	2 (61.49)	4 (107.25)	3 ( 168.74)
2014 Junior Grand Prix (Japan)	5 (52.95)	2 (108.70)	2 (161.65)
2014 Junior Grand Prix (Slovenia)	2 (58.92)	2 (105.50)	2 (164.42)
2013-2014
2013-2014 Japanese Junior National Championships	24 (40.54)	17 (85.43)	19 (125.97)
2014 Japan Eastern Junior Sectional	1 (56.65)	6 (75.07	2 (131.72)
2014 Tokyo Block 3 Junior Regional	1 (53.17)	1 (91.03)	1 (144.20)
2013 JGP Riga Cup	9 (46.87)	10 (84.81)	8 (131.68)
2012-2013
2012- 2013 Japanese Junior National Championships	12 (46.72)	18 (78.35)	18 (125.07)
2013 Japan Eastern Junior Sectional	8 (42.30)	1 (96.14)	1 (138.44)
2013 Tokyo Block 3 Junior Regional	1 (49.66)	1 (94.94)	1 (144.60)
2012 JGP Austria	8 (47.66)	7 (88.14)	8 (135.80)
2012 Junior Asian Figure Skating Trophy	3 (47.84)	3 (85.06)	3 (132.90)
2011-2012
2012 Novice Triglav Trophy	3 (34.04)	2 (64.71)	3 (98.75)
2011-2012 Japanese Junior National Championships	13 (43.86)	18 (74.22)	18 (118.08)
2011-2012 Japanese Novice National Championships	-	3 (79.45)	3 (79.45)
2011 Tokyo Block 3 Novice Regional	-	1 (78.08)	1 (78.08)
2010-2011
2010-2011 Japanese Novice National Championships	-	17 (61.92)	17 (61.92)
2010 Tokyo Block 3 Novice A Regional	-	2 (70.28)	2 (70.28)
2009-2010
2009-2010 Japanese Novice National Championships	-	18 (47.63)	18 (47.63)
2009 Tokyo Block 3 Novice A Regional	-	2 (58.92)	2 (58.92)

Exhibitions and Ice Shows​

2015 Skate Canada - "Skinny Love" by Birdy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_FskC6qi7M

2015 Fantasy on Ice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBKCjOwQs_Y

2014 Medalists On Ice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S486-nRSi3Y

Articles and Media
​

Interview August 2012 by TSL (a Japanese show)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZV4VGrCI4g

June 2015 After getting two GP assignments this year (Skate Canada and Rostelecom Cup), Yuka's moved up to JSF's special class athletes (together with Asada Mao and Imai Haruka):

Aug 30, 2014 Ted Barton has a quick interview with Japanese Skater Yuka Nagai and her Coach Megamu Seki at the ISU 2014 Grand Prix in Ljubljana
(In English and Japanese)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-0me56x2D0

Icenetwork Report on 2014-15 JGPF credits Yuka as being the most balletic junior lady at the JGPF
"Junior skaters in fine form on opening day in Spain"
Posted 12/11/14 by Jean-Christophe Berlot
https://web.archive.org/web/2018062...-skaters-in-fine-form-on-opening-day-in-spain

Icenetwork Report on 2014 JGP Slovenia
https://web.archive.org/web/2018063...ussia-jumps-on-top-in-ladies-mens-in-slovenia
https://web.archive.org/web/2018063...khanovich-runs-away-with-gold-at-jgp-slovenia

Japan Times Report on JGP Japan (Aichi) 2014
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/...-place-finish-junior-grand-prix/#.VYRugWrD_MI

 

[invisiblespiral]

I find her skating very pretty. Is she moving up the GP next year?

 

[Fer]

Finally there is a thread of Yuka!
I really love to watch her. She is pretty and also has very strong legs to jump. I like her SP this season which was choreographed by Shae-Lynn Bourne.


It's really a pity that she usually pops one or two jumps in her LP so that she cannot get onto the podium in big competition. I don't skate a lot myself but is that kind of habit or something?

 

[juuryokunashi]

A thread for Yuka! Yes! I love her lines on ice and her figure/stature and expression really helps in making her skating look elegant. She's moving up to seniors next year and I hope she overcomes her habit of popping jumps. She seems like she has very weak mentality when it comes to competitions and/or doesn't have a lot of confidence which is why she always ends up popping her jumps. But when she makes it work--like her SP in JGPF last year-- she's just gorgeous on ice.

(And I know she didn't rank too high at Jr Worlds this year but I really wanted to see her at the gala--she had a very beautiful EX dress during JP Nats and I wanted to see it again!)

I like her SP this season which was choreographed by Shae-Lynn Bourne.

I didn't know it was choreographed by Shae-Lynn! I do know she chose East of Eden because she is a huge Tatsuki fan. ^^

 

[cohkaix]

A thread for Yuka! Yes! I love her lines on ice and her figure/stature and expression really helps in making her skating look elegant. She's moving up to seniors next year

I've been wondering if Yuka will move up senior next year...so this is confirmed? She's been doing junior for a couple of years, and finally this is more like a breaking-through year for her. It's a pity she didn't do that well at junior world, but I also read that it seems she was having pain with her foot/legs?, as reported by JPN news. Hope it's nothing serious!

 

[Fer]

I didn't know it was choreographed by Shae-Lynn! I do know she chose East of Eden because she is a huge Tatsuki fan. ^^

She is a Tatsuki fan? Wow that's great.
Here is a short interview of her and her coach. I know the choreographer from it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-0me56x2D0

She has been sent to 4cc already so I guess she will go to senior next season?

 

[juuryokunashi]

I've been wondering if Yuka will move up senior next year...so this is confirmed? She's been doing junior for a couple of years, and finally this is more like a breaking-through year for her. It's a pity she didn't do that well at junior world, but I also read that it seems she was having pain with her foot/legs?, as reported by JPN news. Hope it's nothing serious!

I think she would? She wouldn't have been sent to 4CC this year if she isn't moving up to seniors next season. Her injury was even before the start of 4CC and I think even after her SP in Jr Worlds I saw her hobbling a bit just when she was getting off the ice. I hope she recuperates to full health and get ready for the next season. ^^

She is a Tatsuki fan? Wow that's great.
Here is a short interview of her and her coach. I know the choreographer from it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-0me56x2D0

She's a Tatsuki fan. Haha I just don't remember the source now, but I've seen it on TV/features and I couldn't remember what news program it was from (or if it was from a magazine interview). Thanks for the link! I'll check it out.

 

[cohkaix]

It is confirmed from the broadcasting of 'Fantasy on Ice Shizuoka' today that Yuka will move to senior for the upcoming season.
Her new SP can be viewed here: Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3 In D Minor, Op. 30: III. Finale (may be choreographed by Kenji Miyamoto)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBKCjOwQs_Y

She seems a bit nervous while performing. Hope she'll get better with the program through the season!

 

[mikaboo]

It is confirmed from the broadcasting of 'Fantasy on Ice Shizuoka' today that Yuka will move to senior for the upcoming season.
Her new SP can be viewed here: Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3 In D Minor, Op. 30: III. Finale (may be choreographed by Kenji Miyamoto)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBKCjOwQs_Y

She seems a bit nervous while performing. Hope she'll get better with the program through the season!

I really like Yuka's style and big jumps when she doesn't pop them. Good luck to her in the senior circuit. I wonder if she'll skate to her FS at DOI.

 

[juuryokunashi]

After getting two GP assignments this year (Skate Canada and Rostelecom Cup), Yuka's moved up to JSF's special class athletes (together with Asada Mao and Imai Haruka):

http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20150619-00000059-dal-spo

Best of luck to Yuka!

 

[dorispulaski]

I have put what I know about Yuka into her OP. She is a lovely skater, isn't she?

 

[matmuh]

thanks doris! she is lovely indeen but i hope she will stop popping and be more confident!

 

[mikaboo]

Seems like Yuka changed her SP to Madame Butterfly (choreo by Kenji). At least it's not her FS :hopelessness:
And her FS is August's Rhapsody (choreo by Shae-Lynn). I believe it's a movie soundtrack from "August's Rush".
I've never heard of the movie or the music before but I guess it's this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opS_Dmm15tY

I think she skated to her new FS today at PIW Tokyo (with the usual popped jumps...)
She's becoming quite beautiful

 

[hamaguri]

@mikaboo, she is so lovely! Thank you for sharing.
I just found a twitter about her today’s costume. Isn’t she sweet? (but popped jumps isn't good ...)
http://twitter.com/tarako_ishi/status/621939658314756097/photo/1

 

[ioanna]

And her FS is August's Rhapsody (choreo by Shae-Lynn). I believe it's a movie soundtrack from "August's Rush".
I've never heard of the movie or the music before but I guess it's this?[/URL]

Yes, that's the song. I highly recommend the movie. It's the piece from this particular scene
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RG-PXr7sces

Kind of like a modern East of Eden so she will definitely pull it off.

 

[mikaboo]

@mikaboo, she is so lovely! Thank you for sharing.
I just found a twitter about her today’s costume. Isn’t she sweet? (but popped jumps isn't good ...)
http://twitter.com/tarako_ishi/status/621939658314756097/photo/1

Thanks! Although I think it's a temporary one because it's from her exhibition program last season. The one she has on during the "fureai" is beautiful.

Yes, that's the song. I highly recommend the movie. It's the piece from this particular scene
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RG-PXr7sces

Kind of like a modern East of Eden so she will definitely pull it off.

Oh, thank you! I don't know why I haven't heard it before. I hope she skates to it on Sunday so they can broadcast it.

Nice to see you post btw! Did you hear about Machida's hair length?

 

[ioanna]

Oh, thank you! I don't know why I haven't heard it before. I hope she skates to it on Sunday so they can broadcast it.

Nice to see you post btw! Did you hear about Machida's hair length?

August Rush is one of my favorite movies so I'm very delighted with her choice. I don't recall anybody else skating to it and she can make it her own program.

As for Tatsuki, I run his fan blog on tumblr so I always know what he's up to I never expected a live broadcast of Prince Ice World because there's no Yuzuru / Mao / Dai but I have a feeling Tatsuki's presence there played a part in this and I'm very proud of him.

 

[mikaboo]

August Rush is one of my favorite movies so I'm very delighted with her choice. I don't recall anybody else skating to it and she can make it her own program.

As for Tatsuki, I run his fan blog on tumblr so I always know what he's up to I never expected a live broadcast of Prince Ice World because there's no Yuzuru / Mao / Dai but I have a feeling Tatsuki's presence there played a part in this and I'm very proud of him.

I think I've seen it before. Does it have the same icon (I don't know what it's called) as your GS avatar? I immediately thought of you when I saw it. I'll bookmark it next time I find it!
About PIW's live broadcast, different channels, but Fuji TV chose to broadcast him at DOI over the skaters still competing so I wouldn't be surprised if that's the case.
I'm hoping they can show us Kozuka's Moondance even though he won't be there on Sunday.

And to stay on topic of Yuka, I just saw a tweet that said she skated to her new FS during the day show and a new? EX during the evening show so we'll just have to wait and see what she skates to on Sunday.

 

[ioanna]

I think I've seen it before. Does it have the same icon (I don't know what it's called) as your GS avatar? I immediately thought of you when I saw it. I'll bookmark it next time I find it!

It's http://tatsuki-machida.tumblr.com/

And to stay on topic of Yuka, I just saw a tweet that said she skated to her new FS during the day show and a new? EX during the evening show so we'll just have to wait and see what she skates to on Sunday.

Oh that's interesting. I hope she chooses her FS for the broadcast. East of Eden was an excellent program for her but a lot of people (especially in Japan I suppose) associate it with Tatsuki so August's Rhapsody is exactly what she needs to showcase her talent in the senior field.

 

[mikaboo]

It's http://tatsuki-machida.tumblr.com/

Thanks. I have bookmarked it