Japanese Nationals 20-24.12.2023

[Karen-W]

Tanaka/Nishiyama - "Giselle" - very lovely and light. Twizzle errors for both - that won't get them to Worlds. Weird bobble there - nerves, for sure. TES isn't enough for them to unseat KoKo. But one of these two teams will next season, I think.

 

[Tak]

Tanaka/ Nishiyama
Giselle
OFT Level2
SBS Tw 3,4 +1.97
She loses balance on MiStSq 1,3, oh no!
They are more than 5 points behind Komatsubaras in TES Tracker.
Tanaka only has 6 month Dance experience and it is their weakness.
She looks contrite in K&C.
105.35 176.43 Second by two points!

 

[Karen-W]

BTW, I'm guessing that the JSF will use all three of their NHK host spots next season, lol.

 

[YukiNieve]

RD 1st Tanaka/ Nishiyama
FD 1st Yoshida/Morita
Total 1st Komatibaras

On my X feed, some are advocating why don't we send all three to 4CC and decide which one to go to the Worlds based on the 4CC results.

And quite a few have been unhappy that the Japanese fed did not give the spots to their domestic couples at NHK Trophy, since they think the competition experience does matter.

 

[Karen-W]

RD 1st Tanaka/ Nishiyama
FD 1st Yoshida/Morita
Total 1st Komatibaras

On my X feed, some are advocating why don't we send all three to 4CC and decide which one to go to the Worlds based on the 4CC results.

And quite a few have been unhappy that the Japanese fed did not give the spots to their domestic couples at NHK Trophy, since they think the competition experience does matter.

Aren't all three going to 4CCs? They all have the TES mins.

As far as the Worlds spot goes... Well, the JSF already stated the Nat'l Champ would go to Worlds. Right now, between the three, it's going to be a wash and whichever one goes might be lucky to make it to the FD.

The JSF has always been stingy with their host GP and JGP spots, but given I can't blame them for not using them this year. Next season, though...

 

[Karen-W]

@YukiNieve - sounds like the folks you follow on X were heard by the JSF. Skate-off at 4CCs incoming for that Worlds spot. That'll be must-see!

 

[Hedwig]

Summary:

Men - #ShomaUno, #YumaKagiyama, #KaoMiura
Women - #KaoriSakamoto, #MoneChiba, #HanaYoshida
Pairs - #RikuMiura/#RyuichiKihara, #YunaNagoaka/#SumitadaMoriguchi (pending tes mins)
Dance - TBA

Junior Worlds:

Team Japan’s Entries for #JWorldFigureMen - #ShunsukeNakamura, #RioNakata, #HaruKakiuchi
Women - #MaoShimada, #IkuraKushida, #RenaUezono
Pairs - #SaeShimizu/#LucasTsuyoshiHonda (pending TES mins)
Dance - #SaraKishimoto/#AtsuhikoTamura

Interesting - Shimizu/Honda never competed internationally so far?

4CC
Men - #YumaKagiyama, #SotaYamamoto, #ShunSato
Women - #MoneChiba, #MaiMihara, #RinkaWatanabe
Pairs - #RikuMiura/#RyuichiKihara
Dance - #AzusaTanaka/#ShingoNishiyama, #MisatoKomatsubara/#TimKoleto, #UtanaYoshida/#MasayaMorita

 

[Tak]

23 Japan Nationals Tidbits

From Kao Miura Post-event Interview:
The night before SP, he had to go to a local hospital due to gastro problems. He was somehow sent to “Paedriatrics” ward. In the waiting room, there was this one year old child, having apparently far more serious problem than Miura. The baby was enduring discomfort, stoically and bravely. Kao felt quite ashamed that he was even there, an 18 year old guy with “mere” gastro problems. Miura felt inspired by that stoic baby, so he skated the SP, dedicating the performance for the speedy recovery of that one year old.

The Best Dance
Just before (or after, it is not certain) the Men’s Medal Ceremony, two coaches, one of Gold Medalist and the other of Silver, did an impromptu dance. It was by Carolina Kostner and Stefan Lambiel!

The Funniest Post in Japanese Skating related Internet sites:
One tongue in cheek post demanded that “Japan Skating Federation issue a stern warning to Sumitada Moriguchi, to select his pair partner based on skating skills, NOT LOOKS.”
Considering that his partners include, Ikura Kushida, Haruna Murakami and now, Yuna Nagaoka, all inordinately pretty girls, I tend to agree with this sentiment.

Men’s Free in numbers
Last eight skaters landed 37 consecutive quads or triple Axels without fall or pop. There were step outs, hand downs and “q”s, but these are minor faults which do not disrupt the program as much as fall or pop.
If you see, ten in a row landed, applaud the skaters. Twenty then, stand up to applaud and scream your encouragements. Thirty then, it is time to wake up from your “impossible” dream.

 

[Hedwig]

37

 

[skatingguy]

The men's event at Japanese nationals may well be the competition of the season, if not the decade.

 

[Hedwig]

I am so glad I saw it „live“. What a moment!

 

[Tak]

The probability of 37 consecutive quads or triple axels being landed is interesting to calculate.
Assumption:
Probability of landing (step out, hand down or "q" are included in landed jumps) quads or triple Axels were assumed to be 85% (six out of seven tries are landed; this is quite a respectable probability).
Probability of 37 consecutive such jumps being landed is around 0.25%, roughly once in 400 trials.

Events with 37 quads and triple Axel even attempted is not that many, annually.
ISU Events: Worlds, Euros and 4CC and once every 4 years Olympics: 3.25 per year.
GPS/GPF: Since only top skaters have 4 or more such jumps, only 3.75 GPS events are estimated to fulfill the requirement. Since only six compete in GPF, there is usually less than 37 such jump attempts. It is noted that only a handful of skaters (Iliya, Adam and Shoma) have more than 5 attempts in their Free programs.
Nationals: Only USA and Japan has enough competitors and required number of jumps.
So, average of only 9 such events per year, and considering 400 such trials are required, chances are that we will see another in 44 years time.
Of course, this feat could be repeated in the next Worlds, though not very likely.
The probability calculation does indicate there is about 66% chance of this feat (37 consecutive quads or triple Axel landed) being repeated within 44 years.