24 Japan Nationals Men FP PBP

[Tak]

In about an hour, 24 Japan Nationals Men's Free will start.
Due to broadcasting schedule, I will post realtime up to Group 3.
Since there is expected to be taped delay for Group 4, please understand that Group 4 PBP posts from me will be delayed.
If you are getting realtime live streaming, you are free to post your impressions.
See you in about an hour!
The schedule and skating order for Men's Free is as follows:

Skating Order	Name	PB for LP	Affiliation	SP Score	Tokyo Time
Group 1					15:45-16:40
1​	Ryushin Yamada	(Total 175.59)	Waseda University	60.2​
2​	Shun Uemura (Jr)	(Total 206.92)	Universe FSC	62.74​
3​	Ryusei Kikuchi	(Total 169.19)	Meiji University	62.77​
4​	Nozomu Yoshioka	147.65​	Hosei University	63.76​
5​	Daiya Ebihara (Jr)	135.86​	Komaba Gakuen High	64.66​
6​	Shuntaro Asaga (Jr)	(Total 201.00)	Kansai University	67.58​
Group 2					16:40-1735
7​	Yuto Kishina	(Total 192.73)	Kansai University	68.84​
8​	Haru Kakiuchi (Jr)	139.51​	Hyogo Nishinomiya FSC	70.52​
9​	Takumi Sugiyama	(Total 196.68)	Okayama University	72.93​
10​	Koshiro Shimada	167.86​	Kinoshita Group	73.2​
11​	Tatsuya Tsuboi	166.5​	Sysmex	73.94​
12​	Shunsuke Nakamura (Jr)	144.34​	Kinoshita Academy	73.96​
Resurfacing					17:35-17:55
Group 3					17:55-18:51
13​	Kosho Oshima	(Total 198.08)	Meiji University	74.37​
14​	Sena Miyake	160.35​	Kankuu Skate Club	75.16​
15​	Amin Takeru Kataise	155.18​	Kansai University	75.62​
16​	Taiga Nishino (Jr)	126.25​	Kanagawa FSC	77.58​
17​	Sena Takahashi (Jr)	148.61​	Kinoshita Academy	77.87​
18​	Sota Yamamoto	183.72​	Chukyo University	80.1​
Group 4					18:51-19:47
19​	Shun Sato	187.49​	Aim Service/Meiji University	81.9​
20​	Nobunari Oda	(Total 228.12)	Osaka Skating Club	84.53​
21​	Kao Miura	189.64​	Oriental Bio/ Meiji University	88.87​
22​	Kazuki Tomono	180.73​	Daiichi Jyuuken Group	89.72​
23​	Rio Nakata (Jr)	160.06​	Tokio Inkarami	90.31​
24​	Yuma Kagiyama	208.94​	Oriental Bio/ Meiji University	92.05​

 

[Karen-W]

Why are we starting a separate thread? The SP thread from yesterday is less than 2 pages and I already titled it as SP & FS.

https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/24-japan-nationals-mens-sp-fs.112417/

 

[Tak]

I specifically declined to do PBP, only for Men SP.
I appreciated you starting a thread for Men, but I thought it was for SP only.
It is so exhausting to do PBP, if you would do it that is fine with me.

 

[Karen-W]

I specifically declined to do PBP, only for Men SP.
I appreciated you starting a thread for Men, but I thought it was for SP only.
It is so exhausting to do PBP, if you would do it that is fine with me.

I was planning on taking a nap for the first two groups of men but I'm wide awake, so I can try. My PBP isn't nearly as good as yours though since I'm not super-great at identifying jumps except the axel (duh) and it's even more challenging with the TES tracker in Japanese characters (I do know what the characters for toe loop and lutz are though through 1.5 days of competition, lol).

 

[Tak]

If it is OK, then I will do detailed PBPs for Groups 1-3 and then delayed Group 4.
I am sorry for the misunderstanding.

 

[Karen-W]

If it is OK, then I will do detailed PBPs for Groups 1-3 and then delayed Group 4.
I am sorry for the misunderstanding.

No worries! I did ask the Admins to merge the three existing threads for the Men since there wasn't a lot of traffic here last night for either the men or the women's SPs.

 

[Tak]

TV Coverage starting.
Intro and Warm-up for the first group starting.
Shun Uemura got secure 3A this season.
Nozomu Yoshioka, AKA the sober pirate, should have been in the second half.
Shuntaro Asaga and Daiya Ebihara are juniors.
Commentator (Mura?) says Asaga and Ebihara were both solid in practices.

 

[Karen-W]

Yamada - wearing a shirt after Corey Circelli & Roman Sadovsky's Pepto Bismol pink hearts... Jumping is around the same level as Canadian men. He should look into a country switch.

ETA - he may have to change his music from Josh Groban to a sad boy/emo cover, though.

 

[Tak]

Ryushin Yamada Cinema Paradiso
1A popped
3A Fall
2loop
CCSp3
3F
CSSp3
3Lz+2T
3F Fall
3Lz+3T clearly ur
StSq2
ChoreoSq
FCamSp1
Every element except one spin and choreo are under review.
Very unfortunate performance.
This skater started skating in Okinawa where there is only one ice rink. Now trains in Shin-Yokohma.
86.29
Total 146.49

 

[Karen-W]

Uemura - ooooo... Mask of Zorro soundtrack! Shirt does NOT give colonial Mexican California vibes at ALL. Like, really, I don't understand the weird shiny denim blue color or the deep v-neck that has stoning/crystals lining it. I do appreciate his commitment to the music and choreo in the step sequence though - nice energy! Nice triple at the end here right on the music crescendo. Weak music edit to end the program though.

 

[Tak]

Shun Uemura Mask of Zorro
3A Fall
3Lz+2T
3A+1T
FCSp2
3F
3Lz
3T+2A+2A seq
StSq3
Choreo
CSSp1
3S
CCSp3
Performance got better in the second half.
Mura coaches him and said it was a trial to put two 3As in this program.
As a coach it is making Shun more consistent in the 3A that is a real challenge.
123.50 185,97

 

[Karen-W]

Kikuchi - this costume looks like something Benoit cast off for Adam. It's got these weird faux blood streaks around the torso and on one wrist. At least, that's what I think they are - either way, it makes me long for the innocent days when Weed Jesus wasn't a pro-war zealot and his blood-stained costume made sense when he faux whipped himself. Eeek - that 3a fall was rough. The rest of the program made no sense, and there's no reason to talk about the rest of his jumps either.

 

[Tak]

Ryusei Kikuchi Monooke Hime
3A+3T s.o
3A Fall
3Lz+2T
CSSp2
3F
3T near fall
Choreo
3lo
FCSp2
3S+2A seq
StSq3
CCSp3
Both SP and free were choreographed by his sister, Rina.
Mura observed that there was something wrong with setting jump axis today.
106.52
Total ?

 

[Karen-W]

Ryusei Kikuchi Monooke Hime
Total ?

169.29 - currently 2nd.

 

[Karen-W]

Yoshioka - sober pirate is now doing a sober tango. Ooooo... bit of face-touching that turns into him running his hand through his hair. And later running his hand over his head from back to front as he transitions out of a jump. Oh, lordy... I do not know if I have the patience for a SECOND Josh Groban program in the first group. I suppose he does express this music better than he ever did his POTC program, but it's kind of like... ehhhhh, it's easy to have sweeping arms as Josh Groban and the violins do all the heavy lifting.

 

[Tak]

Nozomu Yoshioka Tango like music with vocals
4T Fall
4T+3turns 2T
3lo
3A
FCSSp3
3A Eu 2S
3Lz
3F hand down
Choreo
StSq3
CCamSp4
CComSp4
Drunk or sober, I liked "Pirates" much better.
Mura thinks second 4T is ur.
Announcer says Nozomu was so solid during practices.
He was 8th last year.
117.53 Total 181.29

 

[Karen-W]

Ebihara - skating to The Weeknd per Shazam (my taste in music is decidedly different, lol), now it's switched to the Avatar soundtrack and his blue shirt makes much more sense. He's a junior in every way. I also understand why he only wound up with 1 JGP assignment.

 

[Tak]

Daiya Ebihara
3A+2T
3A (q)
4T UR?
CCamSp1
3F
ChSq
3Lz+3T +1.26
3Lz+2A+2A seq
FSSp4
3lo
StSq3
CComSp3
Wow, Daiya did land all jumps though some q or ur expected, good for you!
Mura says tightening the body for the fast rotation is delayed resulting in under-rot.
JGPS made him realize 4T is necessary to compete with best skaters in the world.
128.15 192.81

 

[Karen-W]

Asaga - ooooo - he wins best costume of the group! Black, short flamenco jacket with gorgeous rose crystals/stoning in reds/pinks/silvers on the coat and forearms as well as wrapped around one side of his high-waisted pants. Really - this costume is right up there as one of my favorites this entire season around the globe. Jumps falling apart here near the end, but he's easily the most stylish and performative skater of the first flight. I'd have him in first.

 

[Tak]

Shuntaro Asaga Winter in Buenos Aires
3A+2A seq (slight 2ft?)
3Lz Eu 3S
3lo
StSq4
CSSp4
2A
3Lz+3T so
2F
FCamSp4
Choreo
3F
CComSp4
TES almost matching the leader, initially.
Mura impressed with how he covered mistakes and his step seq smoothness.
131.75 199.33 the new leader!

 

[Tak]

2nd group intro warm up ongoing.
Why oh why are you here, Koshiro, Tatsuya and Shunsuke!
You guys must be in second half!

 

[Karen-W]

Standings through 1 of 4 groups -

Pl.	選手名	所属	Points	SP	FS
1	朝賀 俊太朗 Shuntaro Asaga	関西大学	199.33	19	1
2	蛯原 大弥 Daiya Ebihara	駒場学園高校	192.81	20	2
3	植村 駿 Shun Uemura	ユニバースFSC	185.97	23	3
4	吉岡 希 Nozomu Yoshioka	法政大学	181.29	21	4
5	菊地 竜生 Ryusei Kikuchi	明治大学	169.29	22	5
6	山田 琉伸 Ryushin Shimada	早稲田大学	146.49	24	6

FS results through 1 of 4 groups -

Pl.	選手名	所属	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	CO	PR	SK	Ded. -	StN.
1​	朝賀 俊太朗 Shuntaro Asaga	関西大学	131.75​	67.08​		64.67​	6.39​	6.57​	6.46​	0.00​	#6​
2​	蛯原 大弥 Daiya Ebihara	駒場学園高校	128.15​	68.42​		59.73​	6.04​	5.86​	6.04​	0.00​	#5​
3​	植村 駿 Shun Uemura	ユニバースFSC	123.50​	63.26​		61.24​	6.00​	6.25​	6.14​	1.00​	#2​
4​	吉岡 希 Nozomu Yoshioka	法政大学	117.53​	55.49​		63.04​	6.29​	6.07​	6.57​	1.00​	#4​
5​	菊地 竜生 Ryusei Kikuchi	明治大学	106.52​	51.01​		56.51​	5.54​	5.57​	5.86​	1.00​	#3​
6​	山田 琉伸 Ryushin Shimada	早稲田大学	86.29​	36.20​		52.09​	5.14​	5.18​	5.32​	2.00​	#1​

 

[Karen-W]

Kishina - basic violin music, basic blue tunic, I'm sure everyone can guess the rest... basically boring. Dude, even Josh Groban might be better than this basic, bland program. He's also going to drop at least behind Asaga & Ebihara in the standings. I might even have him behind Uemura - certainly in the FS, but he may have enough of a lead from the SP to stay ahead overall.

 

[Tak]

Yuto Kishina Rhondo Capriccioso
3A+2T
1A popped
3Lz
FCSSp4
ChSq
3S+1A+2T seq
3Lz rpt
3lo
3T
StSq4
CComSp4
FCamSp3
Penultimate season for Yuto, since he will graduate from graduate school next year.
Mura thinks Yuto was adjusting his jumps as he went along.
122.21 191.05 3rd

 

[Karen-W]

Kakiuchi - basic tinkly piano music replaces basic violin music, oh wait, there are the strings coming in... Also, another mostly basic blue shirt. He seems tall for being a junior... Perhaps he should be encouraged to pursue pairs. He's landing stuff but I'm completely uninterested in him.

Can someone explain to me why "Ghana" is written in yellow, bold Times New Roman font on the boards? Is this the ISU/JSF's way of trying to break into the burgeoning African market for figure skating?

 

[Tak]

Haru Kakiuchi
4T Fall
3lo
3Lz+3T
FCamSp4
3Lz+2A
3S
2A+3T+2T
3F
ChSq
StSq3
FCComSp4
CComSp
TES Box disappeared before the level for the last spin was shown. Announcer mentioed it was lvl 4
He suffred bone bruising earlier this season.
Chreographer was Lambiel.
132.75 203.27 New leader!

 

[Tak]

Ghana is the brand name of chocolate bar marketed by Lotte.

 

[Karen-W]

Sugiyama - Bach, in grey drapey tunic with black airbrushing, and grey swirls down the side of one thigh. Oh, goody, now into Richter's "Mechanisms". Bradie did it better. The last three guys in this group better make it more interesting because I'm yawning thanks to the first three in this group.

 

[Tak]

Takumi Sugiyama Air on G string changed in 2nd half to Mechanisms
3A+2T
3A off bal
3lo
3S
FCamSp2
ChSq
3Lz+3T so
3F+2A+2A seq
3Lz
FSSp4
StSq3
CComSp4
TES 8 points over the leader initially.
Mura feels the only prob was flying camel spin.
135.82 208.75 Leads!

 

[Karen-W]

Koshiro - I've snarked about his costume plenty during the GP season already. Fall on his opening quad followed by an elegant pop. Off to an excellent start. At least he got the 3a+3t in... TES tracker says he'll easily lead but not his best skate by a long shot.