Olympic bronze medalist Daisuke Takahashi said Monday he will sit out next season to contemplate the future of his skating career.
"I'm not competing next season," said Takahashi, who was sixth at the Sochi Olympics in February while nursing a right knee injury, four years after winning bronze at Vancouver.
"I'll be out of the spotlight for at least a year and I'll think about things then."
"I want to take my time, get away from it all and think," he said.
Takahashi spoke at Kansai University where he was honored for his career achievements.
The 28-year-old had pulled out of last month's world championships in Saitama because of the injury, although Takahashi said he is back on the ice training and is entertaining the idea of doing ice shows.