Hanyu set for Helsinki, Cup of Russia
Two-time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu will begin his Grand Prix season in Helsinki at the GP that is replacing the Cup of China, according to the ISU's recent announcement of GP assignments. Helsinki will surely bring back fond memories for both Hanyu and his fans, ...
Yuzuru Hanyu leads list for season's top efforts by Japan skaters
With the epic Olympic season now concluded, Ice Time has come up with a top 10 list of the best performances by Japanese skaters. The list places a priority on results in major competitions like the Pyeongchang Olympics and world championships, while taking into account ...
Mako Yamashita's bronze at world juniors impressive
Lost in the glare of Alexandra Trusova's phenomenal performance in landing two quadruple jumps on the way to victory at the world junior championships in Sofia on Saturday was the fact that Mako Yamashita picked up another medal for her growing collection. Trusova's clean execution ...
Satoko Miyahara's win thickens Olympic team plot
What a difference a couple of weeks makes. After the NHK Trophy in Osaka earlier this month, three-time national champion Satoko Miyahara's hopes of making Japan's team for the Pyeongchang Olympics looked in dire straits. Back in competition for the first time in nearly 11 months ...
Rika Kihira roars back to win Japan Junior Championship with two triple axels
Rika Kihira hit two booming triple axels in the opening minute of her free skate to rally to victory Sunday night at the Japan Junior Championships at Gunma Ice Arena. The 15-year-old was more than eight points behind leader Mako Yamashita following Saturday's short program, ...
Mitsuki Sumoto, Mako Yamashita are atop leaderboard after first day at Japan Junior Championships
Mitsuki Sumoto grabbed the lead after the men's short program at the Japan Junior Championships on Saturday with a score of 67.34 points. Last year’s junior bronze medalist stepped out on his opening triple axel to “Singin’ in the Rain,” but landed his triple lutz/triple ...
Rika Kihira, Mako Yamashita, Riko Takino in running for coveted Japan women's junior crown
With Kaori Sakamoto, Marin Honda and Yuna Shiraiwa having moved on to the senior ranks, Japan will crown a new junior women's queen this weekend at the Japan Junior Championships at Gunma Ice Arena. Honda and Shiraiwa's training partner Rika Kihira, one of only eight ...
Kihira clinches spot in Junior Grand Prix Final
Rika Kihira's bronze medal at the Junior Grand Prix in Egna and Bologna, Italy, on Saturday was good enough to qualify her for the JGP Final for the second straight season, but it didn't come easy. After a wonderful short program on Friday that saw ...
Mako Yamashita shows consistency with silver medal
Mako Yamashita continued her fine run in the Junior Grand Prix over the past two seasons with a second-place finish at the Croatia JGP in Zagreb on Saturday. The result put her on the podium for the fourth time in her four career JGPs. The ...
Yamashita shines on ice in Salzburg JGP event
Mako Yamashita's favorite color appears to be bronze. Or maybe the number she likes best is three. It sure seems that way on both counts. For the third straight Junior Grand Prix in the past two seasons, the 14-year-old earned the bronze medal when she finished third ...
Takino takes bronze in Junior Grand Prix debut
Riko Takino, a 15-year-old from Osaka, gave Japan its first medal of the Junior Grand Prix campaign with a bronze at the season-opener in Brisbane, Australia, over the weekend. Takino was third after the short program, and maintained that position to earn a spot on ...
Kihira shines as Japan skaters sweep titles
Japanese skaters dominated at the Asian Open Trophy last week in Hong Kong in the first event of the long Olympic season. How comprehensive were the victories for the Hinomaru? Japan swept the titles in the senior women (Kaori Sakamoto), senior men (Keiji Tanaka), junior women ...
