Nana Araki looks for leap in crucial season
Now is the time for accomplished junior Nana Araki to shine. The 17-year-old from Higashiura, Aichi Prefecture, will begin her third season on the Junior Grand Prix circuit on Thursday at the season-opening event in Courchevel, France. Araki, a senior in high school, has finished in ...
Rika Kihira will require full arsenal to win Grand Prix Final
Rika Kihira staked her claim as Japan's biggest female skating star with a victory at the Internationaux de France in Grenoble on Saturday night. The triumph clinched a spot in next month's Grand Prix Final for the 16-year-old. Two weeks after winning the NHK Trophy ...
Koshiro Shimada, Yuhana Yokoi lead after short programs at Japan Junior Championships
Koshiro Shimada grabbed the lead in the men's competition after the short program at the Japan Junior Championships on Saturday with a fine performance. Shimada, who is Japan's lone qualifier for next month's Junior Grand Prix Final, looked sharp while landing a triple axel, triple ...
Yuhana Yokoi, Nana Araki favorites entering Japan Junior Championships
With Rika Kihira and Mako Yamashita having moved up to the senior ranks, there will be a new titlist crowned at the Japan Junior Championships this weekend at Accion Fukuoka. The favorites coming into the competition this year are Yuhana Yokoi and Nana Araki. Yokoi, ...
Daisuke Takahashi shows heart of champion in return to competitive skating
The jumps need to be a little higher and the spins a bit faster, but the return to competition after a four-year absence of 2010 world champion Daisuke Takahashi over the holiday weekend has to be labeled a success. Takahashi finished third with a total ...
Mai Mihara impresses as runner-up while unveiling new short program at Nebelhorn Trophy
Mai Mihara earned the silver medal in her season debut at the Nebelhorn Trophy on Saturday with two solid performances. The 19-year-old was runner-up to Olympic champion Alina Zagitova at the Challenger Series event in Oberstdorf, Germany. Zagitova won with a total of 238.43 points, ...
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 ...
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 ...
Rino Kasakake earns bronze in debut at Poland JGP
Rino Kasakake kept Japan's streak of earning at least one medal at every Junior Grand Prix this season alive by claiming the bronze at the JGP in Gdansk, Poland, on Friday. It was an impressive start for the debutante on the JGP circuit. Kasakake, a ...
Yuzuru Hanyu's uneven start no cause for concern
The ability of sports to glorify one moment and humble the next was on full display at the Autumn Classic International in Montreal over the weekend. Olympic and world champion Yuzuru Hanyu broke his own world record in the short program with 112.72 points on ...
Mai Mihara safely landed three jumps and placed second after the women's short program on the first day of action at the Autumn Classic International on Thursday. Reigning Four Continents champion Mihara earned 66.18 points to finish behind local favorite and world silver medalist Kaetlyn ...
