Figure Skating Dec 24, 2021
Kaori Sakamoto in first place after short program at nationals
Sakamoto was elated upon completing her routine and after her score was announced.
Figure skating Dec 21, 2021
Japan's Rika Kihira set to miss Beijing Olympics with lingering ankle injury
Yuzuru Hanyu, Japan's two-time Olympic gold medalist in the men's event, is set to return from an injury layoff, sources have said.
Figure Skating Oct 23, 2021
All eyes on Yuzuru Hanyu's progress with quad axel as Beijing Games approach
With the clock ticking down to the Beijing Olympics, Japan's "Ice Prince" Yuzuru Hanyu is under the spotlight as he bids to become the first figure skater to land a quad axel in competition.
Figure Skating Oct 19, 2021
The injury setback has delayed Kihira's bid for selection to the Japanese team for February's 2022 Beijing Games, where she will aim to win her first Olympic medal.
Figure Skating Sep 8, 2021
Rika Kihira to train under Brian Orser ahead of Winter Games
Japan's two-time reigning national champion hopes the coach behind star skater Yuzuru Hanyu's pair of Olympic golds will help improve her chances of success in Beijing.
Figure Skating Mar 27, 2021
Error-prone Rika Kihira falls to seventh place as Russians sweep podium at worlds
Sixteen-year-old Anna Shcherbakova, who led Kihira after the short program, secured the win in her worlds debut after scoring 152.17 points in the free skate to tally 233.17 points overall.
Figure Skating Mar 25, 2021
Rika Kihira in second place after short program at world championships
Kihira earned 79.08 points while fellow Japanese Kaori Sakamoto was penalized for a triple lutz edge violation and is in sixth place.
Figure Skating Dec 28, 2020
Rika Kihira nails quad to seize second straight national title
The 18-year-old opened with the quad salchow and cruised past her only real setback, an under-rotated triple axel that followed, to overcome a powerful challenge from Kaori Sakamoto.
Figure Skating Jun 14, 2020
Rika Kihira to train under Brian Orser, joining Yuzuru Hanyu
Figure skater Rika Kihira said Saturday she will augment her coaching team with Canadian Brian Orser, who has coached her compatriot Yuzuru Hanyu to consecutive Olympic men's championships. "I decided this because I was certain I can absolutely grow (by working with Orser) ahead of ...
Figure Skating | ICE TIME Dec 26, 2019
Shoma Uno, juniors steal show at Japan Championships
by Jack Gallagher
Last week's Japan Championships provided a mixed bag for skating fans. There was some very good skating and some not so good. It was great to see Japan's three male Olympic medalists (Yuzuru Hanyu, Shoma Uno, Daisuke Takahashi) all together in the same competition, but ...
Figure Skating Dec 21, 2019
Rika Kihira displays confidence, elegance en route to first senior national title
by Jack Gallagher
Rika Kihira captured her first senior national title at the Japan Championships on Saturday night with an enthralling performance in her free skate. The 17-year-old bounced back from her fourth-place finish at the Grand Prix Final earlier this month to top the podium with a ...
Figure Skating Dec 19, 2019
Kihira sets pace at Japan nationals
by Jack Gallagher
Rika Kihira took the lead after the women's short program at the Japan Championships on Thursday night at Yoyogi Gymnasium. Kihira, who was the runner-up behind Kaori Sakamoto at the nationals last year, earned a score of 73.98 points. Four-time national champion Satoko Miyahara is ...