NEWSWORTHY
Exclusive: Benoit Richaud to choreograph for Moa Iwano
It sounds like a match made in heaven. A promising young skater paired with the hottest choreographer in the business. The results could be dynamic. Top Japan junior Moa Iwano, known for her artistry and musicality at the tender age of 15, will work next season ...
Productive partnership: Hamada helps Zhou find success
Sometimes in life we meet a person we automatically connect with. It could be a classmate, teammate, co-worker, teacher or mentor. The communication and respect are there from the outset and blossom with time. When it spans countries and generations, it can become something truly beautiful. Such ...
Photo gallery: 2019 ISU World Championships — Women's Free Skate
The 2019 ISU World Championships continued at Saitama Super Arena on Friday. Here's a selection of photos from the women's free skate. Satoko Miyahara finished sixth at the world championships with a combined score of 215.95. | DAN ORLOWITZ Rika Kihira entered Friday's free skate in ...
Alina Zagitova captures world title; Japan's skaters finish without a medal
Olympic champion Alina Zagitova won her first senior world title in impressive fashion on Friday night. The 16-year-old topped the field at the world championships by more than 12 points with a total score of 237.50 points. Kazakhstan's Elizabet Tursnybaeva took the silver with 224.76, ...
Photo gallery: 2019 ISU World Championships — Women’s Short Program
The 2019 ISU World Championships opened at Saitama Super Arena on Wednesday. Here's a selection of photos from the women's short program.
Alina Zagitova takes big lead over Kaori Sakamoto at world championships
Olympic champion Alina Zagitova took a commanding lead after the short program at the world championships on Wednesday night. The 16-year-old Russian earned a total score of 82.08 points and holds a lead of more than five points over Japan champion Kaori Sakamoto, who is ...
Japan's skaters trained on Tuesday at Saitama Super Arena ahead of the ISU World Championships. Yuzuru Hanyu, Shoma Uno, and Keiji Tanaka will represent the host in the men's singles division, while Rika Kihira, Satoko Miyahara and Kaori Sakamoto will carry the flag in ...
Ayaka Hosoda content with triple axel achievement, but hopes to skate on
Fame has come late for Ayaka Hosoda, but she acknowledges that is better than it never having come at all. The Kansai University student grabbed the headlines at the Japan Championships in December by landing three triple axels at the age of 23 while competing ...
Rika Kihira sets sights on world title during practice session with Satoko Miyahara
Rika Kihira said Friday she aims to cap her remarkable senior debut season with a world championship. The 16-year-old, who won the women's individual titles at this season's ISU Grand Prix Final and Four Continents Championships, held an open practice with Pyeongchang Olympian Satoko Miyahara ...
Rika Kihira, Shoma Uno lead gold haul for Japan
It was a banner weekend for Japan on the ice, with Rika Kihira and Shoma Uno taking the gold medals at the Four Continents Championships and Satoko Miyahara and Koshiro Shimada doing the same at the Bavarian Open. Kihira bounced back from her second-place finish ...
Ayaka Hosoda very likely to continue competitive career next season
Veteran skater Ayaka Hosoda, who stole the show with her triple axels at the Japan Championships in December, is very likely to continue her skating career, The Japan Times has learned. In an exclusive interview with Hosoda on Tuesday, the jumping sensation said, "I'm willing ...
Kaori Sakamoto's ascension no surprise to gifted choreographer Benoit Richaud
Kaori Sakamoto was impressive in victory at the Japan nationals on Sunday, rising to the occasion on the biggest domestic stage of the year. That the 18-year-old dethroned four-time defending champion Satoko Miyahara and beat Grand Prix Final winner Rika Kihira may have surprised some, ...
