Clearly I took the Christmas and New Year holiday as a mandate to do no tasks whatsoever, because, despite Christmas being one of the most important weeks of the year for Figure Skating, I wrote absolutely nothing on this blog. But now I'm back and excited for 2021.
Japanese Nationals this year felt much more dramatic and anticipated compared to Russian Nationals because we have seen fairly little from Japan this fall, while Russia has had some sort of competition every two weeks. Rika and Shoma and the gang in Switzerland, and Satoko over in Canada, did not participate in any sectionals or NHK trophy to avoid flying to Japan. Yuzuru Hanyu was very adamant back in August that he would not be participating in the season for fear of getting COVID with his underlying asthma. Japan had rounds of sectionals in-person during the Fall, but the magnitude of the events was significantly lower than those in Russia where large unmasked audiences were welcomed with open arms. So having this nationals, with all the big names in attendance, was quite a shift in viewing experience.
#3: Shoma Uno (*Insert Chef's Kiss Here*)
I'm sure I've said it before, but Shoma Uno's skating skills are so above and beyond his teammates. Sometimes I even prefer his overall power to Yuzuru Hanyu's (Don't Kill Me). The knee bend that he gets even in his basic crossovers is engaging no matter the material, and these two programs that he kept from last season are both so perfect for him. The short continues to be a viral moment, just as it was last year, and his "Dancing on my Own" long program is an emotional experience for both him and the audience. Part of me hopes that he will keep both of these programs for the olympic season, but I am certain he and Lambiel are planning new material for Beijing (should Beijing actually happen next February). Shoma Uno's absence in the Fall was felt by all, so this silver-medal performance was a true Christmas Gift.
*Youtube has taken down all official footage of the performances. Here is the long program, as performed at last year's nationals
#2: Yuzuru Hanyu's Return
Speaking of a Christmas Gift, how about...TWO new Hanyu programs?! Yuzuru Hanyu, obviously regarded as the best and most-loved figure skater in the world, is also well-known for never getting new programs. He tends to use programs for 2-3 seasons, so for him to come out of quarantine with a full slate of new choreography was certainly impressive, especially since his training in Japan for the last ~8 months doesn't seem to have been under direct coaching. I thought the short program was fantastic material- it was fun, the jumps were right point, and the step sequence was much more out of the box than comparable step sequences being performed by his competition at this point in time. I've seen some argue that this pop performance abandons the gravitas of his previous material, but I think this program may compare better to Nathan Chen's typical short program material, which is what Hanyu will want in Beijing if he's planning on winning his 3rd Olympic gold medal. I was personally not as engaged by the Shae-Lynn Bourne long program, but I think it will grow on me, especially as he adds more quad jump content for next year's season. These two performances are to be cherished, because I highly doubt we will see Yuzuru again before next fall, since Four Continents 2021 has already been cancelled and I foresee the World Championships, now scheduled for March, to be officially cancelled soon, unless they opt for a virtual competition format. So enjoy!
#1: Satoko Miyahara
Putting Satoko over Yuzuru Hanyu in my top 3 might be controversial, but her short and long program, putting her into the Bronze slot here, was the skating I've been missing for the past ~8 months. It felt like the vaccine- a light at the end of the tunnel. She is, as Eteri Tutberidze might say, "like an angel". Yes, the jumps are teeny tiny and underrotated. No, she likely won't go to Beijing ahead of Wakaba or Mana or Mai. But oh my god- the skating skills, the layback spins, the whole vibe? The red dress moment she creates with this Tosca long program really feels like watching Michelle Kwan. It was so lovely and engaging and I it's going to become something really iconic. Three Cheers for Miyahara!
Honorable Mention: Rika Kihira
Rika Kihira came away with another win at this year's Japanese Nationals and, more importantly, finally landed her (beautiful) quad salchow in the long program, after so many attempts that either ended with a triple or a pop. The Benoit Richaud-choreographed short program gained a lot of traction online for the 3A and the cartwheel towards the end. I personally preferred the long program at this competition, but I think the short program may grow on me as she works on her speed and overall ice coverage. I just felt that, at this point, the short program style is highlighting these gaps.
Jail Time: Some of the scoring here?
Compared to Russian and US Nationals scoring, some of the scores here just seemed...punishing. Yuzuru ended up with a 103 for his short program, with the claim that he ~missed rotations in a spin~. Rika's total score ended up in the 230s with a quad and triple axel. I don't think these scores were unfair, but I think, when compared to the scoring that goes on at other nationals, it hurts them. The Japanese Federation needs to start giving their skaters some leeway and boost if they want to win more competitions internationally.
And the judges gave Kaori more PCS than Satoko. That's...silly.
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