surimi

I'd be happy if Yuzuru established a permanent show of his own, showcasing his innovative ideas and inviting interesting people. If he wanted to, he could travel the world with it in a couple of years, and I'm sure there would be both local and Japanese artists or athletes who would be excited to collaborate with him.

Guys, it's hard to keep up-to-date on info as the fandom news move so fast - can anyone please tell me why the TBS tweet linked a few posts above made Yuzuru fans angry? Their replies to TBS speak about apologizing to Shoma and Yuzuru, which I didn't see in the tweet, and I'm confused. I liked that tweet because it has a photo of Sota and Kazuki, my favorites, but is that an anti account or something? Sigh, I wish Yuzuru, Sota, Kazuki and Satoko came to Europe, with any show, I'm not picky. My dream team

It's recent. One of the most stalwart Japanese Sota fans on Twitter made the design before this WC, and many printed it out or ordered it (IDK which) to brandish it at WC. I think the symbol comes from the first kanji in Sota's name, which is 'grass'. I predict it will soon become like Yuzuru's trademark Pooh - a symbol by which you can identify a Sota fan at a competition. Well, most of them at least; I have no wish to join that group.

Just a guess, but I don't think Ryuju is in shape when it comes to being able to skate in a show manner. Unlike Keiji who coaches, or Akiko who choreographs, Ryuju has left the skating world and now works full-time in IT. I don't think he has spare time to practice at all. He still meets up with his skater friends occasionally, but the last time he visited his former rink in Chukyo (a week or so ago), all the others were on the ice and he wasn't. I do believe Yuzuru would invite him if Ryuju could skate at his show. Guys, who is this 'Violetta' you speak of? She wasn't mentioned in the Notte Stellata article. I'm very happy to see Yuzuru's picks as the host

He should have left it at 'I'm not going to comment right now'. Hanyu has never, ever, questioned a younger teammmate's selection, and spoiled their joy. It's got to be a fantastic feeling for Sota (probably Shoma's quote was directed at him, as he wasn't on the Nats podium), knowing the esteemed World Champion is against you going, and commentators are going to be spinning the 'controversial decision' narrative. If Sota bombs WC because of all this, JSF have only themselves to blame, but haters and Champery lovers are going to have ammunition for their vitriol, whoopity whoop.

In the light of Uno's comment regarding either Kazuki or Sota being selected to accompany him to WC - i.e. him saying he wasn't happy about it - I really miss Yuzuru and his kindness.

I'm going to miss Yuhana a lot. She's a unique skater ;_;

This! I agree, I liked him the best in the Loco season, afterwards the programs started blending together for me except for the 2019/20 SP whose name I forgot. I don't like this recent trend of him skating super-artistic serious prorgrams to old European music, because the movements seem just learned, and his artistic expression is limited to drawing his eyebrows together. I am just not feeling him, or his supposed artistry, in these programs. Lambiel has brought back his consistency, and no doubt provides Shoma with excellent moral support, but I just don't care for the programs he's been giving him.

Solo doubles are not allowed in seniors in SP, except for 2A. Well. I haven't seen a second of Skate Canada yet, and now I certainly don't regret having spent that time otherwise. What y'all are posting here about Kao's scores has filled me with dread. It does sound like JSF has indeed picked the third skater for its Top 3. Which, based on their conduct so far, means all others are sc***ed, other than Koshiro. Major sigh. I want a fair competition, not a predetermined one, and I don't care if it's Kao, Koshiro or a favorite of mine that gets propped up with fails ignored.

Each Challenger's results only make me all the more angry to see Japanese men and women robbed of their rightful chances. You have 240-somethings winning this stuff and getting a hearty dose of 300 points, while a guy who has already done 3 comps and scored 270+, 260+ and 250+, is competing at home because his own Fed is sabotaging him (and others). And Mai would beat most if not all of the women we've seen in the Challengers so far. This sport is a joke, and world standings are a worthless piece of paper.

Interesting, I will watch if I find it on YT. Congrats to Rinka. And yet, for me, each news tweet, each shot of the happy faces of JPN competitors here is overshadowed by sadness, and instead of being happy for the medalists, I see the faces of those whom JSF denied this opportunity. Let's please remember those who got kicked to the curb just as we celebrate those who got lucky. I hope Wakaba's not upset over this event. Her recovery is more important.

I can relate to your feelings. As you can see, my anger is directed entirely at those who play favorites. I am not accusing Koshiro of lobbying for his own assignments. I rather suspect Kinoshita of using their influence and pushing their skaters at the expense of others, and I see that as very harmful to the sport. I saw Koshiro last year in Warsaw. I was clapping for him, watched him with interest, and didn't -and don't- feel any ill will toward him. But this year's JSF treatment of Koshiro vs the others really takes the cake, and I have a hard time not immediately thinking of the politicking when I read about him in competition threads. Had all top skaters received the same treatment, I would be cool with him being sent. It has always been like that - all, or almost all, of the top 10 from Nationals got usually sent to smaller events to earn SB and ranking points in a less stressful environment. Not this year. In men, Shun, Sota, Kao, Tatsuya and Sena, all have been passed over, and I feel helpless anger at the injustice. It sadly doesn't look like the reason for the assignment is the proximity of Champery, because none of the other assigned JPN skaters train near their Challengers - Kazuki, Wakaba, Rinka and the others. It just looks completely random from JSF.

I know I sound like a broken record by now, but I absolutely and deeply despise JSF for giving a chance at 300 points for Challenger victory to precious Kinoshita darling Koshiro, then Kazuki, and NOONE else among JPN men. Well... he lost to Sota at every competition for the last several years, and has done worse than any other JPN boy at international events so far, so how else to boost him up the world standings than leave his non-favored rivals at home, and send their cherished one to international and easy events. And I actually used to like Koshiro. Now I can't stand him, purely because of the politicking and unfair candy he gets. May JSF rot in hell for that. Speedy recovery to Hiwatashi. I hope Young is alright. She looks sad in the photo, and judging by her quote, last season must have been draining for her. I hope she's getting help from both her close ones and professionals if she feels she hasn't been able to enjoy skating recently. I'm happy for Yelim, and she looks quite content. She's a graceful skater to watch. Mana... until recently another Kinoshita baby, now with Shoma's old coach, so points are guaranteed... not gonna watch. Saw her Gensan programs, was bored. But I bet Mai would have matched and possibly beat the Koreans and pretty much anyone else - if she got the opportunity this season, which she didn't.

Oh, wonderful, wonderful. Yes, it was such a smart idea to leave at home Japanese boys who can jump 90+ points in SP this early already, so that Gorodnitsky and others can accrue medals and hundreds of WS points, yay. JSF doesn't deserve its skaters. This makes me so angry.

So. JSF didn't only do dirty to Yuzuru, but now they're doing dirty to their other skaters, except for a random few who were lucky enough to have been selected. I hope JSF officials end up in hell for this. By the end of this season, each Selevko and Schott will have accumulated more world standing points than most among the Japanese elite who only got sent to GP. JSF are truly shameless.