#yura matsuda

[veritphoto]

Yura Matsuda — Autumn: Petit Adagio (from The Seasons by Alexander Glazunov) FS at Rostelecom Cup 2018

[figureskatingcostumes]

Yura Matsuda's free skate costume (and there's a lot of it) at the 2016 Japanese Championships and 2016 Rostelecom Cup.

(Sources: Zimbio, Kimas, Ksenia Fomina and Zimbio)

[mangolon]

Seasons of Kamen Rider Where a Rider’s Actor Sang a Song

1971

Hiroshi Fujioka (Takeshi Hongo) sings the first opening for Kamen Rider - Let’s Go! Rider Kick!

1973

Hiroshi Miyauchi (Shiro Kazami) sings the opening for Kamen Rider V3 - Tatakae! Kamen Rider V3

1980

Shunsuke Takasugi (Kazuya Oki) sings the opening for Kamen Rider Super-1 - Kamen Rider Super-1

Shunsuke Takasugi (Kazuya Oki) sings the first ending song for Kamen Rider Super-1 - Hi o Fuke Rider Ken

1987

Tetsuo Kurata (Kohtaro Minami) sings the opening for Kamen Rider Black - Kamen Rider Black

Tetsuo Kurata (Kohtaro Minami) sings the ending theme for Kamen Rider Black: Hurry to Onigashima -  Ore no Seishun

1988

Tetsuo Kurata (Kohtaro Minami) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Black RX - Kuroi Yuusha

2002

Satoshi Matsuda (Ren Akiyama) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Ryuki - Lonely Soldier

Ryohei Odai (Shuichi Kitaoka) duets with Tomohisa Yuge (Goro Yura) for an insert theme for Kamen Rider Ryuki - Dear Friend

Ryohei Odai (Shuichi Kitaoka) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Ryuki - Kienai Niji

Takashi Hagino (Takeshi Asakura) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Ryuki - Spinnin’ Around

2003

Masayuki Izumi (Yuji Kiba) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Faiz - Cross a river

Mitsuru Karahashi (Naoya Kaido) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Faiz - Yume No Kakera ~ Romantico

Yuria Haga (Smart Queen) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Faiz - I wish

Yuria Haga (Smart Queen) duets with Yoshika Kato for an insert theme for Kamen Rider Faiz - Taiyou no Kage Tsuki no Yoru

Ken Mizorogi (Keitaro Kikuchi) sings an insert song for Kamen Rider Faiz - Hang on

In 2018, Kento Handa (Takumi Inui) and Kohei Murakami (Masato Kusaka) sing a cover of the opening for Kamen Rider Faiz - Justifaiz

In 2020, Kohei Murakami (Masato Kusaka) sings a cover of an insert song for Kamen Rider Faiz - Existence ~KAIXA-nized dice

In 2020, Kohei Murakami (Masato Kusaka) sings a cover of an insert song for Kamen Rider Faiz - Red Rock

In 2023, Kohei Murakami (Masato Kusaka) duets with Masahiro Inoue (Tsukasa Kadoya) for a cover of the opening for Kamen Rider Faiz - Jusitfaiz - Kaixa Day Ver.

2004

Kousei Amano (Sakuya Tachibana) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Blade - Rebirth

Ryoji Morimoto (Hajime Aikawa) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Blade - Take it A Try

Takayuki Tsubaki (Kazuma Kenzaki) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Blade - Wanna Be Strong

Takayuki Tsubaki (Kazuma Kenzaki) duets with Terunosuke Takezai for an insert theme for Kamen Rider Blade - Shout it Out

Takahiro Hojo (Mutsuki Kamijo) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Blade - Hero

2006

Yuki Sato (Arata Kagami) sings alongside RIDER CHIPS for an insert theme for Kamen Rider Kabuto - LORD OF THE SPEED

2007

Toshihiko Seki (Momotaros), Koji Yusa (Urataros), Masaki Terasoma (Kintaros) and Kenichi Suzumura (Ryutaros) all sing the second opening for Kamen Rider Den-O - Climax JUMP Den-LINER Form

Takeru Satoh (Ryotaro Nogami) duets with Toshihiko Seki (Momotaros) for an insert theme for Kamen Rider Den-O - Double-Action Sword Form

Takeru Satoh (Ryotaro Nogami) duets with Koji Yusa (Urataros) for an insert theme for Kamen Rider Den-O -  Double-Action Rod Form

Takeru Satoh (Ryotaro Nogami) duets with Masaki Terasoma (Kintaros) for an insert theme for Kamen Rider Den-O -  Double-Action Ax Form

Takeru Satoh (Ryotaro Nogami) duets with Kenichi Suzumura (Ryutaros) for an insert theme for Kamen Rider Den-O -  Double-Action Gun Form

Takeru Satoh (Ryotaro Nogami) duets with Shin-ichiro Miki (Sieg) for an insert theme for Kamen Rider Den-O - Double-Action Wing Form

Toshihiko Seki (Momotaros), Koji Yusa (Urataros), Masaki Terasoma (Kintaros), Kenichi Suzumura (Ryutaros) and Hochu Otsuka (Deneb) all sing an insert theme for Kamen Rider Den-O - Double-Action Climax Form

Dori Sakurada (Kotaro Nogami) duets with Daisuke Ono (Teddy) for an insert theme for Kamen Rider Den-O - Double-Action Strike Form

Hiroyuki Watanabe (Gaoh) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Den-O: Ore Tanjou! - Double-Action Gaoh Form

Yuuichi Nakamura (Yuto Sakurai) duets with Hochu Otsuka (Deneb) for an insert theme from Kamen Rider Den-O - Action-ZERO

Takeru Satoh (Ryotaro Nogami) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Den-O - Real-Action

In 2010, Yuuichi Nakamura (Yuto Sakurai) duets with Hochu Otsuka (Deneb) for the opening for Chou Den-O Episode Red: Zero no Star Twinkle - Action-ZERO 2010

2008

The band TETRA-FANG is created to create music for Kamen Rider Kiva, with Koji Seto (Wataru Kurenai) on vocals

TETRA-FANG performs an insert theme for Kamen Rider Kiva - Destiny’s Play

TETRA-FANG performs an insert theme for Kamen Rider Kiva - Individual-System

TETRA-FANG performs an insert theme for Kamen Rider Kiva - Shout in the Moonlight

TETRA-FANG performs an insert theme for Kamen Rider Kiva - Innocent Trap

TETRA-FANG performs an insert theme for Kamen Rider Kiva - Supernova

TETRA-FANG performs an insert theme for Kamen Rider Kiva - Roots of the King

TETRA-FANG performs an insert theme for Kamen Rider Kiva - Silent Shout

TETRA-FANG performs an insert theme for Kamen Rider Kiva - Message

TETRA-FANG performs an insert theme for Kamen Rider Kiva - Rainy Rose

TETRA-FANG performs an insert theme for Kamen Rider Kiva - Exterminate Time

TETRA-FANG performs an insert theme for Kamen RIder Kiva - Eternity Blood

TETRA-FANG performs an insert theme for Kamen Rider Kiva - No Matter Who You Are

TETRA-FANG performs an insert theme for Kamen Rider Kiva - Prayer~Message 2

TETRA-FANG performs an insert theme for Kamen Rider Kiva - Beginning~Message 3

TETRA-FANG performs an insert theme for Kamen Rider Kiva - Mind Garden

TETRA-FANG performs an insert theme for Kamen Rider Kiva - Lightning to Heaven

Koji Seto (Wataru Kurenai) is a featuring artist with Crimson-Fang, singing an insert theme for Kamen Rider Kiva - With you

Keisuke Kato (Keisuke Nago) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Kiva - Fight for Justice

Keisuke Kato (Keisuke Nago) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Kiva - Don’t Lose Yourself

Kouhei Takeda (Otoya Kurenai) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Kiva - This love never ends

Yu Takahashi (Yuri Aso) duets with Nana Yanagisawa (Megumi Aso) for an insert theme for Kamen Rider Kiva - Feel the same

Keisuke Kato (Keisuke Nago) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Kiva - IXA-cise

Kenji Matsuda (Jiro) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Kiva - Keep alive

Yu Takahashi (Yuri Aso), Kouhei Takeda (Otoya Kurenai), Nana Yanagisawa (Megumi Aso) and Keisuke Kato (Keisuke Nago) all sing an insert theme for Kamen Rider Kiva - Inherited-System

2009

Masahiro Inoue (Tsukasa Kadoya) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Decade - Ride the Wind

Kimito Totani (Daiki Kaito) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Decade - Treasure Sniper

In 2021, Masahiro Inoue (Tsukasa Kadoya) covers the opening of Kamen Rider Decade - Journey Through the Decade

In 2021, Masahiro Inoue (Tsukasa Kadoya) duets with So Okuno (Sougo Tokiwa) on the ending theme of Rider Time: Kamen Rider Decade vs. Zi-O - Decade Mansion’s Death Game - INSIDE-OUT Decade ver.

Koji Kikkawa (Sokichi Narumi) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider W - Nobody’s Perfect

Renn Kiriyama (Shotaro Hidari) and Masaki Suda (Philip) perform an in-universe cover of an insert theme for Kamen Rider W - Finger on the Trigger

Mitsuru Matsuoka (Katsumi Daido) sings the ending theme for Kamen Rider W Forever: A to Z/The Gaia Memories of Fate - W

Mitsuru Matsuoka (Katsumi Daido) sings the ending theme for Kamen Rider W Returns: Kamen Rider Eternal - cod E ~E no Angou

Mitsuru Matsuoka (Katsumi Daido) with Koji Kikkawa (Sokichi Narumi) for the chorus sings the ending theme for Fuuto PI - Tsumi to Batsu to Underground

2010

Shu Watanabe (Eiji Hino) sings alongside Maki Oguro for the opening for Kamen Rider OOO - Anything Goes! Special Edit

Shu Watanabe (Eiji Hino) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider OOO - Regret Nothing ~ Tighten Up

Shu Watanabe (Eiji Hino) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider OOO - Got to Keep It Real

Shu Watanabe (Eiji Hino) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider OOO - Ride On Right Time

Shu Watanabe (Eiji Hino) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider OOO - Sun Goes Up

Shu Watanabe (Eiji Hino) duets with Ryosuke Miura (Ankh) for an insert theme of Kamen Rider OOO - Time Judged All

Shu Watanabe (Eiji Hino) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider OOO - Shout Out

Shu Watanabe (Eiji Hino) duets with Akira Kushida for an insert theme of Kamen Rider OOO - Power to Tearer

Hiroaki Iwanaga (Akira Date) duets with Asaya Kimijima (Shintaro Goto) for an insert theme of Kamen Rider OOO - Reverse/Re:birth

Shu Watanabe (Eiji Hino) and Ryosuke Miura (Ankh) sing alongside Ken Matsudaira for the ending theme of Kamen Rider OOO Wonderful: the Shogun and 21 Core Medals - Ole! Te wo Tsunagou

In 2019, Shu Watanabe (Eiji Hino) duets with Ryosuke Miura (Ankh) for an insert theme of Kamen Rider Heisei Generations Final: Build & Ex-Aid with Legend Riders - Time Judged All ~ 8 Years Later

2013

Gaku Sano (Kouta Kazuraba) sings an insert theme of Kamen Rider Gaim - Rise Up Your Flag

Yutaka Kobayashi (Kaito Kumon) sings an insert theme of Gaim Gaiden: Kamen Rider Baron - Unperfected World

Mahiro Takasugi (Mitsuzane Kureshima) sings an insert theme of Kamen Rider Gaim - Point of No Return

Gaku Sano (Kouta Kazuraba) duets with Yutaka Kobayashi (Kaito Kumon) for an insert theme of Kamen Rider Gaim - Ranbu Escalation

Yutaka Kobayashi (Kaito Kumon) sings alongside Gaku Matsuda (Zack) and Saku Momose (Peko) for an insert theme for Kamen Rider Gaim - Never Surrender

Yutaka Kobayashi (Kaito Kumon) sings alongside Gaku Matsuda (Zack) and Saku Momose (Peko) for an insert theme for Gaim Gaiden: Kamen Rider Knuckle - Dance With Me

2014

Mitsuru Matsuoka (Yongo) sings the opening for Kamen Rider Drive - SURPRISE-DRIVE

Ryoma Takeuchi (Shinnosuke Tomari) sings alonside Yuu Inaba (Go Shijima) and Taiko Katono (Chase) for an insert theme of Kamen Rider Drive - Spinning Wheel

Mitsuru Matsuoka (Yongo) sings the ending theme for D-Video Special: Kamen Rider Yongo - time

Mitsuru Matsuoka (Yongo) sings the ending theme for Kamen Rider Drive: Surprise Future - re-ray

Mitsuru Matsuoka (Yongo) sings the ending theme for Kamen Rider Drive Saga: Kamen Rider Chaser - good bye little moon

Mitsuru Matsuoka (Yongo) sings the ending theme for Kamen Rider Drive Saga: Kamen Rider Mach and Kamen Rider Heart - eternity (~from SURPRISE-DRIVE)

2016

Ruka Matsuda (Poppy Pipopapo) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Ex-Aid - Pinple Pell

Ruka Matsuda (Poppy Pipopapo) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Ex-Aid - PEOPLE GAME

Ruka Matsuda (Poppy Pipopapo) sings the ending song for Kamen Rider Ex-Aid Trilogy: Another Ending - Para-DX and Poppy - Real Heart

Hiroyuki Takami (Masamune Dan) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Ex-Aid - JUSTICE

Hiroyuki Takami (Masamune Dan) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Ex-Aid - Wish in the dark

Hiroyuki Takami (Masamune Dan) sings the theme song for Kamen Rider Ex-Aid Trilogy: Another Ending - Genm vs. Lazer - Believer

Hiroyuki Takami (Masamune Dan) sings the theme song for Kamen Rider Genms - The Presidents - GAME CHANGER

2018

ISSA (SOUGO) is a featuring artist on Shuta Shueyoshi of AAA, singing the opening for Kamen Rider Zi-O - Over “Quartzer”

So Okuno (Sougo Tokiwa) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Zi-O - Zi-O, Toki no Ouja

Gaku Oshida (Geiz Myokoin) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Zi-O - FUTURE GUARDIAN

Keisuke Watanabe (Woz/White Woz) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Zi-O - Black&White

Shieri Ohata (Alpina Tsukuyomi) sings alongside Kamen Rider Girls an insert theme for Kamen Rider Zi-O - Tsuki no Michiru Toki

Hideya Tawada (Rentaro Kagura) sings alongside Sakuramen for the opening for Rider Time: Kamen Rider Shinobi - IZANAGI

ISSA (SOUGO) sings alongside Masayuki Tanaka, Shinichi Ishihara, Rica Matsumoto, Nanase Aikawa, Akira Fuse, YU-KI, AAA, Tourbillon, Gackt, Aya Kamiki, Takuya, Maki Oguro, Anna Tsuchiya, Shou Kiryuuin, Shonen no Kaze, Mitsuru Matsuoka, Kishidan, Daichi Miura and Beverly for the opening for Kamen Rider Heisei Generations Forever - Kamen Rider Heisei Generations Forever Medley D.A. Re-Build Mix

In 2021, So Okuno (Sougo Tokiwa) duets with Masahiro Inoue (Tsukasa Kadoya) for the ending theme of Kamen Rider Zi-O vs. Decade - 7 of Zi-O! - INSIDE-OUT Zi-O ver.

2019

Manyard and Blaise Plant (MetsubouJinrai), the lead singers of MONKEY MAJIK, sing the ending theme of Zero-One Others: Kamen Rider MetsubouJinrai - S.O.S.

Manyard and Blaise Plant (MetsubouJinrai), the lead singers of MONKEY MAJIK, sing the ending theme of Zero-One Others: Kamen Rider Vulcan and Valkyrie - Frontier

2020

Syuichiro Naito (Touma Kamiyama), Takaya Yamaguchi (Rintaro Shindo) and Ryo Aoki (Kento Fukamiya) all sing an insert theme for Kamen Rider Saber - Rewrite the Story

Rina Chinen (Sophia) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Saber - Story never ends

Syuichiro Naito (Touma Kamiyama), Takaya Yamaguchi (Rintaro Shindo) and Ryo Aoki (Kento Fukamiya) sing alongside Asuka Kawazu for the ending theme of Kamen Rider Saber: Trio of Deep Sin - Bittersweet

Robin Furuya (Storious) sings alongside Kairu Takano and Koji Saikawa for an insert theme for Kamen Rider Saber - Rock Scissors Paper

2021

Subaru Kimura (Vice) is a featuring artist on Da-iCE, singing the opening for Kamen Rider Revice - liveDevil

Kentaro Maeda (Ikki Igarashi), Wataru Hyuga (Daiji Igarashi) and Ayaka Imoto (Sakura Igarashi) with backing vocals by Subaru Kimura (Vice) sing an insert theme for Kamen Rider Revice - Go with the flo

Kentaro Maeda (Ikki Igarashi) and Subaru Kimura (Vice) sing an insert theme for Kamen Rider Revice - VOLCANO

Kentaro Maeda (Ikki Igarashi) duets with Junya Komatsu (Hiromi Kadota) for the ending theme of Kamen Rider Revice the Mystery - Without You

Junya Komatsu (Hiromi Kadota) sings the ending theme for Kamen Rider Revice: Dear GAGA - Without You Dear GAGA ver.

Wataru Hyuga (Daiji Igarashi/Kagerou) sings an insert theme of Kamen Rider Revice - Mirage Mirror

Ayaka Imoto (Sakura Igarashi) duets with Miku Ito (Lovekov) for an insert theme of Kamen Rider Revice - Cherry-ish!

Subaru Kimura (Vice) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Revice - #GekiyaVice

Hikari Kabashima (Hana Natsuki) sings the ending theme of Kamen Rider Jeanne and Kamen Rider Aguilera With Girls Remix - Riot in bloom

Subaru Kimura (Vice) is a featuring artist on Da-iCE, singing the ending theme for Kamen Rider Revice: Battle Familia - Dance Dance

Noritaka Hamao (George Karizaki) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Revice - George Karizaki’s Rider System

Noritaka Hamao (George Karizaki) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Revice - George Karizaki’s Rider System Dark ver.

Kentaro Maeda (Ikki Igarashi) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Revice - Kimi wa Sono Mama de

Wataru Hyuga (Daiji Igarashi/Kagerou) duets with Junya Komatsu (Hiromi Kadota) for the opening theme for Kamen Rider Revice Forward: Kamen Rider Live & Evil & Demons - Come alive

Kentaro Maeda (Ikki Igarashi), Wataru Hyuga (Daiji Igarashi/Kagerou), Ayaka Imoto (Sakura Igarashi), Junya Komatsu (Hiromi Kadota), Hayata Seki (Olteca), Kurodo Hachijoin (Go Tamaki), Hikari Kabashima (Hana Natsuki) and Noritaka Hamao (George Karizaki) all sing the ending theme for Kamen Rider Revice Forward: Kamen Rider Live & Evil & Demons - Love yourself

Noritaka Hamao (George Karizaki) duets with Hayata Seki (Olteca) for an ending theme for Kamen Rider Juuga VS Kamen Rider Olteca - Itoshi no Frenemy

2022

Hideyoshi Kan (Ace Ukiyo) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Geats - Star of the Stars of the Stars

Ryuga Sato (Keiwa Sakurai) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Geats - I Peace

Yuna Hoshino (Neon Kurama) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Geats - Beat of My Life

Kazuto Mokudai (Michinaga Azuma) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Geats - Undead Fire

Hideyoshi Kan (Ace Ukiyo) duets with Fuku Suzuki (Ziin) for an insert theme for Kamen Rider Geats - Live for the moment

Weather Hearts, which has Tsubasa Sakiyama (Win Hareruya) and Kaname Futaba (Hiroki Amamiya) on vocals, performs an insert theme for Geats Extra: Kamen Rider PunkJack - ROLLIN’ ROLLIN’ PUNK KING

Ryo Kitamura (Niram) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Geats - Non-fiction

Kazuto Mokudai (Michinaga Azuma), Ayaka Namiki (Beroba), Dai Goto (Daichi Isuzu) and Shihou Harumi all sing an insert theme for Kamen Rider Geats - Odds n’ Ends

Ryuga Sato (Keiwa Sakurai) duets with Hideya Tawada (Rentaro Kagura) for the opening theme for Geats Extra: Kamen Rider Tycoon Meets Kamen Rider Shinobi - IZANAGI Geats ver.

Ryuga Sato (Keiwa Sakurai) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Geats - IZANAGI - Ballad Version

Hideyoshi Kan (Ace Ukiyo), Ryuga Sato (Keiwa Sakurai), Yuna Hoshino (Neon Kurama) and Kazuto Mokudai (Michinaga Azuma) all sing alongside Kokoro Aoshima for the opening theme for Kamen Rider Geats: Jyamato Awakening - CREATORs

2023

Jyutaro Yamanaka (Zukyumpire) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Gotchard - Kimi ni Zukkyun

Seiichiro Nagata (Houou Kaguya Quartz) sings an insert theme for Kamen Rider Gotchard - Living Legend

[myjunkisyuzuruhanyu]

Asahi shared a story about Shoma's Monkey keychain

The Monkey keychain is a gift by Shoma's friend Yura Matsuda!

Longtime skating compatriot at Chukyo University!

(Translation by @shoma_uno_ / pic of Shoma's backpack and Yura's cast from Feimeicheng's Instagram)

⬇️This is from Yura's Instagram at Nagoya Festival 2022

[jennibeultimate]

The Chukyo Skate Club @ Nagoya Festival 2022

[rabidline]

220228 ||  marin_honda Instagram Story

Rin-chan, Yura-chan Thank you for your hard work for a long time  ⛸️ 💜 💜 💜 😢

[figureskatingfanblog]

Japanese skater Yura Matsuda has announced her retirement from competitive figure skating.

[cvanscva]

Lol look at Satoko and Kazuki and Yura in the back 😂😂😂

🖖🏻🖖🏻🖖🏻🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵🇨🇭🇺🇸🇨🇭

[tanaka-keiji]

(x)

[magicaleggplant]

Team Japan Grand Prix & NHK press conference

[fyshomauno]

Shoma and fellow team Japan members at the skate Canada sp draw yesterday (x) Shoma will skate second to last

[figureskatingcostumes]

Yura Matsuda's free program dress at the 2019 Japanese Nationals.

(Source: sn_figure)

[shoma-uno]

2018.10.07 Team Japan Grand Prix press conference (x, x, x)

Shoma's theme for the season: "Believe!"

[myjunkisyuzuruhanyu]

Yura Matsuda and Shoma Uno @ Nagoya Festival 2022

(Photo by Yura's Instagram - Translation of her post below)

[tomonokazuki]

I’m so exhausted from Skate Canada, and I still have the gala today!

This was an expensive trip (it’s basically my vacation for this year), but it was so worth it to see so many amazing performers.

All of the skaters from Team Japan were just phenomenal.

I wasn’t very familiar with Yura before this comp, but despite having a lower technical level than many of the others, she was an absolute joy to watch live. Her short program in particular. It’s such a unique and charming program, and her dress is the cutest thing. I now stan an adorable Minnie Mouse.

Mako was the best kind of surprise. I think I ended up overlooking her with Rika moving up to seniors at the same time, and I’m sorry I did. I still hate her SP music, but she sold the skate and I’m still absolutely speechless after her free last night. She had to close out an amazing event, and she did it with a warhorse that many other Japanese ladies have done very well in the past. She took what could have become a “well it’s not as good as ___” and made it her own. We were all on our feet applauding for her and it was well deserved.

Wakaba was just insane to see skate live. She looks fast and powerful on screen but in person it’s so much more. Her short program, which I was still on the fence about, completely sold me live, and even with the errors I loved her free. I got to see the dress up close during morning practice and it is so stunning and I love that she picked a skirt like the one from black Skyfall, it works so well on her.

Shoma was of course amazing. He has such power in both his skating and expression that is magnified in person. His fall in the short was terrifying live though, I was above the kiss and cry, all the way across the arena and I heard his head hit the boards. But he got himself up and finished. His tenacity never fails to impress me. Moonlight Sonata though, I was on the empty and boring camp before, but live the quiet “empty” moments have a much different quality that’s hard to describe. The ending slipped a bit, but he clearly gave his all to put out an impressive skate. (Seriously though, I want to find whoever suggested the time reduction for the men’s free and make them drag rocks up a hill till the end of time. There were like, two men who weren’t totally shattered by the end)

Ahh, and Kazuki, light of my life. Seeing him live and in person was more than I could have imagined, even if he didn’t have the most technically perfect skates, his ability to entertain and connect with the audience is so unique. Seeing the love he received from the crowd was the best. Whoever threw him the leprechaun hat is my hero. Riverdance live was insane even with the errors, so once he gets the jumps smoothed out it’s going to be unthinkable. I know he can do it. In the morning practice he went clean save a tiny stumble coming out of the lutz. Even though I’m sure he’s disappointed with his performance, I hope he knows how much joy his skating brought to his fans.

There were so many non-Team Japan things that were amazing and awesome too, but I could go on for hours, and I’m really not all that interesting. 😂

[moonstarphoenix]

Rostelecom Cup Part 1

I know, I’m awful. I still need to cover NHK Trophy, but I’m going to go ahead and do the Rostelecom Cup while it’s live.

Plus, GRACIE GOLD IS BACK if you haven’t heard. I’m excited to see how a grown and mature Gracie does after the crap she’s dealt with the last two years. So let’s get started.

The stream is showing the Russian legends. Alexei Mishin, Tatiana T. who coached Sasha Cohen and Johnny Weir for a time, and holy cow is that Alexei Yagudin? Russia coming out for their Grand Prix that’s for sure.

Yura Matsuda will start us off. We saw her earlier in the season. I still think this is a cute dress. Her jumps are so low, how does she get them rotated? Her choreography doesn’t fit the music. It’s joyful and there’s tapping in the middle of it but she just keeps gliding like it’s a vocal part of the song. Nice but just not competitive.

Gracie is next. Her long awaited comeback! And another I Put A Spell on You. Yay for Gracie not doing another princess, classic number. Doubles. That’s not good. Ouch that’s a hard fall. Definitely a more mature program for her. Damn babe. It looks like she’s just giving up. She’s nervous. That’s not a happy face. She looked like she was just marking it through for practice. Here’s hoping she can come back in the long. The most important thing for her is to not get in her head again like at Worlds. She said it best. Shit.

Alexia Paganini from Switzerland will follow that. She’s not here to play. Lots of speed and a big smile throughout to boot. She’s not bad. Not a big fan of the music though. Good score for someone not from a top country. Good for her! Lord her technical score is as high as Gracie’s total score.

The first Russian lady is next. Sofia Samodurova has an interesting SP program. I like the fake tattoo gloves. That’s something you don’t see often on skaters. There are very few classic ballet, princess programs this year I’ve noticed. I like Sofia’s skating. I hope she can compete with the top Russian ladies. Like that wink at the judges at the end. Very in character.

Polina Tsurskaya follows her countrywoman. She starts her programs like Evgenia. She skates with a lot more joy than you normally see in the Russian ladies. Eh, okay.

Ouch those scores after the first group. Poor Gracie. Here’s hoping she can at least move up. Another thought. I know Karen Chen withdrew (another potential great that just gets too much in her head. She should be the top USA girl, not Tennell). Why doesn’t the USA send another girl?

Eunsoo Lim is someone I’ve never seen and she starts this second group. She’s a Raf student and very pretty. Oh she’s a lovely skater! Lots of speed and very expressive. Bobbles on the jumps. Not perfect in any means but a gorgeous program. She’ll be one to watch in the coming years.

We’ve seen Mako Yamashita already this season, but I can’t remember her. Interesting music, but another program that doesn’t seem to fit the music. Okay.

This should be Alina Zagitova’s competition. There’s no reason she shouldn’t run away with it. I acutally really like this dress and program on her. It might help that I love Phantom of the Opera (though NEVER see Love Never Dies. That was the worse Broadway musical I’ve ever seen). Lovely program and fabulous job as normal for Alina.

Yuna Shiraiwa is skating to very interesting music. Yuna doesn’t get high off the ground either but damn if she doesn’t complete her jumps. Well, that was cute. She’s adorable.

Elizabet Tursynbaeva didn’t impress me last time I saw her, but her dress is gorgeous. Her spins are super fast but she needs some refinement, polishing. I can see the potential but still not impressed with her yet.

So that’s the ladies’ short programs. I’ll be back sometime tomorrow for the long. Till next time.

I will eventually get to NHK Trophy. I want to hear how Ashley does with commentary but it probably won’t be as detailed as this is. I don’t think I’m going to do men for this competition either. It’s Hanyu’s 100% and there’s no men I’m really interested in. Plus, I’m still recovering from the flu that I had this week so, I’m sorry if anybody’s looking for me to cover them.