<figure id="attachment_412336" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2500px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-412336"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="0b337adc"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/02/bbda049a0bdce1c195b777bd89df0cd5.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-412336" class="wp-caption-text">[Mone Chiba (19), a star candidate with increased grace] Set to compete in the World Championships for the second consecutive year this March. Born in Sendai, she began skating at the same rink as professional skater Yuzuru Hanyu.</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Rising Stars Chasing the World Champion</h2>
With the Milano-Cortina d&#8217;Ampezzo Olympics approaching next year, Japan&#8217;s figure skaters are shining brighter than ever.
&#8220;In the Grand Prix Final women&#8217;s singles last December, five of the six finalists were Japanese, demonstrating the depth of talent this season. With the Olympics ahead, the domestic battle for spots is intensifying,&#8221; says professional skater and commentator Takahito Mura.
At the All-Japan Championships, Kaori Sakamoto (24) secured her fourth consecutive title, but the rising stars chasing the world champion also showcased their brilliance.
&#8220;This season, Mone Chiba (19) has made significant strides. Her performances are nearly flawless, with very few deductions,&#8221; Mura notes.
Two-time Olympian and current commentator Akiko Suzuki is particularly impressed by the growth of Rino Matsuike (20).
&#8220;She has an incredibly soft, floating quality to her skating. On top of that, she has mastered fluid combination jumps, adding to her consistency.&#8221;
At the Milano Olympics, the return of Russia’s top skaters—who have been restricted from international competitions—is highly anticipated. Suzuki continues:
&#8220;With the Russian skaters in mind, Sakamoto is refining the density of her performances, while Chiba is working on mastering the quadruple jump. Each skater is leveling up, and even if the Russian athletes return, I believe it will be a competitive fight.&#8221;
The path to Japan’s first Olympic gold in 20 years is already coming into view.
<figure id="attachment_412339" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2500px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-412339"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="6275547d"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/02/2dcc433d95943b86d848de5282e201ad.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-412339" class="wp-caption-text">[Rino Matsuike (20) – Captivating Audiences with Her Graceful Skating] Her skating skills are among the best, demonstrating precise edge control even in the latter half of her performances when fatigue sets in.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_412338" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2335px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-412338"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="f871026b"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/02/88e9d8f695e56f539c2398798900bd22.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-412338" class="wp-caption-text">[Rion Sumiyoshi (21) – A &#8220;Quad Jumper&#8221; Showing Growth in Expression] Gaining attention early on for incorporating quadruple jumps into her programs, she claimed her first victory at the World University Games in January.</figcaption></figure>
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<figure id="attachment_412337" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2500px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-412337"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="a60e7b71"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/02/8a09aa73f916b0cf0f902ebfe1148a3e.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-412337" class="wp-caption-text">[Hana Yoshida (19) – A Versatile Performer and a &#8220;Hope for the Next Generation&#8221;] Following last season, she secured her second Grand Prix series win. Despite her young age, she skillfully adapts to a wide range of music, from classical to rhythmic pieces.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_412335" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2500px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-412335"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="299569fb"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/02/165776cdb9912b18df105ffddda3bf62.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-412335" class="wp-caption-text">[Wakaba Higuchi (24) – The Olympian Who Made a Dramatic Comeback] After competing in the 2022 Beijing Olympics, she took an extended break but made a remarkable return, reaching the Grand Prix Final and standing on the podium at the All-Japan Championships.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_412334" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2500px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-412334"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="03c6a8bc"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/02/8bdf39c413897a507808635639b92cb2.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-412334" class="wp-caption-text">[Left: Kaoruko Wada (15) / Center: Mao Shimada (16) / Right: Ami Nakai (16)] At last December’s Junior Grand Prix Final, Shimada achieved a three-peat victory, with Wada finishing second and Nakai third, sweeping the podium. Though Shimada and Wada are ineligible for the 2026 Olympics due to age restrictions, they have already proven their strength in senior-level competitions.</figcaption></figure>
From the February 21-28, 2025 issue of &#8220;FRIDAY&#8221;

 Fortximotto (2nd and 3rd photos) Kyodo News

 With the Milan Winter Olympics coming up next year, the competition for the national team in Japan is intensifying. At the All-Japan Championships, Kaori SAKAMOTO won her fourth consecutive title, and the rising stars are also shining brightly in their pursuit of the World Queen. The second half of the season is about to begin.

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