Rikuryu Pair Shows Strong Bond and Calm Presence After World Team Trophy

Their cheerful personalities make them a perfect match

The final competition of this figure skating season, the “World Team Trophy in Figure Skating,” was held over four days starting April 17 at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium (Shibuya Ward).

Kaori Sakamoto (25), who served as the captain of Team Japan and competed in the women’s singles, put up a strong performance and finished third. Riku Miura (23) and Ryuichi Kihara (32), considered the pair closest to winning gold at next year’s Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, set a new personal best and took first place. Japan finished second overall, behind the winning United States.

“The ‘RikuRyu’ pair was formed in August 2019. Just three months later, they made their debut at the Grand Prix series ‘NHK Trophy,’ finishing fifth and proving their potential. In the 2021–2022 season, they claimed their first international victory at the season-opening Autumn Classic. They went on to place seventh at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, becoming the first Japanese pair to place in the top ranks,” said a sports newspaper reporter.

In the 2022–2023 season, the RikuRyu pair’s talent fully blossomed. They claimed their first Grand Prix win at Skate Canada and followed it with another victory at the NHK Trophy. Riding that momentum, they went on to win the Grand Prix Final.

“At the World Championships held this March, they achieved season-best scores in both the free skate and overall, winning the title for the second time in two years. Japan secured one spot for the Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics. Beyond their skills, their cheerful personalities and strong chemistry have earned them overwhelming popularity among fans,” the same reporter noted.

Friday Digital also captured the close relationship between the RikuRyu pair.

On the final day of the World Team Trophy, during the exhibition gala, the RikuRyu pair appeared last and brought the crowd to a frenzy. Afterward, they showed up outside the venue to greet the fans who had been waiting for them.

“These days, I’m the one under her thumb.”

Kihara was dressed in a tracksuit, carrying large bags under both arms, with a big suitcase next to him. Miura, on the other hand, was dressed entirely in black, wearing oversized sunglasses that gave her a celebrity-like vibe. As Kihara loaded their luggage onto the bus for their next destination, he looked just like a male manager supporting a female celebrity.

In an interview published in web Sportiva in April last year (April 19, 2024), Kihara was asked about their relationship and replied:

“At first, I was the one taking the lead—well, I still do—but lately, I feel like I’m the one under her thumb. I feel like my position has been getting weaker (laughs).”

Miura countered:

“No, no (laughs). At first, I used formal language all the time. But I think the walls between us have gradually come down.”

To that, Kihara responded:

“At the very beginning, I was always the one saying, ‘Are you okay, Riku-chan?’ (laughs).”

It’s said that Miura often forgets things, so Kihara checks their luggage. FRIDAY Digital witnessed exactly that kind of moment. With their exceptional compatibility, the RikuRyu pair has a high chance of becoming the first Japanese pair to win an Olympic medal.

 

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