Her weapon is the triple axel, but “I think she has the aerial sense that will eventually allow her to do quadruple jumps” (Mr. Takahito Mura). Winning in her first senior GP Series appearance, the remarkable feat of the just-17-year-old Ami Nakai was described as a shock by former figure skater Takahito Mura. “This was a competition where her major weapon, the triple axel, shone. I wondered how far she could continue, and in her second event she placed third. Often a skater will have one good result in either the first or second event, but to achieve consecutive strong results and secure a spot in the GP Final (2nd place) is extremely difficult. To do that in her first senior year is simply amazing.” Mr. Mura also praised Nakai’s mental strength. “You could feel her fearless, assertive attitude throughout the season. Even at the Final, where only the six winners compete, world champion Kaori Sakamoto (25) made mistakes. Yet in such an extreme setting, she was able to attack, to fully show what she has. A truly formidable skater has emerged.” The birth of a young queen.