I'm sure they missed each other after Tomono-kun moved up to senior and Koshiro in Champery! It seems they're almost always together at every opportunity they get :dance:Hiya, just wanted to show you guys this cute pic published by Kazuki Tomono on his instagram! It was on the backstage of Medallists on Ice show.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Br1DrvOhUYZ/
Should be the other way around since Koshiro is now bigger than Kazuki, but nevermind...
I'm totally upset at one of the local networks here, which is supposed to distribute Fuji's broadcasts to Koshiro's hometown, Ehime, for not broadcasting it at all when our hometown hero is actually shown!!! Thanks a lot for that linkAnd here is Koshiro's performance at Medallists on Ice. As the juniors were skating part of the seniors' programs, Koshiro got Shoma's "Moonlight Sonata" :luv17:.
<translation to the below article (interviewed during GPF), part 2>
https://global.canon/ja/event/skatin...9/shimada.html
*Please feel free to correct mistakes and errors below
Moving to Switzerland alone at age 16, cooking for himself
“Detailed usage of body for positive effects”
- With 3A as your weapon, you were expected to flourish. Unfortunately you rested last season because of your left adductor muscle strain.
I was going to increase the amount of practice for stable 3As when I got injured. It was just around when I was moving to Switzerland, and I needed to sort out my physical condition first. Coach Stephane recommended me to a hospital/doctor in Toronto and I focused on recovery there.
- What made you decide to move to Switzerland?
Kotoe Nagasawa, my former coach since my elementary years, had to move to a rink in Shiga prefecture. When I couldn’t decide whether I follow her or not, Stephane sensei invited me, saying that he’d take care of me. I made up my mind believing that I could devote myself to skating if I go to Switzerland.
- You left your mother and moved to Switzerland alone at age of 16. What is your life like there?
As expected, the hardest part is food. Cheese and dairy products taste great there, but I need to eat more than just those. The area I live in is in the countryside with only one co-op store for groceries, which mainly sells big chunks of meat and not much variety. For now, I’m trying to eat a lot. (note: sort of quantity over quality comment here.) It would be a bit too frugal to live solely on meat, so I’m trying to eat vegetables too, but cooking for myself is quite hard. Still, my weight, which was only 45 kg before I moved to Switzerland, is now 55, and I hope I got a bit stronger.
- So you gained weight pretty much.
I’ve been growing taller since 7th grade (for 4 years), but finally it’s about to stop now. Right now I’m trying to strengthen my body with training to increase usable muscles. Stephane sensei makes off-ice training plans for me, and I barely keep up with them.
- What are some significant differences in Lambiel sensei’s lessons?
The biggest difference from the lessons in Japan (that I know) is that he focuses on pointing out which part of the body should be used for everything, including jumps, skating, and spins. In Japan, you just try some jumps in a blind effort, and then coaches would tell you to correct what looked bad in an appearance. Stephane sense's coaching is more detailed and internal (note: not sure what he meant by this particular word). He tells me things like, use this muscle here, put your weight on here, stretch this part, and so on, it’s very detailed. Thanks to him, I’ve been learning how to use my own body differently and I’m starting to see the fruits in my (competition) results now.
- It seems Lambiel sensei gives you a very detailed coaching.
He is extremely detail-oriented. When he finds just a tiny bit of difference in where I put my weight on or a small part of the body I used, he goes, “I know I’m repeating this, but you aren’t doing it right,” and he wouldn’t let that pass to move forward. I’m rather a methodical person myself, but he’s 10 times more so than I am. But that is an optimal method for on-ice training and I’m trying to keep up with him.
- So, that method is how you made a successful quad jump?
Before this season started, I was mainly practicing 3A, and my quad attempts were more like just for fun. Then I started trying it seriously, and I kind of got a hunch how to land it in a week. I managed it at this pretty good pace because thoroughly learning how to use my body on ice was effective, I think.
- Have you got the hang of 4T?
Stephane sensei gives me various advice through trial and error, showing me his own jumps, too. He can still land 4T without any warming-up. Deniss Vasiljevs and I both go like “when we’re still struggling to do it...(he does it so easily)” His quad is of good quality, showing us a great example.
Eyeing 4S and 4Lz
Rivalry: Competing and learning from each other
- You have a great friendly rivalry with Vasiljevs.
Yes, we always practice together competing each other, like who can jump (successfully) first or who can jump more, seriously but also playfully. As for off-ice training, Deniss-kun has a way stronger body and he deals with a significant amount. On the other hand, as for on-ice, I have a lighter weight which makes instantaneous movements easier, and Stephane sensei says “In terms of timing and feeling, Koshiro is a bit ahead.” We’ve been trying to improve by competing and inspiring each other.
- I hear that you’ve been practicing 4S as well.
I usually practice both 4S and 4T at about the same rate. Eventually, I’d like to have two different quads in competition, and I’m planning to try 4Lz in the near future. For the time being, I find quad jumps as something very difficult, but when/if I get to feel like I can jump them as nothing special, like triples, then I can compete with different quads in my program. I need to work on that from here on.
- At the end of the year 2018, All Japan Championships awaits you as one of the qualifier trials for the Junior Worlds. You will be competing with your hero, Daisuke Takahashi, with a huge age gap between 32 years old and 17 years old.
It’s a rare opportunity to compete with top skaters representing Japan and I’m looking forward to it. I’ll be focusing on my own performance, but if I get a chance to watch his performance, I’d like to watch it carefully and learn from him. I aim to do better than JGPF there at both SP and FS.
- Finally, tell me about your plan for the future again?
Moving to Switzerland, I realize that I’m lucky being allowed to do what I really like to do to the full extent. I’ve been able to enjoy every competition this season, and I think I’ve been growing mentally too. I’d like to improve my English ability, further deepen the trusting relationships with my coaches in Switzerland, and grow more.
Interviewed at GPF in December, 2018
~fin~
Glad to hear that! Thank you for the feedback!Thank you so much for the translation- Koshiro’s intelligence and thoughtfulness really does come through
I'd like to learn more about Champéry too! My knowledge is quite limited unfortunately.I got to know so much more about him as a person (amazing that he is that competitive) and even though I follow and read everything concering team Champéry for like two years now, even there he got us some insides that (i at least) didn’t know before!
That sounds great! I should probably read a lot more on Deniss too, as well as other Champéry skaters!Oh and - having spoken to Deniss myself - I really find similarities in their thoughtfulness and intelligence! I think they really make great training mates
https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2019/01/16/kiji/20190116s00079000178000c.html
JSF announced today (Jan 16 JST) a list of skaters assigned for international competitions in the second half of the season, and Koshiro is assigned for Bavarian Open, Oberstdorf, Germany (Feb 5-10) to get Senior TES minimum as he's the third alt for Worlds. (Satoko Miyahara, Yuuto Kishina, and Yuuna Aoki are also assigned there, and some other Japanese skaters for Challenge Cup and Coupe de Printemps too.)
It's going to be a little tough for him to prepare for Senior programs for Bavarian to get TES min and at the same time to prepare for the original Junior programs for Junior Worlds in early March, but considering how his last season was, I'm sure he's happy that he can try both and do his best. Ganbare!
Too bad, I can't read German and can't confirm it from German news source... Can someone enlighten me with further information later when they come up?
:luv17: Danke!!! Love you~! Please do not worry and no rush! I'm sure both the media and fans will be very busy for a while with Euros, American and Canadian nationals for a while and then 4CC and lot more anyways. I can be very patient! Thanks a ton in advance!If there are any German news I can post them here. But the last years news, official entries etc. always came very shortly before the event.
I'm pretty sure Koshiro will be perfectly fine with Coach Rob, he sure loves him too! (Though I sometimes do wish Stephane could make his doubles to show up everywhere he's wanted!) I remember reading somewhere about Koshiro enjoying watching and copying Rob's jumps as he rotates clockwise or whatever (I think he said clockwise or in a different direction from his) and as a result he's learned a better balance or something along that line. My impression from articles and his interviews, he seems to be proud and enjoying working with great coaches in Champery.And Stéph also can’t go there with him because he will be skating Art on Ice right then.. but he’ll hopefully be fine with Rob.
Yes you are correct, ime! Scroll up a few posts up and see my "Stars on Ice 2019 tour..." post, please!Hi Guys , I'm not entirely sure, but it seems like Koshiro will be in SOI in early April....
https://twitter.com/ro_ta_5511/status/1085808200400527360
Haha, that's very cute and funny. Thank you, KiraraChin!Cute fan art with Kazuki and Koshiro! https://twitter.com/nozomi500k4/status/1088466347678265344