Koshiro Shimada | Page 12 | Golden Skate

Koshiro Shimada

Tsurara

On the Ice
Joined
Dec 3, 2018
Interview with Koshiro in the latest issue of Spur magazine

Koshiro Shimada, Marching Forward

Captured by the lyrics about leaving one’s old self behind

At an airport on January 4th, 2019, the junior skater had a beaming smile on his face.
At Japan Nationals last December, he competed with senior skaters and placed 3rd after SP and skated the following day’s FS in the last group. Drawing a number for the last skater, the competition went dramatic and he placed 5th overall.

I placed 3rd at Junior Grand Prix Final in early December, and I was aiming to be in the last group for Nationals. But when that actually happened, I found out that I actually wasn’t mentally ready yet. As I skated with Daisuke Takahashi and Shoma Uno, I saw that the quality of their skating was high and my coarseness stood out. I accept that as my homework. Since I had successful quads at the warm-up and my condition was good too, I realized that the process of having extensive practices that would make me feel 100% confident was important.

When he was looking for a place to practice after his former coach’s relocation, Stephane Lambiel in Switzerland told him that he could be of help and he moved to Europe alone. He relocated (his home rink) in July, 2017.

Many great coaches there, and we could communicate even though I couldn’t understand English. I was sure that I could build even better relationships with them if I made enough efforts. I was injured at 2017-18 season and I could only participate in 2 competitions. Especially when I decided to withdraw from Japan Junior, I was very unhealthy (mentally), feeling lost and didn’t know what I wanted to do next. Then, Stephane said to me, "I’m just cheering for you, and while determining what’s needed for you in order to aim high up, I’ll be following you,"* and gave me a long hug for tens of seconds. I noticed my tears just spontaneously falling down.

Note: What Stephane supposedly said there is just my translation < from Spur's summarized interpretation for the article < from Koshiro's interpretation and interview responses. Please be warned that it may not match with what Stephane actually said.

When he was struggling with his injury, there was a number he was planning to use for an exhibition program: “Adios”, which he used for this season’s SP instead.

I liked Nathan Chen’s "Nemesis", his SP number during 2017-18 season, and I was listening to Benjamin Clementine’s album. "Adios" is one of the songs in it. The lyrics about leaving one’s old self behind, it just fit me perfectly at that time, and I asked Stephane to change it for SP. I keep in mind to be conscious of advancing forward strongly while skating, and that consciousness appears to have helped me doing successful jumps. I’m glad I met this song this season.

Training under Stephane has made his objectives clearer too.

First of all, aiming for Beijing Olympics in 3 years. Right now, I’m just barely managing my daily practices, but my motivation for it is becoming stronger. I’m also interested in being a choreographer in the future. Stephane always searches music on Spotify. That included, there are so many things I can learn from him. The other day, we watched the movie, "Bohemian Rhapsody" and he said, "we want to use Queen’s song, don't we?" I personally like "Who wants to live forever".


Costumes
- FS uses a mature number that he had never done before, so red and black as base colors.
- Vivid red for the SP costume, to represent cuts/wounds. His slender eight-head figure proportion helps his performance to look sharp on the ice.

---

ETA

Too Detailed but Better Not Miss, Q&A Match

Q You grew taller.
A Yes, indeed. Since I had a very relaxed time during New Years days, maybe I got taller again. Not sure if it's jumps that's affecting my height, but I get 2 to 3 cm shorter after practicing.

Q Are you in any way particular about your costumes?
A I’m emotionally involved with my SP “Adios”, and the image of it in my head is cuts/wounds. As for FS “Winter in Buenos Aires”, it was my first challenge to do such a mature piece, so I discussed it with Stephane too to decide. Oh, but I told him 'No Way' to a zebra costume beforehand. (laugh)

Q What is Stephane like at ordinary times?
A When we shared a room in Canada, he cleaned up the room, saying, “I’m cleaning it because I like to.” It was quite humbling, but I had a very comfortable time thanks to him, to the point that I see why everyone calls him “Mom”, no questions asked. (laugh) Lately I can speak out my own opinions too, and our relationship might have changed a little bit, from 'the sensei I admire/worship’ to 'my coach’, perhaps?

Q Any ideas for something special, like the pair program by Stephane and Deniss?
A Truth be told, Stephane says he already has an image of three of us skating together in his head. But, to do that, I need to achieve some good results and win the right to skate together with them. So I’m trying hard. We three have about the same height now, but you know what, Deniss’ body has got exceptionally beautiful curves!

Q Is Deniss your rival? Or best friend?
A I hope to become his (proper) rival some time soon, because you need one in the rural environment. On our day-off, we go to climb a mountain together. He really has a variety of hobbies, and bakes cakes every day. Stephane sometimes warns him, saying “You’re baking too many/much!” (laugh)


---

Have you ever heard of skaters shrinking after practicing because of jumps!?
 
Last edited:

Matccha

Spectator
Joined
Sep 24, 2017
Thank you very much for the translation (as always!), Tsurara! I have been trying to hunt down any info from the magazine since it came out, and this one certainly doesn't disappoint.

Lol'ed at Koshiro's answers about his height, zebra, and Mom Stephane... [emoji23]

I'm still amazed every time I think about how Koshiro moved to Europe by himself. I mean, when Japanese skaters move abroad it's usually North America, and often they will have at least a family member accompanying them. Switzerland seemed so...random. And that he did that when he was just 15, alone, when he doesn't know English or French. So I was always curious to find out how and why it happened, and now I'm really really glad that he seems to be settling in fine. Now, with his medals and increased publicity this season hopefully he'll have some extra money to find some furniture and change those light bulbs!

(also, if you don't mind me asking, do you happen to run the Team Champery accounts?)
 

icetug

Medalist
Joined
Apr 23, 2017
(Like, you don't expect to see Koshiro's name when you're reading someone's tweet about a 5 yr-old interview article of Javier and Thomas Verner...)
I've been learning that FS world is quite small ;) The skaters (especially the best ones) know each other fairy well as they participate in numerous shows off season together. That's the one Tomas and Javi could meet Koshiro, the then Novice Japanese Champion: https://gakuon.co.jp/bfe2014/guest.html

So, to summarize up:
Quite extensive research! What reminds me Reut's comment on a fan meeting with Stephane: she realised that she remebered dates and facts about Stephane better than he did :laugh:. You are on the right track to be like her in relation to Koshiro :agree2:.

Interview with Koshiro in the latest issue of Spur magazine
Thank you very much for the translation, the interview is so entertaining! Koshiro is genuinely witty and knows how to sell tastefull details :laugh:.

Have you ever heard of skaters shrinking after practicing because of jumps!?
It's quite possible. I mean usually the spine decreases by one percent during a day (because the oppressed intervertebral discs lose their elasticity), and a jump training can easily cause the same process in a much shorter time. So Koshiro, 175 cm high, can be 1.75 cm shorter after a training...
 

fourthdimension

On the Ice
Joined
Mar 3, 2017
also, if you don't mind me asking, do you happen to run the Team Champery accounts?)

No, that’s me and two other fans :)

I’m also so impressed by Koshiro’s bravery and I’m glad he’s adjusting well and getting more comfortable with Stéphane. I hope junior worlds is a success!
 

Tsurara

On the Ice
Joined
Dec 3, 2018
Thank you all for nice comments.

(also, if you don't mind me asking, do you happen to run the Team Champery accounts?)
I'm just a casual fan settled in his hometown, rooting for my hometown heroes.
(Thank you @fourthdimension for your heads up!)

I've been learning that FS world is quite small ;) The skaters (especially the best ones) know each other fairy well as they participate in numerous shows off season together. That's the one Tomas and Javi could meet Koshiro, the then Novice Japanese Champion: https://gakuon.co.jp/bfe2014/guest.html
Yeah, I'm starting to learn how small FS world seems to be. (And pardon me for misspelling Tomas' name!)

Quite extensive research! What reminds me Reut's comment on a fan meeting with Stephane: she realised that she remebered dates and facts about Stephane better than he did :laugh:. You are on the right track to be like her in relation to Koshiro :agree2:.
Ha ha, I wish :biggrin: but I'm not dedicated enough as she is or most people on this forum, so unlikely. There is a whole lot more in my spreadsheet, but a lot are missing.

It's quite possible. I mean usually the spine decreases by one percent during a day (because the oppressed intervertebral discs lose their elasticity), and a jump training can easily cause the same process in a much shorter time. So Koshiro, 175 cm high, can be 1.75 cm shorter after a training...
Wow, thank you for the tips! So is it his torso that shrinks?

Very nice, thank you!
 

icetug

Medalist
Joined
Apr 23, 2017
So is it his torso that shrinks?

As far as I can understand the process - yes, it is. I guess, thanks to the strengthening of spine supporting muscles, the intervertebral discs are less overloaded. So the muscular corset skaters work on can help also to keep their height :).
 

icetug

Medalist
Joined
Apr 23, 2017
"The world needs more Koshiro" - I love the statement so here is a set of photos by Verit from today's practice.
I wish him to impress audience with his performances and to enjoy his second JrWorlds.
Go Koshiro!
 

Tsurara

On the Ice
Joined
Dec 3, 2018
Unfortunately, they have apparently deleted his 4T+3T vid was deleted for some reason.

---

Sompo Japan Nipponkoa has been supporting Koshiro since a sponsorship agreement was made last September. And they will continue to support him as he moves up to senior in April, 2019, according to the press release announcement. They have just opened up a special site to cheer him even more.
Note: There is some vagueness in the original text due to the Japanese structure and my limited knowledge, and I cannot tell for sure whether they mean to start supporting him more in April, or they just continue to support him as he moves up to senior in April. I assumed they meant the latter, but I cannot vouch for it.

Tweet on it by Jpubb
https://twitter.com/JPubbInsurNews/status/1103503138173018113
Their official announcement in pdf
http://www.sjnk.co.jp/~/media/SJNK/files/topics/2018/20190306_1.pdf
Their official site for Koshiro (photos provided by Sports Nippon, aka SpoNichi)
https://www.sjnk.jp/company/sports/figureskating/pc/

---

Many beautiful tweets and photos and I haven't managed to follow them all yet, trying to make time.

Koshiro, please enjoy your adrenaline rush in FS!
 
Last edited:

Tsurara

On the Ice
Joined
Dec 3, 2018
A dedicated fan pointed out something I never noticed.
https://twitter.com/yuzunaho127/status/1103408554654883845
His ID photo looks like one from when he was still little. Maybe is it from 2 years ago?

So many beautiful photos and tweets around, but my favorite one is this by Shizuku-san
https://twitter.com/szk195_photo/status/1102968288932478976
there are just too many adorable and valuable ones to list them all.

---

Interview before SP
https://this.kiji.is/475819055313585249
…(snipped)…Koshiro Shimada revealed that he’s planning to have two 4Ts in his free program.
Shimada landed a successful 4T-3T in practice at the main arena and said, “The success rate has increased considerably. I want to show how much I’ve grown since the last time 2 years before (when he participated in JW for the first time and placed 14th).


After SP
1)
https://twitter.com/kyodonewsports/status/1103324777308139521
Koshiro Shimada’s result: 74.89 (stepping out with 3F, but got PB)
Coach Lambiel gave him a compliment for getting level 4 on steps
(by a Kyodo reporter)
2)
https://twitter.com/online_on_ice/status/1103568840737390592
Koshiro said, “(I’ll just go) aggressively” for free, already in a fighting mode. (by Fuji-tv-skate)
3)
https://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20190307/fgr19030700550001-n1.html
“I’m really relieved to see that I renewed my personal best. I went too deliberate (or paying too much attention) on 3F (where his landing wasn’t successful). As for FS, I want to go aggressive and perform to defeat myself.” (by Sanspo)

Many beautiful photos taken by fans. From media, the one Nikkan used (from getty image) looks good too.
https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/photonews/photonews_nsInc_201903070000110-0.html
 

Tsurara

On the Ice
Joined
Dec 3, 2018
Just another short news came in (which I completely missed checking because I was watching Universiade)
at Fuji's late night news show on Koshiro
https://twitter.com/kionmama6779/status/1103677384878747650
Newscaster talked about how his SP went (in short) and said, "But he has not given up yet!"
Koshiro: “Got a bit of a rough start (I’m behind), but I think I’m in the position where I can still bounce back in the latter half (in Free)."
 

AgnesR

On the Ice
Joined
May 26, 2017
Congratulations, Koshiro! :);)

He is the 8th! The score-137.89. The 2 falls, of course, affected the result, but his performance was better than some from the last group.
 

Tsurara

On the Ice
Joined
Dec 3, 2018
Haven't got enough time yet (wish I had 48 hrs a day) and I'll just list some links.

Uni-san has just uploaded an interview video, (Team Japan single skaters along with Tomoki Hiwatashi speaking in Japanese)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yb3PDschPE
Koshiro's interview starts at around 1:25.
“The fruit of this competition was that I was so close to perfectly executing two quads in a program. Considering my own condition, I was almost there, just one step short, although that fact made it even more frustrating for me. I experienced domestic competitions, and I thought they were quite high level. I expected I could compete in the world stage too. But, as I actually competed here myself, Tsuboi-kun and I were talking about this (and agreed), it made us realize that we weren’t quite there yet. I strongly believe that I can show you myself improving further in the near future.”

Koshiro's short video message thanking fans, by Kinoshita Group Instagram account (low quality)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BuxYVPAHTX5/
"Thank you for cheering me at JW. Now I'm looking forward to traveling around in Japan for Stars On Ice."

Koshiro on Fuji late night tv news
https://twitter.com/bebesho17/status/1104597367595126785
(The interview part is an edited short summary from the above interview)

Lovely Koshiro+Stephane pic by Fuji-skate-tv twitter
https://twitter.com/online_on_ice/status/1104282734984380416
Team Japan pics after JW by Fuji-skate-tv twitter
https://twitter.com/online_on_ice/status/1104925833989378049

Koshiro's side story on his father(deceased) and sponsor (I saw someone already summarized it somewhere.)
https://twitter.com/kyodonewsports/status/1104385029264814081
(An adorable old story on his father (when he was alive) in a blog by a towel company president in Ehime, which is quite well-known among Hanyu-kun's fans, can be read here. If google does too horribly and you haven't heard of this story yet, may translate upon requests.)

BS Fuji's segment on Koshiro with Yuto, Satoko, and Yuna Aoki, eating ice cream after Bavarian Open (Not included, but Yuto and Satoko had a 3-day camp in Switzerland before BO, likely with Koshiro.)
https://twitter.com/OolongteaO0/status/1104388433244389376
Koshiro interview after BO
https://twitter.com/OolongteaO0/status/1104388632406704130

Koshiro's gala exhibition program is an old program he did in January 2017 at SOI. The same program (and the same shirt and handkerchief?), but looked quite different because he grew, and his shirt and pants looked a bit tight.

...what have I missed? I'm sure I've missed a lot, but I need some sleep.

another edit after good sleep:
Ehime Shimbun (local newspaper from his hometown) on March 10
https://www.ehime-np.co.jp/article/ky201903060032000032
Published part is only the summary of the JW results. The paper itself (unpublished online) has a comment from Stephane Lambiel, "(Koshiro) has a different personality (from that of Hanyu or Takahashi). He's tall, slim, and elegant. I want to bring out the best part of him." And regarding his late father and the sponsor (just as the twitter said), Koshiro said "I want to grow/improve further, for my father's friend too, who's been supporting me. And I'm sure my father's watching over me right by my side as well."

(Just in case some of you haven't read or heard, his father passed away in 2015 spring, when he was 13. According to "Little Wings", when he performed Chaplin at 2015 Japan Junior (qualifier for Youth Olympic), Koshiro thought his father gave him energy to skate on, he could feel his presence right by his side as if he was embraced. Feeling so thankful about being able to skate, his emotions flooded that he couldn't hold his tears after his performance. He still believes that was the best performance of his ever in his life so far.)
 

Tsurara

On the Ice
Joined
Dec 3, 2018
Kinoshita Group instagram photos
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvcw_dnniXo/
Sports Hochi's article on Koshiro at the meeting
https://www.hochi.co.jp/sports/winter/20190325-OHT1T50184.html
Shimada, who placed 3rd at Junior Grand Prix Final, is moving up to Seniors next season. “This season was a preparation period to work hard in order to perform well as a Senior skater (in the next season). I went to watch WC and it made me want to be a skater who can compete in that atmosphere some time in the future,” he said.
For the next season, “There’re two kinds of quad jumps (Toe-loop and Salchow) I’m doing right now. I want to add more. I’m going to spend my off-season aiming at 4Lz for the next,” he said, showing serious willingness to learn the big guns.


AERA also covered Koshiro (and other junior skaters) before WC, but nothing new in its content.
https://dot.asahi.com/aera/2019031900028.html?page=1

Stephane had his IG story "On the way to Osaka!" (by Shinkansen) yesterday, and I guess they're preparing for SOI now.
 

KiraraChin

Medalist
Joined
May 5, 2018
Kinoshita Group instagram photos
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvcw_dnniXo/
Sports Hochi's article on Koshiro at the meeting
https://www.hochi.co.jp/sports/winter/20190325-OHT1T50184.html
Shimada, who placed 3rd at Junior Grand Prix Final, is moving up to Seniors next season. “This season was a preparation period to work hard in order to perform well as a Senior skater (in the next season). I went to watch WC and it made me want to be a skater who can compete in that atmosphere some time in the future,” he said.
For the next season, “There’re two kinds of quad jumps (Toe-loop and Salchow) I’m doing right now. I want to add more. I’m going to spend my off-season aiming at 4Lz for the next,” he said, showing serious willingness to learn the big guns.


AERA also covered Koshiro (and other junior skaters) before WC, but nothing new in its content.
https://dot.asahi.com/aera/2019031900028.html?page=1

Stephane had his IG story "On the way to Osaka!" (by Shinkansen) yesterday, and I guess they're preparing for SOI now.

Good luck to Koshiro in his first senior season!
 

surimi

Onward and forward, Sota!
Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 12, 2013
I'm torn on the 4Lz news. On the one hand, the sooner one starts learning difficult jumps, the better, but do we know if he's finished growing? He still seems a bit shaky on his long legs when landing, and I wouldn't want Koshiro to risk another long-term injury...
Anyhow, the next season should be an interesting one, and I hope for some serious fight for the #3 spot on the national team. Koshiro's established himself well in the mix. :popcorn:
 

Tsurara

On the Ice
Joined
Dec 3, 2018
https://soundcloud.com/user-9839300...shimada-tatsuya-tsuboi-mitsuki-sumoto/s-a20Yb
Jack Gallagher's Ice Time Pod Cast
Koshiro's interview starts at 36:00~ (only for a few mins including translation by Ayano)

Summary: Now that it's off-season for him, he feels refreshed. This season gave him good experience and confidence to compete in Seniors next season. He wants to have a lot of training/practice and come back in the next season with confidence. He feels he needs to change both his programs to make it more mature and to improve them more. Stephane is going to do the choreo again.

It made me laugh when Jack Gallagher asked him if he's planning to stay in Switzerland and continue working with Stephane, Koshiro gave him a short firm "YES" to him twice in no time. Why did he even ask that question if he's been watching Koshiro this season? :scratch:
 
Top