Koshiro Shimada

icetug said:

Great Koshiro met media interest. Well deserved.

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The last few days, media have been showing him quite generously. (though not as much as Shoma or Rika)
Even an early morning news today did a bit of Koshiro summary, and I was almost late for work watching it!
Someone recorded and uploaded it on a Twitter, though it was all old pieces edited from local news previously broadcasted (not nationwide)
I don't have enough time to cover them all for now. Maybe later...
edit: actually someone uploaded it on youtube too. Here it is.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=PrldWi34eDc

Just a little bit, according to a few recent articles, Koshiro's favorite dish to cook (that he claims he's good at cooking) is Menchi-katsu(If I'm not mistaken, he's cooked some for Dennis before?), and some mentioned that he likes eating chicken breast strips (sasami). He's having a bit of hard time cooking meat his way in Champery because meat sold there is in big blocks/chunks, but not thinly sliced like what we have in Japanese supermarkets.

Fuji TV Skating uploaded a new Koshiro pic for coming Nationals.
https://twitter.com/online_on_ice/status/1072778338643533824

From Shoma's message on his blog:
https://shoma-uno.com/info#909

"I'm glad that I had great days with Koshiro (during GPF), who now trains in Switzerland!
I've hardly done anything for him as his senior, but as a gamer friend who enjoy playing games with him everyday,
we both would like to do our best with both skating and games!"

Is there any chance Koshiro would be at the gala for Nationals (Medalists on Ice)?

kokobo said:

Is there any chance Koshiro would be at the gala for Nationals (Medalists on Ice)?

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He's a medalist (bronze at Japan Junior), he will be on MOI this year as well as Tatsuya Tsuboi (gold) and Shun Sato (silver).
(For men's and ladies' single, 1st to 3rd at Japan Junior are all invited. The rest will be announced after the Nationals.)

Loving Koshiro's new haircut :luv17:

Rika showed us another photo of team Japan at banquet

Koshiro's page from Fuji TV's skaters' list for Japan Nationals.
(You can click a tiny photo below to go to other skater's record)
His personal best scores at 2018-19 season(as of Dec 10):

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Rehero-san uploaded a local news segment on twitter which includes Koshiro's interview
https://twitter.com/rehero1864/status/1072061825338957825
Koshiro's comment:
"I only got lucky to get the bronze, so I was both pleased and disappointed at the same time. Still, being on the podium is a great experience for me. I saw so many people cheering for me and that made me realize I'm where I am now all because of their support. It really made me want to be on the very top of the podium the next time. I still don’t know when I’m moving to senior yet, but I want to learn Senior-level skating to perform well."

Another local news segment after Koshiro came back from Canada
Koshiro's comments:
"I had a great experience. Being on the podium was just a luck and a surprise for me, but it really made me want to be at the very top of the podium in my own."
"I noticed so many things I lack to have a satisfying performance I'm aiming for. I'd like to try harder and renew my personal best scores at coming Nationals, to go for a better rank."


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The Koshiro summary uploaded on youtube that Fuji TV broadcasted a few days ago at their morning show
(skipping the general profile and recent results.)

-Old parts edited from local news:
Koshiro 4 yrs ago in 2014, at Shūjitsu Junior High School in Okayama
He's 13 yrs old and the first year student, his height only 146 cm at that time and wore glasses.
His classmates said: "He's so funny." "He starts dancing out of blue." "He's got a funny aura"
At his former home rink in Okayama
He says, "(because I'm so short), I'm trying to perform big to show myself bigger. Otherwise, the audience wouldn't (notice me and) be delighted (enough to raise cheers)"
To prepare for his new programs, he reads books on the story he's performing in order to grow his own imagination for his expressions.
The book title says "Don Quixote by Cervantes" and it has lots of post-its.
Koshiro "This book has about 400 pages" and amazed the reporter.

-Recent parts edited from Fuji's summer report videos on senior camp (and maybe on junior camp)
Koshiro's comments:
"Joining the senior camp, I learned a lot, like the differences between senior and junior level in skating and everything from the top skaters there."
"I'm practicing to level up all the elements under my coach, Stephane Lambiel." (This part may be from Swiss video)
"(Stephane is) a very reliable coach. He teaches me lots in details for both training and techniques, and We've been building a great relationship of trust."
"In order to compete at Seniors, I'll need quads. So, for the time being, I'm practicing, looking further into the future."

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"I’ll bring a gold medal home" Local newspaper article on Koshiro (Ehime Shimbun)

- As you were 4th at SP, you were the first to skate at FS. How did you fare on your challenge?

I had a very good condition at the morning practice, and I’m afraid that made me a bit too ambitious (over-confident) right before I went on the ice. I’m glad that I got on the podium, but I’d like to get a gold in my own the next time.

- At FS, you had a successful 4T for the first time at a competition while you fell on 3F.

I couldn’t stay positive (got weak in spirit) at the last part. I’ll try to keep my concentration up till the very end the next time.

- You left Ehime for Okayama for your skating career. And now you continue your path in Switzerland.

The environmental changes were really tough and hard for me, but I actually feel that such experiences have helped me to grow as a skater and most of all as a person. I’m very grateful to all the people who are supporting me to have this life of mine.

- Any messages to your fans?

I’d like to say I’ll try harder to show them a better performance. I’m pleased with the result, but it feels like the results got ahead of my own ability/skills. I want to have a good performance that I can be proud of, aiming to bring home a gold medal.

- All Japan Championship (Nationals) starting from 20th will be the last qualifying trial for the World Juniors. What’s your target in mind?

Definitely I’m aiming to get the (last) ticket to the World Juniors, but I’d also like to bring out all I’ve got in the competition. I’m going to enjoy it fully with all my might.

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Summary of Koshiro by a local newspaper(Ehime Shimbun) to fill in some missing info on the first page of this thread.
(skipping the general profile and recent records)
from 1:05
Currently Koshiro is 17 yrs old, 2nd year student at Shūjitsu High School in Okayama.
He belongs to Kinoshita Group.
His height is 174 cm. (note: I'm suspecting he is now a bit taller, like 175 or 176)

At age 5, he skated for the first time at Iyotetsu Sports Center (local skating rink for winter only) in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture
At age 6, started taking skating lessons there. (winter-only classes)
He moved to Okayama when he was in the 4th grade at elementary, to train under his former coach, Nagasawa, and won Asia Open Novice, his first international competition, when he was in the 6th grade.
He moved his base to Switzerland in May 2017 to train under Stephane Lambiel.

Thank you very much , Tsurara, for all the information! Hopefully Koshiro will have a great JN experience!

Woot! Koshiro will be competing at Inter-High (high school championships) too this season! (January 24-27, 2019)
http://www.chukyo.ed.jp/ih68fs/index.html

Here is a PDF file of skaters list.
(He's listed as representing Okayama, because his school's there.)

Tsutomu kun, Koshiro's friend and another skater in Okayama, has uploaded a pic with Koshiro and Stephane with cute messages

https://www.instagram.com/p/BrjeRj5BMua/
"Stephane, thank you~! Koshiro-kun's 4T, 4S are way too good! Looking forward to Nationals this year"

https://twitter.com/sutaba1212/status/1075369193069961216
"Koshiro, Ganba daze (=ganbare), I'll be shouting for you (at Nats)"
"#As for 'height', #I still beat him #lol"

I've been posting too much lately...I hope I didn't scare people away.

Tsurara said:

Tsutomu kun, Koshiro's friend and another skater in Okayama, has uploaded a pic with Koshiro and Stephane with cute messages

https://www.instagram.com/p/BrjeRj5BMua/
"Stephane, thank you~! Koshiro-kun's 4T, 4S are way too good! Looking forward to Nationals this year"

https://twitter.com/sutaba1212/status/1075369193069961216
"Koshiro, Ganba daze (=ganbare), I'll be shouting for you (at Nats)"
"#As for 'height', #I still beat him #lol"

I've been posting too much lately...I hope I didn't scare people away.

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Thank you for the posts and translations!

Tsurara said:

I've been posting too much lately...I hope I didn't scare people away.

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Don't worry, Tsurara, it's much appreciated

Good luck to Koshiro at nationals!

Tsurara said:

I've been posting too much lately...I hope I didn't scare people away.

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No no, please keep updating us, I appreciate what you do. Good luck to Koshiro at Nationals! If he skates clean, I can see him as high as 4th.

Many photos of Koshiro at official practice (two with Stephane) here

He's skating the second(!) of the first group tomorrow, followed by Tatsuya and Shun. Koshiro, please enjoy and show us what you've got!



edit:
By the way, can someone tell me where(or if) I could find a thread for Team Champery...?

There is no team Champéry thread yet, but it would be a good idea

Tough competition in group 1, among the junior podium finishers! Good luck, Koshiro!

What a good job by Koshiro in the SP

Koshiro was excellent in SP, getting 2nd technical score and nice PCS - and... he's 3rd with only Shoma and Daisuke ahead :hap93:. Wonderful news! Fingers crossed for FS .

His SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLJBcKV9ReI

EDIT: He will start as last in FS. Quite a change after today's number 2 .

wohuu!! Super excited for Koshiro!! Great Job today! Skating last will be difficult...
that will be an exciting Christmas morning...

A generall question...
I think it’s not possible for Koshiro to get seleceted for 4CC or even worlds, because he hasn’t done any international senior events... right?

Ladybug89 said:

wohuu!! Super excited for Koshiro!! Great Job today! Skating last will be difficult...
that will be an exciting Christmas morning...

A generall question...
I think it’s not possible for Koshiro to get seleceted for 4CC or even worlds, because he hasn’t done any international senior events... right?

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Koshiro and Daisuke both don't have the minimums. If I'm not mistaken, they could still get these for 4CC by 17 January, which means that two ISU competitions are an option: Mentor Toruń Cup and EduSport Trophy. I'm not sure the JpnFed would go that route but there's still some time to get that minimum TES.

DenissVFan said:

Koshiro and Daisuke both don't have the minimums. If I'm not mistaken, they could still get these for 4CC by 17 January, which means that two ISU competitions are an option: Mentor Toruń Cup and EduSport Trophy. I'm not sure the JpnFed would go that route but there's still some time to get that minimum TES.

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Thanks a lot for your quick answer...
Let’s see what happens tomorrow and then think further if that possibility still exists...

just hoping he gets his quad again tomorrow and stays focused then..

https://twitter.com/akimi1046/status/1076453399686656001
Koshiro's 3A by I-Scope
Distance: 2.50 m
Height: 0.49 m
Landing Speed: 19.1 km

Koshiro and super-excited Stephane at Kiss & Cry
https://twitter.com/yp1_ydct/status/1076383485139382273
...Is Stephane repeating "sugoi!" in Japanese? or is it something else I'm mishearing?

https://twitter.com/ITsubakiya/status/1076447270751465472
A fan gave Koshiro this green stuffed frog(s), called "Ippei-kun". Do you see it?
It's a mascot character from Ehime prefecture (his hometown). It is mainly used by a local broadcasting company lately and Fuji tv probably wouldn't like to show it much.

An amazingly greatest-ever-looking photo of Koshiro by Sponichi
https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2018/12/22/gazo/20181222s00079000242000p.html

Koshiro's interview after SP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFdG0QqGUwI
Koshiro says he "might" do 2 quads, but haven't decided yet.
(Actually, right after the interview, the camera caught Stephane waiting for Koshiro and amazed us viewers. Too bad that part wasn't included here.)

The drawing session after the evening
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUmS_7ePgcw
Shoma drew 22(3rd from the last), Daisuke drew 23(2nd from the last), which left 24 for Koshiro to pick, no choice! (he's skating the last.)

Here is another interview article by Canon, it's quite interesting. (sorry, haven't got time to translate it for now.)
https://global.canon/ja/event/skating/interview/2018_2019/shimada.html

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fourthdimension said:

There is no team Champéry thread yet, but it would be a good idea

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It would be great if there is one, it's been quite difficult (at least for me) to get news from Champery or learn what's happening there.