Sports

[ICE TIME] After Shoma Uno's Retirement, a New Generation of Skating Stars Moves into the Spotlight

Japanese skating standouts Yuma Kagiyama, Kao Miura and Shun Sato step into the forefront with ambitious goals for the 2026 Olympics and other big events.

Published

5 months ago

June 8, 2024

Jack Gallagher

From left, Yuma Kagiyama, Kao Miura and Shun Sato pose for a photo during the Prince Ice World skating show at Shin-Yokohama Skate Center in May 2024. (YUMA KAGIYAMA)

Read the full story on SportsLook - [ICE TIME] After Shoma Uno's Retirement, a New Generation of Skating Stars Moves into the Spotlight

There will be a passing of the torch in Japanese men's skating in the 2024-25 season following the retirement of Shoma Uno.

With the two-time world champion bowing out less than two years before the 2026 Olympics, the focus will now fall on the three skaters who will almost certainly make up the Hinomaru's team in Italy.

Barring injury, Beijing Olympic silver medalist Yuma Kagiyama, two-time Grand Prix Final competitor Kao Miura, and two-time Four Continents medalist Shun Sato will be the trio that represents Japan.

It has been clear for years that once two-time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu and Uno stepped away, the young trio of skaters would be stepping up on the big stage.

Ice Time vividly recalls covering the Kanto Summer Trophy in the summer of 2019 in Saitama where Kagiyama, Sato and Miura finished 1-2-3. It was apparent there that the skill level of these three was far advanced for skaters in the same age group in Japan.

Skating to New Heights: 2021 Marked a Breakthrough Year for Kagiyama

Kagiyama matured the earliest, earning a silver medal at the 2021 world championships at 17, then capturing silver in both singles and the team competition at the 2022 Beijing Olympics at 18.

Having been well trained by his father Masakazu, a two-time Olympian for Japan, Yuma's skating skills and technique are both sublime. The addition of Carolina Kostner to his team has enhanced Yuma's skating even more.

Overcoming an injury that cost him almost an entire season two years ago, the now 21-year-old Kagiyama is entering his prime.

Continue reading the full story on SportsLook.

Author: Jack Gallagher

The author is a veteran sports journalist and one of the world's foremost figure skating experts. Find articles and podcasts by Jack on his author page, and find him on X (formerly Twitter) @sportsjapan.