Shun Sato (left) and Kao Miura in action at the 2024 Japan Championships in Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture. (©KYODO)
Read the full story on SportsLook - [ICE TIME] Struggles of Shun Sato and Kao Miura at the Japan Championships Create Drama for Olympic Spots
Shun Sato and Kao Miura came into the recent Japan Championships as virtual locks to make the team for this season's world championships and move closer to clinching berths on the Hinomaru's team for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
After Beijing Olympic silver medalist Yuma Kagiyama, the two young guns possess the most talent among Japan's male skaters. However, neither Sato nor Miura performed to their abilities at the event in Kansai.
The 20-year-old Sato finished a disappointing seventh, while the 19-year-old Miura came in eighth. Despite his showing, Sato was still tapped to be on the Japan squad for the worlds in Boston in April. Meanwhile, Miura had to settle for the Four Continents in Seoul in February.
Sato went into hyperventilation after his free skate on Sunday, December 22 and had to receive medical treatment. Miura has been struggling with injuries this season and that clearly played a part in his place in the final standings.
That being said, all skaters will tell you that injuries are part of the sport and must be dealt with and overcome. One needs to look no further than two-time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu and all the physical issues he had to deal with during his competitive career.
Spots Appear Up for Grabs for the 2026 Olympics
The fallout from the results at the Japan Championships is that the door is now open for the expected three spots for Japan's men at the Milan/Cortina Games in February 2025. Coming into the current campaign, it seemed almost inevitable that Kagiyama, Sato and Miura would be the chosen three. But now the situation has clearly changed.
Tatsuya Tsuboi took advantage of the opportunity presented by Sato and Miura's performances and vaulted from 14th after the short program to take third place behind Kagiyama and runner-up Rio Nakata in Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture. The Japan Skating Federation's decision to send Tsuboi to the worlds instead of Miura was based on their results this season.
How Japan fares in Boston will determine how many places it gets at the Olympics, which could put pressure on Sato and Tsuboi, both first-timers at the senior worlds.
Placing 3rd at the Japan Championships Clinched Tsuboi's Berth for the Worlds
Tsuboi's bronze medal at the Japan Championships followed his third-place result at the NHK Trophy in November. The 22-year-old has been in the second tier of the men's field for years but still has the potential for growth. Results over the next year will determine if Sato and Miura are on the plane for Italy with Kagiyama, or if it will be Tsuboi and somebody else.
JSF training director Yosuke Takeuchi explained the reasoning for the decision to put Tsuboi on the team over Miura at the press conference.
"The matter was discussed in training committees and elsewhere," Takeuchi commented. "We evaluated him highly for his performance at this year's All Japan Championships, as well as his ability to consistently perform great routines, including at the NHK Trophy."
Continue reading the full story on SportsLook.
RELATED:
- Yuma Kagiyama Captures 1st Title at the Japan Championships
- [ICE TIME] Exclusive: Legendary Choreographer David Wilson Calls for New Leadership at Skate Canada
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.
