[ICE TIME] Taira Shinohara Benefits from Training with Yuma Kagiyama

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Top American junior Taira Shinohara did something unusual in the spring of 2023: he reached out to Beijing Olympic silver medalist Yuma Kagiyama on Instagram and asked if they could possibly spend some time training together.

You can call it the electronic equivalent of what in the pre-Internet days was known as a "cold call" ― contacting someone you don't know in the hopes of getting an appointment or a sale.

Though he was not sure what to expect, Shinohara was pleasantly surprised when Kagiyama replied that he would be happy to train with Shinohara when he was in Japan. And so, the stage was set for something that has become sort of an annual ritual.

Shinohara, who is from Schaumburg, Illinois, returned home recently after training for several days with two-time world medalist Kagiyama at the Chukyo University rink outside Nagoya in June 2024.

Following his time in Aichi Prefecture, Shinohara spent a few days skating at the MF Academy rink in Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture, before heading back to the United States.

"I usually like to go to Japan for vacation during the summer," Shinohara told Ice Time in an exclusive interview this week. "That is when I have a break from the skating season."

Taira Shinohara Exhibits a Commitment to Fitness

Shinohara, who was the 2024 US junior silver medalist, said he wants to maintain his condition while away from his normal training routine.

"Since a couple of years ago when I started skating more seriously, it happens that I need to practice when I am on vacation in Japan," Shinohara noted. "Otherwise, when I come back, I will be out of shape.

"The past few times I have gone to Japan I have taken my skates," Shinohara continued. "This time I coordinated with rinks where I can practice. I chose the two places based on where I wanted to go the most."

The Catalyst for Contacting Kagiyama

Shinohara, who turned 18 in May, first reached out to Kagiyama in the wake of a profound disappointment.

"Last year at nationals (2023) was not the way I wanted to skate, I ended up in eighth place," Shinohara recalled. "I was a little worried about the next season and on the downside in terms of motivation because of how I skated. My results were not what I wanted.

"Going into the following season (2023-24), I wanted something that boosted my passion for skating," Shinohara stated. "So then I was thinking, 'Who is the skater I want to skate the most with?'

"That is when I thought of Yuma, because he won silver at the Olympics, but also I love how he skates," Shinohara remarked. "He has a full package between jumps, spins, step sequences, skating skills and presentation. All of that stuff.

"Since Instagram allows people to directly message any other person, I tried sending a direct message to Yuma and then, surprisingly, he replied back and that is when I was able to schedule a practice session with him," Shinohara commented.

"Last year we trained in Fukuoka," Shinohara said. "That is my mother's hometown. It is easier to get ice time in Fukuoka, [and] it was very nice of him to come all the way to Fukuoka."

When their practice sessions were finished, Shinohara's relatives gave Kagiyama a tour of the sights in Kyushu's largest city.

"My family and I took him around to some different places in the city," Shinohara remembered. "This year, because it was just me and Yuma, we took the train and he took me around to many sightseeing spots near Nagoya."

Shinohara Says He Was Moved by Kagiyama's Dedication and Passion

Ice Time asked Shinohara, who will skate on the Junior Grand Prix circuit in the 2024-25 season, what it is like to train with one of the greatest skaters in the world.

"Training with Yuma is in a way very eye-opening," Shinohara stated. "You get to see how a top-level skater trains on a daily basis, which is a lot different from how they practice in competition or skate in competition. It is a good experience for skaters to see how other skaters train."

Continue reading the full story on SportsLook.

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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.