Japanese Nationals

[Spark]

The women and men both skated their short programs today. Takeshi Honda has withdrawn because of his ankle injury. I haven't heard anything on whether he'll be back for 4CC and worlds.

The men's SP results are here:

http://skate.cx/competition/results.cgi?d=200304;12;72na_sr&c=m1&l=ec

A Japanese poster on another board has said that the Japanese federation decided to send Fumie Suguri and Shizuka Arakawa to the world championships, because of their strong performances at the Grand Prix Final. The remaining third spot will be decided at nationals.

SP results for the women (some surprises):

http://skate.cx/competition/results.cgi?d=200304;12;72na_sr&c=l1&l=ec

Long programs are tomorrow.

[Mokah]

---Just read that Miko Ando landed a quad in ladies competition and skated away with the title. Good for her! Don't know a thing about her but looking foward to seeing her at Worlds. Sounds like the Japanese Nationals for the ladies is just as stressful if not more than the US Championships. ---Looking forward to the competition.

[viennese]

the depth in the ladies field is impressive.

how many ladies may japan send to four continents and worlds this year?

[Spark]

Japan can send three women to worlds and four continents. This year, they decided to treat the four continents cup as other countries have been, and send a "B team" instead of the skaters they will send to worlds. Here are the final ladies results:

1. Miki Ando (16 years old, landed a quad salchow)
2. Fumie Suguri (made some mistakes on her jumps)
3. Shizuka Arakawa (also didn't skate her best)
4. Yoshie Onda
5. Yukina Ota
6. Mai Asada
7. Yukari Nakano
8. Mao Asada
9. Aki Sawada
10.Nana Takeda


So, Miki, Fumie and Shizuka are going to worlds. Yoshie Onda, Yukina Ota and Yukari Nakano are going to 4CC.

[salsalicious]

ok i have a question- a while ago i saw this clip of some tiny tiny japenese girl land extremely cheated 3 axel and several 3-3s at a past japenese nationals. i remember her last name was Asada so i was wondering does anyone know which Asada it was, Mao Asada or Mai Asada?

[Kabooke]

Originally posted by salsalicious
ok i have a question- a while ago i saw this clip of some tiny tiny japenese girl land extremely cheated 3 axel and several 3-3s at a past japenese nationals. i remember her last name was Asada so i was wondering does anyone know which Asada it was, Mao Asada or Mai Asada?

It was Mao!

I saw her skate at nationals a while she needs a few more years
this girl definitely has talent and charisma! She and Yukina have the best spirals of the Japanese ladies. Mao is definitely a rising star!

[Spark]

This is Mao. Is this the videoclip you saw?

http://www.jimandmaryjo.com/MK/mao.htm

She did a triple axel, triple flip-triple toe-triple loop, and a triple lutz-triple loop. She did cheat some landings, but she was only twelve years old!

[mousey]

awwww i just watched the video clip... shes sooo cute!! and an amazing jumper!! a cheated triple axel at twelve... thats insane! when i was twelve i think i could do up to a single lutz:P :P can she do a clean triple axel now?