[ICE TIME] Japan's Success at World Junior Championships Bodes Well for the Future

The World Junior Championships, held in Taipei from February 28 to March 2, represented another highly successful event for Japan as the Hinomaru came away with half of the singles medals on offer in the competition of the skating world's future stars.

It was the second year in a row that Japan took home at least half of the singles medals, after netting four at the 2023 world juniors in Calgary, Canada. This reflects the depth of talent on the archipelago.

Mao Shimada became just the third woman ever to repeat as world junior champion with her victory over South Korea's Jia Shin on Friday, March 1. Rena Uezono joined Shimada on the podium after claiming the bronze medal. Meanwhile, Rio Nakata took the silver in the men's event on Saturday, March 2, following a narrow loss to winner Minkyu Seo of South Korea.

The results indicate that Japan is in a good position going forward in the junior ranks with skaters who will bolster the senior crop in a few years.

Shimada Rises to the Challenge at the World Junior Championships

Shimada was the shining star of the show for the second straight year. The 15-year-old came from behind after the short program to win the gold again with a poised performance in her free skate despite making a mistake on her opening triple axel.

She showed her grit by landing the difficult quadruple toe loop on the very next jump. From that point on it was smooth sailing for the rest of her program.

"If you make a mistake on the first jump, and you still have six more to go, it will be a little tough on you mentally," Shimada stated after her triumph. "But I thought that I didn't practice to fail there."

Added Shimada, "This season, I'm really glad that I was able to take part in this big competition. For me, I was aware that it would be a consecutive win for me. Getting second place in the short program made me feel that I really wanted to win consecutively and I am very happy I did."

Due to the change in ISU rules after the 2022 Beijing Olympics (raising the minimum age for senior skaters to 17 as of the 2024-25 season), Shimada will still be a junior again next season. And she could become the first woman ever to capture the world junior title in three consecutive years.

Uezono Off to Brilliant Start in Young Career

Uezono's showing in Taipei capped off a smashing debut season for the 13-year-old from Nagoya. Having not competed internationally prior to this season, Uezono proceeded to come in first and second in her two Junior Grand Prix assignments, then claimed the bronze at the JGP Final in December 2023.

Uezono displays an elegance and poise on the ice that belie her years, and has the potential to become a real force in the sport in the coming years. She came from eighth place after the short program to get the bronze in Taipei, a testament to her fortitude under pressure.

"After the short program I was able to switch my feeling and I was able to grow from this," Uezono commented. "I was able to have a good experience at this competition and I also found new things to work on."

Added Uezono, "During the offseason I want to work on that and I will probably get a new program and want to work on that as well."

Nakata Already Focusing on the Future

In the men's competition, 15-year-old Nakata stormed back from fifth place after the short program to nearly grab the title over South Korea's Seo. His free skate was reminiscent of the rally he put on to win the gold at the JGP Final. If Nakata had successfully landed his opening quad toe loop, he would have been the champion.

Nakata is already looking ahead after coming so close this year.

"I want to do even better next year in the Junior Grand Prix and also take my revenge for the Youth Olympics (where he finished fifth)," Nakata remarked. "After the Youth Olympic Games in January I felt a lot of regret and I was a bit angry at myself. Coming to junior worlds, I knew there are many good skaters, and in order to win a medal I had to try many things and become a better skater."

Added Nakata, "I was too tired around the time of the Grand Prix, and I couldn't even do the jumps I'm strong at that well. Compared to the Grand Prix, my condition right now is the best it's been this season."

Nakamura Aiming to Add to Jump Arsenal

Shunsuke Nakamura battled back from 10th place after the short program to come in fourth in the men's competition. The 18-year-old was upbeat and also looking ahead after his free skate.

Nakamura said, "I want to work on my axel first, then add one or two quad jumps." Then he added, "I'm very happy that I was able to come this far. I have no regrets."

He continued by saying, "I have been quite good at jumping the second axel in my practices, even better than the first, [and] I haven't been able to do that here. But I didn't let it break my spirit, so I think that will give me strength for the next time."

Nakamura paid tribute to his female counterparts after observing them closeup during the competition.

"I watched Mao's performance yesterday, I watched all the women's performances," Nakamura noted. 

He added, "I thought they are really mentally strong, [and] I saw that their practice really shone through in their performances."

Nakamura then said, "I saw that yesterday and it made me want to push harder today."

Hanyu Skating and Creating for Eternity

Two-time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu, who concluded his first solo tour as a professional skater on February 19,  spoke recently with writer Hitoshi Itoi for a story in the Sports Hochi that was translated into English and posted on fs-gossips.com.

"Even, 10, 20, 50 or 100 years from now, I want to continue creating something that people who see it at that time will think is good," Hanyu was quoted as saying. "I want to create something that will be remembered forever, and not just once, but I want to continue creating for the rest of my life."

Added Hanyu, "It's not that I exist because there is skating, but because there is a life called Yuzuru Hanyu, and skating is on top of that."

RELATED: 

• Rio Nakata Captures Silver at the World Junior Championships
• Mao Shimada Makes History by Repeating as World Junior Champion
• [ICE TIME] Mao Shimada Aiming for More History at World Junior Championships

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.