Japan Open 2008

Japan Open 2008
Date: April 20, 2008(Sun) 13:00～
Place: Saitama Super Arena
18:00～Carnival on Ice- Exhibition

Expected to participate
http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/japanopen2008/cast.html

Japan Team
Daisuke Takahashi
Takeshi Honda
Yukari Nakano
Mao Asada

North American Team
Evan Lysacek
Todd Eldredge
Kimmie Meissner
Mirai Nagasu

European Team
Evgeni Plushenko
Stephane Lambiel
Sarah Meier
Kiira Korpi

Special Gust: Shizuka Arakawa

Japan Open 2008
http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/japanopen2008/
Carnival on Ice- Exhibition
http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/coi2008/

Here is a news about Japan Open press interview which was held today.
http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/f-sp-tp0-20080403-343815.html
enlarged picture
http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/photonews_nsInc_f-sp-tp0-20080403-343815.html

Look Dai-chan's new hair style. Wild???

Thanks for the info you guys!

miyu wrote:

Look Dai-chan's new hair style. Wild???

Oh yea! Seeing that hair made me think of a new idea for a short program...rock music!!!

I'm amazed by all that Dai can do with his hair! He does a great job maintaining it. Whenever I saw him skate his short, his hair would be all over the place but when he was done, his hair would be neat again (or he would just run his hand over it and it would be perfect).

Thanks very much for the latest information, miyu! Daisuke and Mao both look really well!

Here's a similar article with another nice pic of Mao and Daisuke-
http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/winter/news/20080404-OHT1T00016.htm

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Look Dai-chan's new hair style. Wild???

I think many of his hairstyles look quite wild a lot of the time.

Quote :

Seeing that hair made me think of a new idea for a short program...rock music!!!

I love rock music! This could work for me.

Any DTFF members heading to the Japan Open later this month?

I found this video about Japan open on youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kteEQPhsaWo

Thanks a lot (as always ), glorydave! I missed seeing it on TV.

Evgeni Plushenko will not participate in Japan Open. He was replaced by
Adrian Scultheiss. Information from FSU.

It's a pity because personally I would like to see FS of Plushenko considering all his comments that he will return in next season and will be able to beat everyone.

Oh that's too bad about Plushenko. I would have liked to see how he would stack up against Dai and the others. I hope Adrian does well and has a good time.

What?! Adrian is going to participate in Japan Open?! That is so cool! I curse the swedish broadcasters for not taking enough interest in figure skating... Too bad for Evgeni. But great for Adrian!

alekzu wrote:

I curse the swedish broadcasters for not taking enough interest in figure skating...

Probably we'll be able to follow JO online.

According to advertised Japanese program of "Japan Open 2008", Daisuke will perform Free skating "Romeo and Juliet" with one quad at least and "Swan Lake" at exhibition "Carnival on Ice".

I'm sorry that I can't go to see this competition, however, the Japanese TV program will be on air at 8:00 p.m. on April 20, 2008. I think someone will upload this vids to Youtube or something like that, so you can see Daisuke's performance.

Don't miss his last performance "Romeo and Juliet"!!

I haven't seen Daisuke's R&J program live yet, so this is exciting news! Even if I have to watch it through binoculars from my seat in the stands far, far away from the arena....I'm just so happy I'm going to even BE at the Japan Open!

nipponophile wrote:

I haven't seen Daisuke's R&J program live yet, so this is exciting news! Even if I have to watch it through binoculars from my seat in the stands far, far away from the arena....I'm just so happy I'm going to even BE at the Japan Open!

wow it's great you're going, nipponophile! Exciting indeed!

Yay! Please let us know your impression later, nipponophile. Enjoy!!

Will do!

Wow, nipponnophile, you can see your first and last "Romeo and Juliet" at live!! I envy you!
I'm looking forward to reading your impression.

I'm really happy for you, nipponophile! Enjoy!
I'm waiting for reading your report!

I'm a bit sad thinking this is the last time we can see Romeo & Juliet...
I hope Daisuke will continue to perfom his Swan lake as exhibition!

I hope you have a good time at the Japan Open, nipponophile!

glorydave wrote:

I'm a bit sad thinking this is the last time we can see Romeo & Juliet...
I hope Daisuke will continue to perfom his Swan lake as exhibition!

I kind of want him to get a new exhibition for next season but I won't be mad if he sticks with Swan Lake. I hope the last time out for Romeo & Juliet is wonderful.

Personally, I hope Daisuke continues to perform Bachelorette as his exhibition, I LOVE IT more than any of his other programs because it is so passionate and he uses every part of his body so expressively.

Nipponophile, I also love watching Daisuke perform "Bacherlorette" for his exhibitions. I really liked what you said about how he "uses every part of his body so expressively" in this performance. This is quite a special program. I really hope that he performs it at the Japan Open, perhaps for the exhibition, so that you can see it performed live.

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Don't miss his last performance "Romeo and Juliet"!!

Ah, I really hope that he can redeem himself indeed in this very final live performance of "Romeo and Juliet."

Hi everyone! I'm back from the Japan Open, which I'm sure some of you have already seen on TV/YouTube. But I thought I'd share some of my impressions as someone who attended the event.

As some of you may know, this was my first time to see Daisuke compete, and to see his Romeo and Juliet FP. So it was a very exciting afternoon!

During the warm-up Daisuke didn't look nervous, although he didn't look 100 percent relaxed either. He fell during the warm-up, but it didn't seem to phase him.

When he took to the ice to compete, he still didn't look nervous, and completed his first jump without problem. But from there, it all started to fall apart, and he missed a number of jumps or fell. This seemed to affect other elements of the program, with him not displaying his usual passion. He looked like he was fighting hard to prevent his disappointment in his performance from impacting the program, but by the end, when he took his bows, it was clear from his struggle to smile that he felt like he let all his fans down, and had failed to 'redeem' himself from the fourth place at worlds (still a fantastic result!). I'm wondering why Daisuke wasn't able to skate today with his usual power and emotion - does anyone know whether he was injured or suffering illness?

While he dutifully cheered on his team mates Yukari Nakano and Mao Asada (who both performed BEAUTIFULLY, especially Yukari), it was clear the result was really troubling Dai, and he seemed a bit down and distracted. It was amusing, however, to watch him and Takeshi Honda bowing and apologising to the Team Japan ladies for failing to match their contribution to Team Japan's eventual win!

While you may not have been able to see me in the broadcast (I was seated 15 rows back from the ice), you may be able to hear me yelling my support for Daisuke at every opportunity ("Daisuke daisuki!"). I saw alot of Daisuke banners grouped together in some seats closer to the ice and went down to talk to the owners, but unfortunately weren't able to meet any. Do any of the DTFF members have a special banner they take to display at competitions and galas? If so, please tell me about your banner - I'd love to come and introduce myself to you as a fellow-Daisuke fan next time! (my personal favourite is the white banner with Dai's photo, which says in Japanese "Jibun wo Jishin" (believe in yourself").

Now, onto Prince Ice World!!

Even if I'm italian, I cheer for Japan team ... so I'm happy for first place! Europe is on second place, so it's ok!

Thank you for your report, nipponophile!
I haven't seen Daisuke's performance yet, but I read your report... I don't know if he was injured... but I think that skating again R&J must be difficult for Daisuke... maybe skating this program get him to think about his performance at Worlds...
I want to watch the video (when I find it) and then I'll write more... but I'm sure all the fans weren't disappointed, but happy to see his skating again!

I found these videos on youtube.
They are especially about Mao Asada. In the first one you can see her program and an interview. In the second one you can see "K&C", with all the Japan team (amusing!) and the podium.
Can someone translate what Daisuke said? Thanks!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lgKxt64iHg
http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=cUQT4ZsKaY4

Thanks for your report, nipponophile! I was keeping up with the men via FSU and when I saw that Dai had a bad skate, my first thought was that he's injured. An article that miyu recently translated said that he injured his toe while trying to break in new boots before worlds. He may have still been feeling the effects of that. One thing is clear: Dai needs a break...bad! I hope he can catch one before the many ice shows he has to do.

One good thing is that Evan skated really well. I'm happy for him especially since he had to withdraw from worlds due to injury.

Hi swandie!
I read this article translated by miyu.
I could be interesting find an interview to Daisuke about his performance to better understand...