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Japan’s Skaters Arrive in New York for Skate America Opening Nov. 14

Grand Prix Final stakes drive Rinka Watanabe and Kazuki Tomono to target decisive results.

Overview

  • Japanese athletes reached Albany International Airport on Nov. 11 local time ahead of the Grand Prix Series’ fifth stop in Lake Placid.
  • Rinka Watanabe said she trained harder than ever and will trust herself, noting her triple Axel remains at a high success rate despite negative grades of execution at the China Cup.
  • Kazuki Tomono said a victory is likely required to reach the Grand Prix Final and vowed an attack‑only approach.
  • Pairs team Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, winners of the season’s first Grand Prix event, are entered for Skate America.
  • Organizers set the schedule for Nov. 14–16 local time with no exhibition: men’s and pairs short programs on Friday, women’s short on Saturday with men’s and pairs free, and the women’s free on Sunday.