2020-21 Japanese National Qualifying Competitions & Other Domestic Events
SYWTW FS
The 2020-21 Japanese regional/sectional competitions will take place from September to November. This post will explain the JSF’s national qualifying structure as well as a list of other notable domestic competitions. Links to information and results will be updated throughout the season. Events have also been added to our Google calendar ("SYWTWFS Extra").
Reference: JSF National Competitions, 2020-21 Advancement Quota
QUALIFYING STRUCTURE
Skaters qualify for the Japanese National Championships by competing at one of six regional (or “block”) championships and one of two sectional championships (Eastern and Western). Top finishers at regionals advance to sectionals, and top finishers at sectionals advance to nationals. The number of qualifying skaters in each discipline and competition is determined annually by the JSF.
Japan holds three separate national championships for three different levels: novice, junior, and senior. There are two categories of novice, Novice A (older) and Novice B (younger). To qualify for Novice Nationals, skaters compete in the novice category at regional championships. Novice skaters perform only free skates and do not compete at sectionals. To qualify for Junior Nationals, skaters compete in the junior category at regionals and sectionals, and to qualify for Senior Nationals, skaters compete in the senior category at regionals and sectionals. Top finishers at Novice Nationals are invited to participate in Junior Nationals, and top finishers at Junior Nationals are invited to compete at Senior Nationals. Pair and ice dance teams do not compete at regionals, only sectionals.
Seeded skaters are chosen by the JSF to advance directly to Nationals without competing at qualifying competitions. Generally, medalists at the previous National Championships are seeded. Seeded skaters can still compete at regionals/sectionals if they want to, but they will not count towards the quota of skaters who advance. Seeded skaters for the 2020-21 season are:
Junior ladies: Hana Yoshida
Junior men: Lucas Tsuyoshi Honda
Senior ladies: Rika Kihira, Wakaba Higuchi, Tomoe Kawabata, Satoko Miyahara
Senior men: Shoma Uno, Yuzuru Hanyu, Yuma Kagiyama
Skaters who would normally need to compete at regionals/sectionals may be exempt from doing so if they have an international competition during or within one week of their qualifying event. The following skaters are exempt from Sectionals and automatically qualify for Nationals:
Senior men: Koshiro Shimada
Senior pairs: Miura/Kihara
Senior ice dance: Fukase/Cho, Muramoto/Takahashi
The maximum number of singles skaters who can qualify for the junior or senior National Championships is 30 ladies and 30 men.
REGIONAL/SECTIONAL/NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Regionals, Sectionals, Novice Nationals and Junior Nationals can be streamed live with Fuji On Demand (available only in Japan) and delayed highlights will be aired on Fuji TV channels. Please keep an eye on our blog for more information on watching the Senior National Championships.
Regionals, Sectionals, and Novice Nationals will be held without an audience due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Entries are subject to change.
Chu-Shikoku-Kyushu Regionals
Time and place: Sept. 25-27, Okayama, Okayama Prefecture
Level and disciplines: Novice, junior, senior men & ladies
Advance to: Western Sectionals
Advancement quota: 7 junior ladies, 10 junior men, 7 senior ladies, 7 senior men
Notable entries: Senior - Keiji Tanaka, Hina Takeno
Broadcast: Fuji On Demand (live). Oct. 10 at 11:00 JST, Fuji TV NEXT
Chubu Regionals
Time and place: Sept. 25-27, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture
Level and disciplines: Novice, junior, senior men & ladies
Advance to: Western Sectionals
Advancement quota: 11 junior ladies, 3 junior men, 14 senior ladies, 9 senior men
Notable entries: Senior - Ryuju Hino, Sota Yamamoto, Rika Hongo, Rin Nitaya, Yura Matsuda, Yuhana Yokoi, Nana Araki, Mako Yamashita, Miyabi Oba, Rino Kasakake. Junior - Tatsuya Tsuboi, Chisato Uramatsu, Kinayu Yokoi, Rino Matsuike
Broadcast: Fuji On Demand (live). Oct. 11 at 13:00 JST, Fuji TV ONE
Kinki Regionals
Time and place: Oct. 2-4, Takaishi, Osaka Prefecture
Level and disciplines: Novice, junior, senior men & ladies
Advance to: Western Sectionals
Advancement quota: 12 junior ladies, 17 junior men, 9 senior ladies, 14 senior men
Notable entries: Senior - Kazuki Tomono, Taichi Honda, Mitsuki Sumoto, Mana Kawabe, Ayaka Hosoda, Yuna Shiraiwa, Riko Takino, Moa Iwano, Kaori Sakamoto, Mai Mihara. Junior - Shunsuke Nakamura, Lucas Tsuyoshi Honda (seed), Sena Miyake, Yuto Kishina, Haruya Sasaki, Takeru Kataise
Broadcast: Fuji On Demand (live). Oct. 18 at 13:00 JST, Fuji TV ONE
Kanto Regionals
Time and place: Oct. 2-4, Hitachinaka, Ibaraki Prefecture
Level and disciplines: Novice, junior, senior men & ladies
Advance to: Eastern Sectionals
Advancement quota: 7 junior ladies, 14 junior men, 6 senior ladies, 3 senior men
Notable entries: Senior - Shun Sato, Yuma Kagiyama (seed), Shiika Yoshioka. Junior - Kao Miura
Broadcast: Fuji On Demand (live). Oct. 17 at 13:00 JST, Fuji TV ONE
Tokyo Regionals
Time and place: Oct. 9-11, West Tokyo, Tokyo
Level and disciplines: Novice, junior, senior men & ladies
Advance to: Eastern Sectionals
Advancement quota: 10 junior ladies, 10 junior men, 18 senior ladies, 21 senior men
Notable entries: Senior - Taichiro Yamakuma, Miyu Honda, Marin Honda, Yuna Aoki, Akari Matsubara, Yuka Nagai, Ibuki Sato. Junior - Rion Sumiyoshi
Broadcast: Fuji On Demand (live). Oct. 24 at 12:00 JST, Fuji TV NEXT
Tohoku-Hokkaido Regionals
Time and place: Oct. 10-11, Niigata, Niigata Prefecture
Level and disciplines: Novice, junior, senior men & ladies
Advance to: Eastern Sectionals
Advancement quota: 13 junior ladies, 6 junior men, 6 senior ladies, 6 senior men
Notable entries: Senior - Rinka Watanabe. Junior - Mone Chiba
Broadcast: Fuji On Demand (live). Oct. 25 at 12:00 JST, Fuji TV NEXT
Novice National Championships
Time and place: Oct. 23-25, Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture
Level and disciplines: Novice A & Novice B
Broadcast: Fuji On Demand (live). Nov. 8 at 18:00 JST, Fuji TV NEXT
Western Sectionals
Time and place: Oct. 30 - Nov. 1, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture
Level and disciplines: Junior & senior men, ladies, ice dance
Advance to: Nationals
Advancement quota: 18 junior ladies, 12 junior men, 11 senior ladies, 12 senior men
Notable entries: Senior - Mitsuki Sumoto, Keiji Tanaka, Kazuki Tomono, Ryuju Hino, Taichi Honda, Sota Yamamoto, Nana Araki, Miyabi Oba, Ayumi Kagotani, Rino Kasakake, Mana Kawabe, Kaori Sakamoto, Yuna Shiraiwa, Riko Takino, Hina Takeno, Rin Nitaya, Ayaka Hosoda, Rika Hongo, Yura Matsuda, Mai Mihara, Mako Yamashita, Yuhana Yokoi, Komatsubara/Koleto. Junior - Takeru Kataise, Yuto Kishina, Haruya Sasaki, Tatsuya Tsuboi, Lucas Tsuyoshi Honda (seed), Sena Miyake, Chisato Uramatsu, Maria Egawa, Sae Shimizu, Azusa Tanaka, Momoka Maeno, Rino Matsuike, Kinayu Yokoi, Hana Yoshida (seed), Yoshida/Nishiyama.
Broadcast: Fuji On Demand (live). Nov. 14 at 13:00 JST, Fuji TV ONE
Eastern Sectionals
Time and place: Nov. 6-8, Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture
Level and disciplines: Junior & senior men & ladies
Advance to: Nationals
Advancement quota: 7 junior ladies, 13 junior men, 9 senior ladies, 9 senior men
Notable entries: Senior - Yuma Kagiyama (seed), Shun Sato, Taichiro Yamakuma, Yuna Aoki, Tomoe Kawabata (seed), Ibuki Sato, Yuka Nagai, Wakaba Higuchi (seed), Marin Honda, Miyu Honda, Akari Matsubara, Shiika Yoshioka, Rinka Watanabe. Junior - Kao Miura, Rion Sumiyoshi, Mone Chiba
Broadcast: Fuji On Demand (live). Nov. 21 at 13:00 JST, Fuji TV ONE
Junior National Championships
Time and place: Nov. 21-23, Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture
Level and disciplines: Junior men, ladies, ice dance
Notable entries: Chisato Uramatsu, Maria Egawa, Rion Sumiyoshi, Azusa Tanaka, Mone Chiba, Rino Matsuike, Kinayu Yokoi, Hana Yoshida, Takeru Kataise, Yuto Kishina, Haruya Sasaki, Tatsuya Tsuboi, Lucas Tsuyoshi Honda, Sena Miyake, Kao Miura, Yoshida/Nishiyama
Broadcast: Fuji On Demand (live). Dec. 6 at 17:30 JST, Fuji TV NEXT
Senior National Championships
Time and place: Dec. 24-27, Nagano, Nagano Prefecture
Level and disciplines: Senior men, ladies, ice dance
OTHER COMPETITIONS
The 93rd Collegiate Championships (Jan. 7-10) and 41st Junior High School Championships (Jan. 30 - Feb. 2) have been cancelled.
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70TH HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIPS
The competition is eligible for high school students. Due to the number of entries, the ladies’ SP is split into 3 groups. The top 24 SP scores from all 3 groups combined will advance to the free skate.
When: Jan. 21-24
Where: Nagano, Nagano Prefecture
Level & disciplines: Men & ladies
Schedule (UTC+9)
1/21: Ladies’ SP A 12:20
1/22: Ladies’ SP B 10:00; Men’s SP 15:00
1/23: Ladies’ SP C 10:00; Men’s FS 15:00
1/24: Ladies’ FS 09:20
Notable entries: Shun Sato, Yuma Kagiyama, Yuto Kishina, Lucas Tsuyoshi Honda, Rion Sumiyoshi (Grp A), Rino Matsuike (Grp A), Miyu Honda (Grp B), Kinayu Yokoi (Grp B), Rinka Watanabe (Grp C), Chisato Uramatsu (Grp C)
How to watch: Free livestream
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76TH NATIONAL WINTER SPORTS FESTIVAL
Skaters represent their prefecture in this competition.
When: Jan. 27-30
Where: Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture
Level & disciplines: Junior & senior men, ladies
Schedule (UTC+9)
1/27: Jr Ladies’ SP 11:20; Jr Men’s SP 15:20
1/28: Jr Ladies’ FS 10:30; Jr Men’s FS 14:00; Sr Men’s SP 18:15
1/29: Sr Ladies’ SP 10:25; Sr Men’s FS 14:20
1/30: Sr Ladies’ FS 08:45
Notable entries: Senior - Ryuju Hino, Sota Yamamoto, Kazuki Tomono, Taichi Honda, Taichiro Yamakuma, Keiji Tanaka, Yuto Kishina, Wakaba Higuchi, Tomoe Kawabata, Yuna Aoki, Rin Nitaya, Yuhana Yokoi, Yuna Shiraiwa, Riko Takino, Kaori Sakamoto, Mai Mihara, Hina Takeno. Junior - Shun Sato, Yuma Kagiyama, Lucas Tsuyoshi Honda, Rinka Watanabe, Mone Chiba, Shiika Yoshioka, Rion Sumiyoshi, Chisato Uramatsu, Rino Matsuike, Mana Kawabe, Hana Yoshida, Moa Iwano