2018-19 Russian & Japanese National Championships: Info & Streaming

The first half of the 2018-19 season comes to a close with two of the toughest National Championships in the world, taking place this week in Saransk, Russia and Osaka, Japan! Here’s a guide on how to watch. This post will be updated as more info appears.

RUSSIAN NATIONALS

The Russian National Championships will take place Dec. 19-23 in Saransk. Russian Nationals is one of the competitions used to decide the European and World teams. The World team is usually announced after the European Championships in January. Age-eligible skaters who qualified for the Junior Grand Prix Final can also participate in senior Russian Nationals.

Results & entries (En) | Schedule | Website

SCHEDULE

Moscow Time (UTC+3). Subscribe to our Google Calendar to get all competition times in your own time zone!

• Dec. 20: Men’s SP 14:00; Pairs’ SP 16:50; Rhythm Dance 20:30

• Dec. 21: Ladies’ SP 14:00; Men’s FS 16:50; Free Dance 20:10

• Dec. 22: Pairs’ FS 15:30; Ladies’ FS 18:00

• Dec. 23: Gala 14:00

HOW TO WATCH

Be careful of popups and ads on free streaming sites. We are not responsible for the quality of the streams; we only provide the links. Many streams for major figure skating events have geographical restrictions. In order to unblock streams, consider using a VPN (Virtual Private Network). Free VPN services are available online (eg. Setup VPN), but the most reliable ones usually require a fee.

Fan streams: These fan-run streams may livestream part or all of the event: QQ Live, FS Live. Check the streams when the events are on. The streams should be available worldwide.

Channel 1: Russia’s Channel 1 will livestream the entire competition, including ladies’ practice, and air the ladies’ competition live on TV. Streaming schedule in Moscow Time:

• 12/20: Ladies’ Practice 10:30 (live);Men’s SP 13:55 (live); Pairs’ SP 16:45 (live); Rhythm Dance 20:25 (live)

• 12/21: Ladies’ Practice 07:00 (live); Ladies’ SP 12:55 (live); Men’s FS 16:45 (live); Free Dance 20:05 (live)

• 12/22: Ladies’ Practice 12:10 (live);Pairs’ FS 15:25 (live); Ladies’ FS 17:55 (live)

• 12/23: Medal Ceremonies 12:55;Gala 13:55 (live)

• Official stream

Match Arena: Russia’s Match Arena will air most of the competition and gala live. Broadcast schedule in Moscow Time:

• 12/20: Men’s SP 14:00 (live); Pairs’ SP 16:50 (live); Rhythm Dance 20:30 (live)

• 12/21: Ladies’ SP 14:00 (live); Men’s FS 16:50 (live); Free Dance 20:10 (live)

• 12/22: Pairs’ FS 17:45 (taped); Ladies’ FS 19:45 (live 1 hr 45 min in)

• 12/23: Gala 14:00 (live)

• Unblocked streams: Stream 1, Stream 2, Stream 3, Stream 4, Stream 5, Stream 6

Sportbox: Russia’s Sportbox.ru will stream most of the competition and gala live. The streams are blocked outside of Russia. Broadcast schedule in Moscow Time:

• 12/20:Men’s SP 13:55; Pairs’ SP 16:50; Rhythm Dance 20:30

• 12/21:Ladies’ SP 14:00; Men’s FS 16:50; Free Dance 20:10

• 12/22:Ladies’ FS 19:45 (live 1 hr 45 min in)

• 12/23:Gala 14:00

On demand: If you can’t watch live, videos from the competition will be uploaded online by fans, so you can always catch up later. Search skaters’ names on Youtube and filter by upload date for the latest videos.

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JAPANESE NATIONALS

The Japanese National Championships will take place Dec. 20-25 in Osaka. Japanese Nationals is one of the competitions used to decide the Four Continents, Junior World, and senior World teams. Top finishers from Japanese Junior Nationals in November are also invited to compete at senior Nationals. The Japanese Nationals gala is called “Medalists on Ice”.

Results & entries (Jp) | Results & entries (En) | Schedule | Website | MOI

SCHEDULE

Japan Standard Time (UTC+9). Subscribe to our Google Calendar to get all competition times in your own time zone!

• Dec. 21: Rhythm Dance 15:30; Ladies’ SP 16:25

• Dec. 22: Pairs’ SP 15:30; Men’s SP 16:25

• Dec. 23: Free Dance 15:45; Ladies’ FS 17:05

• Dec. 24: Pairs’ FS 16:00; Men’s FS 17:05

• Dec. 25: Gala 17:00

HOW TO WATCH

Fan streams: These fan-run streams may livestream part or all of the event: QQ Live, FS Live. Check the streams when the events are on. The streams should be available worldwide.

Draws, etc: Fuji TV will livestream the men’s and ladies’ order draws, as well as interviews after the competition, on Youtube. The stream is blocked outside of Japan.

Fuji TV:Fuji TV and related channels will air the singles competitions live. Earlier groups will air on BS Fuji and CS Fuji ONE, later groups will air on regular Fuji TV. Broadcast schedule in JST:

• 12/21: Ladies’ SP 1st half 16:30 (live, BS Fuji & CS Fuji ONE); Ladies’ SP 2nd half 19:00 (live, Fuji TV)

• 12/22: Men’s SP 1st half 16:30 (live, BS Fuji & CS Fuji ONE); Men’s SP 2nd half 19:00 (live, Fuji TV)

• 12/23: Ladies’ FS 1st half 17:00 (live, BS Fuji & CS Fuji ONE); Ladies’ FS 2nd half 19:00 (live, Fuji TV)

• 12/24: Men’s FS 1st half 17:00 (live, BS Fuji & CS Fuji ONE); Men’s FS 2nd half 19:00 (live, Fuji TV)

• 12/26: Gala 00:25 (taped, Fuji TV); Pairs & Dance Recap 02:25 (taped, Fuji TV)

• 12/29: Gala Full Version 12:00 (taped, BS Fuji)

• Unblocked Fuji TV stream

• Subscription services for Japanese TV

On demand:If you can’t watch live, videos from the competition will be uploaded online by fans, so you can always catch up later. Search skaters’ names on Youtube and filter by upload date for the latest videos.

2018-19 Japanese National Qualifying Competitions + Other Domestic Events

For countries with a large number of skaters such as Japan, Russia, Canada and the USA, skaters usually qualify for their country’s national championships through a series of smaller regional competitions. Japanese qualifying competitions will take place from September to November. This post will explain the JSF’s qualifying structure and provide a list of other notable domestic competitions. Links to information and results will be updated throughout the season.

Reference: Japan Skating Federation

See also: 2018-19 National Figure Skating Competitions

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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. Levels are separated by age. 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. 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.

Seeded skaters for the 2018 Japanese National Championships:

• Junior: Nana Araki, Mitsuki Sumoto, Sena Miyake, Tatsuya Tsuboi

• Senior: Satoko Miyahara, Kaori Sakamoto, Rika Kihira, Shoma Uno, Keiji Tanaka, Yuzuru Hanyu

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REGIONAL/SECTIONAL/NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Videos from regional and sectional championships are scarce, but Japanese TV will air news clips and sometimes a few performances from these events. The Junior and Senior National Championships are aired on TV by Fuji TV. Please keep an eye on our blog for more information on watching the National Championships.

Reference: JSF Results. Entries are subject to change.

Chu-Shikoku-Kyushu Regionals

• Results & entries

• Schedule

• Time and place: Sept. 21-24, Kita, Kagawa Prefecture

• Level and disciplines: Novice, junior, senior men & ladies

• Advance to: Western Sectionals

• Notable entries: Senior - Hina Takeno

Tohoku-Hokkaido Regionals

• Results & entries

• Schedule

• Time and place: Sept. 21-24, Sapporo, Hokkaido

• Level and disciplines: Novice, junior, senior men & ladies

• Advance to: Eastern Sectionals

• Exemptions: Senior - Hiroaki Sato

• Notable entries: Senior - Jun Suzuki. Junior - Rinka Watanabe

Kanto Regionals

• Results & entries

• Schedule

• Time and place: Sept. 27-30, Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture

• Level and disciplines: Novice, junior, senior men & ladies

• Advance to: Eastern Sectionals

• Exemptions: Junior - Shiika Yoshioka

• Notable entries: Junior - Yuma Kagiyama, Shun Sato, Yuna Aoki

Chubu Regionals

• Results & entries

• Schedule

• Time and place: Sept. 28-30, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture

• Level and disciplines: Novice, junior, senior men & ladies

• Advance to: Western Sectionals

• Exemptions: Senior - Rin Nitaya, Yura Matsuda, Rika Hongo, Sota Yamamoto, Ryuju Hino

• Notable entries: Senior - Sui Takeuchi, Mako Yamashita, Miyabi Oba, Hinano Isobe. Junior - Tatsuya Tsuboi, Yuhana Yokoi, Kinayu Yokoi, Rino Kasakake. Novice A - Shunsuke Nakamura

Kinki Regionals

• Results & entries

• Schedule

• Time and place: Oct. 5-8, Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture

• Level and disciplines: Novice, junior, senior men & ladies

• Advance to: Western Sectionals

• Exemptions: Senior - Mai Mihara

• Notable entries: Senior - Kazuki Tomono, Shu Nakamura, Taichi Honda, Daisuke Takahashi, Yuna Shiraiwa. Junior - Mitsuki Sumoto, Miyu Honda, Riko Takino, Moa Iwano, Mana Kawabe. Novice A - Sara Honda

• Broadcast: Oct. 8 at 11:45-15:45 JST, Fuji ONE (live)

Tokyo Regionals

• Results & entries

• Schedule

• Time and place: Oct. 5-8, Tokyo

• Level and disciplines: Novice, junior, senior men & ladies

• Advance to: Eastern Sectionals

• Exemptions: Senior - Marin Honda. Junior - Rion Sumiyoshi, Tomoe Kawabata, Koshiro Shimada

• Notable entries: Senior - Wakaba Higuchi, Akari Matsubara

Novice National Championships

• Results & entries

• Schedule

• Time and place: Oct. 19-21, Takaishi, Osaka Prefecture

• Level and disciplines: Novice A & Novice B men & ladies, novice ice dance

Eastern Sectionals

• Results & entries

• Schedule

• Time and place: Oct. 25-28, Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture

• Level and disciplines: Junior & senior men & ladies, junior pairs

• Advance to: Nationals

• Exemptions: Marin Honda, Wakaba Higuchi, Miu Suzaki/Ryuichi Kihara

• Notable entries: Senior - Hiroaki Sato, Akari Matsubara. Junior - Yuma Kagiyama, Shun Sato, Koshiro Shimada, Yuna Aoki, Tomoe Kawabata, Rion Sumiyoshi, Shiika Yoshioka

Western Sectionals

• Results & entries

• Schedule

• Time and place: Nov. 1-4, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture

• Level and disciplines: Junior & senior men, ladies, ice dance

• Advance to: Nationals

• Exemptions: Yura Matsuda, Mako Yamashita, Rika Hongo, Yuna Shiraiwa, Mai Mihara, Kazuki Tomono, Sota Yamamoto, Misato Komatsubara/Tim Koleto

• Notable entries: Senior - Daisuke Takahashi, Shu Nakamura, Ryuju Hino, Taichi Honda, Hinano Isobe, Miyabi Oba, Rika Kihira, Sui Takeuchi, Rin Nitaya. Junior - Yuto Kishina, Haruya Sasaki, Mitsuki Sumoto, Tatsuya Tsuboi, Sena Miyake, Nana Araki, Moa Iwano, Rino Kasakake, Mana Kawabe, Riko Takino, Miyu Honda, Kinayu Yokoi, Yuhana Yokoi

• Broadcast: Nov. 4 at 15:30-21:00 JST, Fuji TWO (live)

Junior National Championships

• Results & entries

• Schedule

• Time and place: Nov. 23-25, Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture

• Level and disciplines: Junior men, ladies, pairs, ice dance

Senior National Championships

• Results & entries

• Schedule

• Time and place: Dec. 20-24, Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture

• Level and disciplines: Senior men, ladies, pairs, ice dance

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OTHER COMPETITIONS

These competitions are not related to the National Championships or its qualifying events.

91st Intercollegiate Championships

• Results & entries

• Time and place: Jan. 4-7, Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture

• Level and disciplines: Men & ladies

• Notable entries: Shu Nakamura, Kazuki Tomono, Taichi Honda, Mai Mihara, Hina Takeno, Rin Nitaya

• Note: For skaters enrolled at university.

68th Inter-High School Championships

• Results & entries

• Time and place: Jan. 24-27, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture

• Level and disciplines: Men & ladies

• Notable entries: Taichiro Yamakuma, Yuto Kishina, Mitsuki Sumoto, Tatsuya Tsuboi, Sena Miyake, Kaori Sakamoto, Yuhana Yokoi, Yuna Shiraiwa, Mako Yamashita, Nana Araki, Yuna Aoki, Akari Matsubara, Rinka Watanabe, Sui Takeuchi

• Note: For skaters enrolled in high school.

74th National Winter Sports Festival

• Results & entries

• Time and place: Jan. 29 - Feb. 2, Kushiro, Hokkaido

• Level and disciplines: Junior & senior men & ladies

• Notable entries: TBA

• Note: Skaters represent their prefecture.

39th Inter-Junior High School Championships

• Results & entries

• Time and place: Feb. 1-5, Nagano

• Level and disciplines: Men & ladies

• Notable entries: TBA

• Note: For skaters enrolled in junior high (middle) school.