Yuma Kagiyama: “I don’t think I give the same sense of security that people had when they entrusted Japan to Hanyu and Uno. But I want to gain more aura and stature through gaining more and more experience in competitions.”
Yuma Kagiyama about sponsor contract with Suzuki and becoming a lead of Japanese men’s skating.
original source: Hochi News / Nikkansports
Yuma Kagiyama, the 2022 Beijing Olympics silver medalist visited the headquarters of Suzuki in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, on the May 20th, with whom he has signed a sponsorship contract starting from April. The contract is set to continue until the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Olympics.
While receiving support up to the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Olympics, he expressed his ambition, saying, “I’m extremely grateful. I want to perform well to meet expectations.”
The company will provide him with a car. Currently attending a driving school, he aims to get his driver’s license by this summer, saying, “First, I want to acquire driving skills.”
The next season is a pre-season for the Milan Olympics, and he reaffirmed his determination by stating, “I want to hit the ground running from the first competition. I want to enhance the quality of my programs from the early stages, and work hard to earn good scores.”
Currently, he revealed that he is working on the quadruple lutz, saying, “I can land it about once every two days, but I want to improve this rate further, and once my stamina improves, I hope to add it to my program.”
On April 9th, Shoma Uno announced his retirement from competitive skating. Kagiyama, who had been informed slightly before the announcement, confessed, “I was surprised when I heard it. I’m really looking forward to watching Uno’s skating as a professional, even after he retires. I would also like to practice with him again.” When asked about being in a position of Japan lead in men’s skating, Kagiyama told. “I have my own goals, so I want to keep those in mind and pursue them. I don’t think I give the same sense of security that people had when they entrusted Japan to Hanyu and Uno. I want to gain more aura and stature through gaining more and more experience in competitions.”
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