“When I tried it, I immediately realized how different singles skating and ice dancing are. It’s much harder than it looks.” Shoma Uno about his ice show “Ice Brave” and duet with Marin Honda
Shoma Uno’s first produced ice show “Ice Brave” debuts in Aichi
original source: Nikkansports dd. June 14th 2025 by Daisuke Fujizuka / Nikkansports
Shoma Uno (27), who transitioned to professional skating in May 2024, kicked off his debut self-produced ice show “Ice Brave” in Aichi Prefecture on June 14. Here’s a translation of his comments posted on Nikkansports.
The 90-minute performance broke convention by seamlessly featuring 18 pieces of music, including selections from Uno’s short programs (SP) and free skate routines during his competitive career. Joining him for the show were skaters Marin Honda, Rika Hongo, Yoji Nakano, Tsunehito Karakawa, Kazuki Kushida, as well as Stephane Lambiel, his former coach during his competitive career.
“Q: What are your thoughts after the opening night?
Shoma Uno: I’m honestly surprised to be surrounded by even more people now than when I won two World Championships (laughs). Jokes aside (laughs), we built this ice show from scratch, but it’s clear that the level of quality we achieved wasn’t the result of my efforts alone. Many people provided various kinds of support — not just on the business side, but they went above and beyond, doing far more than what was required or expected of them.
Creating this show with just seven people might not seem like much, but that’s also precisely why we were able to achieve something unique. At the same time, it was extremely challenging because we were only seven. Still, with everyone sticking together until the very end, we were able to have an incredible opening night. Most importantly, this kind of intense, physically demanding ice show makes it difficult to maintain stamina until the end, but the applause and cheers from the audience were our biggest support. Of course, our goal is to entertain everyone, but your applause and cheers made it enjoyable for us as well. I think we created a truly ‘win-win’ show for both sides.
Q: Were there any particularly memorable numbers or programs from the show?
Shoma Uno: Now that it’s over and I’ve had time to reflect, I realize that ‘Ice Brave’ doesn’t really have a place where you can take a break. We poured so much time and effort into creating every single part of it. While I might stand out as the main performer, I don’t see the other skaters as just supporting roles or part of the ensemble. To me, all seven of us are equals and teammates. So, when you ask if there’s a specific highlight, I can confidently say, ‘Everything.’
Q: You performed an ice dance with Marin Honda during the show. How was that experience?
Shoma Uno: When I tried it, I immediately realized how different singles skating and ice dancing are. Only around 10% or 20% of the skills I’ve built as a single skater carried over — it was truly difficult. I didn’t want it to just be seen as a collaboration number; since this is my first time producing an ice show, I really wanted to challenge myself with something new and create a fully formed program. While I absolutely think there’s room for growth, I also feel proud of what we accomplished. The applause I received made me incredibly happy — it felt like our training leading up to today was being acknowledged (smiling).
In singles, everything revolves around the amount of time and effort you put in, and the outcome is determined solely by results. Of course, I used to feel nervous as a competitor, but moments where you can experience this level of cheering and applause are rare. Tonight, I was able to skate in a way that felt truly satisfying.”
In the second half of the show, Uno paired with Marin Honda to perform an ice dance routine to “Wild Side,” captivating the audience with their synchronized twizzles and an impressive lift where Uno glided while holding Honda with both hands.
Uno shared insights into the challenge of performing ice dance, revealing that he began practicing with ice dance skates last October: “It’s much harder than it looks — even just skating one lap is difficult. I really hope the audience can understand how challenging it is,” he said.
One of the standout moments was the “mentor-mentee duet,” where Uno and Lambiel skated to Uno’s 2015–16 short program “Legends.” Both landed synchronized jumps, including triple toe loops and double axels. Lambiel also performed a solo rendition of Uno’s 2023–24 free skate “Timelapse,” showcasing his enduring prowess.
Reflecting on Lambiel, who recently turned 40, Uno expressed deep respect for his mentor: “At 40, he’s still incredibly energetic. To perform a program from my competitive days at such a high quality — it’s truly impressive.”
Uno praised Lambiel’s enthusiasm and dedication: “He’s always driven to make the show the best it can be, even if it means pushing himself a bit. Seeing that spirit is incredibly inspiring and makes me happy.”
Related topics: Marin Honda, Shoma Uno, Stephane Lambiel
Love it !!!