Yuka Orihara: “We thought our last two programs were the pinnacle, but we were wrong – this year’s programs will be even more fun!”
Yuka Orihara discusses social media, her journey in Finland, and preparations for the Olympic season.
original source: skatingfinland.fi dd. by June 9th 2025 by Alexandra Limnell
Ice dancer Yuka Orihara has been awarded the Finnish Figure Skating Association’s Social Media Influencer of the Year award. Alongside polishing new programs, Orihara is currently dedicating herself to learning Finnish as part of her ongoing application for Finnish citizenship, which she hopes to complete in time for the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. As the Olympic season approaches, she reflects on her experiences and aspirations. Here’s a translation of her comments posted on Skating Finland.
Balancing Humor and Authenticity on Social Media
Yuka Orihara offers a candid glimpse into her life as a high-performing athlete through her Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube accounts. Her cheerful content earned her the Social Media Influencer of the Year title, awarded to athletes who engage a large audience with entertaining and relatable posts while promoting the sport in a positive light.
“I was surprised by the recognition since I don’t take social media too seriously. I treat it like a hobby because it’s fun, and I like to approach things with humor,” Orihara shared about her content creation.
Although Japan-born Orihara’s audience consists largely of Japanese followers, many of whom are older than her, the 24-year-old aims to broaden her reach to younger fans. She also plans to use her platform to share more about the challenges she has faced, including adjusting to life in Europe as an Asian athlete.
“In Japan, Western culture and lighter features are often idolized. Growing up with this complex view of Asian identity made me quite self-conscious in Europe. People often see social media as an idealized version of life, but I’ve struggled too. Just because you don’t see problems doesn’t mean they don’t exist,” Orihara reflected.
Despite these difficulties, she approaches life with a lighthearted attitude, viewing humor as her coping mechanism: “I joke about both small and big challenges – it’s my way of dealing with things.”
Training, Citizenship, and Preparing for a New Season
After a successful competitive season, Orihara spent time with her family in Japan. By late April, however, she was back on the ice in Rome, working with her partner Juho Pirinen and choreographer Massimo Scali on their programs for the upcoming season. Much of her remaining time is devoted to studying Finnish, as Orihara is pursuing Finnish citizenship in hopes of competing at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics.
“Obtaining citizenship would also make it easier to access athlete scholarships. However, I didn’t move forward with the application process until after last year’s World Championships, when it started to seem like Olympic qualification might be achievable,” Orihara explained.
Although she recognizes that time constraints may make approval unlikely before the Olympics, Orihara remains undeterred: “In that case, it’ll just be a normal season with Finnish lessons! It’s not the end of the world.”
Reflections on Challenges and Growth
Orihara acknowledges the unusual timing of the Olympic qualification event, set for September, when figure skaters are typically still preparing new programs. “It’s very early in the season, which I’m not used to. It means I’ll need to adjust my summer training, but I feel mentally recharged and ready for it.”
Despite challenges, Orihara approaches her skating with joy and determination. Her programs in recent years – especially their Broadway musical-inspired free dances – have captivated audiences in Finland and beyond.
“We thought our last two programs were the pinnacle, but we were wrong – this year’s programs will be even more fun! Since we’ve found a style that works for us, we’ll explore that one more time before moving on to new ideas,” she said.
Orihara credits her buoyant attitude to embracing impermanence: “For me, problems and sadness are things that pass. I’m at a point where I can meet life with a smile. Stressing over little things, like a bad practice, won’t lead to anything positive.”
Her influences include musical theater and talented peers, such as training partner Juulia Turkkila, whose skating Orihara admires. Drawing strength from the support she and Pirinen receive, Orihara sees the upcoming season as a natural progression of their hard work.
“We haven’t set specific results-based goals yet. Of course, we want to do well. But I believe results don’t define a person. I always strive to become a better skater and the best version of myself every day,” Orihara concluded.
Related topics: Juho Pirinen, Yuka Orihara
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