“Part of me wanted him to prioritize his health, but when I heard his score, it was impressive. It motivated me to focus on my own performance and keep working hard.” Kazuki Tomono on competing together with Sota Yamamoto at Kinoshita Cup
Kazuki Tomono delivered a solid performance in the short program at the Challenger Series Kinoshita Cup, earning 85.08 points to secure second place behind South Korean competitor Cha Junhwan, as he aims for consistency ahead of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic season.
original source: Nikkansports, September 5th, 2025
Kazuki Tomono (27), a three-time World Championship competitor, scored 85.08 points, finishing as the top Japanese skater in second place. Here’s a translation of his comments posted on Nikkansports.
While Tomono received deductions on his quad toe loop-double toe loop combination and triple axel, he successfully landed a clean quad salchow. Additionally, he earned the highest Level 4 rating for all three of his spins and his step sequence. Reflecting on his performance, Tomono said, “Landing the salchow felt really good. I stayed calm, not forcing it too much, and it came naturally.”
On the same day, his close friend and Osaka native Sota Yamamoto placed third despite battling a back injury sustained a week before the competition. “Part of me wanted him to prioritize his health, but when I heard his score, it was impressive,” Tomono remarked. “It motivated me to focus on my own performance and keep working hard.”
This season is pivotal, as it serves as a pathway to the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in February next year. With the Grand Prix series, an essential part of Olympic team selection, set to begin in October, Tomono is slated to compete in Skate Canada (third event) and Skate America (fifth event). For his specific goals, Tomono aims to “consistently score in the 90s” and “perform programs with high execution and completeness, particularly in jumps.”
Related topics: Kazuki Tomono, Sota Yamamoto
Leave a Reply