“We began this trial as quickly as possible, knowing it would be a race against time. As long as there is even a small chance, I can’t allow myself to back down from the challenge.” Rika Kihira on transition to ice dance
Rika Kihira Transitions to Ice Dance with Shingo Nishiyama
original source: Nikkansports, September 29th, 2025 by Wataru Matsumoto
Rika Kihira, a two-time Four Continents and Japanese National Champion, has announced her transition from singles to ice dance, forming a partnership with Shingo Nishiyama. The duo aims to compete in the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics while laying groundwork for long-term success in ice dance. Here’s a translation of their comments posted on Nikkansports.
Kihira’s decision comes after ongoing struggles with injuries that have kept her out of competition. Diagnosed with a stress fracture in her right talus during the Beijing Winter Olympic season in 2021, she was forced to miss Nationals and abandon her Olympic aspirations in singles. For the past two competitive seasons, she has prioritized treatment while stepping away from competitions. Recently, she announced her withdrawal from the Chubu Championships, effectively ending any chance of qualifying for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics in singles.
Explaining her shift to ice dance, Kihira stated:
“For now, I’ve decided to focus fully on ice dance. This doesn’t mean I’m retiring from singles – it’s not a simple decision, but I believe ice dance can complement my skating skills and even benefit singles in the future. While unclear on long-term specifics, for the time being, I am concentrating on ice dance.”
Nishiyama echoed her sentiments as they formally announced their partnership:
“I’m thrilled to be working with Rika Kihira. Her dedication to skating resonates deeply with me, and meeting her has inspired me to aim higher together as a team.”
Debuting as a duo this season, they revealed their program music selections:
Rhythm Dance: “Mambo No. 5”
Free Dance: “Princess Mononoke”
The team behind the pair is fast-tracking all necessary copyright permissions for their program music while preparing for upcoming events. This will mark Kihira’s first experience competing alongside a partner, highlighting the unique challenges of ice dance. She commented on Nishiyama’s collaborative approach:
“He’s really easy to talk to, and ice dance requires a lot of communication. He makes an effort to understand me and shares so much, which makes it easier for us both. And, of course, he’s very kind!”
Their first session together in August revealed promising potential:
“In ice dance, there are no jumps, so the pain in my right foot isn’t an issue. Although I initially struggled, even falling during our early practices, I now focus on achieving harmony, skating techniques, and expression with Shingo. Ice dance is no easy task – it’s a world of refinement – but it’s an inspiring challenge, and we want to deliver exceptional performances.”
Kihira expressed her unwavering passion and optimism for this new venture:
“I have an incredibly strong connection to skating – it’s a part of who I am. With Shingo, I want to stay positive, work hard, and never run from the challenges as we pursue our dreams.”
Nishiyama echoed her sentiments:
“I feel deeply inspired by Rika’s dedication to skating. Moving forward, we’ll take things step by step, combining our strengths to aim higher together.”
The pair plans to compete at the Western Japan Championships (October 31–November 3) and the Japanese Nationals in December, which double as the ice dance qualifiers for the Olympics. While Japan has yet to secure an individual ice dance Olympic quota for Milan-Cortina 2026, Kihira and Nishiyama remain optimistic, especially regarding opportunities that could arise if Japan qualifies for the team event.
Kihira expressed her determination:
“If there’s even the slightest chance, I want to pursue it and put everything into the effort. While the journey is fast-paced, I believe results will follow if I focus every day on improving.”
Nishiyama added: “As athletes, the Olympics represents our ultimate dream. If we have a chance, we’ll make the most of it together, working toward that goal one day at a time.”
Kihira acknowledged that time constraints and the newness of their partnership make their journey difficult but remains optimistic about their potential:
“We began this trial as quickly as possible, knowing it would be a race against time. As long as there is even a small chance, I can’t allow myself to back down from the challenge. It’s hard to set specific goals at this stage, but I am giving my all, progressing day by day, and focusing on doing everything I can to be ready.”
Nishiyama echoed her sentiments:
“As athletes, we both have a strong desire to compete at the Olympics. If the opportunity arises, we want to seize it. However, we understand that there are already incredible ice dance teams in Japan, so we can’t simply claim, ‘We want to go to the Milan Olympics.’ For now, we’re focusing on building ourselves up step by step, one day at a time.”
Related topics: Rika Kihira, Shingo Nishiyama
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