“There aren’t many people who will tell you the truth without sugarcoating it. These are the people you must cherish.” Kaori Sakamoto’s emotional reflections on her journey and relationship with coach Sonoko Nakano
Kaori Sakamoto, after earning a silver medal at her final Olympics, opened up about her emotional relationship with her long-time coach, Sonoko Nakano, and her journey as an athlete that spanned 21 years.
original source: Nikkansports 21st February 2026 by Matsumoto Wataru
Kaori Sakamoto’s emotional reflections on her journey and relationship with Coach Sonoko Nakano highlight their shared challenges, successes, and deep mutual respect over a 21-year partnership, as she concludes her competitive skating career with multiple medals at the Milan-Cortina Olympics and transitions to her new role as a coach. Here’s a translation of her comments posted on Nikkansports.
In September 2024, during her preparation for the season, Sakamoto and Nakano faced a temporary rift. Frustrated by her performance at the Lombardia Trophy – where she placed third with 199.94 points, 36.15 points lower than her personal best – Sakamoto admitted defeat in her motivation. “I wasn’t pushing myself, and I just thought, ‘It’s fine, this is where I’m at.’” Nakano, however, saw things differently and continued to challenge her student, causing tension between them.
Sakamoto decided to convey her feelings through a LINE message to Nakano after a practice disagreement, writing, “We’re clashing too much right now. I think it’s better if we take some space for a while. So, I won’t need lessons for the time being.” Nakano replied, stating, “If you’re not taking lessons, then don’t attend any club training sessions either.”
Sakamoto began training alone, securing solo ice time and preparing for Skate Canada with assistance from another coach, Atsuko Graham.
In October, she began her final preparations for Skate Canada. While practicing her jumps, she found herself thinking, “If it were Nakano-sensei, she’d say this.” These thoughts became more frequent as she approached three weeks of solo training. Her mind was filled with past advice from her coach.
“After the public session, could I have a little of your time?”
It took her even longer to send this message. During that time, her childhood friend Ayumi Kagotani, who had also trained under Coach Nakano, listened to her concerns.
“I understand both Nakano-sensei’s and your feelings, Kao-chan. In this case, you’re in the wrong, but I think Nakano-sensei went a bit too far too.”
Summoning her courage, Sakamoto finally sent a LINE message to Coach Nakano, and at last, the ice between them began to thaw. At that time, Nakano told her:
“I’m glad you have friends nearby who will honestly tell you what they think – not just friends who always praise you, but friends who truly care about you. There aren’t many friends who will tell you the truth.”
Sakamoto couldn’t stop her tears.
Sakamoto’s career reflects relentless growth. After her 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic debut as a 17-year-old, where she finished 6th, she grew stronger. Her bronze medal at the 2022 Beijing Games, where she also contributed to Japan’s first-ever team event medal (silver), became a major turning point. “That bronze medal at Beijing gave me the awareness that if I worked hard enough, I could truly call myself an Olympian medalist,” she shared.
During the next four years, Sakamoto flourished, becoming a world champion and winning five consecutive Nationals starting in 2021. Reflecting on those milestones, Sakamoto noted, “These past years brought me experiences greater than I ever imagined.”
At the Milan-Cortina Games, Sakamoto’s third and final Olympics, she set the goal of winning at least silver in both the individual and team events – goals she accomplished. While she displayed her signature composure during the free skate, a slight mistake on her combination triple flip–triple toe jump affected her performance. Her frustration with not securing gold brought her to tears, but she acknowledged her journey: “I’m disappointed that I couldn’t deliver my best in this final performance. I wanted to give everyone my strongest skate. But what I truly feel is that the effort I’ve put in led to this silver medal, and that’s a result I can accept.”
Nakano, who has coached Sakamoto since she was four years old, also reflected on their shared success and growth. Watching her student cry after her silver medal performance, Nakano said, “Humans are greedy. That first bronze medal brought us such pure joy, but the moment you aim for gold, silver starts to feel disappointing. That’s quite the luxury, isn’t it? I hope she lives her life remembering this, without looking back too much, and making the most of what’s ahead.”
As Sakamoto transitions into her next role, Nakano provided her guidance for the future: “Even if you’ve won gold, remember that as a coach, you start at the very back of the line. Begin from zero as a coach. That’s what I want for you.”
Now retiring from competitive skating after 21 years, Sakamoto expressed her gratitude for the people she calls her most valuable treasures: “There aren’t many people who will tell you the truth without sugarcoating it. These are the people you must cherish.”
Nakano herself defied countless challenges on her own coaching journey, from overcoming financial struggles to leading her students to Olympic and World Championship glory. She also withstood hardships like rebuilding training opportunities after the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995. Her incredible dedication and resilience over decades have culminated in four Olympic medals for her skaters and countless lessons passed on.
Kaori Sakamoto retires with pride from her figure skating career, transitioning from an athlete into the role of coach. Her legacy is not only the medals but also the unwavering strength, support, and lessons passed between coach and student – a bond built on honesty, respect, and teamwork. Nakano offered these words of encouragement: “What matters is how you live from now on. Rather than thinking about how many medals you have, I hope you live your life without looking back,” said Nakano – a sentiment echoed deeply by Sakamoto as she prepares for the next chapter of her life.
Related topics: Kaori Sakamoto
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