Shoma Uno: “Even when I was competing, enjoying myself led to growth. So, I think when we perform with genuine enjoyment, the audience feels it too.”
Shoma Uno reflects on his journey as a professional skater, the evolution of his ice show “Ice Brave,” and the joy and growth he experienced performing with his team.
original source: number.bunshun.jp dd. 10th March 2026 by Yoshie Noguchi
Shoma Uno on his ice show “Ice Brave 2.” Here’s a translation of her comments posted on Sports Graphic Number Web.
“Ice Brave” opened in Aichi last June, evolved into “Ice Brave 2” in Kyoto in November, and concluded with the “Special Edition” in Shin-Yokohama (January 30 – February 1), each version bringing new changes. Uno looks back:
“It became the show I had envisioned. From 1 to 2, and then the Special Edition, where Stephane Lambiel joined again, I feel like a story was created – at least in my own mind. It became a year-end summary filled with gratitude and my journey so far.”
Looking back, Number magazine hosted a talk show with Uno last April, where he shared his ideas for “Ice Brave.” At the time, he said:
“When I decided to do a show, the first thing I thought about was, ‘What is my unique strength compared to Daisuke (Takahashi), Mao (Asada), or Yuzuru (Hanyu)?’ As I chose the setlist, I realized that the powerful programs remained, and those were the ones I felt most confident in.”
At the first show in Aichi last June, where Uno served as the lead for the first time, fans greeted the cast with enthusiastic cheers. After the debut, Uno commented:
“The audience’s support was truly amazing. Last night, I was thinking, ‘Maybe I could do this or that better,’ but before today’s show, I told the cast, ‘It’s okay to make mistakes – just have fun.’ It’s different from a competition, so I want both the audience and the cast to enjoy themselves.”
The show had several concepts. First, Uno performed past programs, reflecting on his competitive career. There were also collaborations with Lambiel, solo performances by Lambiel, and group numbers by the cast, adding new charm to old memories. New challenges included ice dance with Marin Honda and the number “Narco” choreographed by a non-skating dancer.
Among the three versions, “Gravity” showed the most transformation. This was Uno’s short program from the 2022–23 season, choreographed by Lambiel. In “Ice Brave 1,” Lambiel performed it himself, saying:
“This piece was themed around Shoma’s natural movements, as if manipulating gravity. Young Shoma played a slightly more mature, cool man. I’m not that young anymore, but I tried to add my own flavor and interpretation.”
In “Ice Brave 2,” Uno performed “Gravity” solo for the first time in two and a half years.
“Even after so long, I felt I could perform it almost like I did when I was competing. I really like this piece – it feels good to skate to. It reminds me of the smoothness and turns unique to skating, things you can’t experience on land.”
In the “Special Edition,” Uno and Lambiel performed together. During rehearsals, they realized their sense of timing was different, so Uno adjusted to match Lambiel.
“The timing I used in competition and Stephane’s were so different. I worked hard to match him. Since he created the piece, I realized, ‘Oh, this is how he wanted to interpret the music – not here, but there!’ (laughs)”
Performing the same program in three versions brought out diverse interpretations and expressions, showing the depth of physical artistry.
The ice dance also evolved with each show. In “1” and “2,” Uno and Honda performed “Wild Side,” increasing the difficulty of lifts. In the “Special Edition,” they switched to “Four Seasons,” incorporating high-level lifts and elements akin to competition. Uno reflected:
“At the final stop of Ice Brave, I wanted to raise the level even more. Compared to ‘Wild Side,’ there were fewer singles elements and more ice dance. Even as beginners, we didn’t take it lightly – we packed in things we couldn’t do before, making it a program for growth as skaters.”
During practice, they even fell and hit their heads, but overcame their fears to succeed in the performance. After finishing, both collapsed on the ice in exhaustion.
“The piece was about four minutes and tough. ‘Wild Side’ was more show-like, but this time, I wanted to convey a sense of tension, closer to competition. The most amazing moments were when we were perfectly in sync, when we gained speed, or pulled off a big lift. We did everything we possibly could.”
Another highlight was how much the entire cast enjoyed both practice and performance, especially in the Michael Jackson medley. Uno admitted, “Actually, I was really bad at Michael Jackson’s music.”
So, in “Ice Brave 1,” Uno didn’t perform it – three other members did. In “2,” the lineup changed, and Uno joined, making it four. He explained how he overcame his weakness:
“Taking dance lessons for the show was really important. Also, Tsune (Tsunehito Karakawa) would get so into it he’d practice until late at night, and as he taught me, I got better. I feel like I’m gradually expanding my repertoire.”
In the “Special Edition,” all members except Lambiel performed the number.
“While practicing this piece, even those not performing learned a lot. When I asked Rika Hongo, she said, ‘I want to join in, too.’ The feeling of wanting to participate and have fun naturally spread to the whole show. Even when I was competing, enjoying myself led to growth. So, I think when we perform with genuine enjoyment, the audience feels it too.”
Numbers he once struggled with became highlights performed joyfully with everyone, showing his growth as a performer.
Through all three versions, Uno faced the essence of ice entertainment. After the Shin-Yokohama show, he declared, “I definitely want to do another show.” He added:
“Even when I was competing, I wasn’t the type to carry everything alone or represent Japan by myself. In ice shows, it’s important to overcome your weaknesses, but with so many staff and performers, I get help with what I can’t do. Even though I’m the main act, I want everyone to feel like we’re all carrying the show together, making it fun and letting everyone shine.”
Related topics: Shoma Uno
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