Sports · Other Sports · 2 hrs ago
Kihira and Nishiyama place second in ice dance rhythm dance
Rika Kihira and Shingo Nishiyama scored 65.79 points in the rhythm dance at Japan’s ice dance qualifying event in Maebashi on Oct.
31.
They were second among the competing pairs, behind Utana Yoshida and Masaya Morita.
Kihira, who moved from singles skating to ice dance, is in her second season with Nishiyama as a team.
Their score was higher than the 61.37 they earned at the Kinoshita Group Cup in September.
They added a new lift-and-rotation move, with Kihira turning once on Nishiyama’s back, and said it went well.
The pair will skate the free dance on Nov.
1, aiming for a clean performance.
Rika Kihira and Shingo Nishiyama scored 65.79 points to place second in the rhythm dance at the All-Japan Championships ice dance qualifying event.
The pair, known as “Rikashin,” improved on their 61.37 points at the Kinoshita Group Cup in September.
Their routine included Kihira completing a rotation on Nishiyama’s back, and the lift drew a strong response from the audience.
Utana Yoshida and Masaya Morita led the rhythm dance.
The free dance is scheduled for November 1.
- Who
- Rika Kihira and Shingo Nishiyama, known as “Rikashin.
- What
- They scored 65.79 points and placed second in the ice dance rhythm dance.
- When
- October 31, 2026.
- Where
- ALSOK Gunma Ice Arena in Maebashi, Japan.
- Why
- The rhythm dance was part of the All-Japan Championships ice dance qualifying event.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Kihira and Nishiyama scored 61.37 points at the Kinoshita Group Cup.
They scored 65.79 points and placed second in the rhythm dance at the qualifying event.
The free dance is scheduled to take place.
- Rhythm dance score
- 65.79 points
- Place
- Second
- Previous score
- 61.37 points at the Kinoshita Group Cup
- Venue
- ALSOK Gunma Ice Arena, Maebashi
- Leaders
- Utana Yoshida and Masaya Morita
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What people are saying
We have practiced a lot since the Kinoshita Group Cup, and we had something good. I’m very happy that it was reflected in the score.
I hope we can build up the excitement more and more toward the end, too.
We have practiced a lot since the Kinoshita Group Cup for the free dance, too. I want to enjoy skating boldly and aim for a clean performance.
We went into it feeling that it was all or nothing, wondering whether the new move would work, but it went beautifully and gave us confidence.