The Japanese skaters - miscellaneous news

23 Sep 2011 - Kanako Murakami and Miu Sato
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRPf6suLn0Y
Although the clip is mostly about Kanako and Miu, many other skaters can be seen in the background. There are cute clips from charity shows (Mao, Miki...) and some practice clips (Akiko, Nobu).

At 3:31 the back of a male skater jumping a 3A can be seen. Can anyone recognize who it is?

Kanako is doing 3F-3T and it looks pretty good! I'm just a bit worried because she tends to lean forward and tilt to the inside as Mao used to. It might hurt her later.

Guys, have you seen this - http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g9TUKnl8Uswd3UiLCaXu12c4kFow?docId=CNG.330cf9e82f366a9b90112d53371c24df.831 ?

That would be amazing if true, but people say it's almost impossible for Mervin to obtain Japanese citizenship in time for Olympics and without giving up his Canadian citizenship. Is this correct?

is mervin half japanese cause if yes it should be possible!

Unfortunately not, this is the problem.

Quote :

Tran, the son of refugees from Vietnam and Cambodia, and Japanese Narumi Takahashi finished runners-up for their third senior Grand Prix medal.

I will be sad if they don't get to go to the Olympics, they are one of the most beautiful pairs right now

I still don't get what the problem is

ballerinamao wrote:

I still don't get what the problem is

Sorry i meant to say that the problem is that he is not even half Japanese.

Correct. Forget almost impossible though, it *is* impossible without him giving up his Canadian citizenship. Due to the Nationality Act (and its revisions) being a dual citizen of Japan is no longer permanent - it's only available until the individual is 22 years of age, at which time a decision must be made to either pick the Japanese citizenship only or to forfeit it and keep the citizenship of the other country in question. Technically speaking, there is a loophole that legally allows for the retainment of dual citizenship but A) the individual has to be born before 1985 and B) the other citizenship must be earned through jus solis or jus sanguini (i.e., not through naturalization). Hikaru Utada is curiously enough one of the very last people whom this applies to and while it's not made public, I'm pretty sure she successfully kept both. But I digress.

Having Mervin give up his status as a Canadian national is sadly only half the problem, as getting a Japanese citizenship is already a bit of a stumbling block. I suppose a petition for extraordinary circumstances can be applied, but the chances of that happening is really low, although that horrible team event deal slated for Sochi just might work in his favor. Narumi at least seems fine with the fact that she won't be going to the Olys; she remarked in past interviews that they'll just have to win as many medals at Worlds in the future. In any case, it's a crucial decision and no sane person will begrudge him on whichever decision he'll take, I think. It's too bad citizenship-hopping has to happen and the Olympics doesn't allow events like pairs/ice dance to have split-nation representation. I was always never fond of seeing great doubles players in tennis having to team up with lesser players from the same country just to fulfill the Olympic requirement. But then again, unlike most sports tennis has the luxury of Slam titles being more valuable than Olympic Gold, so...

Thanks, clovera, that's what I was afraid of. I guess we'll find out soon about the outcome.

Once a Canadian citizen, always a Canadian citizen. That is their policy. Even if he tried, I don't think he'll ever be able to relinquish it unless he absolutely begs for it in front of Parliament.

Alokya wrote:

Once a Canadian citizen, always a Canadian citizen. That is their policy. Even if he tried, I don't think he'll ever be able to relinquish it unless he absolutely begs for it in front of Parliament.

Wow, that's harsh. Although giving up one's citizenship must be brutal (I don't think I could ever do it). I can't imagine how he must feel. I know Kavaguti did it, can she ever get her japanese citizenship back?

I'm not sure where to put this news....don't think there's a topic for Mura.
But he just sent out this message on twiter:

無良　崇人 @takahito3211
結婚のご報告 この度、私、無良崇人は、かねてから交際をしておりました一般女性と４月８日に入籍を致しました事をここに、ご報告させていただきます。 ５月頃には、新しい家族が増える予定でございます。

He just got married recently...!!!
Congratulation!!

Congratulations Mura !

He also says that a new family member is due to arrive in may. I guess he got married in similar circumstances as Nobu.

Congratulations!!!

Congratulations!

Yaaay, another skating baby to add to the list! Congratulations, Mura!!

whoa! After Nobu it's Mura now. Congratulations of both your marriage and soon to be born baby!