Is there a kind of Japan Super Challenge this year?

Wasn't it in January last year?

Yes it is! I was going to write a post about Mao's schedule. The Japan Super Challenge 2009 is on Jan 9, 09 from 19:00-21:30, but I'm not sure when they're planning to air it. I'll have to look for it.

But in the meantime, check out some videos - there are some short interviews with Mao and Kozu , and some highlights from previous JSC's..

http://tokai-tv.com/figure09/special.html

Mao says "The thing that I remember the most is the first time I skated with Aero [her toy poodle] in the rink, but I have lots of fun memories...I think many people I know will come [laughs], so it will be great if everyone can watch and enjoy it together. I'll do my best to try to win."

Kozu says "Cheering loudly with everyone, and then performing seriously when it was my turn - that was a lot of fun....I thought this is a competition with a fun atmosphere....It's an exhibition, but I'll try my best to do it with my full strength...I'll try to daringly do all my jumps."

Ganbare Mao + Kozu!! And everyone else!

ETA Ah, ok, just checked - it'll be aired on Fuji TV on 2009.1.10 from 14:30-16:00.

OhhH! Nice! THANKS! I'm looking forward to it!

Mao's schedule going forward:

2009.1.08 Nagoya Figure Skating Festival
-Nobu, Kozu, Nakaniwa (?), Mura, Mao, Miki, Yukari and Akiko are supposed to perform.

2009.1.09 Japan Super Challenge 2009

2009.1.10-12 Stars on Ice

According to this article:
http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/081229/spm0812290503002-n1.htm

After Stars on Ice, Mao will head to Russia to work with Tarasova. She's going to focus on the jumps that she's having problems with and then go straight from Russia to Vancouver for 4CC.

I said this in the Japan Nationals thread, but I'm extremely glad they're sending Mao to 4CC.

About 4CC, that article says:
That competition will be held at the 'Pacific Coliseum,' which will be the competition arena for the Olympics, so it carries a pre-Olympics meaning. "Getting a sense of the feeling of the ice, the sensation of the rink, the distance from the audience seats and the field of vision is very important," said the management of the Japan Skating Federation. The lighting and the color of the audience seats will help determine what costume a skater picks, and the acoustics will matter for what music the skater picks, so in order to aim for a gold medal, you must check these details. The JSF is already sending a survey team to the area, but at the competition, Mao and the other skaters' perspectives/thoughts [on these matters] will be also very important.