#Japan #Tokyo #Kinoshita Cup #ISU Challenger

Exciting Announcement: Kinoshita Cup 2026 in Tokyo

The Japan Skating Federation has officially announced plans for the ISU Challenger Series Kinoshita Cup 2026, set to commence from September 4 to 6, 2026 at the renowned Tatsumi Ice Arena in Tokyo. This prestigious event marks the opening of the new figure skating season, promising an exhilarating experience for fans and participants alike.

In anticipation of the full athlete roster release scheduled for mid-August, the Japan Skating Federation has revealed early entries for this highly anticipated tournament. Notable participants include last year’s World Junior Champion, Mao Shimada, who moves up to the senior level this season in women's singles, as well as Rishi Nakata in men's singles. The Kinoshita Cup will serve as both athletes' debut at the senior international competition level.

Event Overview

• - Event Name: ISU Challenger Series Kinoshita Cup 2026
• - Venue: Tatsumi Ice Arena, 2-8-10 Tatsumi, Koto, Tokyo, 135-0053, Japan
• - Dates: September 4 (Friday) - September 6 (Sunday), 2026
• - Organizer: Japan Skating Federation
• - Special Sponsor: Kinoshita Group
• - Supported by: TV Asahi
• - Cooperation: Tokyo Skating Federation
• - Disciplines: Men's Singles, Women's Singles, Pairs, Ice Dance
• - Official Website: ISU Challenger Series

Ticketing information will be shared shortly, allowing fans to secure their spot at this remarkable event!

Proposed Schedule:

• - Day 1: September 4 (Friday)

- Men's Singles (Short Program)
- Women's Singles (Short Program)

• - Day 2: September 5 (Saturday)

- Pairs (Short Program)
- Ice Dance (Rhythm Dance)
- Men's Singles (Free Skating)

• - Day 3: September 6 (Sunday)

- Pairs (Free Skating)
- Ice Dance (Free Dance)
- Women's Singles (Free Skating)

Expected Participants:

While the full lineup will be finalized in mid-August, early announcements reveal exciting athletes in attendance:

Men's Singles

• - Yuki Miura (Meiji University)
• - Rishi Nakata (MF Academy)
• - Shun Sato (Aim Services/Meiji University)
• - Sota Yamamoto (Chukyo University)

Women's Singles

• - Yuna Aoki (Japan Building Management)
• - Mone Chiba (Kinoshita Group)
• - Ami Nakai (TOKIO Inkarami)
• - Mao Shimada (Kinoshita Group)

Pairs

• - Yuna Nagaoka / Sumi Moriguchi (Kinoshita Academy)

Ice Dance

• - Utana Yoshida / Masaya Morita (Kinoshita Academy)

What is the ISU Challenger Series?

The ISU Challenger Series is an internationally recognized series of figure skating competitions, established in the 2014-2015 season, just below the Grand Prix series. It aims to provide skaters with opportunities to gain international competition experience and world ranking points. The current season will comprise up to 10 events, scheduled to avoid overlapping with the ISU Grand Prix, running from August 15, 2026, to February 15, 2027. Scores achieved at these events will officially count towards the ISU Personal Best and Season Best Scores. The winners will also be granted entrance qualifications for the ISU Grand Prix Series as alternates.

This marks the second occurrence of this esteemed competition in Japan, following its successful event held in Osaka last year. Don’t miss the chance to witness the future stars of figure skating perform at this first prominent international tournament of the season!