話題 日本語ENTiếng Việt繁體नेपालीမြန်မာ しゃちょう＠にしつー

Rika Kihira Comes from Behind to Win After Visiting Nishinomiya’s Hirota Shrine for Hatsumode

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Yesterday, at the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships held on the 9th Japan time, Rika Kihira, who was in 5th place, recorded the top free skate score of 153.14 points and won the title in her first appearance with a total of 221.99 points!

Rika Kihira Comes from Behind to Win; A Scolding from Her Mother Sparked New Awareness (Nikkan Sports) – Yahoo! News

She had visited Hirota Shrine in her hometown of Nishinomiya

It seems Kihira went for her first shrine visit of the New Year at Hirota Shrine in Nishinomiya this New Year. Hirota Shrine is famous as the shrine where the Hanshin Tigers pray for victory. By the way, Daily Sports online reported that her omikuji fortune was “kichi,” the next best after “daikichi.”

The ema prayer plaque Kihira dedicated at Hirota Shrine. Her goals are written all over it (photo partially edited) – Tospo WEB

↓Here is the map for Hirota Shrine

Rika Kihira went to Gardens last month too?!

Also, at the “Nishinomiya City Special Sports Award Presentation Ceremony” held at Nishinomiya City Hall on January 15 last month, she received the “Special Sports Award.”

Nishinomiya City Gives Figure Skater Rika Kihira a Special Sports Award

2019年1月16日

In an episode Rika Kihira shared at the ceremony, she said that at Hankyu Nishinomiya Gardens, “a little child said to me, ‘Are you Rika? Please shake my hand.’” Given how famous she is, that’s only natural, but you can’t help feeling how fresh and charming it is that Kihira still doesn’t quite feel that she has become famous.

Map of Hankyu Nishinomiya Gardens↓

Rika Kihira was amazing even back at Taisha Elementary School

Kobe Shimbun NEXT reported that she was delighted to reunite with Haruka Shibata (31), who had been her homeroom teacher at her alma mater, Taisha Elementary School.

Shibata was Kihira’s homeroom teacher in fifth and sixth grade, and told Sports Hochi in an interview that Kihira’s athletic ability was outstanding.

In fifth grade, she took part in the girls’ 800-meter race at an athletics meet that brought together around 40 schools in Nishinomiya City. Although Kihira’s elementary school did not have long-distance running classes, she finished third and received an award.

She also “kept clearing the vaulting box one after another.” In sixth grade, during a lesson on the “neck spring vault,” where students place their neck and both hands on the vaulting box and roll forward, she was the only one who rotated using only her hands without placing her neck down, making a dynamic jump. “The PE teacher at the time apparently stopped her, saying, ‘That’s scary, please stop,’” Shibata said. Her athletic ability was among the best of both boys and girls.

Rika’s elementary school teacher Haruka Shibata recalls her solo big move on the vaulting box | Athletics | Sports Bull

So she basically created a new vaulting box event, right? Amazing. It feels like Kihira could master any sport.

 

Rika Kihira’s elementary school graduation essay collection↓

She’ll surely win the Olympics too! We hope she’ll coach in Nishinomiya someday.

 

Before a skating rink opened in Nishinomiya City, she traveled by car from Taisha Elementary School to rinks in Osaka Prefecture and elsewhere, taking two to three hours round trip. There were hardly any days when she could attend school from morning until evening; every day she either came late after morning practice or left for practice without eating school lunch. She was a hard worker who tried her best to catch up on her studies even during breaks, and she was especially good at Japanese.

Rika’s elementary school teacher Haruka Shibata recalls her solo big move on the vaulting box | Athletics | Sports Bull

Kihira’s tireless effort is truly moving. Skipping school lunch, yet still studying during breaks, may be exactly the kind of drive that produces winning results.

Speaking of skating rinks in Nishinomiya City, there is Hyogo Nishinomiya Ice Arena in Naruo-hama, which opened in August 2013.

Since this is an indoor rink, it can be used year-round. They also offer skating classes for children aged 3 and up. Naturally, it’s cold inside, so when parents go to watch their children’s lessons, down jackets, gloves, and scarves are essential even in summer. The next Rika Kihira could come from Nishinomiya!!

The map is here↓

At school, she didn’t often talk about skating on her own. “In the best sense, she was an ordinary elementary school girl. She chatted with her friends and was always smiling. I’m sure balancing school and competition was difficult, but I never saw her looking down,” Shibata said.

Still, her love for skating overflowed. “When I said, ‘I don’t understand the types of jumps, so can you teach me?’ she spun around on the spot while explaining them to me,” Shibata said, clearly remembering how happy Kihira looked. Perhaps Kihira’s honest personality, never using her busy days as an excuse and never compromising on anything outside skating either, is what has led to her success this season.

Kihira is thoughtful toward her friends, kind, and hardworking. That’s why everyone can’t help wanting to cheer her on.